Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-12
PORTY-ElGHTH COyGRESS.
First Session.
SENATE.
WAsHIxGIoS. Feb. IL.

WAsHINGIoS, Feb. IL.
The chair laid before the Senate u COM
munication from the secretary of war trans
mittirg. in compliance with a recent resolu-
tlon of the Senate, statement showing the
number of soldiers of the late war who served
one year, how many two years, and how
many three years and the amount of money
required to equalize the bounties of those
who served in said war
Mr.. Pendleton presented the credentials
of Hon. Henry B. Payne.
Mr.. Miller of Califor lila, from the commit
tee on naval affairs, reported favorably q bill
for the relief of the survivors of the Jean
nette expedition.
Mr.. Hoar. from the committee on judiciary,
reported favorably bill to fix the salaries of
the judges of the district courts of the United
States.
Mr.. Frye offered q resolution, which was
agreed to, calling on the secretary of State
for such information As is in his possession
relating the French spoliaition claims.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered a resolution.
which was agreed to. directing the committee
on post offices to ascertain whether any own
ers or officers of the Baltimore Ohio Tele-
graph Co. made or received any proposals or
entered into an agreement to consolidate
with the Western Union.
L ne ueDdte on the hluuleDerger resolution
was then resumed.
Mr., Vest maintained that Mr.. White was in
favor of civil service. He was obliged to
say that in the hands of the republican party
the civil service act was a delusian and q
snare.
Mr.. Ingalls, expressed the belief that with
out any further examination than was now
before the Senate it was improbable to dis
cuss the matter. He therefore moved its ref
e.ence TO the committee on the several
branches of civil service.
To show the attitude of the democratic
party toward civil service reform, Mr.. Con-
ger read a resolution offered in the Senate in
1879 by MIR. Wallace, then United States
senator, requiring that the several officers in
the department of the secretary of the Senate
and sergeant at arms should be appointed
and removed by those officers respectively.
The object of the resolution was to the power
of removal from the then president of the
Senate, who was republican, in order to
give it the officers named, who were demo-
Gratis. He also road an amendment offered
by the senator from Vermont (RandallD to
that resolui ion, opposing the removal of
proper and efficient officers. The amendment.
Mr.. Conger said. was voted down and the
original resolution agreed to without dissent
om the democrats and in accordance with
that resolution the secretary of the Senate
removed 20 republican clerks and left only
4 republican clerks remaining.
The matter then went over.
A message was received from the House
announcing the continued disagreement of
that body to the Senate amendment of the
Greely relief bill.
MIR. Hale moved that the Senate recede
from the amendment.
After debate the Senate decided 90 to % to
reccde from the amendment.
A joint resolution authorizing the secretary
of war to issue rations for the relief of the
destitute persons in the district overflowed
by the Ohio river, and making an appropria-
ton Of $1,000 to relieve the sufferers.
The resolution was read three times and
passed
Adjourned.