National Republican., 1888-01-10
portant enough to have clerk to conduct
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its business.
Mr. Burrows, OF Michigan, said that the |
object Of appointing a clerk to a committee
was that the business OF the committee
might be properly conducted, aud not that
the chairman might have some one to attend
TO his private business. In the first session
OF the last Congress the committee on ex.
pendltures in the State Department to
which II was now proposed ogive clerk
made no report, and In the second session
IL made q similar number.
Mr.. Hooker replied that the expenditure
committees would be important ones II
their members faithfully performed their
duties. He had once served upon the com.
mittee on expenditures in the Treasury De.
partment, and he had never served upon
committee where the work was more la
borioue.
Mr.. Lanham, OF Texas, offered an amend
ment authorizing the committee on claims
to employ an assistant clerk.
Mr.. Perkins, OF Kansas, offered an amend
ment providing that every member Of the
House, not the chairman OF committee,
shall be allowed clerk during the session,
who shall receive q salary OF 500 mouth.
Ruled out on point OF order as not ger.
name.
Mr.. Perkins then changed the phraseology
Of the proviso, SO as to bring It within the
rules without changing it's effect.
Mr.. Brumm, Of Pennsylvania, favored
the proposition, and thought that the
cbairEen OF committees should not be 30
selfish as to keep all the "pork" them
selves.
Mr.. struble, Of Iowa, said that
no member OF Congress could faithfully
perform all the duties which devolved
upon him without the assistance Of clerk,
and he was in favor Of providing mem.
bers with clerical aid.
Mr.. Herbert, Of Alabama, took similar
view, and warned his political friends that
though the proposition came from the
other side, the Democratic majority would
be held responsible for Its adoption.
Mr.. Blount, OF Georgia, earnestly urged
his party friends to defeat proposition
which had already been repudiated repeat
edly by Democratic Houses. He regretted
the division which had occurred In the
ranks of the njority upon the report of the
committee on accounts, and advocated the
recon initial Of the report and amendments
| thereto.
Mr.. Stockdale, OF Mississippi, did not
| think that the pr0viso had been sufficiently
| considered, and, while he was not prepared
at present to say that he would vote for or
| against the proposition, he would not be
| guided in his action by the effect which the
| adoption Of such O measure would have
upon the presidential election.
Mr.. Matson, Of indiana, did not regard
| the proposition as q serious one, deemiug IT.
| incredible that the House, by a simple reso
luton, would create 300 additional office.
| holders
Mr. Kerr, Of Iowa, thought that the aver.
oge member had no need for clerk, and,
| so thinking, he opposed the provlso.
| Mr. Dougherty, Of Florida, suggested that
II every member had clerk the interests Of
bis constituents would be more faithfully
attended to. lie was ready to justify his
vote In favor Of the proposition before his
constituents.
Mr.. Bayre, of Pennsylvania, contender
that the members needed clerks and that
they ought to have the courage to say so,
and not beat the devil around the bush by
giving clerks to committees that had moth
Ing to do.
Mr.. Scott, OF Pennsylvania, stood ready
to vote to give every member clerk, and
he was not afroid to 60 home and meet his
people after having done 80.
Mr.. Houk, Of Tennessee, said that in vot.
ing for the proposition he would not be
voting for his own benefit, but for that OF
his constituents.
Mr.. Stewart, OF Georgia, opposed what
he regarded as on indirect and unwise
mode Of adding 500 month to the salary
OF a member. II the proposition had any
merit 1t should be enacted into permanent
law to take effect in the future.
After further debate Mr.. Mills, Of Texas
moved to recommlt the report aud pending
amendments to the committee on accounts
Mr.. johnson, OF Indiana, moved to amend
the motion by directing the committee tc
report back resolution making 1t unlawful
for any committee clerk to perform any
| duty for the chairman Of the committee o
any member thereof that does not pertain
to the business OF the committee.
Mr.. Johnson's motion was defeated
yeas. Ill, nays 167-and Mr.. Mllls's motioI
was 0greed to-12l to 100.
The Speaker then proceeded to call tne
states for the introduction Of bills and reso
luiious, and among those introduced wer,
The following To increase the compensa-
tion Of foutth.class postmasters; for the re
tirtment OF disabled army officers; to re
strict immigration; to secure American reg
istraticn for foreign built ships; to establish
bureau OF aGulteratiop; to prohibit tht
mailing Of newspapers or circulars contain
irg lottery advertisements; to appoint ,
select committee to investigate existing
labor strikes; to forfeit the grants, privl
leges, and franchises Of the Paichc rail
roads; to repeal tie civil service law; TO
Delaware ship canal; to repeal the duty ol
sugar, and to provide for the payment OF
bounty of $4,000 a year for two year
for the cultivation OF sugar In the United
States; to protect In their wages laborers II
the District Of Columbia and the terri
tories.
On motion OF Mr.. Long, OF Massacbu
sets, Thursday, Jan. 10, at 3 o'clock, wa
set aside for the presentation to the H0us
mum, and Banks by the commonwealth o
Massachusetts,; and resolution wa
adopted extending on that occasion tn
privileges Of the floor to the committee o
the executive council of that state.
! The House then, ut O'Clock, adjourned