National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-23
F0RTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
The Removal of the officers of the
Senate.
Democratic Effort TO Reverse n Democratic
Precedcnt-Continu of Debate on
the Army I}ili-David Davis De-
Tense of Southern Crines-Sil-
vor Bll Passed by the
House Yesterday.
SENATE.

structton Of the Dcnnison and Pacific Railway,
from Dcnnison in Texas, TO the Rio Grandc. He
said he introduced the bill by request but had not
given IL such consideration as to indorsc the meas
ure. Referred TO the Pacific Railroad Committee.
Mr.. VOORHEES, introduced bill, which was re.
ferrcd, to increase the pension of General Ward b
Burnett, of New York.
Mr.. INGALLS, read q communication from Wyan.
dotte Kan, abiding TO the fact that large numbers
of colorcd persons from the South are there In
n destitute condition. lie said that from authentic
information several thousands Of that race are in
dinorcntpnrts oflhc Mississippi and Missouri Val
lcys. lie did not at this time propose to advert tn
the cause of this extraordinary movement Whether
these immigrants wero rugitvcs from injustice and
oppression; or whether they were moved to better
their condition. he did not know
IL was sufficient to say this movement was going
on. The great free communities of the West would
welcome them and incorporate them with their
citizens while protecting them In NIL their civil
rights but until the present condition of affairs
shnl be settled there should be some provision for
their relief, as the burden of relief should not be
imposed on localities aud communities that are not
responsible for this sudden appearance Of imm-
grants There were numerous cases where Con.
press was called upon for relief such as distress oc.
casioned by the overflow of the Mississippi and
other foundations. and the yellow fever In view
of those matters he was called upon TO introduce q
bill for the relief of the destitute persons TO whom
he had referred. There was great necessity for i'm
mediate and efficient action upon the subject and
therefore he introduced "a bill for the rclicror the
destitute c9lorcd persons nov SmFrang from the
Committee on Appropriations.
The Senate proceeded TO the consideration Of the
resolution heretofore introduced by Mr.. Wallace,
amending the present rule 50 as to give the Score.
tory Of the Senate and the Sergeant Arms
authority to remove or appoint their Respective
tothe approval Of the presiding officer ofhe Senate
The pending question was on the amendment of
Mr. Edmunds offered rs n substitute namely: RE
SO'rCd That in the opinion of the Senate the correct
md safe transaction of the business of the Senate is
materially dependent on retaining In rs service
corps Inexperienced wcll.ttaincd, and diligcntO OIL
GERS, and this can only lie done by security in their
fu in the discharge Of ther duties"
Mr. PENDLEToN said the amendment was not full
enough because II declared only general rule of
nction II was true a faithful discharge of duty
was one Of the requisites Of good officer but IL
was also true thOta faithful officer might he dis.
agreeable in manner or his person might be often
sive to the Senate. Tile therefore, proposed an
amendment 10 remedy this difficulty. 1t was also
true that the Senate held the Secretary aud Ser
gcant.at.A Arms responsible for the convenient trans.
action of business and the comfort of Senator'S In
view of this fact IL seemed TO him That the Senate
ought TO give them the liberty of making tho an
pontments of their subordinntes, without subject
Ing them to the approval of presiding officer, who
was not Senator, and who was not charged with
any of the high duties Of Senator. The Senate
could relieve the Secretary and the sergcant.nt.
AIMS any moment from the responsibility placed
upon them by electing any of the subordinate of
Gccrs.
1t was with view OF supplying defect IN the
amendment of the Senator from Vermont that he
ORR Pendletonl offered the following, amendment
jority of the Senator'S" aud naSnuch as the APP
pointment of his subordlnntcs and the power Of
dismissal should remain with those officers respect
lively who must he responsible for all the service
committed to their charge therefore
"RcS0'rcd, That the standing order of the Senate
regulating the appointment and removal Of clerks
and other employees OF the Senate he and II !,
hereby amended by striking out of The same all
after the word respectively IN the third line, SC
that the same shall read as follows:
"RcsOlrCd. That the several officers md others IN
the departments of the Secretary of the Senate and
of the Sergeant:at- Arms shall be appointed and re
moved from Office by those officers respectively"
TO hear from Democratic source doctrines such n,
that stated In the amendment Just read, still hG
should be surprised to hear such doctrine coming
from Ohio If he correctly understood the decla
ration the reason for Offering the amendment was
that the sergeantat-Arms and the Secretary of the
Senate were in some sense responsible to the Sen
ate for the manner in which they discharged the
duties. There was no supervisory power; in one
word, there was nothing but the will Of the Office
TO determine the question Of the retention removal
or appointment of his subordnNtCs. The Sergeant
alarms was not bonded onicer-he was not {
custodian of money and therefore was not required
TO give bond, as in the case OF those who disburse
millions of dollars such the SubtrCaSurcr at New
York, marshals, aud collectors of customs and o
internal revenue.
II had been said that officers who give bond fol
moneys as well as otherwise should have the powe
TO select the agents orwhOm they were responsible
but IL was now said, he supposed, with The higl
sanction of Democratic sentiment, that those whC
gave no bonds, but were simply the consabular!
force TO whom the janitors report, could not prop
crly conduct the duties Of their Office il the appoint
1ncNI Oh tnclf SURROUNDINGS was nnuc COnutOna
on the approval Of the Nicc'lIcsdent. This so ia
imncded those officers that instant relief must b.
had, The Senator from Ohio said the President o
the Senate was not Senator on this floor. What
Could the Senator from Ohio say that of the re
vcred or as the iiial Senator from Georgia woml'
Thurmnn)? 1t was the bearing Of this amendment
ON the distinguished Senator, who acts MS the pre-
siding onicer Of the Senate now, that struck hin
Mr. Conklingl first of all when he heard II read
He (Nr Conkling) should like to know how /
happened, when for iye and twenty years ther
report of n Democratic committec-a rule that pro
Vded that the presiding olhccrof the Senate sh0ul
act as check on the capriccs of the Secretary
the scrgcant-at Arms in Diminishing and changln
the tenders of the Senae-he wished to know hoy
II happened with a leader of The DemocrNtic part
on this floor IN tie ch0ir-th0t Democrat Of Demo
crnts-that his party associates proposed to depriv
him of the power, which belonged TO his place
While lie (Nlr. Conkling) had recently listened wit
pleasure TO the remarks Of the Senator from Rhod
Island (Mr. Anthony, he was surprised that tn
the distinguished presiding officers of this body
What did II mean?
Did the Senator from Ohio doubt the loyalty c
the presiding officer? Did the Senator doubt tina
he would give his sanction to the removal of II
officer who ought TO be removed, or was II n touch
ing and delicate tribute OF the presiding officer
the Senate? Did he wish to free the presiding oil
Ger from The onerouS, he would not say odou,
course imposed upon him Did the presiding OIL
Ger refuse to become the headsmNn Of the Unlo
soldiers and oripplcs about this chamber? Wa
IL relieve him nom task 50 disasenl that tn
Senator from Ohio had brought forward his amend
mcnH He (Mr. COnklmgl had read In great Orga
of the Democratic party that the present occupar
of the chair wns In truth and really the PreSiden
of the United states. When the pending TcsOlutiO
came IN he was reminded of this assertion of IN
organ that he was MS much President ms if he ha
been installed In March, 1871 This struck hiI
tMr Conkng) as design TO induce the now presto
ing Olhcer 10 establish doctrine which during hi
present or his next term of Office he would lin
confronting him, II he continued the mode of NJ
proving the appointment Of officers The Tesoll
ZION now pending, taking away the approval {
the presiding officer, was to be adopted IN order IN,
there might be clearer sweep olthe subordinate
OF the Senate
Mr. ANTHONY asked that the further considers
Ton OF ne subject be postponed till tomorrow b,
chuse Oh me absence ul Mr. EdmundS who was al
SEM from sickness This was agreed to.
MI HARRIS introduced bill to provide for q
examination ana investigation of the accounts
certain lnndgr1nt railroads in accordance wit
the decision OF Tie supreme Court, and for n IN
report OF tho results thereof TO Congress
MI fENnLEToN gave notice that after the arm
bill was disposed of he would ask the Senate
take up his bill providing that the princinal exc
utive officers be provided with seats on The floor
the House of Representatives. He would addre
the Senate on the subject and then ask that il
referred to q select committee or leave Il omen Il
discussion, If any Senator so desired.
The Senate resumed the consideration of Il
army bill.
Mr., GARLAND then addressed the Senate on Il
army appropriation bill arguing IN favor Of the !
peal clause and defending the attachment of 1t