Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
WEDNESDAY. Dec. 6.

| HOUSS-ln6 mouse was worse Inal the
senate. Here a continuous wranals was
kept up almost the entire day. Robson,
| Williams, Page and others were feeling
very mad over the recent defeat, and ap-
parently wanted to chastise some one for
it. The only business of importance was
a resolution similar to that offered in the
senate Yesterday by Beck. directing the
committee on civil service reform to in
| quire into the details of alleged political
assessments made upon government en-
ployes during the recent election.
THURSDAY. Dec. Z.
Sendte-Sens. Voorhees,, Sherman, Nc
Dill, Vest, Ingalls,, Chilcott and Miller,
of New Y York, presented petitions for the
passage of the bill to increase the pen
sions of one armed and one legged coldiers
At the close of the morning hour, Sen.
Beck called up his resolution for investi-
eating into political assessments during
the last canvass, but the republicans fill
bustered and woald not let it come to a
vote, and the senate adjourned.
| HouSe-The only work accomplished by
the house was the passage of an old bill,
to reimburse the state of Georgia 10 the
sum $35 800 for supplies bought during
the revolutionary war.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER s.
| bCCftUtC-i1L kHc ClOSc Vi tHt
hour, Beck called up his resolution for
| inquiry into political assessments upon
| government employees.
In the discussion which ensued. Hale
said the democratic party had placed
wealthy men upon their committee in Or
der TO induce them to contribute money
| for political purposes, and had levied
large assessments upon the liquor dealers
association, and the investigation, If en-
tered upon at all, ought to be extended TO
both sides.
| Sen. Beck finally modified the resolu-
ton SO as to omit the names of pension
claimants, but discussion continued until
two o'clock, when the bankruptcy bill was
taken up.
House-Mr. Burrows, of Michigan,
from the committee on appropriations, re-
ported the consular and diplomatic bill.
Referred to committee of the whole. 1t
approprIates 81, ,25S. .255. being $79, 800 less
than the appropriation for the current
year, and $l32, 800 less than the estimates.
Burrows gave notice he would ask for ac-
tion on the bill tomorrow.
| The house, at 1920, went into commit
tee of the whole on the private calendar.
SATURDAY, DEC. 9.
THE TOBACCO TAX.
.Senate-Petitions of tobacco dealers and
manufacturers for a rebate equal TO any
reduction that may be made in the tax on
tobacco were presented by Messrs, Hale,
Miller, and Eimunds.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Mr.. Pendleton asked unanimous consent
to take up his civil service bill for the
purpose of making it the special order on
Monday next. Mr.. Voorhees, said there
were so many more important measures
awaiting for the action of the senate that
lie was compelled TO object. Mr.. Pendle-
ton gave notice that as soon as the bank
ruptcy bill is disposed of, he would move
to take up the civil service bill.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
After the introduction and reference of
several bills, Mr.. Beck called up the po-
litical assessment resolution. He said, if
the investigation should be ordered, he
would make proof so strong of outrages
inflicted upon government employees that
the system of political assessment would
be made obious even to the other side. 1t
could be shown that men and women
have been ousted from their places in the
departments, whose failure to contribute
was due to absolute inability, and that,
in some instances, democratic friends had
given them money to pay these assess
ments, SO they might be saved from starv-
alton.
Mr.. Voorhees, addressed the senate,
congratulating the country upon the won
derful charge of heart on the subject
among republican senators since discuss
ion of last summer.
At 2 o'clock, without acting on Mr..
Beck's resolution, the senate resumed
consideration of the bankruptcy bill.
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPRo VMENTS.
House.-Mr. Page from the commerce
Committee, reported a resolution calling
| on the secretary of war for information
as to whether the money appropriated by
| the last river and harbor bill was appro-
priatcd on works or objects not in the in
terests of commerce and navigation, and,
| if so, requesting that specifications be fur
| nished.
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa advocated an
amendment in the phraseology of
resolution, contendiHg that the secretary
Of war ccEld not report that any work
was unnecessary, as every brook was Of
local Importance.
Mr.. Horr, of Michigan, thought Kas-
sons statement of the case visionary.
Mr.. Page said the river and harbor bill
was kOOu ucspltt luS ldCL LDdI
| 'howl,ng demagogues" had cried it down.
The secretary of war ought to be required
| to explain hy he did not send in the en-
gineers' estimates for the work of next
| year.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, in 4 fiery
speech, opposed the resolution. He told
| Mr.. Page that the bowling demagogues
seemed to have had the majority in his
| pages district, and, in fact, thev had
ma iority all over the country. The peo-
pie bad set the seal of their diaapproval
on the river and harbor bill. Those river
and harbor bill members who were not re-
elected criticised the president severely
for vetoing the last river and harbor bill.
| Mr.. McLsne called attention to the fact
| that, because New York had twenty-seven
feet of water in her harbor, she objected
to the improvement of the harbors of
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Mobile, New
Orleans and Galveston. Applause. If
there ever was a veto which deserved to
be overridden is was the veto of the har-
| bor bill by the honorable gentleman who
now holds his seat at the end of the ave-
nue.. That veto offers you no opposition
to the principle of the bill. That veto
tells you that the amount is too great
| Whose business is it TO regulate the
amount when the priEciple is right. If
to improve navigation and commerce be
wise policy, must not congress say how
much money shall be expended? For the
president to take no exception 10 bill
except that we give more money than he
w.uld deprives him of the respect which
our judgments ought TO render TO him.
And the more so when he follows that
veto with an annual message in which he
tells US thst msy be some of the objects
will require further appropriations. If
the money has not been expended. whose
fault i. it? And if the executive has
taken it upon himself not to expend the
money, what excuse can he offer? His
statement that $17.000.000 are still on
hand is fallacious.
Mr.. Kxsson-I understood the gentle
man to blame the president for vetoing
the bill for the largensss of the appro-
pristion.
Mr.. McLane-That l did.
Mr. Kasson-In other words, the presi-
dent should expend all that Is appropri-
ated?
Mr.. McL.ne-That is another question.