The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-07-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senate.

JUNE 30.-The. conference report on the
consular and diplomatic appropriation bill
was submitted by Mr.. Allison agreed to.
The senate then proceeded to the con-
slderatiOn of the legislative appropriation
bill. In the course OF q discussion IN
amendments increasing the clerical force of
some of the departments. Mr.. Beck de-
clared that he felt Inundated by the fact
that many OF the appropriations were
diminished so that the members of the
house might be able to go to the country
and say how economical they were and
how eXtravagant the senate was. He also
criticised the house for its delay in passing
the appropriation bills. He was not proud
of the record.
Mr.. Plumb said that the house took all
the time it needed, and then it launched
the appropriation bills on the senate with
out giving the senate time to consider
them. The legislative bill should have had
much more consideration than the senate
appropriations committee had been able to
give It. 1t had to take many things blind
ly. He thought 1t would be a good idea for
the senate and house to remain in session
till September, October, or November, until
every item In the appropriation bills had
been fully scrutiniZed.
July LIN the senate to-day n discus
sion took place on the proposition of the
the paragraph for the office work connected
with the publication of the records of the
rebellion, it being charged that these rec
ords were not edited with impartiality, and
were not confined to the records of the war
period. A particular instance of this was
dwelt upon, that of the Fitz John Porter
matter. Finally the paragraph was. retain
ed, but with q proviso restricting the pub.
LEGATION to contemporaneOuS events OF the
war, and another proviso directing the pub.
lication OF the evidence III the Porter case
and the report thereon by Judge Advocate
General Holt. The reserved amendments
are TO be voted on Tomorrow; under the
five minute debate rule. The senat at 2
p. m. adjourned.
July 2.-The legislative appropriation
bill was taken up i'll the senate today and
amendments thereto considered. That re-
ducing the number Of messengers from
twenty-Seven to twenty-five was, after a
long discussion, rejected. An amendment
for an additional clerk tor the civil service
commission was opposed by Mr.. Vance,
unable to do any more work 1t would be so
much the better. Mr.. Salisbury would, ii
he had his way, repeal the law. Mr.. VOor-
hees would treat the law fairly and give 1t
q fair change. If there was any good in 1t
ne hoped the good would come out. Mr..
Ingalls, quoted from the Commissioner OF
Pensions TO show that of seventy-seven APP
pOintments made by him under the civil
service rule yseventy-twO were Democrats
and the politics of the other five unknown.
he ulu not wonder tnat MI. voorhees, Ia
vored the law as administered by the Dem
ocratic party. Mr.. Hawley thought the
law stronger now in the public respect than
when it was passed. Mr.. Dawes thought
the law deserved the ardent and sincere
support of every one who believed in the
possibility of improving the civil service.
MIR. Call took occasion to remark that he
would pay his respects to the civil service
law on some future occasion. all he cared
to say at this time was that no person in
Florida, whether Democrat or Republican,
had been able TO obtain office under il. The
amendment was adopted-36 to IL. Amend
ments were adopted Increasing the salaries
OF assistant treasurers at Baltimore and
Boston beyond the amounts in the house
bill to $500 and $1,000 respectively. On n
motion To reduce the number of firemen for
the senate Mr.. Riddleberger criticised the
appropriation committee for cutting off poor
laboring men, but taking care of itself.
Instead of cutting off poor laboring men,
ne said, let them dismiss the tonsorial artist
who splits the hair to cover bald places on
Senatorial heads and wakes the dudish
mustaches of Senators. The amendment
increasing the compensation of the Com
missioner OF Pensions from $4,000 TO $4,000
was rejected-24 to %. The vote was sub
sequently reconsidered and the amount
agreed 10 without q division. The like