National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr.. DAWES, from the Committee of Ways
and Means, reported a resolution authorizing
that committee to report in print at any time
upon the moiety and sanborn contracts
Adopted.
Mr.. KELLY, of Pennsylvania, from the Com
mittee on the centennial, reported a bill sp.
propriating three millions of dollars for the
Centennial Exposition. Referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole.
On motion of Mr.. GARFIELD, of Ohio, the
morning hour was named, and the House went
into Committee of the Whole on
THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.PARKER, of Missouri, moved an amend
ment striking out S37, $50 for newspapers for
the use Of the House, and made charge that
the repeal of the mileage law yesterday was a
violation of the understanding when the salary
law was repealed. 1t was then understood that
that was definite AMI final settlement Of the
matter. He would hereafter go for economy
in every form. The motion was rejected, and
Mr.. PARKER gave notice that be would call for
a yea and nay vote of the House.
Mr.. Hale, of N. Y, offered an amendment,
authorized by previous suspension of the
sional printer is elected by the Senate, and pro-
viding that hereafter that officer shall be known
as Public Printer, to be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice aud consent Of the
Senate. In advocating his amendment, Mr..
Hale characterized the law of 1857 as an at
tempt to circumvent the Constitution of the
United States.
Mr.. Bass offered an amendment providing
that the repeal Of the act shall not operate to
remove the Congressional printer. Rejected.
The original amendment was then adopted.
When the paragragh appropriating $50, 900
for the salary of the President was reached,
Mr.. DAWES, of Mass, moved a pro lorna
amendment in order to qualify his remarks
made when the salary bill was under discus
sion, and to which attention had been called
by Mr.. G. F. HoAR, in which he had spoken of
the perquisitcs Of the President. He had used
the word perQuisites, but It did not express
his meaning. He referred to appropriations
pertaining to the office and the Executive
Mansion, such as lighting, watchmen, police
men, dollhouse grounds, &C., &C., which he
had put together and found amounted to
S57 ,672 annually, besides some items which
came in incidentally, or might not be required,
or vary, as, for instance, repairs Of the Execu-
tive Mansion. He favored making the salary
cover all the appropriations for the President.
Mr.. G. F. HOAR opposed the latter PROPOSE
ton, and faid much that was embraced IN the
list was as much for the qualification of the
humblest citizen as for the President himself.
Mr.. HOLMAN, of Indiana, raised a ques-
ton as to the constitutionality Of the law by
which the salary of the President was raised.
The Constitution provided that there should
be no change made "during the period FOR
which he had been elected, )" and he held that
as the President had been elected for the
second term when the law was passed. the
Constitutional provision covered the eight con-
tinuous YEARS.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Mass, said Mr.. DAWES
had, on former occasion, made remarks which
had gone out conveying the idea that the office
yielded to its incumbent S400, 900 during the
four years. He took up the items one by one
rs enumerated by Mr.. DAWES, and claimed
that every item was for the public service.
Mr.. MAYNARD asked how the present ex-
penditures compared with the days of Wash
ington.
Mr.. BUTLER said the first thing done then
was to appropriate SIC, 900 for furniture for the
Presidents House. He then read what pur-
ported to be- q description of the elaborate
toilets of distinguished gentlemen connected
with the Government at its foundation, in
which gold lace, satin breeches, &C., were con-
spicuous as showing that age more extraVagant
than the present.
Mr.. cox, Of N. Y, said he had been sur
prised at the dissgreements between the two
gentlemen from Massachusetts,. He had thought
some slight local interests had harmonized
them, and he was surprised to hear the gentle
man take back 90 many good and wise things
he had said in the interest of economy. As to
what the gentleman (Mr. BUTLER) had read
about the dress Of those former men who re-
ceived small salaries, it had no application to
the present aggrandizing Of the Federal power.
II the gentleman should chose to come In here
and address the House attired in skyblue pam
falcons there would be no objection; it would
add to the attraction.
He then read from o newspaper slip what
purported TO be q conversation with Mr. Bur-
LER, in which he was Informed that the speech
of Mr.. DAWES had been printed by the Demo
cratic committee and circulated as q campaign
document in Cincinnati. Mr.. BUTLER had re-
Piled that when an old brindle steer like DAWES
got so in the habit of breaking out of the
pound that he would break out every night,
there was not corn6eld in the country that
was safe. (Laughter.] He knows. said..Mr.
BUTLER, too many of our secrets, and, sir, he
must have bell put around his neck. IRE
newed laughter.
Who, said Mr.. Cox, is the man to do th.si
Let him step forth There is nobody but him
self, and he has done it to-day lGreat laugh
Mr. DAWES replied to Mr., BUTLER, charg-