Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-19
ILLT CONGRESS.
WAsuNCroN. Dec. - lS95.


In tbs ScnSgs NJ, Mitchell, from lac
Committee on Pensions, reported favor
ably the bill granting 4 pension to the
widow Of General Grant. The bill was
at once passed without debate.
Mr.. Hampton introduceda illmaking
it unlawful for Senators or Representa-
tives to recommend or solicit appoint
ments TO office.
Mr.. Hawley inquired Of the Chair
whether this bill was retroactive in its
operation. Laughter.l
The Char replied that in his opinion
it was not. Renewed laughter.l
Mr.. Butler called up his resolution
Of inquiry relating to the alleged or
ganization OF the Territory Of Dakota
into State, which was debated until 2
o'clock, when it again went over.
The Senate then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the joint rules. After a
short debate, resulting in some amend
ments of detail, the rules were finally
agreed TO.
At 2:4O P. NJ. the Senate adjourned
till Monday.
House OF Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, of West
Virginia, the Senate joint resolution was
passed to provide for filling vacancies
in the Board of Regents of the Smith
sOnian Institution.
The consideration of the report Of the
Committee on Rules was then resumed,
the pending amendment being that Of
fered by Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, to
abolish the various committees on ex-
penditures in different departments and
to concentrate their duties in one COM
mittee consisting Of fifteen members.
In advocating the amendment Mr..
Springer stated that during the past
ten years the clerks Of these commit
tees had been paid 1850 900, while, as
far as be could remember, but two of
them had made reports--the Committee
on Expenditures in the War Depart
ment in the forty-fourth Congress, and
the Committee on Expenditures in the
Department Of Justice in the Forty
eighth Congress.
Mr.. Morrison, OF Illinois, thought
:hEs a.eeh good hsa resulted from the
work done bv these tFo committee.
During the late campaign he heard it
proclaimed everywhere in democratic
speeches that the Democratic party
wanted to see the books. Now that it
had az opportunity Of seeing the books
he hoqed 1t would not close its eyes.
II hope YOU WON'T" remarked Mr..
Browne. Of Indiana. "You will have
some books Of your own in few
years"
Mr.. Herbert, Of Alabama, opposed
the amendment, asserting that the
House should always stand ready to
investigate abuses which had grown up
in the administration Of the Govern
ment. lie did not think that the Re-
publican members could afford TO vote
10 abolish these committees.
Mr.. Houk. Of Tennessee, stated that
the Republicans would not vote to
abolish them. II was true that when
the Republican party was in power
there was little necessity for them, but
the prospect was that they would be
very useful in the future. [Laughter.l
After further debate the amendment
was rejected.
Another long and lively debate fol-
lowed, participated in by Messrs. NAM
mond, Blount, Hiscock, Mex snley,
Holman. Read, Cannon, Ryan, Nor
rison, and Bingham. In It's course q
number Of amendments were offered,
some Of which were withdrawn and
others defeated.
Mr.. Cannon referred to the statement
made by Mr.. Hiseock that he bad ex-
ercised his power Is chairman OF the
Committee on Appropriations in the
Forty Congress to hold back
the appropriation bills In order to force
the passage Of the internal-revenue and
tsrih-eommission bivs. He tMr. Can
non) said that Il had been an open Sc
cret that the Republican caucus had
decided that certain bills, including the
bills alluded 70, should hsvs the right
Of way against any other measure:
The gentleman from New York had
withheld certain appropriation bills,
but he hsd done 30 not as chairman
Of the Appropriations COMMITTEES, bat
as the organ Of the Republican major
ity. The gentleman from New York
IL - I-~a~-~I L. a ox.nnrh whtch h8