National Republican., 1888-02-17
A Long DAY IN CONGRESS.
WHAT BUSINESS WAS TRANSACTED IN
BOTH HOUSES.
Discussing Documents and Passing
Private Pension Bills In the Senate
The Urgent Deficiency Bin in the
Bouse-The EIght-Hour Law.

Allef tne lntrOuucuOn OF petlLlOns anu
memorials and the reporting OF numerous
hlle in the Senate yesterday bill was in.
Toduced by Mr. Morrill, having for its OBJ
iect the promotion OF anatomical science
and to prevent the desecration OF graves IN
the District Of Columbia. Referred to the
District committee.
Otker bills introduced and referred were.
By Mr.. VOORHEES,: Relating to the pay Of
skilled workmen in the government priut.
Ing Office.
Also, for the establishment Of an addl.
tiopal land office In Colorado at Springfield
BY Mr.. Manderson: To authorize the
wearing OF the badges OF the Grand Army
Of the Republic.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Plumb
some weeks ago directing an inquiry as to
the causes Of inefficient mail service was
taken up and agreed to.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Manderson
tome days ago requiring the Secretary OF
War to furnish to senators, on their request,
lists OF persons to whom copies OF the
record OF the rebellion are to be issued
was taken up.
Mr.. Manderson said that since offering
the resolution he had had conversation
with the Secretary OF War, who expressed
bic readiness to supply the information
asEtd, and said that the refusal TO do so be-
not established by him.
Somewhat unfortunate results, Mr..
MsDderson said, so far as the comfort OF
senators was concerned, had come from the
iikCussiOn OF the question OF public docu.
ments some deJs ago. lis own mail and
the mail OF other senators were inundated
with requests for documents-among them
records Of the rebellion. There were no
copies Of that document within his gift and
never had been, the whole issue of that
valuable publication having been monopo.
liztd 10y the members OF the forty seventh
Congress.
Mr.. Cullom remarked that he
was having the same experience, and that
many Of bis letters suggested that perhaps
the documents might be got from the dis.
tipsuished SenatLr from" Missouri (Mr,
Nest).
Mr.. Henderson went on to discuss the
question OF printing, and stated the num-
Der Of copies OF the various documents
printed under the law. As to the agricul-
tural reports, the geological reports, the
Smithsonian reports, the reports Of the
committee Of education, &C., the numbers
Of copies were fixed by concurrent resolu-
ton OF both houses. The number of agri-
cultural reports usually published, he be-
heved, was 0,000, and he had never heard
proposition to reduce the number. The
committee on printing (of which he was
Hhu EtCOBDlLeu bOIue OF Tue
evils complained OF by the senator from
Missouri. 1t has not, however, felt justi-
fed In proposing any radical change OF
laws that had existed for many years.
Mr. Vest said that every day and hour
tipce the discussion last week had con-
filmed him In the belief as to the unques-
tionable waste OF public money in the way
OF printing documents.
He repeated what he had said before
that he had no valuable documents. lie
wanted more copies Of the Records OF the
Rebellion, OF the agricultural reports, OF
the Smithsonian reports, Of the reports on
dairy and farming, but he did not want the
public money thrown away on trash.
The discussion was further continued by
Senators Aldrlch, Cockrell, and Teller.
The latter, In the course OF his remarks
~ laid some stress upon the fact that matters
IN the departments were kept secret, and
lie protested against there being any secrets,
the people being entitled to know what
their servants were doing. Extending this
idea TO the Senate itself he declared that he
considered secret sessions OF the Senate to
be entirely unrepublican, except, perhaps,
when there was treaty pending, which
ought to be considered In the secrecy of
executive session. There was no more
reason why the question Of confirming
executive appointments should be consid-
cred behind closed doors than there was
closed doors-as II had once done
Mr.. Plumb asked him whether he thought
that the Cabinet meetings should also be
opened. While the senator was about 1t he
might as " ell go over the whole subject.
Mr. Hswley also suggested the secret de.
liberations Of the Supreme Court, and asked
whether they also should be public.
Mr.. Teller replied that what he insisted
upon was that when the secretary of de-
Partmeut made an adjudication Of ques-
tiop, that adjudication should he made pub.
lie. He did not claim that when the Presl.
dent called his Cabinet about him their
discussions should be public, but he did say
that when the Cabinet came to a determiu
alton, that determination was the property
Of the whole people. The President had
no right to conceal II; and each member OF
the Cabinet ought to be compelled to take
the responsibility OF the advice given to the
sny y'@sas Subject ANU which the senate ass TsS Se
sirey to consider in private, aud
wNh ought to be considered in private,
tA2SASs, on the application OF two sena.
matter was determined, every senator's
vote should be made known. The ques-
tion Of the senator from Connecticut was
trite one, and not new or original. 1t had
been asked by people who did not consider
the difference between the process Of arrv-
The Supreme Court filed its decisions when
they were made, and the position of each
member Of the court upon 1t was known.
But yet no one knew how members OF the
Senate voted on questions Of infinitely
more importance than the questions pre-
septed to the Supreme Court.
IL he could inform his constituents how
he had voted for this or that nomination 1t
would be satisfactory to them, and he should
be ashamed Of himself II he ever cast a vote
In the Senate (secret or open) that he would
not be willing to have published.
Mr.. Hawley. Then the senator is satisfied
IL, after the Senate has an executive session,
the result is announced.
Mr. Teller. / am not But am satisfied
that there ought to be an improvement on
the present method.
After further discussion, participated in
ty Senators Vest, Manderson, Teller, Haw-
ley, and German, the resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Sawyer was, at his own request, ex-
Cused from further service on the committee
on education and labor, on the ground OF
his time being otherwise fully occupied,
and Mr. Hddleberger was appointed In his
stead.
The Senate then proceeded to the con.
slderation OF private pension bills on the
calendar.
When the calendar was exhausted there
bad been los private pension bills passed.
The Senate then, on motion of Mr.. Har-
ris, proceeded to the consideration OF eX-
ecUtive business, and at 4:55, adjourned
til Monday.
THE HOUSE,
The Speaker was In the chair when the
House met yesterday morning.