Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-12
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January y.
SENATE.

After the transaction of some routine
morning business the Senate, at 1915,
on motion of Mr.. Sherman, proceeded
to the consideration of executive bust
ness.
The doors were reopened at 1880,
and legislative business was resumed.
Mr.. Hill introduced bill fixing the
appointments Of fourth-class postmas
tiers at four years, except in cases of
the filling of vacancies by death, re-
moyal, or resignation, in which cases
the appointments are to be for the un-
expired portion of the term. He made
statement as to his object in introduc-
ing the bill. 1t was, he said, to RENE
dy the present hotch. potch condition.
Both political parties, he said, had used
the power for the arbitrary and sum-
mary removal of fourth-class postmas-
tiers. 1t had been pursued when the
office of assistant postmaster general
was held by the present distinguished
presiding officer OF the Senate; and also
when it was held by Mr.. Wanamaker
if the remark would not offend the
junior Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr.
ay)--(Laughter.) Since the present
administration came into power the
power OF removal of fourth class post
masters had been, whether to the de-
moralization of the Presidents party or
not he would not now stop to discuss,
but rarely exercised and then only for
good and sufficient cause.
The bill was referred to the postoffice
committee.
Mr.. Plat offered resolution, which
was agreed to, instructing the commit
tee on rules to consider the practicable
ity of abbreviating the daily reports Of
the proceedings of Congress, as publish
ed in the Record.
The resolution offered yesterday call
ing on the secretary of the navy for in
| formation as to the violation of the
eight-hour law by contractors under
the navy department at Brooklyn, N.
Y, was agreed to, Mr.. Chandler, who
had asserted yesterday that the law did
not apply to contractors, confessing
that he had been wrong in that asser-
ton.
The resolutions on which Mr.. Proc
tor spoke yesterday, fixing the Presi-
dental term at six years and prohibit
ing reelection were taken up to give
an opportunity to Mr.. Stewart to ex-
press his views upon them. He favor
ed the prohibition of reelection, but he
considered the extension of the term to
six years most Objectionable. He would
much prefer to have the term limited
to two years.
The resolutions were referred to the
committee on elections.
Mr.. Chandler presented memorial
from Henry A. Dupont, claiming to
nave been elected to seat in the u S.
Senate on May 8, 1895, and urging the
reopening of the question. The memo
rial was referred to the committee on
privileges and elections.
The debate on the homestead bill
was then resumed.
HOUSE.
The hope of those members of the
House who ara anxious to secure some
legislation with reference to the Pacific
railroads this session was quenched to-
day by decision of Speaker Reed.
Yesterday Mr.. Powers moved that
the bill be recommitted to the commit
tee on Pacific railroads; but objection
was made that this was not in order as
other business had interviewed. Speaker
Reed asked until to-day to render de-
cision, and soon after the House met he
stated his opinion that the motion Of
the gentleman from Vermont to recon-
nit the bill was not in order. The mo-
ton, he said, could have been made if
the House had passed the bill to third
reading or if other business had not in
tervened. No demonstration followed
the announcement.
The bill to better define the rights of
aliens in the territories, which was
passed over temporarily yesterday, was
taken up under the call of committees
Mr.. McEwan said that with the excep
ton of one section this was the same
bill that had been defeated in the House
December 10 but he made no point of
order on that ground and the bill was
passed.
A bill allowing applicants for mineral
land patents to appear before clerks of
courts or notaries public instead of be-
fore the land Office officials in making
the preliminary affidavit, was passed.
Mr.. Brosius called up a House bill
increasing the classes to which prefer
ence shall be given in appointments in
the civil service. 1t provides that these
classes shall be disabled union soldiers
and sailors of the late war, and honor
IDLY discharged union soldiers and
sailors and widows and orphans of union
soldiers aud sailors. The present law
gives preference to those union soldiers
and sailors who were discharged by
reason of wounds or sickness contract
ed in service.
After some discussion as to whether
State troops might not be included un-
der the provisions of the bill, it was
modified so as TO read that preference
would be given to soldiers and sailors
of the United States in the civil war.
The bill was passed.
Mr.. Johnson, of California, then took
the floor on question of personal privi-
lege and made an imprisoned address
in answer to remarks inserted in the
Congressional Record of this morning
by Mr.. Mcguire under leave to print.
Mr.. Johnson said the act was "a COW
ardly insinuation against him which
Mr.. Mcguire had not the courage TO
make openly"
Mr.. Mcguire finally obtained the floor
and retorted in kind to Mr.. Johnson's
charges.
VANIsHED.-Mr; Edward Golden, South