The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1879.
Immediately after the reading of the journal the
House, at half-past twelve p NJ. went into Commit
tee of the Whole Mr. Blackburn. Of Kentucky. the
cnair) on the Legislative, Executive and Judicial APP
preparation bill
Mr.. EDES (dem,l Of Ill., submitted an amendment,
providing that clerk in any department shall be
appointed on the recommendation of members Of
Congress.
Mr.. HAYES, (repD of Ill., inquired if the gentleman
offered that amendment because he did not expect to
be a member of the next House
Mr. EDEN said that he offered il because he wished
to relieve members of the next House.
Mr.. ONE1LL, trep.) OF Pa. suggested that there
might be some gentleman in the next House who did
not want TO be relieved. He thought that he, for
one, could recommend gentlemen to the depart
ments from among his constituents who were mt to
NIL positions under the government.
Nj. MILLS, of Texas, moved to amend the amend
ment by providing that all clerks appointed to the
departments shall be appointed by States not having
now a pro rata representation III such departments
Adopted. The amendment rs amended was then
iected.
Mr. FULLER (dcml of Ind submitted an amend
ment the appointment of surveyors general and
their clerks in Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota. Colo
rado Oregon. California. Nevada. Dakota, New Mex
leo. Idaho. Washington Territory, Utah. Wyoming
Arizona, Nebraska and Iowa. Consideration of the
amendment postponed until that portion of
the bill is reached which provides tor change in
the system of surveys.
Mr.. CUMMINGS rep of Iowa. submitted an amend
for the employment OF additional clerks in tho
Pension Office to out the provisions of the PEN
sion Arrearages act.
Mr.. ATKINS, Cdcm.l of Tenn. stated that the Com
mittee on Appropriations was now preparing bill
to carry out that act. in which an appropriation
would be made for additional clerical force. Tn
der this representation of facts the amendment
withdrawn. but Mr.HANNA. OF Indiana. Immediately
offered another amendment. with like object, and
appropriating $50. 200 for the purpose.
Mr.. SPARKS, ldem.l of H. said that bill would DO
reported in days 60 pay the arrearages of pen
sons ana it would provide all the necessary increase
of clerical force.
Mr.. HANNA replied that his fear that that bill
might fail.
Mr. HALE rep.) of Me-. remarked that even in case
of deadlock and the failure OF other appropriation
bills the bill to pay ar garages OF pensions would
not fail lie did not believe that anybody would take
the responsibility OF stopping its passage. IL would
be reported on Monday or Tuesday next.
Thereupon Mr.. HASSA withdrew the amendment
Mr.. McM,HsS. dem of ohio. submitted an amend
meut to dispense with the biennial examination of
pensioners the Commissioner to have the power of
ordering special examinations when deemed neces-
sary and reducing or increasing pensions. After
some discussion the amendment WAS agreed to.
PATENT OFFICE SALARIES.
Mr.. VANCE, denl OF y. Co. submitted an amend
mcnt putting the salaries OF the chief clerk and ex-
aminers in the Patent Offico at the same figures
they appropriated for last year (the present
bill proposing rcductionl.
Mr. WATT irep.) of Conn, favored tho amendments
Tho numerous inventors over the country desired
that the patent officers in Washington should be
well paid, able men. who would protect them in their
rights
Mr. DURHAM tlem.) Of KY. argued that the selaries
Patent Office without gripping tho service in the
least degree
Messrs Sampson, of Iowa; Townshend, of Illinois;
Bridges. OF Pennsylvania; Dean, of Massachusetts,.
and Willis. OF Michigan. spoke in favor of tho
amendment.
Mr. FOSTER. (rep.) of Ohio. said II his democratic
friends desired ~ be consistent they would have to
stand by the reduction which the Committee on Ap-
preparations had made
Mr.. ATKINS opposed the amendment The patent
examiners not kept so busy at their Office that
they could not lind time to come up to the Capitol
ana lobby and buttonhole members for the purpose
of having their salaries increased. Finally the
amendment offered by Mr. Vance adopted-ycas
81, nays 62.
The paragraph for the lithographing of tho weekly
issues OF patent drawings was ton motion of Mr..
Atkins, OF rennesseo amended by striking out the
words requiring the work to be done in the city of
Washington.
Mr.. ,iooDE. (dem.) ofVa., submitted an amendment
providing additional clerical force in the Bureau
OF Education. Ruled out on point of order
MIR. Cox, (dem.) OF y. V, moved to strike out the
whole paragraph in reference to the bureau of Eu-
cation. lie argued that the bureau anomaly
and ought be wiped out leaving the whole subject
of education to the States whore 1t properly belongs.
Mr. CioopE defended the Bureau of Education rs
doing a good work III the collection and furnishing
of statistics. which work could not be done e.
ciently by the States. As strict constructionst of
the State rights school he was unable to sympa-
thize with the views OF Mr.. Cox.
Mr.. Cox characterized the Bureau Of Education as
a fungus and ntimated that the interest of pub
fishers of school text books ut the bottom ct
the whole scheme That "the little Joker in
the case. lie not opposed to education. On tho
contrary, There were some men in the House whom