By Mr. Davis, of West Virginia: A bill (S. 2189) for the relief of V. B. Horton, jr.; to the Committee on Claims.

By Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania: A bill (S. 2190) for the relief of Marcus A. Reno; to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Hawley: A bill (S. 2191) for the relief of Benjamin Alvord; to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Miller, of California: A bill (S. 2192) to encourage ship-building for the foreign trade;

A bill (S. 2193) relating to American shipping;

A bill (S. 2194) to encourage the employment of apprentices in merchant ships, and for the promotion of American commerce;

A bill (S. 2195) relating to consular fees;

A bill (S. 2196) to promote the building of American iron and steel steamers; and

A bill (S. 2197) to establish a department of commerce and navigation, and define its powers and duties; to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Maxey: A bill (S. 2198) to rectify and establish the title of the United States to the site of the military post at El Paso, Texas; to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. George: A joint resolution (S. 110) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States in relation to appropriation bills; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania: A joint resolution (S. 111) authorizing the appointment of A. P. Frick as an assistant surgeon in the Army; to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Morgan: A joint resolution (S. 112) proposing an amendment to the Constitution in relation to appropriations; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Jonas asked and, by unanimous consent, obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 2188) to repeal an act entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act for the removal of causes in certain cases from State courts,' approved July 27, 1566," approved March 2, 1867, and also to repeal the third paragraph of section 639, of the Revised Statutes; which was read and passed to a second reading.

Mr. Beck submitted the following resolution for consideration; which was ordered to be printed:

Whereas section 6 of the act of Congress "making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the government," approved August 15, 1876, contains the following provisions:

"That all executive officers or employés of the United States not appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, are prohibited from requesting, giving to, or receiving from any other officer or employé of the government any money or property or other thing of value for political purposes; and any such officer or employé who shall offend against the provisions of this section shall be at once discharged from the service of the United States; and he shall also be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined a sum not exceeding $500."

Which provisions of laws have either proved inefficient to prevent a repetition of the wrongs against which they were intended to guard, or have been violated by the political managers of the Republican party and their allies;

And whereas certain members of this body, acting as part of the executive committee of the Republican Congressional committee, appear by the following official circular to have united with others during the year 1882 in requesting and receiving from many employés of the United

States sums of money to be used for political purposes, said circular being in words and figures as follows:

"[Jay A. Hubbell, chairman; D. B. Henderson, secretary; executive committee, Hon. W. B. Allison, Hon. Eugene Hale, Hon. Nelson W. Aldrich, Hon. Frank Hiscock, Hon. George M. Robeson, Hon. William McKinley, jr., Hon. George R. Davis, Hon. Horatio G. Fisher, Hon. Horace F. Page, Hon. W. H. Calkins, Hon. Thomas Ryan, Hon. William D. Washburn, Hon. L. C. Houk, Hon. R. T. Van Horn, Hon. Orlando Hubbs.]

"HEADQUARTERS OF THE

"REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, 1882,
"520 THIRTEENTH STREET, NORTHWEST,

"Washington, D. C., May 15, 1882. "SIR: This committee is organized for the protection of the interests of the Republican party in each of the Congressional districts of the Union. In order that it may prepare, print, and circulate suitable documents illustrating the issues which distinguish the Republican party from any other, and may meet all proper expenses incident to the compaign, the committee feels authorized to apply to all citizens whose principles or interests are involved in the struggle. Under the circumstances in which the country finds itself placed, the committee believes that you will esteem it both a privilege and a pleasure to make to its fund a contribution, which it is hoped may not be less than $. The committee is authorized to state that such voluntary contribution from persons employed in the service of the United States will not be objected to in any official quarter.

"The labors of the committee will affect the result of the Presidential election in 1884, as well as the Congressional struggle; and it may therefore reasonably hope to have the sympathy and assistance of all who look with dread upon the possibility of the restoration of the Democratic party to the control of the government.

"Please make prompt and favorable response to this letter by bank check or draft or postal money-order, payable to the order of Jay A. Hubbell, acting treasurer, P. O. lock-box 589, Washington, D. C. "By order of the committee:

"D. B. HENDERSON, Secretary."

And whereas it is alleged that another member of this body has requested and received divers sums of money from employés of the United States to aid in a political campaign for the (so-called) Readjuster party by means of official communications or orders, one of which reads as follows:

"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 1, 1882.

"By the executive committee you are requested to contribute to our campaign fund $2, for the purpose of the pending campaign of the Readjuster party. If you will, please remit this sum by check or money postal order to C. Clark, treasurer, Richmond, Virginia; and you are requested so to do on or before the 20th of the present mouth; and at the time of making this remittance you will please notify the undersigned on the back of this sheet.

"Miss BETTIE BUMGARDNER,

"WILLIAM MAHONE, Chairman.

"Postmistress at Honeyville, Page County, Virginia."

Therefore, resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be, and it is hereby, instructed to investigate promptly and thoroughly the conduct of said committees in regard to requesting or receiving from employés

of the United States either money or other things of value for political purposes during the year 1882. The committee is directed to ascertain how much money has been collected during the current year from the officials and employés of the government; by whom it was collected; the amount paid by each, and to whom it was paid; how the money so collected was expended, stating when and where in detail, and to whom it was paid out. If said committees, or any member of them, have any portion of the money so collected in their possession, to state how many. The committee is instructed to furnish to the Senate the names of all persons who have been dismissed or dropped from the public service since May 15, 1882, and to state how many of those so dismissed or dropped had failed to pay money to the committees aforesaid.

The committee is hereby empowered to send for persons and papers, and to compel the attendance of witnesses; to administer oaths, and to enforce full answers to all such questions as the committee may think proper, by fine or imprisonment, or both. It shall have power to act through subcommittees, to sit during the sessions and recesses of the Senate; to employ clerks, stenographers, and such other officers as it may require; and all its expenses shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate on the order of the chairman.

So much of the message of the President of the United States to Congress, dated December 4, 1882, as relates to the subject of political assessments is referred to said committee, and leave is given to print all the testimony, statements, and exhibits it may obtain, and its report, together with such views of the minority, if any, as may be presented. It is directed to report on or before February 1, 1883, by bill or otherwise, such measures as will, in its opinion, effectually prohibit the collection of money by any person on any pretext from any employé of the government for political purposes, and prevent the payment by any employés of money or other thing of value to any person for such purposes. The committee is directed to consider specially whether inability to hold any office of honor, profit, or trust under the United States should be one of the penalties for a violation of the law it submits for the action of Congress.

Mr. Platt submitted the following resolution for consideration; which was ordered to be printed:

Resolved, That the Commissioner of Pensions be instructed to inform

the Senate

The amount of the annual pension-roll on the 1st day of December, 1882.

The number of applications for pensions pending on the 1st day of December, 1882.

The number of rejected applications on file December 1, 1882, and whether the same are subject to re-examination.

The amount already paid for arrears of pensions.

The probable amount yet to be paid for arrears of pensions under existing provisions of law.

The probable amount of the annual pension-roll when pending cases shall have been adjudicated.

The amount which would be added to the annual pension roll by the increase of pensions already granted, as provided by House bill 1410, now pending in the Senate.

The probable number of pending cases which would be affected by such increase, and the probable addition to the annual pension-roll thereby.

The number of pensions already granted, rated between $8 and $18,

as cases of fractional equivalent disabilities, showing the number and annual value of each class.

The amount which would be added to the annual pension-roll by increasing such pensions in proportion to the increase provided by House bill 1410 for pensions rated at $18 per month.

The probable amount which would be added to the annual pensionroll if such proportional increase should be applied to cases now pending in which the rate of pension will be from $8 to $18.

Number of pensions granted for deafness, total and less than total, with rate for each class, and annual value of same.

Number of pensions granted for impaired eye-sight less than total blindness, rate for each class, and annual value of same.

What proportion of pensions rated at $18 per month, other than for loss of limbs, were granted on applications for increase, and whether the proportion of such increased pensions to the whole number of invalid pensions is increasing or diminishing.

Mr. Anthony submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the standing and select committees of the Senate of the last session, as they existed at the close thereof, be continued for the present session, with the same power sof appointment of clerks, and that the existing vacancies be filled by the President pro tempore.

Under the foregoing resolution the standing and select committees of the Senate for the present session are as follows:

STANDING COMMITTEES.

On Privileges and Elections-Mr. Hoar (chairman), Mr. Cameron of Wisconsin, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Frye, Mr. Lapham, Mr. Saulsbury, Mr. Vance, and Mr. Pugh.

On Foreign Relations-Mr. Windom (chairman), Mr. Edmunds, Mr. Miller of California, Mr. Ferry, Mr. Lapham, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Pendleton.

On Finance-Mr. Morrill (chairman), Mr. Sherman, Mr. Ferry, Mr. Jones of Nevada, Mr. Allison, Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Voorhees, Mr. Beck, Mr. McPherson, and Mr. Harris.

On Appropriations-Mr. Allison (chairman), Mr. Logan, Mr. Dawes, Mr. Plumb, Mr. Hale, Mr. Davis of West Virginia, Mr. Beck, Mr. Ransom, and Mr. Cockrell.

On Commerce-Mr. McMillan (chairman), Mr. Jones of Nevada, Mr. Kellogg, Mr. Conger, Mr. Miller of New York, Mr. Ransom, Mr. Coke, Mr. Farley, and Mr. Vest.

On Manufactures-Mr. Conger (chairman), Mr. Hale, Mr. Sewell, Mr. McPherson, and Mr. Williams.

On Agriculture-Mr. Mahone (chairman), Mr. Blair, Mr. Plumb, Mr. Van Wyck, Mr. Davis of West Virginia, Mr. Slater, and Mr. George.

On Military Affairs—Mr. Logan (chairman), Mr. Cameron of Pennsylvania, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Sewell, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cockrell, Mr. Maxey, Mr. Grover, and Mr. Hampton.

On Naval Affairs-Mr. Cameron of Pennsylvania (chairman), Mr. Anthony, Mr. Rollins, Mr. Miller of California, Mr. Mahone, Mr. McPherson, Mr. Jones of Florida, Mr. Vance, and Mr. Farley.

On the Judiciary-Mr. Edmunds (chairman), Mr. Logan, Mr. Ingalls, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Garland, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Bayard, and Mr. Lamar.

On Post-Offices and Post Roads-Mr. Ferry (chairman), Mr. Hill, Mr

Sawyer, Mr. Mahone, Mr. Miller of New York, Mr. Maxey, Mr. Saulsbury, Mr. Farley, and Mr. Groome.

On Public Lands—Mr. Plumb (chairman), Mr. Hill of Colorado, Mr. Blair, Mr. Van Wyck, Mr. McDill, Mr. Jones of Florida, Mr. Grover, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Morgan.

On Private Land Claims-Mr. Bayard (chairman), Mr. Jonas, Mr. Call, Mr. Edmunds, and Mr. Allison.

On Indian Affairs-Mr. Dawes (chairman), Mr. Ingalls, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Cameron of Wisconsin, Mr. Coke, Mr. Pendleton, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Slater.

On Pensions-Mr. Platt (chairman), Mr. Blair, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Van Wyck, Mr. Chilcott, Mr. Groome, Mr. Slater, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Camden.

On Revolutionary Claims-Mr. Johnston (chairman), Mr. Jones of Florida, Mr. Anthony, and Mr. Dawes.

On Claims-Mr. Cameron of Wisconsin (chairman), Mr. Frye, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Conger, Mr. Chilcott, Mr. Pugh, Mr. Jackson, Mr. George, and Mr. Fair.

On the District of Columbia-Mr. Ingalls (chairman), Mr. Rollins, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Mc Dill, Mr. Harris, Mr. Butler, Mr. Vance, and Mr. Gorman.

On Patents-Mr. Platt (chairman,) Mr. Hoar, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Lapham, Mr. Coke, Mr. Call, and Mr. Williams.

On Territories-Mr. Saunders (chairman), Mr. Kellogg, Mr. McDill, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Butler, Mr. Garland, and Mr. Vest.

On Railroads-Mr. Kellogg (chairman), Mr. Saunders, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Sewell, Mr. Windom, Mr. Lamar, Mr. Grover, Mr. Williams, Mr. Jonas, and Mr. Brown.

On Mines and Mining-Mr. Hill of Colorado (chairman), Mr. Jones of Nevada, Mr. Van Wyck, Mr. Miller of California, Mr. Hampton, Mr. Fair, and Mr. Camden.

On Revision of the Laws-Mr. Miller of California (chairman), Mr. Platt, Mr. Hale, Mr. Davis of Illinois, and Mr. Pendleton.

On Education and Labor—Mr. Blair (chairman), Mr. Windom, Mr. Mahone, Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Miller of New York, Mr. Maxey, Mr. Brown, Mr. George, and Mr. Fair.

On Civil Service and Retrenchment-Mr. Hawley (chairman), Mr. Rollins, Mr. Jones of Nevada, Mr. Dawes, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Butler, Mr. Walker, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Pendleton.

To Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate-Mr. Jones of Nevada (chairman), Mr. Platt, and Mr. Vance.

On Engrossed Bills-Mr. Saulsbury (chairman), Mr. Call, and Mr. Miller of New York.

On Rules-Mr. Frye (chairman), Mr. Sherman, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Call, and Mr. Gorman.

On the Improvement of the Mississippi River and Tributaries—Mr. Mitchell (chairman), Mr. Kellogg, Mr. Van Wyck, Mr. Frye, Mr. Jonas, Mr. Cockrell, and Mr. Jackson.

On Transportation Routes to the Seaboard-Mr. Harrison (chairman), Mr. Cameron of Pennsylvania, Mr. Windom, Mr. Lapham, Mr. Beck, Mr. Voorhees, and Mr. Camden.

JOINT COMMITTEES.

On Public Printing-Mr. Anthony (chairman), Mr. Hawley, and Mr. Gorman.