National Republican., 1878-05-07
Hn!s1HeI I0veRtMEM.

I. & SAauet om - lsr.l 80
klms trie4 % have ohas sbus sighted. The
fSsiSens, a wsss ~ ss,sSiicas SHS party,
which had elected him, saw that they were going
70 lose lose him; but there was no authority or
excuse for the act
Mr.. Biacfburn said he wanted TO ask, In an
good humor, vhether the gentlsman would no
like 20 have the law re-euactsd out OF fear Of
Mr.. Garfield replied that he would mot by \
any manner Of means. Now, a. 10 tho regency
Of the Smithsonian, that was privats eorpo-
ration, and the House was simply there through
It's regents by invitation. -,
Mr.. Knott argued that Congress had o. much
authority to elect these Commissioners ~ II
had TO appoint regcnts Of the Smithsonian and
to designate members Of the Electoral Commis-
sion. ..-... t-.......F. ....... ... ...,...- -
Mr.. Garfield said that was . COMMITTEES Of
Congress appointed for specific purpose.
Mr. Knott said II was q commission, and not
Q committee, and there was vast diferepce.
Mr.. Garfield said that the acts Of the COM
mission had to have the approval Of Congress
before they were valid.
could not be elected In the way proposed with
out violating the Constitution. He did not
use too strong q word when he said II was
simply seizing the executive power. There
was no analogy between this and the appoint
mont Of the Electoral Commission. That
commission was simply the eyes and ears Of
the House for particular purpose. Nor was
there any analogy between this and the re-
gents Of tho Smithsonian.
Mr. McMahon wanted 10 call the gentle
mans sttention to the faot that Congress exer-
ciscd It's right to elect managers BY namc for
the homes for disabled soldiers
Mr.. Banks liked that because they were
charitable institutions for the benefit Of the
defenders Of tho country. But that has moth
ing TO do with this act. The District Of Co.
lumbia must have government The Presi-
dent Of the United States must live here, and
when you deprive him Of this appointing
power he may have IN enemy In every Office
holder In the District.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Town.
shends amendment, and II was rejected al
most unanimously.
Tho amendment of Mr.. Cox tohio) was also
rejected by vote Of 81 yeas to 137 nays. This
amendment proposed to vest the appointment
in the President, by aud with the advice and
consent Of the Senate.
Mr.. Fort moved TO strike out the require
ment that an army officer shall be detailed, so
as to permit the selection OF any competent
, engineer. He said that rank did not confer
qualification. The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Dunnell moved to amend by striking
out tho requirement that the two Commits
sioners to be elected by Congress shall have
been for ten years residents Of the District, and
to make IL Eve ycap.
Mr. Randolph moved TO make II ono year.
The latter motion was rejected. and Mr.. Dun
nell's motion WAS agreed to.
On motion Of Mr.. Hunton, an amendment
was adopted providing that the President may
revoke the detail Of the engineer Commis-
sioncr before tho expiration Of his three years'
term. :. r.. ...... So.
Mr.. Conger moved to amend by striking out
| all Of the section providing for the election Of
Commissioners and 10 insert "'rhe second and
third Of said Commissioners shall be appointed
by the President by and with the advice and
| consent of the Senate, for terms of one and two
years, aud at the expiration Of their terms Of
Office the Office to be filled by appointment for
terms of three years" Rejected.
Mr. Patterson offered an amendment provid-
ing for the election of Commissioners by the
qualified voters Of the District. Rejected.
Mr.. Harris (Na.) moved to strike out the
entire clause requiring civilian Commissioners
to be residents Of the District Of Columbia for
| Eve years. He said the United States sup
ported the District in part, and they should
select the Commissioners from any place. just
ne they did Territorial officers. The amend.
inent was rejected.
Mr.. Jones (Ohio) offered . further amend
ment for the election Of Commissioners by the
people, and II was also rejected.
| Mr.. Buckner moved TO insert the words
good and sufficient" in the sixth'lin Of Sec
tion 4, so rs to make II read that the Commis-
sionen shall each give bond with good and
sufficient sureties. Adopted.
nv Buckner moved to further amend by
providing that suits may. be brought upon the
bonds by any person aggrieved.
| Mr.. Hanna opposed the amendment. No
man would give q bond under such circum-
stances. The bond was for .the protection Of
the District Of Columbia, and no man would
give the bond II Tom, Dick, and Harry had
the right of action against him.
Mr.. Buckner thought the provision very
proper one.
Mr.. Hanna said II the Commissioner was
defaulter, or was guilty Of malfeasance in Of.
fee, he was responsible to the District and not
to individuals Under this amendment II .
man thought his property had been injured
by an error Of Judgment Of the Commissioners
he could bring suit, and the Commissioners
would be hsrassed by these suits.
| Mr. kefer differed from Mr.. Hanna, and
thought the provision very proper one.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Thompson moved to strike..out the
clause which requires the elected Commits
sioners to give bond. He thought that all
should be on an equality. II the military
the others should not be. 1t ispractically say
ing that your military man Is as good without
bond as q civilian with one.
Mr.. HuntOn said the engineer officer was
under oath as such officer. He always had
the fear Of a court-martial and dismissal be-
fore him. The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Lapham offered an amendment that the
Commissioners should hold property only fol
corporate and municipal purposes. Adopted.
The property qualification for members Of
the council was stricken out.
Mr. Lapham offered an amendment reduc.
ing the requirement Of five years residence
for councilmen to two Rejected.
The clause requiring poll-tax was stricken
out.
Mr.. Hanna moved to amend by providing
that voters shall have been bona fde residents
of the District for one year, instead Of thres
years. Rejected.
Mr. Hayes moved to make 1t two years. Re.
jected.
Mr. Dunnell moved to strike out the re,
lquirement of six months residence In the cleo
ton precinct. Rejected.
Mr.. Reilley moved to amend by providing
that the board Of registration shall consist o
three members for the whole District, instead
of three in each election precinct. Rejected
Mr.. Lathrop offered an amendment, which
was adopted, providing that no person shall
be appointed to office by the Commissioners
or confirmed by the council who shall not have
been bona Jfde resident of the District for ont
year prior to said appointment.
Mr.. Williams (Mich.) offered an amendment
which was also adopted, providing that moth
ing contained In this act shall be constfued M