National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-10
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
INTERESTING DEBATE UPON CIVIL SER
VICE REFORM,
The Senate Does Good Days Work
for Honest aud Worthy Claimants
Criticism Upon the Governments At
titude Toward Claimants.

Routine business occupied the attention
Of the Senate only few minutes yesterday.
The remainder of the days session was de-
voted to the consideration Of bills on the
calendar, under the 6ve-mlnute rule. lTho
principal measures that were passed are
published in another part Of this paper.1
In the consideration Of the bill referring
TO the court Of claims for examination and
report to Congress certain claims for prop.
erty seized by Gen. Johnston In the Utah
expedition OF 1867, considerable warmth OF
debate was developed. II grew out Of
objection by Mr.. Edmunds to the character
of proof permitted, there being danger, he
thought, OF II being ex parte.
Mr.. llawley protested against the course
OF the United States government In deny
ing to Its citizens recourse TO the courts,
then holding their claims In Congress for
thirty years, and finally refusing to hear
them because their proofs are "old" or "de-
fective.u
Mr.. Jones, OF Arkansas, said the com
mittee had fairly examined the case, and
found II all right.
Mr.. Teller declared IL to be a burning
shame for a great government like that OF
the United States to keep pushing honest
claims off for quarter Of century.
Mr.. IIoar. "And then rejecting them as
'etalo.'n
Mr.. Edmunds had not so poor an opinion
of the government. :If wrong was done, the
claimant had his rights under the law.
Mr.. Teller sail the question here was
whether the claim came within the law.
The facts were all admitted.
Mr.. Hoar remarked that the scandal Of
the English court Of chancery, which had
been tmmortallzed by the genius Of Dick
ems, did not surpass the treatment by Con-
1T aaIn 1--we 81 81 ufN
Men came here year after year with claims
that nobody knowing the facts would dis
pute, but some senator who knew nothing
about the case would get up and "guessn
that the facts were not as represented,
though the committee on claims had ex-
haustively Investigated the case.
Mr.. Logan said the facts should be got
right in all cases. Referring to class of
cases not embraced in this BILL he said he
objected to men coming from inside the
confederate lines with ex parte testimony
to prove that they were loyal when he
knew they were not, and he objected TO
''men on our side Of the chamber'' being
the leaders TO press rebel claims through.
Mr.. Plumb said Congress passed many
claims IL ought never to pass lie remem.
bered bill reported from the committee
on claims, allowing $4,000 for the timber
taken of 100 acres Of land in Tennessee
during the war, and Mr.. Plumb had beer
told since the bill passed the Senate that
that land was valued at 81 an acre. lie re-
membered senator appealing to him tc
let II pass. That claim was fraud.
Mr.. Hoar denied, on knowledge and be.
lief, thI statements Of Mr.. Plumb.
Mr.. Plumb said he could find the record
Mr.. Harris remarked that he had better
also find the record to show the Tennessee
land to be worth 81 an acre.
Mr.. Hoar thought the case Pigment Of
MIR. Plumb's Imagination.
When the debate closed the bill was
passed.
A considerable number of bills for pri
vate relief were passed, and the Senate al
5:45 p. m. adjourned.