National Republican., 1884-04-18

doubt that every transaction in connection with |
the selection of the site was honest and upright.
Mr.; Skinner characterized rs absolutely ialse n
the statement made in New York paper that MS |
objection had been made at the private request OIL
Mr.. James.
The resolution was then adopted.
MIR. Belmont, Of New York presented petition |
OF the teachers and students I'm the Cooper Union
IN favor of abolshing the duty on works oil ART
The morning hour having been dispensed with
the honse, at l2;35, went into COMMITTEES oi tne
Whole Ont Springer, Of ILLINOIS, In the chaip OIL
ANer an hours debate the bill was read by para
graphs for amendments.
Mr.. Gof Of West Virginia, offered proyiso
that no proof shall be required either in pending
cases or those hereafter filed as to the physical
condition of the soldier at the time he was mus
tered into tho service and all claims heretofore
rejected on account OF lack OF such proof snail DO
reheard.
vania, and Mr.. Hammond, OF Georgia, raised
points of order; and in the course of the discus
sion MT. Reed, Of Maine, took occasion to express
his judicious contempt for the system OF rules
under which the house was operating. The house
was doing no business because 1t deliberately sac
riiiced Its time under the rules In way that made
1t impossible to do business. An hour day was
wasted in oataloglng the decisions made by the
sion Of a committee was TO enable the 70
be put In glass case, where the friends OF the
deceased might look upon the remains. There
were on the calendars 200 committee reports
and no business was done except that presided
over by the gentleman from Pennsylvania lMr
RandalD and he, mojesticaliy situated as ne was
was not equal, even with the assistance OF Mr..
Holman, to the whole business of the country
Niagara could not be poured through spouts;
Mr., Randall said that the theory OF the rules oil
congress had always been to protect the minority.
The majority could always protect Itself, and the
gentleman from Maine ought TO know that the
present Committee on rules had been magnani.
moue enough to continue that philosophy. inc
rules provided for the saving OF money ana put
bus bills. He was willing to appropriate on every
appropriation bill, provided money was 70 be
were TO be Increased The United States, he
might say, was legisated to death. 1t had more
legislation than was required and more than the
people demanded; and If there was an eYl III
this country 1t was too much legislation.
Mr.. Reed of Maine. did not know whether this
assertion was true, but he did know that congress
sat here for the purpose of hearing the people.
A verdict for the defendant and against bill was
just as much fulhllment OF congressional duty
as anything else but when the house refused to
leglslate, not because 1t had decided against the
party, but because 1t had not heard him. II did an
Injustice gross and most foul This was the court
Of the people where they were entitled to have
their grievances heard. The result of these re-
peated refusals to listen to the people would be
congress which would go as far wrong In one
direction as this congress was going in another.
The amendment was ruled out OF order;
Mr.. Hiscock offered an amendment striking out
the reappropriating clause of the bill and making
the money available by direct appropriation.
Mr.. Henderson offered an amendment increas.
ing from s. to Sl2 per ono hundred vouchers the
allowance to pension agents for vouchers prepared
and paid by them in excess Of four thousand per
annum. Lost.
Mr.. Hancock, on behalf of the committee on ap-
propriatons, moved to mako the amount $40.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Rosecrans offered an amendment striking
out the provision for the pay of pension agents,
and transferring the duties of those officers to the
pay department of the army.
Pending vote on this amendment the commit
tee rose.
The speaker announced the appointment Of
Mr.. Brewer us director of the Columbia hospital,
Washington.
The house then lat o'cock) adjourned.