The Portland daily press., 1882-12-13
XLVII CONGRESS--2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar re solution was
adopted requesting the Postmaster General to
transmit the last report ON the administration
OF the post office in Newport.
The Senate adopted resolution directing the
secretary OF the Treasury to transmit the re-
port OF Edward y. Crimes on the administra-
tion OF the custom house, naval office and sur
Veyor's office in New York.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred
:, By Mr.. Ferry, granting pensions to Steward
Herbert and Julia e. Revere, the latter the
widow of Brigadier General Revere.
BY Mr.. Beck, to prohibit the officers and en-
ployes of the United States from contributing
money for political purposes. Referred to the
Committee on judiciary.
Mr.. vest offered a resolution, which was
agreed to, instrueting the Committee on Terri
tories to inquire and to report by bill or other
wise what legislation, if any, ia necessary to
protect tne public property and to enforce the
laws OF the United States in Yellowstone Park
and to preserve game there
At the close of the morning hour Mr. Rach
proposed to call up his resolution on political
assessments, but owing to the absence of Mr.,
Edmunds, whose motion to refer the resolution
to the Committee on Judiciary was pending.
Mr.. Beck agreed that it should be laid aside
temporarily.
The Senate proceeded to consider the calen-
dar.
a bill to equalize the pay of navy chaplains
Will tLdb Vi army CudpldlUb was discussed. but
without action, ane the Pendleton civil service
bill was taken up.
The amendments reported from the Com
mittee on Civil Servica Reform were agreed to,
Mr.. Pendleton said the necessity of a change
in the civil administration of the Government
had been so fully discussed in public that he
would not make any further argument on that
point. lie proceeded to enumerate some of the
abuses of the present system, and spoke at
length in support OF the bill, He believed the
passage OF the measure would hasten the day
OF Democratic triumph, but even If he thought
otherwise he would still urge it, because. much
as he loved the Democratic party ne loved his
country more
Mr. Sherman feared his colleagues efforts to
convert his party to the cause of civil service
reform would prove unsuccessful, and would
find that this, like all other reforms, must be
made, ii at all, by the Republican party. Mr..
Sherman agreed that the civil service should
be reformed. The term of the MINOR offices
ought to be fixed by law. Interference with
appointments by Senators and members was
not only demoralizing but it was humiiiating
to them, and he had voted some years ago for a
bill introduced by Senator Trumbull to prohibit
1t. But civil service reform bill which did
not deal with the power of removal was like
the play OF Hamlet with Hamlet left out.
Mr.. Hoar said that while the bill did not deal
directly with the power to remove, it took away
the temptation to remove improperly or un-
justly.
Mr. Sherman dssented from this view.
Amendments were offered by Senators Haw-
ley, Logan, Allison, Harrison, Hoar and Hale
respectively, which were ordered printed
At 4.30 the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The post Office, military academy and agri-
cultural appropriation bills were reported and
referred to the committee of the whole.
Mr. Henderson, chairman of the committee
OF military affairs reported back a resolution
calling on the secretary of war for information
as to what action had been taken under the
act OF August Z, 1882, to relieve certain SOL
diers from the charge of deserton Adopted
Mr. Randall of Pennsylvania, offered res
olution requesting the President to transmit to
the House statement showing the aggregate
amonnt expended in improvement of rivers
and harborS from the beginning of the govern
ment to the present time. Amount annually
expended and aggregate and annual expendi-
lures IN the lmprov ement of each river and
harbor accompanied by references to the laws
authorizing each of such expenditures and al
so statement showing what benefit to the
commerce If any resulted from each of said
expenditures and stating nayigable property of
each of the said rivers and harbors before and
after the improvement, and also to inform the
House whether any monies had been appro-
prlated or expended in an improvement of
rivers or harbOrs not navigable within the
legal definition of the word "navigabe" as de-
fined by the United States Supreme Court and
also to state whether any money had been ap-
propriated or expended for the improvement of
any river or harbor not within the United
States Referred,
The House then proceeded TO the consideIa-
ton of the congressional library bill. Mr..
Rice of Massachusetts explained the bill.
Amendments were agreed to providing that
the cost OF the building shall not exceed two
millions and that as far as possible it shall be
constructed in separate parts. The bill was
then recommitted to the committee on addi-
tional accommodations for the congressional
library with instructions to report bill pro-
viding for the erection of a library OF land be-
longing to the United States.
Mr.. Robson moved to reconsider and Mr..
Randall moved to lay that motion on the table
pending which Mr.. Kasson from the commit
Tee on civil service reform reported back bill
for the better regulation of civil service and it
was referred to the home calendar.
Adjourned.