Year: 1874

SERVICE REFORM LEFT TO DIE-s0UNDING OF


ADMINISTRATION PRAISES AND MR.. cox's CRUEL


INTERRUPTIoN-GEN. BUTLER CUT OFF FROM


FINAL WAR DANCE-CLoSNG SCENES.


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l


WASHINGTON, June 23.-To-day, although the last
of the session, was by means the most prolific OF
important events or noteworthy doings The main
business of the House had been pretty thoroughly
disposed of within the last few days, and all that
remained to be attended to was the confirmation OF
q few beated conference reports and the tying
up the various adds and ends of the legisla-
tive web that were hanging loose. The first
important action of the day was on the conference
report of the Post Office Appropriation bill but this
was soon disposed Of The points of the BILL as set
tied in conference and agreed to by both Houses are
that the postage on newspapers published weekly
or moro frequently Is to be two cents per
pound that on publications issued less ire
quently than once week, tbree cents
per pound that the prepayment on them
is to be compulsory after the LIST of January 1875;
that the postage public documents is to be 10
cents volume, and The Congressional Record one
cent number and that in these and all other cases
the postage is to be prepaid. Weekly newspapers
are to pass free through the mails IN the county I'D
which they are published.


The next important action Of the House was on



praton bill, but as there no explanation given
of the points of the report the House had to vote
in happy ignorance of the provisions OF the bill.
One point about it was drawn out by question OF
Gen Buffers that it maintains absolute silence in
respect to the Civil Service Reform Commission.
1t makes no appropriation for it, as the Senate
proposed, and it does not repeal the law
on the subject, as the House had voted
70 do but to use Gen. Buffers sententious phrase,
civil Service reform is simply left to die instead
of being killed" In connection with this, the last
of the Appropriation bills, Mr.. Garfield OF Ohio,
Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations,
gave brief review Of general appropriation
bills passed at the present session, from
which it appeared that their aggregate falls
short by some 900 of the aggregate of the cor
responding bills of last session. Then followed
little party love-feast, in which Messrs Dawes and
Kasson of the Ways and Means Committee euloezed
their own and Mr. Garfield's Committees, and drew


fayorable picture of the financial condition of the
country; but Mr. Cox of New York, that eajdnt ter
,6le of Democracy, rudely broke IN upon the
mutual admiration society, made fun of its
solemn speeches, and denounced them as SO much
bosb intended to soft-sawder0 the votes at the
coming election. Triumphant as Gen. Butler felt at
the idea of some Civil Service reform left to die OF
inanition. he tried to get up war dance over
his victim by a bill to give preference TO
discharged soldiers and sailors their widows
mothers, daughters, and sisters, In all Civll
Service appoint tments but another New-fOrk
Democrat, Mr.. Creamer interposed an objection on
the ground that Gen. Butler had performed quite
enough in the humbugging line this session; and as
motions 10 suspend the rules not in order-for
the House is now acting under such rule in the
transaction of business on the Speakers tableGen.
Bntler was fan to be content with the glory of tav-
ing made the proposition, which he seemed to like
SO we'll that be renewed it once or twice.


The Speakers desk was pretty well cleared Off by
the action of the last two DAYS. Very few OF the
bulls upon it were passed. however, most OF them
having been referred to their appropriate Commit
tees The impeachment resolutions against Durell
and Busteed were not called up. Remarkably enough
the last act OF the House was the graceful one OF
clemency being the passage of the Senate Dill 10
remove the political disabilities of James H. Pugh
of Alabama. Mr.. Rainey of South Carolina was
prepared to object but, under the friendly lnflu-
ences of the OCCASION he forebore to do so, and the
bill was passed Then came the hour OF dlssolu-
ton. Mr. Maynard of Tennessee who had been Oh
the Committee to wait on the President, re-
ported with some grim humor, that
the President had nothing more 10
communicate to Congress, and had gwen
the Committee parting sanitation. The Speakers
hammer rose, and, with the expression OF eood
wishes. he declared the final adjournment OF the
first session of the XLIIId Congress. After he came
down on the floor, the members fingered long tune
in bidding each other good-by and in taking most
friendly farewell of the Speaker and thus the cur
tain fell Oh the last scene of the Comedy of
Errors"