Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-19
THE LAW -GIVERS.
SATURDAYS CONGRESSIONAL PRO-
CEe0lNGS.
The Silver Bill in the House Ewing Gets
3 in an Amendment-LOgan's De-
: fence Of Poker Schenck,
WASHINGTON, May 10.
SENATE.

Consideration OF the Legislative,
Executive and Judicial Appropriation
Bill was resumed. Among the amend
ments agreed upon was one offered by
Mr.. Voorhees,, from the Joint Commit
tee on Library, appropriating $1,000 for
the purchase of works OF art.
The amendment recommended by the
Committee on Finance, appropriating
10000, to be expended at the direction
of the President, was agreed to.
During debate on the amendment on
the subject of clerks in the Postotilce
Department, a colloquy occurred be-
tween Mr.. Salisbury and Mr.. Window,
in which the latter said he would not
ioin the fotmer in his wish TO economlze
expenses by reducing the army which Is
required for the protection OF the IRON
tier from the attacks OF Indians.
A discussion followed, with Messrs.
Salisbury, ,Conkling and Edmunds using
the name of General SchenCk III the use
of troops in Maryland and Delaware.
Mr.. Logan said there was nomore hon
orable man than Gen. SChenck. When
treason stalked about and the nation
was rolling and rocking to and fro
like a distressed vessel on the stormy
sea General Schenck reached forth
his hand in his country's defense. lie
was one of the band OF patriots who
defed treason, and risked his life and
all other things precious for the preser-
vation of the Union. lie did not claim
that General SchencK was entitled to
credit for being a great patriot, but be-
cause he was a patriot that was no
reason why he should be maligned here
or elsewhere. General SchenCk was a
crippled man, a pensioner for wounds
received in his country's defense, and
he was patriot and an honest man,
Notwithstanding the sneers OF the Sena-
tor from Delaware.
After a short executive session, the
Senate adjourned.
Executive Session.
The executive session to-day was
wholly devoted 20 an animated discus
sion of the report of the Judiciary Com
mittee on the question ofthe right OF the
Senate to confirm nominations Tor army
appointments and promotions above
the rank of captain, in view OF the act OF
June Is, 1873, which prohibited such
appointments and promotions until
after the report OF the Joint Committee
commonly known as the Burnside
Commission "shall he made and acted
upon by Congress.
The conclusion OF the Judiciary Com
mittee, that this prOhibltory clause Is
still in force, was to-day supported IN ar
gument by Messrs. Garland, MaXey and
Thurman, and was combatted by
Messrs. Randolph, HOar, Butler, Lo-
gan and Edmunds. a lumber
of other Senators participated briefly in
the debate, but the foregoing were the
principal speakers. The advocates OF
the Judiciary Committees view argued
that although various proceedings were
taken in each house OF the FOrty-tiith
Congress upon the report submitted by
the Burnside Commission, no act either
in affirmanCe or disaflirmance thereof
ever received the concurrence OF bOth
houses, and therefore no action OF Con-
gress has yet been taken on the report
1t was also argued that it would be un-
wise for the Senate to confirm the pend
ing nominations, because in the event
of a different construction being placed
on the law by the House OF Represen-
tatives and Courts there would be
trouble and confusion in adjusting the
rank of officers whose promotion might
then prove to have been illegal. The re-
suit ls considered doubtful, although the
recommendation of the Judiciary Com
mittec are usually sustained.