The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-02
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
Mr. Edmunds Directs Attention to the
Houses Loose Way Of Doing Business.
The House Deystes the Time to Talking About
Appropriations, and Refuses to Vote
Money for the Bartholdi Statue.
THE SENATE.

Mr.. Riddleberger Proposes q Reduction Of
Sa1aries-Hevy the House Does Business.
WASHINGTON, July L.--Mr Miller, from the
committee on agriculture, reported back, with
But amendment the House bill taxing oleomar-
Earine and gava notice that he would call 1t mp
Tor action after the passage of the appropriation
bills
Mr.. Jones' Of Arkansas. stated that Senator'S
George, Gibson, Fair and himself. minority Of
the committee, dissented from the report
Mr. Riddlebsrger introduced q preamble and
\ bill for the reduction, by % per cent, OF the
salaries Of Cabinet officers, Senators and mem
hers, and addressed the Senate in its advocacy.
He said that the discussions 81 200 clerkships
and such things were sufficient to justify the
hcpe that the bill would become law at the next
session of Congress. If they were to commence
reductions Of 81 eco clerks and to conclude with
reductions or perl lem labcs, it seemed to him
that they should 60 back and begin at the head
The bill was referred to the committee on
nnanee.
Mr.. Allison called up the House joint resolu-
ton extending appropriations for ten days.
Mr.. Edmunds called attention to this way of
DOING business, and to the present state of affairs
not sent to the Senate In time to have them
properly considered and when they came to the
President, he had no time to examine them, but
had either to sign them blindly or to veto them
He gave list of dates at which appropriation
bills were received by the Senate for the last
three or four Congresses, and said that this was
not credit to Congress. If Congress could not
better administer the public business In the
most important of its features-the proper con-
troll Of the public money-lt was not deserving
She confidence of the people. He thought
therefore. that the Senate ought to take some
step, in some lawful, and constitutional, and re
tpectful way, to see if it cannot get with this
important public business in a reasonable. re-
spectacle and satisfactory manner Ii they
sould not bring themselves into better fashions
shout this business. be should rather let the
wheels of government stop by refusing to pass
this Joint resolution The passing Of such reso-
luton was very confusing and mischievous
practice.
Mr.. Beck stated that the extension for ten
days was simply absurd. The sundry civil bill
had not yet reached the Senate. and that bill
hlone would require at least three weeks for its
consideration. Since throwing grass had no
kfect, he was in favor OF trying the efficacy of
Etones; and he thought that it would do no harm
TO let the departments close for week.
After further discussion the joint resolution
was amended by extending the time to fifteen
Says, and was then passed.
The Senate resumed consideration of the legis-
lAtive appropriation bill. a long discussion
took place on the point of order as to whether
The amendment TO insert the words lin full com
pensation" was, or was not, in conflict with the
rule. The Chair submitted the question to the
Senate, and the amendment was decided to be
m order. and it was agreed to.
A still longer discussion took place on the prop
Bsitson Of the committee on appropriations TO
strike out the paragraphs for the Office work con-
Rected with the publication of the Records of
che Rebellion it being charged that these records
were not edited with impartiaity, and were not
nOnfned to the records of the war period. A par
hcular instance of this was dwelt upon that of
She Fitz John Porter matter Finally, the para
Ing the publication to cotemporaneous events of
Che war; and another proviso directing the publ
szsson vi the evidence in the Porter case and the
report thereon by Judge advocate General Holt.
The bill was directed back to the Senate. All
bhe amendments on which separate votes were
not demanded, were agreed TO. The reserved
amendments are to be voted on to morrow, under
khe hye-minute debate rule Adjourned.