Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-21
HFIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January 81.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, January 81.
SENATE.
House bill extending the time for
building the bridge over the East river
at New York was reported back favor
ably and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Chandler presented an amend
ment to be offered to the naval appro-
priation bill, looking to the erection of
q statue in the city of Washington to
the late Admiral David d. Porter. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Gallinger called attention to
what he called extraordinary legisla-
ton" in the House of Representatives.
He referred to Senate bills increasing
individual pensions, and said that these
bills were amended in the House by re-
ducing the amount to the pension now
being paid to the beneficiary. The bet
ter legislation, he said, would be for
the House to reject those bills, instead
of necessitating conference committees.
Mr.. Hill asked unanimous consent to
have the bill fixing the term of post
masters at four years taken up and
passed. Objection was made by MIR.
Sherman who suggested that the bill 60
over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Chandler stated that the bill had
been reported unanimously from the
postofIice committee; that 1t had been
carefully scrutinized by Senators of all
politics, and that there seemed to be
no objection to it. 1t simply provided
that the term of all postmasters should
be understood to be for four years, sub
ect, of course, to the power of removal
which necessarily inhered 10 the execu-
tive.
Mr.. Hale suggested that the passage
of the bill would lead to general
scramble for these offices.
"The scramble is now" said Mr..
Chandler, land the object of the bill is
to prevent the custom Of partisan in
roads on new administration for the
purpose of clearing out of office all the
postmasters of the country. 1t proposes
to make the term four years; postmas
tiers can remain in Office alter that
term. There is no provision in the bill
that they shall 60 out at the end OF
their term. If the Senator from Maine
will study the subject with his usual
acumen he will see that the evil he
fears will be less under this bill than it
is now"
Mr.. Hale-I am afraid it will be
} greater. Let the bill go over.
The bill was laid aside without action.
The District of Columbia electric
light subway bill was taken up and
Mr.. Hill made another argument
against it, contendiDg that the bill was
in the interest of q monopoly and
against the principle of fair competition.
The bill then went over without ac-
:, ton and the Nicaraguan canal bill was
taken up, and Mr.. Turpie resumed his
argument against the bill.
HOUSE.
Consideration was resumed of the
contested election case of Yost vs.
Tucker, from the tenth district of Vir
ginia.
Mr.. DeArmond advocated the adop'
ton of the resolutions declaring Tucker
entitled to retain his seat. He contend.
ed that in this case, there being no
federal statute contravening, the law Of
Virginia was the law of Congress and
should be followed by the House.
Mr.. Grow, the ex-speaker, spoke
briefly upon the principles that should
control the House in determining cleo
ton cases, his time being equally de-
Quoted, one.half from each side. he
said the voters for members of Congress
were the constituents of the House and
| its duty was to see that their will was
carried out without regard to the tech.
nical requirements of State legisla.
ture. The House sat as high court Of
iudicature and any member who did
not act upon that principle should be
impeached for incompetency or for a
want of that American principle which
should animate him in the discharge OF
his duties. He hoped the time would
soon come when Senators would regard
themselves as the representatives of the
people of the United States and not
personal ambassadors coming from
some little petty community living
within the geographical limits of some
local name. This talk of State rights
had run mad; whatever necessity or
occasion there had been for it in the
past had disappeared.
Mr.. Thomas, who joined Mr.. Walker
in recommending that the contestant
Yost be seated, followed in brief
speech supporting that position.
Mr.. Thomas was followed by Messrs.
Walker, who spoke in favor of the ma
iority report, and Tayler and Lacey,
in opposition.
Tucker will retain his seat.