Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-13

Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies

Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies.
ASHINGTON, Feb. 12-The Senate was
to-day called to order and presided over
by Senator Allison, of Iowa, who had been
designated in writing by the President
pro tempOre to perform that duty.
Mr.. Voorhees,, in Offering the bill to
prohibit officers and employees of the
United States from contributing money
for political services stirred up consider
able warmth in the debate by his remarks
on the subject. He said that he was pre-
pared to prove that, Notwithstanding the
present law, it was a notorious fact that
moneys were being eXtOrted from depart
ment clerks and other persons in the gov
ernment employ. This bill makes it a
penal otlense for person in the employ
Of the government to contribute anv
money for political purposes. Mr.. Voor-
hees said that many thousand employees
would be glad to be armed with the an
sWer with which such Il provision of the
law would furnish them that it would be
ii penal Otfense for them to contribute
such moneys. No evil, he added, so
gravely threatened the perpetuity of our
form of government as the corrupt use of
money in elections.
Mr.. Hawley expressed his willingness
to see every infractiOn of the law pun
ished, but thought that it would be
measure opposed to the cOmmOnest rights
OF mankind to pass an act which should
prevent, under penalties OF the criminal
law, any man from properly contributing
OF his own free Will, to the success of the
political principles which he professed.
Mr.. Beck said shat it was known to the
committee of the Senate that men have
come here for confirmation who have re-
tanned in their pockets a percentage of
the salaries of government servants under
them for political purposes.
Mr.. Dawes said that such men should
be openly exposed and impeached.
Mr.. Harrison maintained that men
would be in a condition of slavery who
should be compelled to live under such a
bill as was proposed lIy the gentleman
from Indiana( Mr.N OOrhees) J. Mr.. Harrison
remembered having read Of the most
violent abuses of the kind complained of
where and when Democrats were in power,
and the gentleman from Indiana Mr.
Voorhees, had never raised his voice
against it. 1t was only when money was
contributed to the party opposed to the
views of that gentleman that his virtuOus
Indignation was aroused. The bill was
referred at the request of Mr. Voorhees, to
the Committee on the Judiciary. as he OBJ
jected to its reference to the Committee on
Civil Service, of which Mr.. Hawley is
Chairman, on the ground that when try
ing case before a Judge whom he knew
to beagainst him he always took a change
of venue.
The bill prOviping tor additional accom-
mOdatiOns for the Congressional library
was taken up and passed. The ultimate
cost of the proposed new building is linn
tied to $3660,000. Five hundred thousand
dollars is made Immediately available.
After an executive session the Senate ad-
jOurned,
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day Mr.. Turner, of
Georgia, gave notice that he would to-
morrow, after the reading of the journal,
ask the House to proceed to the cOnside-
ration Of the Mississippi contested cleo
ton case of Chalmers vs.. Manning.
Mr.. Potter, OF New York, introduced a
bill to refund the bonded debt of the United
States at 219 per cent. Referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana, occupied the
greater part of the remainder of the DAVIS
session in criticism on the bill. which he
found defective in nearly every feature. He
particularly objected to it upon the broad
ground that the appropriation was too
small, and our already insignificant navy
would become still more insignificant un-
der the policy outlined in this bill. At
the conclusion Of Mr., Calkins' remarks
the committee arose, and the House ad-
jOurned.