The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Senate Passes the Japa-
nese Bill.
Political Assessments.
Democratic Members OPP
pose them.
Politics, Maine Republicans
hold their Convention.
General News, Sporting and
Otherwise.
CONGRESS-.

WASHINGTON, June 13.-The house, by
joint resolution, passed to-day, author
izng the Secretary of War to erect at a
cost of $4,000, a memorial column at
Washington, headquarters at Newburg
NY, and appropriating $15. 900 toward the
expenses of celebration there in 1888, and
appointing a committee of five senators
and eight representatives to arrange for
the celebration.
Holman offered an amendment prohibit
ing political assessments. and making a
violation of that provision punishable by a
fine and dismissal, the salary of the person
dismissed to be converted into the treasury.
Ruled out on point of order.
Townsend of Illinois offered an amend
ment providing that the compensation of
all persons paid out of the treasury, as pro-
vided by this bin, shall be reduced one per
centum per annum, making it unlawful to
pay any partial assessment by such per-
sons, and declaring guilty of misdemeanor
any person who demands or receives such
assessment. Ruled out on point of order.
Townsend thought it ought to bring
BLUSH OF SHAME
and remorse to the face of any honest man
to accept seat in congress bought by the
bread money of families of half starved
clerks and laberers. The spoils system was
the foulest blot on our free Institutions
Ii it had not been for money
obtained during the last campaign from
mail contractors, who are now under in
dictment, Indiana would have gone demo
cratic, and man. perhaps maniac,
would not be about to hang for making a
stalwart president.
Cox, of New York, having addressed
himself to the question of political assess
ments, Kasson. of Iowa, said he should be
glad to co operate with the gentleman
from New York (Cox) in any effort to
stop the oppression, if it were any, upon
The subordinate employees of the govern
ment. He desired that law should be.
carefully prepared, which would, if neces-'
sarY, impeach any officer who should in
any way punish subordinate for declin
ing to contribute. but he would not impair
the personal right of a man to give his
money for political purposes, provided he
did it freely.
Springer condemned the practice of levy
ing political assessments. and said the
DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
when thew were in control of the
house, had not resorted to it,
a statement which was, however, denied
by Valentine, of Nebraska.
Kasson offered an amendment embody-
ing the civil service reform proposition of
Curtain ruled out of order Saturday, but
it was again ruled out Springer then of
fered similar proposition with the addi-
tional proviso that the extra clerks in the
pension office shall be men who served in
the union army.
The speaker raised point of order and
stated it was poor way to propitiate the
south, amendment ruled out.
Young. of Ohio, offered an amendment
appropriating $50, GOO for preparing and
printing classified abridgement of patents
granted, rejected. Fl
Townsend offered an amendment reduc
ing letter postage to two cents; ruled out
Springer offered an amendment provid-
ing that reporter of the supreme court
cover into the treasury all receipts from
sale of reports in excess of So, 500 per
year; adopted.
Pending long discussion regarding the
transfer of pension claim records to the
office of adjutant general, committee .ad-
journed.
Grover from military committee reported
favorably as amended senate bill granting
right of way to the San Francisco & Ocean
Shore railway
Garland introduced supplement to the
recent Geneva award act, providing for
CLAIMS of British owners of property seized
when under the American flag.
Browns resolution supplying each sena-
tor with 81, 200 clerk was rejected. Yeas
10 nays %.
Senate bill to give every officer whose
name is on the naval list thirty five years,
ana has served a full term as chief of bu-
leau' the rank that of Commodore, which
lie would have If he was chief of bureau,
was rejected, 10 to 35.
Fiumb. Dawes and Cockrell constituted
''nleres on district appropriation bill
olalr spoke upon the urgent need of aid
'S 'he common schools
Ailison, on the finance committe, report
"acN with amendments the house bank
'er extension bill, which was ordered
P.n'ed and and recommitted.
os 'he Japanese industry bill was consider
,raa'. i'ill amendment ordering the des-
'ion OF bonds on which the fund was
'eu prevailed by vote of twenty
seven to twenty three.
me only succeeding notable feature