The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-06

WASHINGTON, January 8, 1882.

The Chair submitted petitions from the
bar OF Rockford, ILL.,, for the organization
of the Court OF Appeals, and from the bar
and Judges OF the courts OF Marion county,
Ind, and bars Of Terre Haute, Madison,
New Albany, and Evansville, for an addi-
tional circuit Judge In the Seventh circuit.
Bills were introduced MS follows:
By Mr.. Jones Of Florida: TO regulate
the appointment OF sail-makers in the
United States navy.
BY MFR. Anthony: To promote the eff
cheney Of the navy.
By Mr.. Vance: Directing that copies OF
the official letter-books OF the Executive
Department OF the State OF North Carolina
! be furnished to said State.
BY MIR. Maxey: To increase the efficiency
OF the signal service OF the army.
Mr.. Garland offered a resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Finance TO inquire
into the propriety Of refunding to parties
who paid for protection under trademark
/ legislation the fee required by act OF Con-
gress touching that subject, which was de,
/ cided by the Supreme Court OF the United
States in the trademark cases TO be uncon-
/ sttutiona, and to report by bill or other
wise. Adopted.
On motion Of Mr.. Kellogg, the Secretary
OF War was directed TO transmit copies OF
any and all papers relating to the repair or
| Improvement OF the Mississippi-river levee
In front OF the city of New Orleans.
Additional bills were introduced as fol-
! lows:
BY Mr.. Conger: To confer positive in
place OF relative rank on officers OF the
corps Of engineers Of the United States
navy.
Upon completing the routine morning
order, the Senate, at Los O'Clock, by vote
OF q to 10, adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
When the House met at noon to-day the
number OF spectators in the galleries was
unusually small, and the attendance OF
members evidently fell far short OF quo
rum.
After the morning prayer and reading OF
the Journal Of the last days proceedings,
however. a number OF members entered,
and after exchanging New-Iear greetings
with their colleagues. took their seats,
giving the chamber its customary appear
ance OF life and hustle.
Mr.. Orth. of Indiana, rose to ques-
ton Of privilege, stating that 1t grew out
OF and affecting the recent appointment OF
the committees of the House. Before
stating the question specifically he said
| ask indulgence TO announce that 1t is
nv purpose ut an early day to introduce
| for consideration and action proposition
to change the method Of selecting commit
tees.
The vast and diversified interests OF
the country are all more or less affected
by congressional legislation, and this legis-
lation, as is well known, is almost eXclu-
siyely controlled by the action OF commit
tees. For this reason their formation as
sumes importance, and invested with re-
sponsibility too great to rest In the hands OF
a single individual, however capable and
honest and patriotic such an individual
may be. As now exercised, 1t is emphatl-
cally One-man power, and such power is
ALWAYS dangerous and in conflict with the
principles Of republican government. 1t
is our duty to see that it may not at some
future period be used to the detriment OF
the best interests of the people. And now
as TO the question of privilege.
! You have seen fit, sir, to assign me to
| three Ommittees-namely, the second
place on Foreign Affairs, the second place
on Rules, and chairman OF the Committee
on Civil-Service Reform. BY the kindness
and unwayering confidence OF my constitu-
ents have been for twelve years member
OF this House, and am now entering on my
seventh term of service here. With two
exceptions, there is not another Re
publican member who has thus long
represented his people. During that time
have served "a a member and chairman OF
the Committee on Private Land Claims,
and member Of the Committee on Ways
and Means, and for ten years as a member
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs-a
part of such time as its chairman. With
one exception, possibly two, l am the only
Republican member who at any time prior
to this session has ever served rs chairman
OF any committee of this House.
In view of this fact submit that the
| Speaker, in his recent action, has done an
| Injustice to me and my constituents. For
this injustice there is, however, no RENE
DIV. All that can be done is to protest
against it, as / now do. For myself and
nv constituents, and for reasons so appa-
rent as not to require specification, i re-
spectiully ask the House to excuse me from
service as a member OF the Committee on
Rules"
| The Speaker The Chair sdoes not I'M
derstand that it is necessary for him TO VIM
dictate himself by saying anything in reply.
! 1t must not, however, be inferred because
! the Chair does not undertake to challenge
any Of the statements charging him with
Injustice that the Chair acquiesces in the
views taken by the gentleman from In
diam.
Mr.. Orth's request was granted, and he
was excused from further service on the
Committee on Rules.
The regular order being the call OF COM
mittees, il was dispensed with.
A resolution was offered by Mr. Gibson.
OF Louisiana, amending the rules as to the
Committee on Mississippi Leyees. II gives
the Committee on Mississippi Leyees power
to originate appropriation bills relative to
the Improvement of the Mississippi river.
Mr.. Hewitt, OF New York, offered a
/ resolution reciting the fact that the Khe-
dive Of Egypt had presented to the United
States the Obelisk known as "Cleopatra' S
Needle" and rendering to his Highness
| the Khedye the thanks OF the people Of
the United States for the gift, which only
the oldest OF nations could make and
the youngest could most highly prize.
Adopted.
A long and desultory discussion sprang
up as to the power OF members to intro
duce bills through the petition-boX instead
OF presenting them in open House. Those
holding the Affirmative Of the proposition
made strong point in showing that the
practice Of introducing bills in that man
ner would result in the saving Of time.
The opponents of the proposition called
attention to the danger there would be
of wrong reference Of bills, and
claiming that measures so present
ed would lack the essential qualities
which would attach TO it IL introduced in
the ordinary way. The discussion was
finally closed with an expression Of opinion