Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-20
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY
SENATOR MORRILL, ON SILVER.
CONVICT LABOR ON PUBLIC WORKS.
A Report Against Repeal Of the
Civil Service Law, Etc.
The Senate.

also all protests led by labor leagues in rela-
ton thereto: also, copy OF the protest filed
by Messrs. Straub & Co., of Buffalo, New
York, giving information that the
work OF said contract would be performed by
convict labor, and that, consequently, the con-
tractors who employed free labor could not
amora TO compete for the work" In Offering the
0el1eVe, without further information, that the
Secretary of the Treasury would let any con-
tract Tor work to be done on public buildings in
such way as that the work would be performed
by convict labor. But he (Mr. Hale) had re-
ceived information of such a character as made
II desirable to ascertain the facts in the set
forth in his resolution. He did not believe that
contracts for public work should be let to the
employers OF convict labor when there was no
lack OF ordinary labor of the country. He did
not believe that free labor should be put in
competition with convict labor.
1he resolution was agreed to.
THE CHINESE TREATY.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Mitchell (Or.)
for reference to the committee on foreign re-
lations, and was SO referred, calling on the Sec
rotary Of State for copies of all correspondence
between the United States government and
the Chinese government since the promulga-
ton OF our treaty with China, having reference
to the enforcement OF the treaty provisions.
Inc resolution to pay the expenses of Judge
Underwood in contrasting his seat in the Sem
ate, which resolution had lain over since the
special session of the Senate, was laid before
the Senate, and, on objection by MIR. Allison to
It's present consideration it went over.
MR.. MORRILL, ON THE SILVER QUESTION.
Mr.. Morrill, addressed the Senate on the silver
question. He promised with the remark that
the elaborate speech of the Senator from Ken
lucky {Mr. Beck) seemed to throw the burden
OF rejOinder on the friends of the administra-
ton. II do not mean," he continued, ito en-
crOach upon the privileges which SO many
democratic Senators appear eager to enjoy, of
coming to the rescue of the President and the
Secretary the Treasury against the rather cruel
attack made upon a cardinal measure of the
administration, as know the fate of those who
tn int wit i1xyn lie ht,t
this measure, by which silver might be main
tanned on a par with gold, so worthy Of all ac-
monstratfon of the recognized leader of his
party inlthe Senate against it that unanimous
support to which it may be fairly entitled. In
the first place, let me say that there are no par
ties, SO far as know. in the Senate chamber or
out of it that propose or that have
any wish to demonetize silver. To charge
otherwise is q baSelesS assumption and un-
worthy OF the arena of fair debate. Everybody
is willing; nay, anxious to keep as much of
silver In circulation as can be DONE and keep it
The only hostility to silver arises from what
seems to be fixed and passionate purpose on
the part of some Of its advocates to promote
such an excess of silver coinage as will drive
gold coinage out of the country, and
leave our vast trade and commerce
position of silver monometalism it is impossi-
BILE to be blind to the disastrous contraction of
the circulating medium of the country that
would at once occur, for when the moment ar
rives that gold commands premium it will
all be held commodity for sale, not for crcu-
lation, a small or five per cent premium being
as productive ofuniversal boarding as twenty.
five per cent, and no possible advantage to our
people could be expected from following the
lame and feeble example OF India or Mexico in
utilizing silver currency only"
House Of Representatives.
In the House to-day Mr.. Thomas Ul.), from
the committee on naval affairs, reported q bill
authorizing the President to retire Lieut.. w. b.
Randall as a lieutenant commander. Private
calendar.
MIR. Ballentine Tenn.), from the same COM
mittee, reported a bill authorizing the volun-
tary retirement Of navy officers who have rem
dered conspicuous service in battle or who
have served thirty years in the navy. House
calendar.
TO INCREASE WIDOWS PENSIONS.
In the morning hour MIR. Matson Qnd.), on
behalf of the committee on invalid pensions,
called up the bill increasing the pensions of
widows and dependent relatives of soldiers
from SO to $12 per month: Mr.. Matson stated
prevail of the committee. A very careful esti-
mate made less than two years ago by gentle
ject, showed that the additional annual cost to
the government, by reason OF the passage of this
bill, would amount to something over $4,000
Mr. Browne und.) warmly favored the BILL
Mr.. GrosvenOr Ohio, while heartily in favor
of Mr.. Brownies proposition, announced his in
might impede the passage of the BILL
Mr.. Bragg (Wis) opposed Mr.. Brownies propo-
sition.
Fhe District In Congress.
MATTERS OF DISTRICT INTEREST ON THE
HOUSE SIDE.
The House labor committee met last evening
and after hearing a delegation from the govern
ment printing office, agreed to report favorably
upon Mr.. Foran's bill to restore the rates of pay,
OF the printers to that given prior to 1877.
to the House report from Maj Lydecker urg-
ing an immediate appropriation of $685., 900
for carrying on the work OF increasing the water
supply of the District of Columbia.
Capitol Topics.
AGAINST REPEAL OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
The House committee on reform in the civil
service to-day unanimously instructed Repre-
sentative Pulitzer to report adversely the bill
introduced by Representative Seney, of Ohio,
lor snH consst n clf iaw sun
ents, Pulitzer and SpoOner, of Rhode Island.
was appointed to consider all bills relating to
the repeal of the tenure of Office act.
The purpose of taking such summary action
was to silence at once all talk of repeating the
law, without dignifying the question by forma.
consideration. The discussion indicated that
the committee will recommend several import
ant amendments to the present law, but none
getting ali the informatioS possibIe to ensbs
them to correct whatever defect ought now to
be corrected, the civil service commission will
OC luNitS0 W appear OclOic IiIc COulmItUee AZ
their next meeting. Mr.. T. B. Womack was APP
pointed clerk to the committee.
THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD RESOLUTION
The Boutelle resolution of inquiry relative to
the alleged conduct Of the commandment at the
Norfolk navy yard came up for consideration
before the House committee on naval affairs
to-day. Mr.. Hewitt proposed to amend the
resolution SO as to inquire whether honorable
Inscriptions had been obliterated, and honor
ably discharged soldiers and sailors Of the
United States have at any time been dismissed
from the Norfolk navy yard, and also to
quest the transmission to the House of copies
of all correspondence in relation to details and
changes made by the Secretary of the Navy or
his immediate predecessor, in the Norfolk
navy yard, or in the lighthouse district In
which the yard is situated. The amendment
was adopted without discussion, and the reso-
luton as amended ordered to be reported to the
House.
THE SENATE SEAL.
The Senate to-day, on motion Of Mr.. Ingalls,,
adopted the resolution adopting the seal re-
commended by the committee on rules and au-
thorizing the secretary to use 1t to authenticate
papers he may be directed to give copies of.
The design selected was that OF Louis Dreka,
OF Philadelphia. It presents the cap Of Liberty.
the shield, with the stars and stripes and the
"United States Senate" 1t is engraved on
steel.
SENATOR'S FROM MISSISSIPPI.
In both branches Of the Mississippi legisla-
ture votes were taken yesterday for U. 8. Sena-
tors. Hon. E. G. Walthall received all but one
vote to fill the unexpired term Of Mr.. Lamar in