The National tribune., 1882-12-21
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Holiday Recess to be Taken
After All.
BILLS.
Two-cent Postage a Certainty
in the Near Future.

| In the Senate, on Thursday, the 14th inst,
| the consideration of the bill to promote the
| efficiency of army chaplains, by increasing
! their salaries, was resumed, and after some de-
bate the bill was reiected-yeas, 20; nays, "a.
| Mr.. Saunders (Neb.), who presented, on the
18th instant, a memorial from the governor
and citizens of Yankton county, Dakota, ask
| ing Congress to authorize them to issue new
bonds, bearing a reasonable rate of interest, to
| liquidate all adiudicated indebtedness of the
| county, presented the draft of bill, and asked
| that it be printed for the examination of the
| Committee on Territories, to which committee
he moved its reference. The motion was
| agreed to.
| The Senate then took up the Pendleton civil
| service bill, and debate on that measure occu-
| pied the remainder Of the session.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
| In the Senate, on Friday, the 18th inst, the
| French spolatiOns claims bill was taken up.
Messrs. Hoar (Mass.) and Bayard (Del.) spoke
| in its favor and Mr.. Sherman (O.) in opposition
to it.
And amendment offered by Mr. Harrison
| rep. Ind was adopted providing that the re-
port of the Court of Claims shall be merely
advisory as to the law and the facts.
The bill as amended was passed.
The civil service bill was then taken up and
| debated at length.
On motion of Mr.. Pendleton (O) the first
section of the bill was amended so as to require
| the civil service commissioners to be confirmed
| by the Senate.
| Mr.. Morgan (Ala.) offered two amendments,
which were ordered printed. Zone of them
| provides that no advice or recommendation of
| any application for examination or appoint
ment given by a Senator or Representative
| shall be received or considered by the examin-
erS unless it shall have been previously asked
| in writing by one or more of them. The other
fIan To- oh
| State five examiners not in the service of the
| United States, and not more than three of them
! belonging to the same party, who shall examine
| applicants residing in the State.
| SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
! In the Senate on Saturday, the 10th inst, Mr..
| Voorhees, Ind.) submitted a substitute for the
! library bill, which, like its predecessor, pro-
vides for the erection of a fire-proof building,
to be built east Of the Capitol, between street
north and East Capitol street and First street
east and Second street east, to be built accord
ing to the plan of Architect F. Smithmeyer.
| The sum of 100000 is appropriated to COM
| mence the construction of the building
The Senate then took up the civil service
| bill, and Mr.. Allison Ia.) modified his amend
ment so as to make it mandatory upon the
| President to appoint the commissioners under
the bill. His amendment provides for the ap-
| pointment of three commissioners to constitute
| the United States civil service commission, to
hold Office two, four, and six years, respectively
| their successors to hold office six years, at a
| salary of - 500.
| Mr.. Voorhees, opposing the bill, thought that
| the best possible reform would result from a
| thorough change in the personnel of the SER
| vice occasionally.
| Speeches were made for the bill by Messrs.
| Hoar (Afass.), Hawley Comm, and Jones
| New; against the bill by Messrs. ingalls,
| Ull.), Voorhees, (Ind.), Plumb (Kan.), and
Maxey Tex
On motion of Mr. Hawley, the Senate adj
iourned at six p. m, in spite of the protest of
Mr.. Edmunds that to adjourn then would be
substantially the destruction of the bill.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Monday, the 18th inst, Mr.
| Logan (Ill.) presented the petition of citizens
| of Eureka Springs, Ark, praying for the eStab
| lishment of Soldiers Home at that place.
! Mr.. Sherman (O), from the Finance Com
mittee, reported the bill prepared at the Treas
| ury Department and recommended by the Sec
retary, to extend for two years the period
| within which persons having whisky in bond
must pay the internal revenue taxes thereon.
| House bill to amend the act to repeal dis
| eliminating duties on goods produced east of
! the Cape of Good Hope was passed
| Mr.. Pugh offered an amendment to the pend
idg civiservce bill, and it was ordered printed.
| 1t provides that persons now in the service
-,
ration of the laws it provides that the officers
| shall be apportioned among the States and Ter
| ritOrieS and the District of Columbia according
| to the population, and directs the heads of De-
partments to divide the persons now in office
into three classes: First those who can be sub
jected at once, without injury to the public
service, to examination in competition with
other applicants for the Offices which they now
occupy; second, those who can be subjected
to such competitive examination within six
months from the passage of the act without in
jury to the service; third, those who can be
submitted to examination within twelve
| months. The officers being apportioned geo.
graphically, each to be given to one of the three
persons standing highest in the competitive
examination without reference to political
opinions or affiliations; and the whole force is
TO be reduced TO the actual requirements of the
public service.
The Indian appropriation bill was then taken
up and discussed but without conclusion.
Mr.. HOar Mass.) from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported, with amendments, the
bankruptcy BILL which was recommtted to that
committee last week.
The House resolutions in relation to the death
of Representative Orth were received, and out
of respect TO his memory the Senate adjourned.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate on Tuesday the 10Th inst,
Mr.. Natt Conn.,, from the Committee on Pen
sions, reported bill declaring that nothing
contained in the act entitled An act to amend
section 1902 title 81 Revised Statutes of the
United States, and for other purposes approved
August Tth, 1882, shall be construed or operate
to change the date of the commencement of
widows pensions, as provided in the second
section of the act Of March Sd, 1879"
The act, the construction Of which the bill
reported by Mr.. Platt is to define, provides that
in case of the death or disability of a soldier
his widow or children shall be entitled to the
same pension as he would have been entitled
to, dating from his death or disability The
act which this latter act amends provides that
unless the application for such pension shall he
made prior To the first of July, 1880 it shall
date with the application, and not with the
death or disability of the person on whose ac-
count the pension is granted. There are ex-
cepted from this limitation claims in behalf of
insane persons and children under sixteen years
of age. Widows now proposed by Mr..
Platts bill to be also included within the ex-
ceptOns.
The bill was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Logan (iIl) introduced a bill for the
regulation of telegraphic and cable companies.
At the close OF the morning hour the Indian
appropriation bill was called up.
Mr.. Plumb (Kan,) offered an amendment
providing that the appropriation for the educa-
tion of Indians at Carlisle shall cover also the
cost of their transportation. Agreed TO.
Mr.. Call (Fla.) offered an amendment, which
agreed to, providing that the Seminoles
still remaining in Florida shall receive their
share of the money appropriated to pay the
interest due that tribe under treaty stipula-