Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-20
The Senate.

Appointment of New Committees.
The Senate.
WASHINGTON, Dec Ex-senator McNil-
Ian presented resolutions of the lsgisla-
ture of Minnesota asking the erection of
sheer booms at the railroad bridges acr oss
the Mississippi.
By Senator CulIom, to provide for the
acceptance by the United States of the
Illinois and Michigan canal from Illinois.
By Senator Fair, to provide for sinking
| artesian wells on lands of the United
States in Nevads.
By Senator Ingalls,, to provide for the
appointment of commission to investigate
railroad transportation.
By Senator Logan, to consolidate the
| bureau Of military justice and the corps
of judges advocate of the army.
The bill creating the. new standard of time
in the District of Columbia passed.
Senator Van Wyck, offered q resolution
cslling on the secretary of the interior for
information as to how much land was
certified or patented for the benefit of
railroad companies since the date of the
decision Of the supreme court in 1875,
which SO construed the indemnity clause
of the congressional grant, SO as to allow
Indemnity land only in lieu of lands orig
inally included in the grant, but which
were afterward sold. Laid over till to-
morrow.
The resolution for holiday recess went
over until tomorrow, and the senate re-
sumsd consideration of unfinished bust
ness under the rules.
Senator Frye Withdrew his call for the
yeas and nays on the clause of the FIRST
rule relating to the three days limitation
on the authority of the vice president.
The substitute clause was rejected, lsav-
ing the rule about as heretofore, but when
the rule comes up in the senate, when not
in committee of the whole, the subject May
be renewed.
The second rule read as follows: "Tbe
| senate may elect secretary, chief clerk,
principal executive clerk, chaplain, SER
geant-at-arms and assistant doorkssper, to
continue in Office until their suocsssors are
chosen, each of whom shall take the oaths
prescribed by Law bsfore entering upon
the duties of their Office. The secretary
| and sergeant alarms shsll each appoint
the employees of his department unless
| otherwise directed"
Senator Frye said this was simply the
form in rule of what has heretofore been
the practice.
Senator Garland thought there was no
necessity for such rule.
Senator Bayard considered the rale open
to objections. He had yesterday seen how
easily political machinery works, and how
quickly tried and trusted officers were dis
pensed with and new men .put in their
places. When the senate had Democratic
| majority, changes were made, bat no such
sweeping changes as now. Before the re-
movals yesterday morning were effected,
the fact was undeniabie that majority of
employees in the senate were Republicans.
The Democrats had removed the then sos
rotary of the senate because he mad been
both in public and private an aggressive,
violent denunciatory opponeot of more
than half the members of the chamber
and made his office the center of active
campaigning in which the motives, char
aeter and objects of the Democratic ma
jority were most uniustifably aspersed.
That change, therefore, would xnqestiona-
bly, benefit the public service. No efficient,
faithful officer of the senate had been re-
moved by his (Bayard'sl consent. This per-
hsps, was no occasion for extended remarks
in regard to civil service reform, but he
thought that subject was sinking deeply in
the minds of thoughtful people of the
country. He had a strong belief in civil
service reform, and if he did not much
mistake the temper of the American peo-
pie they intend to have sush reform, and
and are not going to be content with men
elected to Office by venal machinery. In
other words the country was not going to
be run by political machines
bailt upon, and supported
by political offices. 81 do not WANT he
continued, ''to see the offices of this eoun-
try filled by set Of men nothing but Office
brokers and wire pullers."
The second rule was disagreed to.
Several new rules were agreed to after
some amendments.
On reaching the rules relative to voting
Senator Bayard said he had hoped the
committee on rules would endeavor in
some way to cover the cases of senators
being present and rsfrxining frsm voting.
Senator Sherman said such q practice as
| abstention from voting had only been re-
excitement, and il was hardly worth while
to cover such rare instances by rules.
The subject of voting was adopted as
1 AOROIIO0s ASOopO I'll zig ouOJOCb
was reserved for future consideration,
when the senate was not in committee OF
| the whole.
The clause in the fifteenth rule gave rise
to debate. Senators Baysrd, Back, Nc
Pherson, Sherman, Ingalls,, and Jones of
Florida, participating. Is reads as fol
lows: "Every resolution of inquiry adj
dressed to the president of the United
States or heads of departments, shall, If
objected to, be referred to the committee
| having Jurisdiction OF the subject Of the
resolution. Said committee snail report
thereon within week thereafter, and the
resolutions be in order for consideration
when reported.
| Senator Sherman favored the clause,
| and Senators Bayard and Beck strongly
| opposed it.
| Senator Mcpherson said if the majority
of the senate desired to withhold the in
formation the minority desired, or if the
majority wished to apply tine gag law, no
better provision could be provided. The
clause was rejected.
The aenate took up the house concur
rent resolution for holiday recess, and
amended it, making Monday, January z,
the date of reassemb bling. As amended it
was agreed to and returned to the house.
| After an executive session the senate adj
| journed.