The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-26
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
Senator Voorhees, Speaks in Opposition
to the Edmunds Resolutions,
And Makes a Violent Attack on the Civil
Service Law-Mr. Evarts Supports the
Republican View-Routine Matters.
THE SENATE.

III SENATE.
ME-. Voorhees, Opposes and MIR. Evarts Favors
the Edmunds Resolutions.
WASHINGTON, March 25--In the Senate, to-
day, Mr.. Hoar reported from the library com
mittee a bill establishing a commission, COM
posed of the Secretary of State, the Librarian of
Congress and the secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution, TO examine and report to Congress as
to the character and value of manuscripts be-
longing to Congress. Mr.. Hoar explained that
the work involved no expense. The government,
he said, had the Franklin papers, the Rocham-
beau papers and other manuscripts of great his
torical value. and the object of the proposed
commission was that it might examine them and
report as to whether they should be published.
and the best method of doing SO. The bill was
passed.
Mr.. Frye reported favorably from the commit
tee on ommerc a bill to provide for the encour-
aeement of American shipping and to promote
| postal and commercial relations with foreign
countries. Mr.. Frye explained briefly that the
bill appropriated 81, 100, 900 for carrying the
United States mails in American vessels to and
from foreign countries; makes it the duty of the
Postmaster-general to advertise for proposals,
to accept the lowest bids, and to enter into con-
tracts for carrying these mails. The bill, Mr..
Frye added, had received the unanimous ndorse-
ment Of all the members of the committee on
commerce who were present at the meeting at
which it was considered. It was placed on the
Calendar
The Chair laid before the Senate a letter from
the Postmaster-gsneral, transmitting. in COM
pliance with a recent Senate resolution, a tabu-
lar statement of fourth-class postmasters re-
moved since March 4, 1885. Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Sabin the Senate passed a
bill to authorize the Mississippi Water-power
and Boom Company, of Brainerd. Mimi, to con-
struct a dam across the Mississippi river at or
near Brainerd.
In moving an amendment, Mr.. Edmunds said
that people who expended their money in things
of this sort should know that if Congress should
hereafter decide to alter or repeal the act, no
claim could be maintained againt Congress for
any moneys invested.
On request of Mr.. Edmunds the army bill
was, by unanimous consent. made the unfn-
ished business OF the morning hour tomorrow,
and the Edmunds resolutions were placed be-
fore the Senate.
Mr.. Voorhees, took the floor in opposition to
the majority report. After stating the question
at issue, Mr.. Voorhees, asked why the majority
resolutions contented themselves with an attack
on the agent 1.-THE Attorney ~generall, and shrank
from a direct blow on the principal-the Presi-
dent Did the Senator from Vermont
expect a Cabinet officer to disobey
meant for popular effect. They contemplated
no measure of legislation to remove any evil or
pretended evil. They were merely a fulmina-
ton of senatorial opinion, barren of result, other
~ q nhAaN 40 kscA
torney-genera were guilty as charged, then he
should be impeached. That was a matter for
the House. The majority of the Senate had
turned aside from the legitimate business of
overtaxed and scantily paid. Human suffering
was ~wringing its hands and weeping in many
parts of the country in restitution for want of
employment and proper remuneration. Great
corporations were overshadowing the land and
absorbing the powers of State and Nation, and
grinding the flesh and blood of men and women
into their huge and massive hoppers. American
no longer had a ship on the high seas.
Great questions of taxation and finance were
pressing for attention. But, from all these great
and pressing subjects, we must turn aside to dis
cuss this question raised by the Senator from
Vermont IMr. Edmunds. 1t was thrust into
our councils to obstruet the business of the coun-
.try in favor of a lot of Republican of6ce-holders.
MIR. Voorhees, heartily Endorsed MIR. Cleveland's
action in making removals, so far
as action had been had. and he
would heartily indorse the Presidents action in
the same direction, if it went a thousand leagues
further. The ciyil-service law had never com-
mended itself TO the judgment Of Mr.. Voorhees,.
Very recently he had voted in committee and
should vote in the Senate, for its absolute re-
peal. It has proven itself TO be a violent and
odious obstruction to the will of the people, and
a stumbling block in the way of a rational and
successful administration of the government.
With the exception Of fourth class postmasters,
there were at the present moment ten Repubii-
aonci in afHoo IN Doronavof Nv Vnnphano
had no hesitation in declaring that such a state
of things was not consistent with the true theory
of popular government, or with its safe and hon
est administration. The people had ordained a
change in the administration of the government,
and such change was not properly limited to
changes in q few chief offices. History had
shown that no political party could administer
the affairs of a government through the instru-
mentality Of its enemies. At this very hour
there was not a confidential communication or
transaction of any one of the departments that
was not betrayed to the leaders OF the Republic
an party. The very papers demanded by the
Senate were familiar to eager Republican eyes.
Every paper, and every drawer, and every
closet in the departments was daily and hourly
under the espionage of Republican chief clerks,
Republican private secretaries and Republican
confidential shorthand writers. Those who
opened the letters of the heads of departments
were known as malignant opponents of the Dem
ocratic party. infamed with a desire for the
overthrow of the administration. Mr.. Voor-
hees said the President could not be blamed for
moving slowly. Every act of his administra-
ton was in the right direction. and the country
would understand why greater progress had
not been made, and would place the responsible
! ity where it belonged. Mr.. Voorhees, said that
the evil predicted by the Republicans when the
Democrats should come into power, had not
come. The Confederate rigades" at both ends
of the Capitol continued to vote annually $780,.
000, 900 for pensions to Union soldiers, and as to
the colored citizens, President Cleveland gave
them occasionally a good Office. Referring to
Mr.. Wilson's Characterization of the Demo
cratic party as a 'protoplasm." Mr.. Voorhees,
said it was fortunate for the Democracy that the
colored people had not been told before election
that the Democratic party was a protoplasm
llaughterl, and as to what would have happened
if, instead of the word itself, the Senator from