National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-17

~ NuHRpSlcti tnNt there might nc SOME
Gentlemen In the next House who did not want TO
be relieved. lie Thought that he. for one. could
recommend gentlemen TO the Departments from
le hs constituents who were tit to fill positions
Mr., MILLS moved to amend the amendment by
piovidlng nat all clerks appointed to the Depart
ments shall be appointed IRON States not having
Adopted.
The amendment as amended was then rejected.
MI' iuiitf offered an nmcudment for the aD-
pontment of surveyors,gcneral aud their clerks In
louisiana Florida, Minnesota. Colorado Oregon,
california, Nevada, Dakotn New MexCo Idaho
Washington Territory Utah Wvominp Arizona
Nebraska. and Iowa.
Go,InS,ideratlon of the amendment was postponed
unn ulht portion OF the bill Is reached which pro-
Vldes lof change In the system of surveys
r, CuhNlNGs offered an amendment for tho en-
p,Ua,ct OF additional clerks In the Pension ONCE,
ages act. WV
Mr; ATKINS stated thu, the Committee on Appro.
~ ai"tonS was now preparing bill to carry ont that
"r ~ iWhcn M appropriation would be made for
an additional clerical force
Under ms representation of facts the amendment
Mr. HANNA Immediately offered another amend
for that purpose.
Mr. SPARKS said that a bill could be reported In
lew days TO nay the arreamges of pensions, aud II
would provide all the necessary increase of clerical
force.
Mr. HANNA replied that his fear was that that bill
might fail.
Mr. HALE remarked that even in case Of dead.
lock and the failure Of other appropriation bills
me Dill 10 pay arrearages OF pensions would not
tah lie did not believe that anybody would take
the responsibility of stopping It's passage. II would
DC reported on Monday or Tuesday next.
Ihereupon Mr. HANNA withdrew the amend
ment.
Mr.. MCMAHON offered an amendment to dispense
win the biennial examination of pensioners, the
Commissioner to have the power of ordering special
examinations when deemed necessary. and of re-
ducing or increasing pensions. After discussion
the amendment was agreed to.
MT. VANCE offered an amendment putting the
salaries of the chief clerk aud examiners In the
Patent ONCE at tho same figures they were mp.
propraled Tor last year (the present bill proposing
II reduction.
Mr.: WAIT favored the amendment. The numer.
Gus inventors over the country desired that the
patent officers in Washington should be wcll-paid,
able men, who would protect them In their rights.
MIR. DURHAM argued that the salaries affixed by
the bill were amply sufficient to carry the Pat
entonice without cripplng the service in the least
degree.
Mcssrs, Sampson, Townshend Ill.). Bridges Dean.
and Willis spoke in favor of the amendment
Mr. FOSTER said that If his Democratic friends de.
sired to be consistent they would have To stand by
the reduction which the Committee on Approprin-
tons had made.
Mr. ATKINS opposed the amendment The patent
examiners were not so busy at their Office that they
lobby and button-hoe members for the purpose of
having their salaries increased.
Finally the amendment offered by Mr.. Vance was
The paragraph forthe lithographing of the weekly
| issues of patent drawings was Ton motion of Mr..
Atkins amended by striking out the words rcqulr-
ing the work to be done in the city of Washington.
Mr.. GooDE offered all amendment providing for
| additional clerical force in the Bureau Of Educa-
| ton Ruled out on point of order
Mr.. Cox IN. " moved TO strike out the whole
paragraph in reference to the Bureau Of Education.
| lie argued that the Bureau was All anomaly and
ought to be wiped out leaving the whole subject OF
education to the State, where it properly belongs
Mr.. GoopE defended the Bureau of Education
as doing good work In the collection and fur
nishing ofstatistics, which work could not be done
| so efficiently by the States. As strict cOnstruc-
ZIONIST Of the state Rights school he was unable to
| sympathize with the views of Mr.. Cox.
| Mr. Cox characterized the Bureau of Education
as fungus, and intimOted that the interest of pub
fishers OF school text books was at the bottom OF
| the whole scheme. That was the little joker IN
the case. He was not opposed to education; On
| the contrary, there were some men in the HOUSE
whom he would like 10 see better educated laugh
| teri especially on State Rights.
MIR HASKELL intimated that the secret of Mr.
CoS's opposition to the Bureau of Education wa!
that the textbooks aud information furnished b,
| 1t were only so many Republican campaign docu
ments In disguise.
Mr. Cox's amendment was rejected.
| Mr.. LoRING moved to increase several items o
appropriation for the Bureau OF Education-tha
for contingent expenses from $1,000 to sl5,OOO
Adopted.
Mr.. THocKNoRToS moved to increase the appro
priation for the office of Auditor of Railroads Ac
counts from sl1 i50 TO $1,000. alleging as reason
the necessity of examining the books of the Uniol
and Central Pacific Railroad Companies, under tn
per cent decision of the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Cox IN. " supported the amendment. IL
| wanted the railroad bureau properly reinforced
He criticised the Pacific Railroad -Companie,
which, he said, had one set of reports for its stock
holders and another set for the Government. TIL
year 1873 showed decrease in earnings of 81 ,793
27i and increase in expenses of sl.66i.772 Tho
was u very marvellous showing since Congress ha'
taken hold of those railroads. The letter of No
PScc was 0 rs e the thur
|, man bill and to Congress was unendurable ThoS
railroad companies were the creatures OF Congress
and yet they threatened all railroad legislation o
Congress with law suits. The railroad bureau ha'
great work to do in calling to account those dere
hct and lordly monopolles. 1t looks rs If Con
| gress would be compelled to take charge of then
in some summary way.
After remarks by Mr.. Throckmorton and MI
/, Sparks the amendment was jected
| Mr. BRAGG moved TO amend the section in rela
ton to the Department Of Agriculture so as to d
rect the Commissioner to furnish seeds for distrbu
| | ton on the application of members of Congress.
| After discussion, the amendment was rejected.
, The portion of the bill relating to the judiciN
expenses of the Government was passed over fo
! | the present.
The sections In regard to the surveys of the Cox
ernmont having been reached. Mr. Atkins ohere
| an amendment consolidating sections two, three
, four, five, and six into one section.
Messrs. CALKGSs and PAGE intimated that thu
amendment was offered with the design Of cuttin
off points of order.
i Mr.. PATTERSON raised the point of order that n
. amendment could not be offered to tax the plac
of any section which had not been read.
5 Mr.. ATKINS thereupon altered the shape OF II
e amendment so as 10 offer all the sections relating
surveys as substitute for the second section of III
bill.
Mr.. CoNGER raised the point of order on that Sc
. ond section, inasmuch as II changed existing Ia
in transferring the Coast Survey 10 the Interior
partment.
9 Mr.. ATKINS argued that though the sectio
y | changed the law yet IL reduced expenditures, us
Z abolished the offices OF Surveyors. General
After Il long discussion the point of order WI
9 overrulcd and the committee rose without furth
action.
r Mr.. BLouNT, from the Committee on Appropri
i TONS reported deficiency bill. ordered printC
4 and reCOmmitted,
y This bill makes no provision for pension AREA
q ages II authorizes the Secretary OF the Treasu
i TO make entries of credit to the Pacific Railrof
o Companies of the sums illegally withheld by hi
n from those companies.l
s The House. at six O'Clock, adjourned
It
| mana t,1nurxr zrK,Irg