Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-07
AFFAIRS OF CONGRESS.
The Committee on Revision of Laws
Gets Down to Work.

WASHINGTON, ID. u, teDruary o.
The House Committee on Revision OF
the Laws has aroused from its dormant
state and started TO work with consider
able vigor and activity. The commit
tee held its regular meeting to-day and
considered several important measures.
Chairman Ellis, Of Kentucky, appointed
a subcommittee to frame and report
bill having for its object the revision
and annexation OF the statutes OF the
United States down to the present time.
1t has been some years since this was
done. The work has been Of great in
terest to the legal profession, and will
be one of the principal things TO be con-
sidered by the committee.
Several bills proposing the establish
ment of bureau of Congressional cor
respondence was referred to Sub-com-
mittee with instructions to examine into
the matter and report to the full COM
mittee. These bills contemplate the
employment of corps Of stenographerS
and type-writers who shall be available
for use by members OF Congress. They
reflect the sentiment Of considerable
number Of members of the House who
find their time taken up largely by
letters.
Acting Secretary Spaulding says the
recent changes in the custom house In
New York were made in accordace with
the accommodation of custom officers
at that port. The following is copy
Of a letter written by the surveyor of
customs at New York, recommending
the removal of twenty-five inspectors OF
customs:
LAS one result Of my observations l
find that the practice of demanding and
receiving brlbes and unlawful fees and
gratuities is quite prevalent. The ma
ture of these offenSes involving as 1t
does the criminality OF the giver as well
as the receiver almost necessarily for
bids complaints by the giver and knowl-
edge OF them only reaches me through
third parties under he seal OF conf
dence. AS q result tho investlga-
tion have set on foot convlnces me
that many Of the force lack the
possession of qualities which are
essential to the honesty, efficient and
courteous performance OF duty:
some are addicted to habits
of intemperance TO such an
extent as to reflect upon the service and
to render them incompetent for the per-
formance of official duty. Some are
habitually discourteous ond oppressive
in their conduct toward citizens who
are so unfortunate as to have business
with them, while others are accustomed
to shirk duty, arrive late at their sta
tions when they pretend to work, and
frequently absent themselves under the
false pretext Of sickness; and again
Others are habitual borrowers Of money
from their associates and persons trans
acting public business with them."
Among the eulogies delivered in the
House to-day on the late General Lee,
Of Virginia, none was more eloquent
than that by Representative Cummings,
of New York, who was Federal SOL
dier. He bore testimony TO the hero
ism and valor OF General Lee on many
hotly contested field, and in closing
said the bravery and endurance OF the
Southern soldiers was heritage OF
which all, both North and South, might
well be proud.
When Mr.. Cummings had finished,
Mr.. Collier, editor OF the Memphis AD-
-AraldncHc, who was gallant fol-
lower OF the daring Forest, approached
Mr.. Cummings and grasping him by the
hand, said: "Mr. Cummings, l have
listened to your excellent speech, and
the patriotic sentiments expressed in
It. i was a follower Of General Forrest
during the late war and have no spol-
ogy TO make, but l appreciate and re-
ciprocate the noble and patriotic senti-
ments you have uttered"
Mr.. Cummings replied that he had no
apologies 10 ask, and that two gentle
men gave each other the grip OF the
brave and the true"