The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-13
xLvrrrsb CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, February IL, 1884
uuNATE

! SENATE.
The Senate was to-day called to ordel
and presided over by Senator Allison, o
Iowa, who had been designated In writing
by the President pro tempore to perform
that duty.
Mr.. Voorhees,. in offering the bill to pro-
hibit officers and employees OF the United
States from contributing money for politi
cal services, stirred M considerable,
warmth OF debate by his remarks on tn.
subject. He said he was prepared toproyt
that Notwithstanding the present law II was
a notorious fact that money was being ex
torted from department clerks and Other
persons in the Government employ.
This bill makes 1t penal ofience for
person in the employ OF the Government tc
contribute any money for political pur
poses.
Mr., VOORHEES, said many thousand en-
ployes would be glad TO be armed with the
answer with which such provision OF
law would furnish them that 1t would
be penal offence for them to contribute
such moneys. No evil, he added, so great
" threatened the perpetuity OF our form Of
government rs the corrupt Use OF money
In elections.
Mr.. Hawley expressed his willingness Ia
see every iniraction OF the law punished
but thought II would be measure opposed
to the commonest rights OF mankind to pass
an act which should prevent under penal
ties OF criminal law man from properly
contributing OF his own free will to the
success OF the political principles which he
protested.
Mr.. Beck said il was known to the CON-
mittee OF the Senate that men had come
here for confirmation who have retained in
their pockets the percentage OF the salaries
OF Government servants under them for
political purposes.
Mr.. Dawes SAID such men should be
openly exposed and impeached.
Mr.. Harrison maintained that men would
he in condition OF slavery who should DE
compelled to live under such bill as was
proposed by the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr. Voorhees). Mr.. Harrison remembered
having read OF the most violent abuse OF
the kind complained Of. Where and when
Democrats were in power the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Voorhees, had never
raised his voice against ii. 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 objected to its reference
to the Committee on Civil Service, of which
Mr.. Hawley is chairman, on the ground
that when trying the case before judge
whom he knew to be against him he al
wavs took change Of venue.
Tho hill nrnyilipr for additional occ0n-
mediation for the congressional library
was taken up and passed. The ultimate
cost Of the proposed new building is limit
ed to S3.360.000. Five hundred thousand
dollars is made Immediately available.
Executive session. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. Turner. OF Georgia. gave notice
that he would tomorrow after the reading
OF the Journal ask the House to proceed to
the consideration OF the Mississippi election
case OF Chalmers Us. Manning.
Mr.. Potter, OF New York, introduced a
bill to refund the bonded debt OF the
United States at q per cent. Referred to
the Comm ittee 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
days session in criticisms on the bill,
which he found defective In nearly every
feature. He particularly objected to it
upon the broad ground that the approprla-
ton was too small, and our already insig-
nificant navy would become still more in
significant under the policy outlined in
this bill.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Calkins's re-
marks the committee rose, and the House
adinIlrneh