Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-20
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

In the Senate on the 11th, Conkling offered
a resolution for committee of seven Senators
to inquire and report measures to promote
commercial intercourse with Mexico and es
tablish quiet and peaceful condition of af-
fairs on the border, with power to send for
persons aud papers-adopted. Kellogg Of
fered bill for the establishment of a steam.
ship service between New Orleans and various
ports. A vast number of petitions were pre-
sented allowing women to vote. Maxey, of
Texas, from the committee on military affairs,
to whom was referred the resolution Of the
18th of November, instructiug that committee
to inquire and report upon a system of defen'
sive works for the Rio Grande frontier, re-
ported bill making appropriation for the
erection of suitable posts for the protection of
the Rio Grande frontier. Placed on the cal
endar. Mr. Conover, of Florida, from the
committee on transportation routes to the sea.
board, reported favorably on the Senate bill
to provide for the survey of inland water route
and canal from the Mississippi river to the
Atlantic ocean. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Eustis, of Louisiana: Appropriating
money to open and keep unobstructed navi-
CATION of the Red river and to care for prop
erty of the United States. Referred to the
committee on commerce. Matthews silver
resolution was resumed and discussed till the
hour of adjournment. The session the House
was occupied in voting on the Senate amend
ments to the deficiency bill. The most i'm
portant one was that appropriating S5OO,OOO
for inland mail transportation on the Star
Route by steamboats,, and all other than rail-
road routes. The committee on appropriation
recommended non-concurrence, but the House
decided otherwise and coneurred in the
amendment by vote of 143 to 107. The bill
goes back to the Senate on minor amend
ments.
In the Senate on the 18th, the considera-
ton of Matthews silver bill was resumed and
discussed. Chafee, of Colorado, offered a
substitute providing that all the bonds Of the
United States, issued or authorized to be is
sued under the said acts of Congress, hereto.
fore recited, are payable, principal and inter.
est, at the option of the Government, in coin
of gold or silver of the standard value, when
such bonds were issued and to restore to its
coinage such silver coin as legal lender, CO.
equal with gold coin, is not in violation Of
the public faith nor in derogation of the rights
of the public creditor Ordered to be print
ed by a vote of ~ to 20. Ransom intro
duced bill providing for the settlement of
accounts with certain railroad companies in
debted to the Government for railroad stock
purchased in 1866. The Senate then went
into executive session, and struggle ensued
over the Presidents nominations for officers
of the New York Custom House. The exec
utive session lasted nearly six hours, the con-
test being over two Of the nominations, to-
wit: Theo. Roosevelt, to be Collector in
place of Arthur, to be removed and L. B.
Prince, as Naval Officer, vice Cornell to be
removed, which were reported from the COM
mittee on commerce unfavorably. The third,
that of Z. A. Merritt, to be Surveyor of Gus
toms in place of Sharpe, whose commission
has expired, was reported with favorable
recommendation. No opposition was mani
tested to the latter but the debate in regard
to the two proposed removals was extremely
animated and took a very wide range, cover
ing discussion of the rights, powers and du-
ties of the President in regard to removals
from office and the subject Of civil service
policy in general. Conkling led off in opposi
ton to making the combinations, contending
that no charges of ineficiency or corruption
could be brought against the present incum-
bents. Bayard, of Delaware, followed in an
extended argument, maintaining the right Of
the Executive to make changes, which, in bis