The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-13
addressed a short While ago to tbs. people Of
MORE TEMPERANCE.

NUKE TENN EhASC5ss
There were a number OF additional petit
tions praying Congress to appoint commis-
sion to investigate splrituous liquors pre-
sented to the Senate again to-day. onewas
from the Grand Division OF the Sons oil
Temperance OF Maine, and some were from
private citizens. There is evidently q con-
certed movement in progress on the part OF
the temperance organizations of the United
States, because the petitions from Maine and
New York are identical in form with those
from Virginia, Missouri, and other States
distant from each other. 60.
AFTER gES-coNGREssMAN sTowELL.
The Government has issued instructions
to its law officers to bring suit against ex-
Congressman stowell. It seems that he was
revenue officer before be came to Con-
gress, and the authorities are not satisfied
with the way he settled. },e e.
? ~ 80 TUE MILITIA. "'l.,l
Senator Davis, of West Virginia, offered
to-day resolution in regard to the militia,
which will be considered at an early day.
It looks to giving EACH State, its proper
quota OF arms under the law, and calls on the
Secretary Of War to Know whether the pres
ent appropriation is sufficient. He also wants
to know what States have received more
and what less than their legal, quota, so as to
put all on an equality. = ~.
BRIEFS. ,I,G.y.ty,i !,
DIR. George and brother. OF Richmond.
Mcssrs. Yost and Griffin OF Stanton, and
Major Anable OF Henrico, are here.
The deficiency appropriation bill will
give work to number OF people, and put
in circulation quite sum OF money.
4 caricature of Butler, Patterson, and
Conover in an illustrated paper completely
upset the gravity of the Senate to-day.
Senator Oglesby got the first copy, and it
made even Blaine smile sickly smile.
The Baltimore Board OF Trade has petit
toned Congress not to pass the silver bill.
Colonel Brady's confirmation was con-
sdered certain early to-day by Democratic
senators. .a t@ ~,.a
Among the visitors to the House to-day
were ex-Confederate Generals Stevenson
and Field, afterwards in the Egyptian SER
vice. zf>Tr WY, .Et, - ~ E..
Secretary Schurz, when on the floor Of
the Senate to-day, talked chiefly with DEM
Gratis. ~i'.,t .s~
The Republican caucus committee say
that Sergeant-at-A Arms FreEch has done no.
thing wrong. .H
There were more petitions from iron-men
against a change in the tariff until suita-
BILE commission has inquired into the SUBJ
iect. >........ -..... .-....
Associated Press Reports by telegraph exclusively
10 the Dispatch
THE STRUGGLE OVER THE NEW YORK APPOINT
MENTs.
WASHINGTON, December 1.-THE strug-
gle over the New York appointments re-
suited in a victory for Mr.. Conkling. All
the details obtainable are as follows: The
Senate was in executive session to-day
nearly sixbours, adiourning at s O'Clock.
The entire session was devoted to New
York custom-house nominations, two OF
those OF Theodore Roose-
welt to be collector in place Of Arthur, to
be removed, and l.. Bradford Prince as
naval officer, Uice Cornell, to be removed
were reported from the Committee on Com
merce unfayorably. The third-namely,
that of E. A. Merritt, to be surveyor OF
customs in place Of Sharp, whose commits
sion has eXpired-Was reported with Ia
vorable Recommendation. No opposition
was manifested to the latter, but the con-
test in regard to the two proposed removals
was extremely animated and took very
wide range, covering a discussion OF the
rights, powers, and duties OF the President
in regard to removals from Office and the
subject OF the civil-serviee policy in gene
raj. ..... H. - r.s.,-. :, ~ ,.1....
Mr.. Conkling, chairman Of the Commit
tee on Commerce, opened the debate with
Il brief statement of the reasons why, in
the opinion of the majority OF that commit
tee, the two first-named nominations should
not be confirmed. These were, in brief,
that no charges, either OF corruption or of in
efficiency, had been made against the pres
ent incumbents, but that, on the contrary,
they were conceded to be faithful, honest,
experienced, and able officers. ~ ,.iIs
Mr.. Bayard followed In au extended ar
gument, maintaining the right Of the Exec
utiye to make changes which, in his opin-
ion, would be for the benefit Of the public
service, he being responsible for the execu-
ton OF the laws and entitled to select his
agents, subject to the confirmation OF the
Senate, but without being obliged to fur
nish to the Senate statement OF his req
sons. .....- X. -.,.,s'.''i -.
MIR. Herman then delivered speech Of
considerable length On the same side OF the
question, defending the action OF the Pre-
sident. His remarks were mostly read from
manuscript. ' +.
General Gordon was the next speaker.
He warmly commended the civil-Service
policy OF President Hayes, and in regard to
the pending nominations asserted positively
that the removals which they contemplated
Were demanded by proper regard for the
purity Of the service. He charged that
Messrs. Cornell and Arthur had disgracefully
made use OF the powers Of their offices for
merely partisan and selfish purposes, and be
intimated that it was time for the one-man
power in New York State to be broken. ~
The debate then became quite, general &
Messrs. Hoar and Matthews spoke in favor
of sustaining the action Of the President ia
the exercise OF his constitutional power,
and of what they believed to be bis sound
public policy, in removing the civil service
from the domain of partisan contest.
Mr.. Teller and others spoke briefly in re-
ply, arguing that in the present instances,
at least, the President had departed from
the principles OF civil service which be HIM
sell had announced-namely, that faithful
and efficient service should protect officers
from removal, etc. g :.
Senator Conkling closed the debate in q
speech of considerable length and great
yieor and earnestness. He replied in de-
tail to the various arguments advanced by
the supporters OF the nominations, and re-
PEELED with the utmost emphasis the charges
Il - \ IL