Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-13
YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS.

Proposed - Civil Service Reform -
Amendments to the Pendleton Bill
The Congressional Library Building
Congressman Shelley's Salary Claim.
WAsHINGTON, Dec. 12.-In the Senate.
on motion Of Mr.. Hoar, a resolution was
adopted, directing the Postmaster General
to transmit as soon as possible his last
report on the administration of the post
office in New York. Also, a resolution
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to
transmit the report Of Edward o. Grimes
on the administration of the custom house,
naval office and Surveyors office in New
York
AT the close of the morning hour, Mr..
Beck proposed to call up his resolution
Tor an investigation of political assess
ments, but, owing to the absence of Mr.
Edmunds, whose motion to refer the reso-
luton to the Committee on the Judiciary
was pending, Mr.. Beck agreed that it
should be laid aside temporarily.
The Senate then proceeded to consider
bills upon the calendar.
Mr.. Beck introduced a bill to Dreyent
political assessments, which was referred
to the Judiciary Committee. 1t is as
follows:
First. 1t shall not be lawful for any per-
son holding any office under the United
states, or any employe thereof, to con-
tribute or pay to any committee or person
or into any fund any money, property or
valuable thing for any political purpose
whatsoever, or to pay any assessment or
percentage upon the income or emOlu-
ments of his office or position for any
DOllfID1l nIITnOGD Or fO trix- oAx
or pay any money, property or valuable
thlng with the intent or with the assent,
permission or understanding that the same
may be applied to or for any political pur-
pose whatsoever, or himself or herself
apply the same to any political purpose.
NO mead OF department or other supe-
periOr officer shall himself collect. or per-
NIT or allow any other person to collect or
receive from any officer or emplOye in his
department or under his supervision, or
from any other officer or employe what
ever, any assessment, percentage, contri-
button, gift, loan or advance of any money,
property or valuable thing with the intent,
understanding or permission that the
same shall or may be used for any pOliti-
cal purpose.
second. That any person who shall viO-
late any provision of this act shall be eem-
ed guilty Of misdemeanOr, and on cOnvic-
ton thereof shall be punished by impris-
Onment for term not exceeding six
months, and, in the discretion Of the
court, by fine not exceeding $1,000, and
on conviction shall be forever thereafter
disqualified from holding anY office of
honor, profit or trust under the United
States.
Any officer of the United States who
shall violate any provision of this act,
shall, i'll addition to such Imprisonment
and fine, be deemed and taken to have
vacated the office held by him.
The Senate took up and passed bills for
the relief of William w. Screws, of Ala
bama.
The Senate then took up the PendletOn
civil service bill. The amendments re-
ported from the Committee on Civil Ser
vice Reform were agreed to.
Mr.. Pendleton then spoke at length in
advocacy Of the bill
Mr.. PendletOn was followed by Messrs.
Allison and Sherman. a large number
OF amendments were offered and ordered
printed, all of which tend to increase the
strlngency OF the provisions of the bill.
These amendments We're offered by
Messrs. Slater, Hawley, Logan, Allison,
Harrison, Hoar and Hale
Pending debate the Senate went into
executive session, and at its close ad-
jOurned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House the post office, military
academy and department of agriculture
Appropriation bills were reported and re-
terred to the committee of the whole.
Mr., Page, of California, presented a pc
titiOn of citizens Of California recon-
mendlng an increase Of the duty on chic
cory. Referred,
Mr.. Henderson, of Illinois, Chairman of
the Committee on Military Affairs, report
ed back the resolution calling on the Sec
retary of War for information as to what
action has been taken under the act of
August 7th, 1889, to relieve certain SOL
diers from the charge of desertion.
Adopted.
Mr.. Randall offered resolution re-
questing the President to transmit to the
House statemant showing the aggre-
gate amount which has been expended in
Improvement of rivers and harbOrs from
the beginning of the government to the
present time. the amount annually eX-
pended, and the aggregate and annual eX-
penditure in improvement Of each river
and harbOr, accompanied by references to
the laws acthOriZing each of such eXpen-
ditures, and also a statement showing
what benefit to commerce, if any, has
resulted from each Of said eX-
penditures, and stating the navigable
capacity of each of said rivers and har-
bors before and after improvement, and
also to inform the House whether any
moneys have been appropriated or eX-
pended in the improvement of rivers or
harbOrs not navigable, within the legal
definition of the word 'navigable' as
defined by the United States Supreme
Court, and also to state whether any
money has been appropriated or expended
for the improvement of any river or har-
WI hn Init n
ferred.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the Congressional Library
building bill.
The bill as it stands provides for obtain
ing site for library building by pur-
chase or condemnation of private pro-
perty.
After a long debate, in the course of
which the House refused to POSTPONE or
lay the bill on the table, Mr.. Hammond.
OF Georgia, moved to recommit the bill TO
the committee on additional accomm0da-
tldns for the library of Congress with in
structions to that committee to report
bill providing for the erection of a library
building on land i'm Washington belonging
to the United States.
The motion was agreed to-yeas 11O,
nays "a.
Mr.. Robinson moved to reconsider. and
MI. Randall moved to lay that motion on
the table, pending which Mr.. KassOn.
from the Committee ON Civfl Service Re-
form, reported back the bill for the better
regulation Of the civil service, and it was
placed on the House calendar.
Adjourned.
GENERAL SHELLEY'S SALARY.
Representative Shelley. of Alabama. has
filed with the First Comptroller of the
Treasury statement Of his claim for
COMPENSATION As a Representative ia Con-
gress for an opinion as TO his legal right
IN the premises: Mr., Shelley's claim is
that as the successor of Mr., Smith to fill
the vacancy caused by the latter's death.
he is entitled TO be paid as a member of
the House Of Representatives from the
18th OF May, loS2-the date of Smiths
death-under the provision Of section 81
of the Revised statutes.
SIX MILLION POUNDS