National Republican., 1883-02-17
THE HOUSE and SENATE.
Mr. Cannon's BOthersome Bill Debated, Amen
ded, and Finally Passed.
The Eight Hour Clause Only Applies to
the Sweet Summer Time
Bills ApprOpriatng Money for Flood Sufferers in
Various Regions.
MIR. Sherman Reserves His Right to OPP
pose the Whole Tariff Bill.
THE HOUSE.


the house went into committee of the whole
(Mr. Robinson, of Massachusetts, in the chair)
on the legislative appropriation bill. This
was done with the assent of the ways and
means committee, which, through its chair
man, agreed not to press tho tariff bill until
o'clock, unless the legislative bill should be
passed at an earlier hour.
Mr.. Darrall moved to increase the appropri-
ation for tho Office of surveyor general of
Louisiana from $1,000 to $15,0O0o. Agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Cannon, an amendment
was adopted appropriating SS,4O0 for the pay
of force. necessary for the care OF tho court
house in Washington.
Mr.. Springer moved to strike out the clause
authorizing the heads of the various depart
ments to mako requisitons on the postmaster
general for official postage stamps, and TO IN
sert in lieu thereof provision making III the
duty of the respective departments to inclose
TO senators and representatives, in all official
communications requiring an answer or to be
forwarded to others, penalty envelopes adj
dressed, as far rs practicable for forwarding,
or answering such official correspondence.
Agreed to-
The section which relates to
INCREASED HOURS OF WORK
for department employees having eoen
reached, Mr. Vance raised point OF order
Ng0lnSU 1U hllCTAtllptuoolOb, NhN Ni'tih S"o-
tanned the point of order, and the section was
ruled out.
Mr.. Cannon then, under instruction of the
appropriations committee, offered an amend
ment, requiring all clerks and other employees
in the executive departments to work from
o a. m. to p. M, from the first oil october 10
the first of April, and from II. m to . p. m,
from the first of April to the first of October.
Mr.. Vance also raised u point of order
against this proposition.
The chair overruled the point Of order on
tho ground that while tho amendment did
not absolutely demonstrate that expenditures
would be retrenched, yet on fair construc-
ton it would work that result. He only fol-
lowed many precedents in overruling the
point and submitting the amendment to the
committee.
Mr.. Hooker moved to amend the amend
ment by limiting from a. M to p. m. the
Office hours between April and Oct. l.
Mr.. Young, Mr.. Speer, Mr.. Belford, and Mr..
Whitthorne earnestly argued against Mr..
Cannons amendment, holding that the in
crease of hours of mental labor would not re-
suit in the good of the service, aud Mr..
Whitthorne bore testimony to the courtesy,
intelligence, and competency oil the clerks IN
the various departments.
Mr. Belford. Mr.. Chairman, this amendment
represents the crystalized wisdom of that noble
band OF prntorians called the appropriation com;
mittee, fIaugher.l 1t is, suppose, the result of
months OF fdeliberaton. IL Is the summation OF
the glory they hope 10 achieve ut the present ses-
tS n@ on or Ins dcsonn of imitation par.
simony, been deprived OF control III the next
house of haTgnTSr nsnnn To com
pei the poor starving clerk to get out OF his bed at
o'clock in the morning, (whi!e these gentlemen
and 90 to work at $40 month. That Is about the
philosophy OF this thing. II clerks in these de-
partments are in the habit OF being absent ~ days
M lime they should be compelled to be in at
tendance; but for Gods sake do not scrimp ana
scrump and rob the poor clerks III lhe depart prt :
ments of this government VINO hro clo"ueu iike
cattle in u corral.
The amendment was advocated by Messrs.
Blount Reed, and Haskell.
Mr.. Hooker's amendment was lost
Mr. Springer offered an amendment provid-
ing that there shall be no appointment of
clerks or other employees in the several de-
partmonts to fill vacancies until the whole
number of clerks or employees in any depart
ment shall be reduced 20 per cent. below the
present number. Lost.
Mr.. Cannon's amendment was then
adoptcd-90 to 62.
The amendment is as follows;
SEC 4. That hereafter It shall be the duty OF
the heads of the several executive departments,
in the interest Of the public service 10 require OF
all clerks and other employees, OF whatever grade
or class, in their respective departments such
hours of flabor as may be deemed necessary for the
proper dispatch of the public business, the same.
however not TO be less than from the hours of Q
a. IN. to p. m. each day, except suhGRys ana
days declared public holidays by lazy Or or eTecI; 1set
April and from o H. IN. TO p. m. from the frsl OF
April to the first of october of each year. aud all
absence from the departments on the part of said
clerks or other employees, in CNCesSot such leave
of fabsence as may be granted by the heads there
Of which shall not exceed 30 days in any one
year, except in case OF sickness, snail DC w!lhou'
pay.
Mr.. Hazeltine offered an amendment pro-
viding that 50per cent. Of all salaries provided
for in this bill shall be paid in standard silver
dollars. Ruled out
Mr.. Beach offered an amendment reducing
all salaries, except those of President and su-
preme court judges, 10 per cent. after March
a, 1888. Lost-S to 109.
The committee then recurred to the item
making appropriations for the botanical gar
den, tho pending amendment being that
offered by Mr.. Lefevre to consolidate the Yari-
Gus gardens in Washington. The amendment
was lost.
The committee next REQUIRED TO the amend
ment offered last night by Mr.. Holman, pro-
hibiting any money appropriated for the cleri-
cal force of the general land Office to be paid
to clerks engaged in recording or issuing
patents to land grant railroad companies lol
lands to which they are not entitled by law.
The chair ruled the amendment out on q
point of order, and on an appeal by Mr.. Hol'
man the decision was sustained.
Tho committee then, at $780, rose and re-
ported the bill to the house.
The final amendment voted upon was that
reducing the number of internal revenue col
lection districts to eighty-two and it was
agreed to-yeas 1876, nays 30.
The amendment increasing tho hours o
clerical labor in the departments was agreed
to-l2i to 30.
The bill was then passed-yeas 40, nays 80
Mr.. Kelley Immediately moved to go into
committee of the whole ON
THE TARIFF BILL,
and at 4;35 the motion was agreed to--100 tC
5l-the negative vote being cast by those de-
sirous of taking up the bonded spirits
bill.
The pending amen dment was that offered by
Mr.. Gambler as u substitute for the first clause q
the sugar schedule, and which was so modified a,
10 read as follows: "On all melada, concentrated q
melada, sirup of cane juice tank bottoms, con.
centrated molasses, and on all sugars not above
No. l3, Dutch standard, SO per cent. al valoTem
Lost.
MIR. Bayno moved to reduce the duty on all
sugars above No. IS, Dutch standard, and moi
above No; l6, Dutch standard, from TO 212 cent
per pound,
After some debate and pending action the
committee rose.
THE FLOOD SUFFERERS,
Mr.. Skinner introduced bill appropriatin(
$500,000 for the relief of the sufferers from
the floods in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers
and Mr.. Wheeler INTRODUCED II bill appropm
ating 100000 for the Same purpose Bott
measures We're refeffed to the committee OF
appropriations.
The house then, at $3.50 took a recess unit
= 1880.