The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-06-14
WASHINGTON
---A-
The Tenor of Yesterdays
Congressional Work.
II the House. a Session of Civil
Service Reform Discussion.
In the Senate, a Deal of Wrangliug
over the Jap Indemni y.
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.

bOUoE-
Washington, June ia joint reso-
luton passed authorizing the secretary
of war to erect at a cost of 800, 900 a
memorial column at Washington's
headquarters at Newburgb, n. Y, ap-
pronriating $4,000 to aid in ~defraying
expenses of the celebration to be held
there in 1882 on the Centennial ami
yersary in the declaration Of peace, and
providing for the appointment Of select
a committee of five senators and eight
representatives to make arrangements
for the celebration.
The house went into Il committee on
the legislature apr opriation bill.
Townsend, of Illinois, offered an
amendment providing that compen-
sation of all persons paid out of the
treasury as provided by this bill shall
be reduced one per centum per mum,
making it unlawful to pay any political
assessment by such persons, and declar-
ing guilty of misdemeanor the person
who demands or receives such assess
ment. 1t vas ruled out on a point
Of order. Townsend thought 1t ought
TO bring blush, shame and ramorse to
the face of any honest man to accept a.
seat in congress bought by the bread
money of the families of half starved
clerks and lsborers. The spoils system
was the foulest blot on our free institu-
tions. If it had not been for money
obtained during the last campaign from
mailcontractors who where under indict
ment. Indiana would have gone Dem
o~cratic, and a man, perhaps..a maniac,
ic, would not be about to hang for
making a stalwart president. Holman
offered an amendment prohibiting pol
itical assessments and making viola
ton that the provision be punishable
by a fine and dismissal, and the salary
of the person dismissed to be converted
into the treasury. 1t was ruled out on
the point of order. Cox, OF New York,
having addressed himself to the ques-
ton of political assessments, Kasson,
of Iowa, said he should be glad to co.
operate with the gentleman from New
York in any effort to stop oppression, if
there were ANY, upon subordinate en-
ployes of the government. He desired
that the law should be carefully pre-
pared, which would, If necessary, i'm
pair the personal right of man to give
his money for political purpose, pro-
vided he did so freely. Springer con-
demned the practice of levying political
assessments, and stated that the demo-
crat party when in control had not re-
sorted to it, the statement which was,
however, denied by Valentine, of
Nebraska. Kasson offered an amend
ment embodying civil service reform.
The proposition of Curtin, of Pennsyl-
vania, was ruled out Of order Saturday
last, and again to-day. Springer then
offered a similar proposition with
additional provision that extra clerks in
the pension office shall be men who
served in the Union army, Townsend,
of Illinois, offered an amendment re-
ducing letter postage to Q cents, but
was ruled out, pending a long discus
sion upon the last section bill, direct
ing the wal department to transfer all
pension claim records In the surgeon
generals Office to the ofice Of the
adjutant general. The committee rose
and the house adjourned.