Year: 1871

Wednesday by Senator Morton, and which
s..ve rise to such an animated political discus
sion, was adopted yesterday without any fur
ther cavil or question. 1t had appeared as il
the proposition were going to open up the
whole feld Of the next Presidential election
and to occupy the time Of the Senate for days,
ifnot weeks; but, to the astonishment Of every
body, the democratic opposition Is withdrawn,
the resolution adopted, and the select commit
tee which II creates may enter forthwith
upon the work of hunting up the hobgoblin
forces Of the famous Ku Klux Klan. Perhaps
the democrats thought that the best way to
bring rdicule upon the movement was to leave
1t unimpeded; or that the best policy, In view
Of the next Presidential election, was to give
the republicans full swing 10 their new efforts
to reconstruct the South on revised and
improved plan.


The House bill, passed before the holidays,
abollshing the naval ranks of Admiral and
Vice Admiral was passed by the Senate, with
an amendment to make it apply as soon as
vacancies occur In those positions. As the
object Of Mr. Logan in pressing the bill on
the House was to exclude Admiral Porter
from succeeding to the highest grade, and as
that purpose was defeated by his appointment
and confirmation, all interest In the bill had
died out. Nevertheless, the House will, we
presume, concur In the amendments, so as to
let the bill become law.


Railroad and steamship subsidy bills are
showing signs of activity In both bouses. In
the S S.nate yesterday Friday of next week was
fixed as the grand field day when the various
steamship bills are to come up for considera-
tion. Senator Hamlin, of Maine, introduced
modest proposition for subsidy of fifty
thousand dollars mile to railroad line or
lines extending all the way from Portland to
Chicago, and in the House considerable part
Of the day was consumed in discussing and
voting on bill extending railroad grant in
Wisconsin and Minnesota. The bill went over
till Tuesday next, after involving the four
whether three of them who supported the bill
had not given promise to the Labor Reform
Association during the canvass not to vote for
any land grant.


Senator Wilson seems to have wakened I'D
to the necessity OF reform in the civil service
Of the government, for he introduced yester-
day bill requiring examination and proba-
ton Of government employees, forbidding their
removal except for incapacity or improper
conduct, prohibiting the levying Of political
assessments upon them and making it an
offence for them to be active politicians. The
bill is simple and easily executed, and would
be a very good start in the much needed civil
service reform.


A bill to provide for the consolidation of the
Indian tribes and to organize system of gov
ernment in the Indian Territory was reported
in the House yesterday and discussed during
the morning hour. 1t is very important
measure and one which might be largely in
strumental in bringing the Indians Of the West
into subsection and civilization. The bill pro-
poses territorial government with legislative
council elected by the various tribes, Gov
ernor appointed by the President, and dele
gate in Congress. The Consular and Diplo-
matte Appropriation bill afterwards came up,
and the item for contingent expenses brought
up the st. Domingo question for discussion.
No decision had been reached when the
House, weary of work, adjourned.





From THE SEINE TO TIE DANUBE AND
PRUTH.-The ST. Petersburg Journal, official
oroop nf tha Russian War Ofiico ond ror,o