Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 28, 1882, Page 1

gl d -~ > | N o R TUB TO THE WHALE, " The Pendleton [}wilfiervine Re- form Bill Passed by the Senate, Fourteen Chapters of Rules and Regulations Printed iu Full, Bubordinate Offices Surround- ed With Huge Wreaths of Red Tape, While Positions of Honor and Trust Continue 1n the Old Rut. Important Offices Created by the Bill, With Fat Salartes Attached. 4 Variety of Interesting Washington Newa. CONGRESSIONAL. pecial Dispateh to Tur By, NO QUORUM IN THE HOUS WasniNerox, December house was called to orde Kiefer. There was not a quorum present. After meveral private bills wero passed, Rice, of Missouri, ob- jected to further proceedings by unan- imous consent. Without transacting any farther business of importauce, the house, just before 1 o’clock, adjourned until Saturday. SENATE PROCEEDINGS, There are forty-three senators hore more than a quorum, who are in their sents this morning. Several putitions were presented for passage. A bill to increaso the pensions of one-armed and one-legged soldiers and Pendle- ton presented a petitivn forthe oxtens sion of Summis street in Cleveland, Miller, of Clifornia, Introduced a bill to increase the feesof witnesses in the United States courts, Mr, Hoar offered a resolution in- structing the postmaster general to submit a statoment showing the an- nual expanditures to steamship com- panies for carrying the foreign mails since 1840, Adopted. Mr. Jores, of Florida, offared a resolution requeating the opinion of the president as to whether the allow- ance made for propsrty destroyed by the Am:ricanjarmy in 1812-3 being reasonable and just and if in his opinion the last clause of the treaty of 1819 between the United States and Spain has heen fully exccuted, It was tabeled to be called up at an eurly day. Senalor Call submitted a resolution which was adopted calling on the secretary of the interior for the number of con- tested homestead entries pending, and if lezislation is required to expedile the decistons of such cases. At the close of the morning hour the consid- eration of resolutions on the civil ser- vice reform bill was resamed, the question being on Hawley's amend- ment, prohibiting the solicitation or collection of political contributions by officers of the government from other government officors or employes. Senator Beck opposed the amend- ment as a sham because fts prohibi- tions did not extend to other persons as well as to government cflicers, and gaid if it were adopted its effact would be that while Senators Hale and Alli- son could no longer directly levy any political azsossments as members of the congressional committee, they could do it indirectly through their private secretaries or other persons, not cflicers of the United States. The good faith of the senate in seeking to prevent theso political assessments on government employes had been tested by the amendment oftered by Seunator West, Saturday, prohibiting payment of such asseesments to any person, whether in the employ of the govern- ment or not. That amendment had been supported by the unan- amous votes of the demo- cratic senators, but the mpub!ncnns had unanimously opposed and rejected it. Tho president had recommended s law which would prohibit and pro- vent these assessments, no matter by whom made, and at the beginning of this session the senators on the other side scemed willing and even anxious to pass such law, but it was now clear that they were only ‘‘thundering in index” by professing they intended something which they did not roally intend to do. Unless _uunlu!?nug equivalent to the proposition offsred by Seuator Vest was adopted there would be no civil eervice reform in the bill. Stopping those political as- sessments, whether levied directly or indirectly, was a_far more important object than the distribution of cflizes, which had occupied much of the time of the senate, S0 far as he was con- cernec, he did not wish to tura the resent oflice holders out. He would o glad that nota man or wWoman from Kentucky should ever seek office in Washington, and he vymlld rather see any son of his breaking stone on the roadside than seeking a depart- nt office, mi;uuutor Blair offered the following as an additional section: ‘‘No per- gon habltually using h_nuxmuug bev- erages shall be appeinted to or re- tained in any office, business, or umé ployment to which th:: provisions 0 this act are applicable.” Senator Brown moved an amend. ment by inserting """f the v\:rd #‘beverage,” the words ‘‘to excess, Agreed to, \ LSem!nr Blair spoke br The r by Speaker jefly in sup- rt of his amendment, He thought Rouu\in:ly relcvant to the bill propos ing to regulatc admission to the pub lie sorvice, and mych Apos i and philosophical th I !u,."x: distribuig public appoistments among the stftns according to population. h ¥ T"WELFTH YEAR, potsons a8 in among been public others, offie Jitter 1 | among |8 we ton hai cited several times a8 authority for the dootrines tha: in fegrity and cap ¢ ty should be the tests for sdmission o public scrvics, but an vth.-r_ utterance of Jefferson, made later in lifo, showed there was another test which he thonght of cqual lmport. ance and might be cited in strong sup portof thisamendment. “‘The habit of indalging in ardent spirits by men in offleo, " muid Jefforson, *‘has occasioned more injary to the public than allother oauses, and were I to commence my administration with the experiente 1 now have, ths first question I wonld ask respecting a candidate woald be, ‘Does he ues ardent apirits?’” This amendmont simply proposed to ask as [to ¢ .n]lti.ltw“»fnr public appointment | the fiest Gueation that Jefferson would | 8%k 1t ho were president or head of any executive department, Senator Eimunds said the amend. ment ag it «300d contained a legal im plication that other vices were to be excluded from consideration by tho civil service commision and to care this defoct he moved to insert after “intoxicating beverages” the words, | ““or ia gnilty of any other immoral habit.” | Laughter, ] After some discassion the amend.- ment wis agreed to—ayes 32, noes 16, _ Senator Hawley moved to re-con- sider the vote. Loat—ayes 14, noes 24, Senator Blair's amendment amended was then agreed to, Senator Jonas satd he was in favor of reform of the ocivil scrvies, and he had waited patiently in the hope this bill would be put in such shape he could support it, but he was dis- appointed, If the amendment offered by Senator Pugh, applying exam. inations to those in offico as woell as to those outside had been adopted, he would have voted for the bill, but a8 it stood now it was a mere protense and sham. He did not oppose the bill as a party man, or as an enemy to its professed objects. He believed the civil service was in a large measuro incompetent, if not corrupt, and that it needed to be reformed. Ia his own city (New Orleans) there was a custom house, which was used as a vast house of refago for political outcasts, and he could not vote for a bill which proposed to sub- Jject new applicants for appointments to examination, while it left those gentlemen untouched. Senator Voorhees said he voted upon the amendment to the hill, deriring to improve it as much as possible, oven though he could not support it. Some amendments adopted had improved the hill and he would vote for soma if they were before the aenate as separate propositions, but to the bill as » whole he could uot give his support, Senator Edmuods said he would vote for the bill, He was a little afraid it was not adequate to the object in view, Jut it was a step in the right direction, Senator Brown said his amendment proposing approximately a fair division of patronage between the parties be- fore the era of non-partisan civil ser: vice should commence, and other amendments tending towards fairness had been voted down by a republioan party vote, This seemed to rhow very clearly the republicans did not desire there should be a fair distribu- tion of offices, but intended to hold on to them, so they might be pre- pared for any misfortune that might befall them hereafter. He could not vote for the bill which was designed to give a monopoly of flises to a mi- nority party, nor could he see how democrats could support it. Senator Coke regarded the bill s an utterly worthless response to the popular demand for reform of the civil sorvice; a measure which was binding upon nobody, and which would leave the question atill to be the foot ball of party polities, Never- theless he would vote for the bill in tho hope that by its passage the suthority of it might be encouraged to strong and more practical efforts in the same direction, The bill then passed—ayes 39, noes 5. All senators present (exclusive of paire) voted in the sflirmative, excopt Senators Brown, Call, Jones, Morgan and McPherson, The yeas and nays are as follows: Yeas—Senators Aldrich, Allison, Anthony, Bsyard, Cameron (Pa), Cameron (Wis,), Chileott, Cockrell, Ooke, Conger, Davis (Ill.), Davis (W, \'a), Edmunds, Frye, Garland, George, Gorman, Groome, Harrison, Hawley. Hill, Hoar, Jackson, Jones Fla ), Jones (Nev.), Lamar, Lapham, Logan, Miller (Cala.), Miller (N, Y.), Morrill, Pendieton, Platt, Plumb, Rollis’ Sawell, Vest, Walkor, Win- dom - 39 Nays—Brown, Call, Jones, Me- Pherson, Morgan,—5, The tollowing pairs were announced: Rlair with Barron, Uale and Beck, Ferry with Farley, Maxey with Dawes, Saunders with Willlams, Butler with Pugh, Johnson with Voorhees. Senator Brown moved to amend the title of the bill 8o as to make it read “*An ac’ to perpetuate in office repub- licans who now control patronage of the government,” [Lnnugterj Lost, Senator Edmunds gave notice he would ask the senate to-morrow to consider the bill reported from the judtciary committee to prevent politi- cal assessments, Adjourned, THE GREAT REFORMER. TEXT OF THE PENDLETON BILL, Special Dispatch to Tas Bux, WasHiNoToN, December 27.—The civil service reform bill, as finally amended and passed, is ia its full text as follows: A Bill to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States: Whereas, common justice requires that so far as practicable all citizens duly qualified shall be allowed equal opportunities on the ground of per- sonal fitness for securingappointment, employment aud promotion in the subordinate civil service of the United States; And whereas, justioe to the public likewise requires that the government shall have the largest chance among those likely to answer the require- ments of the public sarvice; Aud whereas, justice as well as Everybody knew the induljence in in- toxicaling drinks wes @ yreat evil / — economy, eflizacy, and integrity in the [ports of the commission. OMAHA N pudlic service will bo promoted by ibatituticg open and uniform com satitive examination for the examina tions heretofore he held in pursuance of the statutes of 1853 and 1865; thercfore, Bo it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of Americs, In congress assem bled, that the president is authorizad to appoint, by and with the consent of the senate, three persons, not more than two ehall be adherents to one party, as oivil service commissioners, and said three commissioners shall constitute the United States civil ser- vice commission. Sald commissionera shall hold no other offisial place under the United States. The president may remove auy cimmissioner, and any vacancy in the commiesion shall bo so Blled by the presidont, by and with the consent of the senate, so to conform to said conditions for the firat selection of commissioner. The commissionereshalleach receiveanalary of 83,600 a year,Jand each ot said com- misatoners shail be paid his necess iry traveling evpenses incurred in the dis- charge of his duty as such commis- sioner, Skc. 2. That it shal! bo the duty of said commission, first, to aid the president as he may request in pre- pare suitable rules for carrying this acy Into effect, and when said rules shall have been promalgated, it shall he the duty of all the officers of the United States in the departments and oftices to which any such rales may relate to, 1o aid in all proper waya in caarrying said rules and any modifica- tion thereof into effect; second, and among other things, said rules shall provide and declare as nearly as the conditions of good admistration will warrant the following: (1) For competitive examinations for testing the fitness of the applicants for public service now classed or to be classtfied here under, such examinations shall be practical in their character, and so far as may be shall relate to: those matters which will fairly test the rola- tive cipaolty and fitness of persons ox- amined to discharge the duties of that service into which they seek to be appointed; (2) that all officers, places and ewmployments so arranged or to bo arranged in classes shall be filled by selection, according to grade from among those graded highest as the result of such competitive exam- ination; (3) appolutments to the pub- lic service aforesaid in depavt- menta at Washington shall be apportioned among the several atatos and territories and District of Colum- bia upon the basis of population aa ascertained at the last precading cen- sue; every application for examination shall contain, among other things, statement under ocath satting his cr her actual bona fido residence at the time of msking the application, as well as how long he or sho has boen resident of eaid place; (5) that there shall be a period of probation before any absolute appointment or employ- ment aforesaid; (5) that promotion shall be from lower grades to higher on the basls of merit and competition; (6) that no person in the public ser- vice is for that reason under any obligations to contribute to any political fund or render any political service, and that he will not be re- .JHE OMAHA DALy BEE -~ The commission shall moet at Wash- ngton, and at one or more places in oach state aud territory, where exam. inations ave to take place, designate and select a suitable number of per. sons, not less than three in the official servioe of the United S'atea, residing in sald state or territory, after con. sulting ssid department or office in which such peraona serve, to bo mem- bers of the board of examiners, and may at any time substitute any other person in said service Nving in such atate or territory in place of any one #o selcoted, Such board of examiners shall b) 80 located as to make it rea- sonably convenient and inexpensive for applicants to attend before them, andjwhero the e are peraons to be ex- amined in any state or territory, ex. aminations ehall be held therein at least twice each year, It shallba the duty of the collector, postmaster and othor officers of the United States at any place outside the District of Columbis, where examinations are directed by the president or maid board to be held, to allow a reasona. blo use of the public buildings for holding auch examination, and in all proper ways facilitate the same, Skc. 4. That it shall bo the duty of the secretary of the interior to cause suitable and convenient accommoda- tions to be assigned or provided, and to be furnished, heated and lighted, at the city of Washington, for carry- ing on the work of said commission and said examinations, and to cause the necossary stationery and other ar- ticloa to be supplied and the nocessary printing to be done for said commis- slon, Sec, 6, That any of sid commil efoners, examiners, copyists, or any other person in the public service who shall wilfully and corruptly, by him- self or in co-operation with one or more othor persons, defeat, deceive or obstruct any person in respect to his or her right of examina. tion according to any such rules or regulations, or who shall wilfally, corruptly and falsaly mark, grade, estimate, or re- port upon the examination or proper standing of any person examined here- under, or aid in #o doing, or who shall wilfally and corruptly make any false representation concerning the eame or concerning the pereon examined, or who shall wilfully and corruptly fur- nish to eny person any special or seoret information for the purpose of cither improving or injaring the prospeets or chances of any person #0 examined or to be examined, being appointed, employed or promoted, ehall for each auch offsnse be deemed guiity of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fino of not lers than $100 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonmont not less than ten days nor more than one year, or by both such fine and im- prisonment. Sxc, 5. That within sixty days after the passage of this act, it shall be the duty of the secretary of tho treasury in as near conformity a3 can be to the classifications of certaln clarks now existing under the 163d section of the revised statutes, first, to arrange in classes the several clerks and persons employed by the collector, naval of- ficer, surveyor and appraisers, or either of them, or being in the public moved or otherwise prejudiced for re- fusing to do so; (7) that no person in uaid service bas ony right to use his official authority or influence to coerce the political action of any person or anybody; (8) there shall be ron-com- petitive exawmination in all proper cases before the commisslon when competent persons do not compete after notices have been given of the existence of a vacancy, under such roies as may be prescribed by the commissioners, as to the manner of giving notice and competition may not be found practicuble; (9) that notice shall be given in writing by the ap- pointing power of the commisston of poreons selccted for sppointment or employment from among those who have been examined, of the placa of residence u: such persons, of the re- of jection any such persons after probation, of transfers, re- signations and removala and of the date thereof, and a record of the swyme shall be kept by sald commis- sion, Any necessary excepticns from the said nine fundamental provisions of the rules shall be set forth in con- nection with such rules, and reasons therefor shall be stated in annual re. Sald com- mission shall be subject to the rules that may be made by the president, shall make regulations for and have control of such examinations and through its members or examiners it shall supervise and preserve the rec- ords of the same, and #ald commission shall keep the minutes of its own pro- ceedings, Said commission may make investigations concerning facts, and may report all matters touch- ing enforcement and effects of eaid rules and regulations and service at their respective offices in each district, when the whole number of said clerks and persons shall bs to- gether as many as fifty, and thercafter from time to time on the direction of the president, said secretary shull make the like classification or arrangements of clerks and per- sons so employed in connection with satd oftice or offices in any other customs district, andupon iike requost and for the purposes of this act, said a2crotary shall arrange in one or more of said classes or of existing claszes any other clerks, agents or persons employed under his department in any part of said districtand not now clas- sifiod and every such arrangeent and ciazsification upon beivg made shall be reported to- the preeident; second, within esid sixty days it shall be the duty of the postmaster general, in general conformity to eeid 1633 sec- tion, to separately arrange in classes the several clerks and persons em- ployed or in the public service at each postoftice or under any postmaster of the United States where the whole number of said clerks and persons shall together amount to as many as fifty, and thereafter, from time to time, on direction of the pres- ideut it shall be the duty of the post- master general to arrange ia like classes the clerks and persons so em- ployed in the postal service in connec- tion with any other postoflice, and every such arrangement and classifica- tion, upon being made, shall be re- ported to the president; that from time to time eaid secretary and post- master general and each of the heads of departments mentioned in the 168th section of the revised statutes and each head of office shall on direction of the concerning the action of examiners or a board of examiners hereinafter provided for, its own subordinates aud those in the public service in re- spect to the executlon of this act, sald commiesion shall make an annual report to the president for transmis- sion to congress, showing its own ac- tlon, rules, regalations and exceptions thereto in force, the practical effects thereof, and any suggestions it may approve for the more effectual accom. plishments for the purposes of this aot, Bec, 8, That said commission {s au- thorized to employ a shief examiner, a part of whose duty it shall be, under its direction, to act with examining boards so far as practicable, whether at Washington or elsewhere, and se- cure accuracy, uniformity and judtice in all the proccedings which shall be at all thues open to him, The chief examiner shall be entitled to receive a salary at the rate of $3.000 a year and he shall be paid his necessary travel- ing expenses incurred in the discharge of his daty, The commission shall have a secrotary, to be appointed by the president, who shall re- ceive a salary of $1,600 per aupum, It may, when necessary, employ a stenographer and messenger, who shall be paid when employed, the former at the rate of §1,660 a year, the latter at the rate of $600 a year, president and for the facllitation of the execution of this act respectivel revise any of the then exlsting classi- fication or arrangement of thoee in their respective departments and offices, and shall for the purpose of ORNING DECEMBER 23 1882 not unless by direotion of the senate shall any person who has been nomi nated for confrmation by the senate be required to be classified or pass ex- amination, Src. 7. Whenever there are two or mote members of a family in the pub. lic sorvice in des covered by thia uet, no other members of such family aha’l be eligible to appointment to such grades. 8ro. 8. That no recommendation of any porsen who shall apply tor office under the provisions of the act which may be given by any senator or mem- ber of the house of representatives, exorpt an to the character or residence of the applioant, shall be received or considered by any person concerned fn making any examination or appoint- mont under this act Skc. 9. No porson habitually using intoxioating boverages in excess shall be appointed to or retalned in any of- fice, busine « or employment to which the provisi. of this act are applica- ble. Sre, 10. " 1at no senator or repre- sontative « territorial delegate of congross or aator, representative or dolegate e/ 5, or any officer or em- ploye of elt exocutive, j ¢ of said houses, and no icial, military or naval officer of t' - United States, and no olerk or em ye of any department, branch or ' wroau of the exeoutive, judicial, m: tary or naval servico of the United - ates ehall direotly or in- direotly soli i or receive, or be in any manner con :-rned in soliciting or re- celving any assessmen’, subacription or contributivn for any political pur- poses whatever from any officer, clerk or employe of the United States, or say department, branch or bureau thereof, or frum any parson receiving suy salary or compensation from the moneys derived from the treasury of the United States, 8rc, 11, That no person shall in any room or bailding veoupied in the discharge of official duties by any person or employes of the United States mentioned in this act, solicit in any manner whatever, or receive any contribution money or any other thing,of value for any political pur- pose whatever. 8xc. 12, No efficer or employe of the United States montioned in this act shall discharge, or promote, or degrade or in any manner change the officiai rank or compensation of any other officer or employe, or promise or threaten so to do for glving or with- holdlng or neglecting to make any contribution of money or other valu able thing for any political purpose See. 13, No officer, clerk, or other person in the service of the United States shall dircotly or indirectly give or hand over to any other oflicer, olerk or person in the service of the United States, or to any senator or member of the house of representa. tives or -territorial delegate or other perscn acting for such senator, mem- ber or delegate, any money or other valuable thing on account of, or to be applied to the promotion of any po- litical objection whatever. 8rc. 14, That any person who shall be guilty of violating any of the four foregoing sections shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, s{®nonvictlon theicof, be punished by anne not exceeding $#000, or by imprisonment for a term not exceed- ing three years, or by such fine and impriscnment both In the discretion of the court, CAPITAL NOTES. NO HOPE FOR JUSTICE, Special Dispatches to Tis Brx, WasHiNeToN, Dacember 27,—Rep- resentative Holman, who heads the oppoaltion in the house, against Pa- cific railroads regards the prospacts of bills forfeiting to the government the unearned land grants to Pacific rail- roads, uot very flattering this scssion, PATCHING THE TARIFF, The ways and means conamittee to- day considered the schedule of provi- sions, The duties were advanced half acent a pound over the commission’s roport on all grades of rice, and on rico flour the rate wes chenged from 24 cents por pound to 20 per cent ad- valorern; pickled or salted herring trom three-quarters to one-half cent per pound; pickled salmon, 1 cent to three-quarters of a cent per pound, Several changes of the classification of chicory were made without affect- ing the rate. THE SICK JUROL was In attendanco at the star route case to-day, and testimony was re- sumed., The Japanese prince and suite leave to-morrow for San Francisco via the Penosylvania, and Chicago, Burling. ton & Quincy, and Union and Central Pacific railroads It is reported W. D. Stockbridge, assistant commissioner of patente, has resigned. The annual convention of the Alpha and Omega fraternity was held to-day, Delegates are from chapters in eigh- teen states, REERDELL'S CARD, The Star publishes a card from M. C, Reerdell, one of the star route de- examination herein provided for in- clude one or more such classes, so far a8 practicable, subordinate persons, clerks and officers in the public ser- vice pertaining to their respective de- partments not beiug classified for ex- amination, Bec. 6. After each expiration of six months after the passage of thls act, no officer or clerk shall be appointed and no person shall be employed to enter or be promoted in either of sald classes now existing or that may be arranged hereunder, pursasnt to sald rules, until he has passed examination or is shown to be specially exempted from euch examination in conformity herewith, but nothing herein con- tained shall be constraed to take from those honorably discharged from the military or naval service any prefor ence conferred by the 1764th section of the revised statutes, nor take from the president any authority Incon- sistent with this act conferred by the 17631 moction of sald statuues, nor shall any officer uot in the executive branch of the government, or any per- son employed as laborer or workman, be required to be classified hereunder, fendants, in which he denies the truth of all assertions that he has been in communication with counsel for the prosecution in the star route cases. He says: ‘I have at no thne con- versed or communicated with either Colonel Merrick, Bliss or Ker on that or any other subject.” GRAIN PRODUCTION, The commissioner of agrlculture has prepared & revised table, showlng the grain production for the year end- ing December 1. It is as follows: Corn 1,635,000,000 bushels, wheat 510,- 000,000 bushels, oats 470,000,000 bushels, barley 45,000,000 bushels, rye 20,000,000 bushels, buckwheat 12,000,000 bushels. Total, 2,692,000 000 bushels, CLATMS SETTLED, The Spanish-American clalms com- wission adjourned sine die. The commission has been in existence , during which perlod 140 considered, representing abont #20,000,000, Awards were made in twenty-eight cases, aggregat- ing about $1,200,000, Eight cases remain in the hands of the umplre for 161 decision 018,600, These claims aggregate $4,- WITNESS FERS, A bill was introduoed in the senate to-day grantlog to witnesses in the star route proseoutions In oriminal court of the District of Columbia, living wost of the Mississippl river, per diem of $2 50 and mileago at the rate of seven conts per mile, coming and golng. The, president to-day nominated postmasters as follows: Folipe Games, Monteroy, Oala.; Chas. W, Wilkine, Riverside, Cala. p p- . GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS. Spectal Dispateh to Tw Hxn. ICELAND IN WANT OF FOOD, Loxnpox, December 27.-The aoting governor of Iceland Bishops, and other persons of note, in & communi- oation to The Timoes say that notwith. standing the large donatlons received, * HERR JOHANN M(ST. Arrival of the Leading Earopean Anarchist in Chicago, His Hxperience in German Jaile as a Prisoner of State, He Heolloves in an ¥ven Divislon of Property and Wealth all Aronnd. Chicago Tribune, Decomber 20, Johsnn Most, the celebrated Gor man soclalist and the editor of the Froiheit, reached Chicago yesterday morning at 8 o'clock and procosded there most bo a great distress from waa of food In leeland during the winter, AN AMICABLE ARRANGEMENT, St. Prrenssure, December 27.-- Ruesin and the pops have arranged a modus vivendi, one of the first resulta of which the pope will reappoint Catholic bishops in Poland. THE P)PE AGRERS, Rowmk, Docomber 27,—~England has proposed to acceed its diplomatic reai- denco in the Vatcan on the same footing as the representatives at Prussia. The pope has acquiesced in the proposition. A CELEBRATION IN VIENNA, Viesna, December 27,—The entire population s preparing to celebrate the six hnndredth anniversary of the house of Hapsburg. The emperor, empress and crown prince arrlved this morning, and will receive numerous deputations and addresses from the prominent Austrian corporations, THE FRENCH EXPEDITION. Panis, Dacember 27.—The govern. ment has introduced into the cham- bera of credit 1,275,000 francs for the Do Brazzas expedition. IN FAVOR OF THE OATH. Rowmg, December 27, —The central bureau of the senate has reported unanimously in favor of a parliamen- tary oath bill. TAXING RAILROAD LANDS Senator Van Wyck's Blll to Compel Pacific Rallroads to Take Out Paventa. Introduced by Senator Van Wyck in the senate of the United States, February 23, 1882, and reported back the committee December 22 from 1882, Whereas various railroad companies to whom donations of land have been granted by the United States were re- quired to pay costs of surveying and locating lands, and other fees, before recelving patents for the same; and Whereas sald railioad companies in vefusing to pay said costs and fees, and not procuring patents, are seek- ing to protect themselves from state and local taxation, thereby claiming ad against statos and looal aathoritiex exemptions not intended by congre: and Whereas the supreme court Fas de- cided that states cannot not tax un- patented lands donated to sald rail- roads because of the equity and intor- est the United States may have to eaid landsin case of an absolute re- fusal on the part of said railroad com- penies to pay said costs and fees; and Whereas, The said acts were not in- tended to protect or exempt any such unpatented lands, or any railroad company to whom they were donated, feom taxation by any state, county, cr municipality; therefore, Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress as- sembled: That the United States does heroby relinquish and «ult-claim to any state, county, or municipality seliing unpat- ented lands donated to a railroad com- pany, for non-payment of taxes as- sessed and levied upon said lands, all equity and interest the Unlted States may have in any such lands by reason of the fallure u{ the railroad company to pay any costs and fees or commis slons iuluru obtaining patents to such lands: Provided, that only such lands shall be taxed as the property of such railroad companies to which the said companies are fully entitled to patent on the payment of costs .and fees for surveying and locating said lands; aud the patent shall issue to the purchaser at such tax sale, if regularly and lawfully made, upon the payment of the fees and costs due to the United States on the land so purchased. to tho residence of Dr, K. Schmidt, whoso guest he will bs doring his stay in this city. Herr Most is probably the loading anarchist of his time, and his experionces bave boen varied and startling. Thero is nothing, however, about his looks, manner, or spesch to suggost the revolutionist, He is slight In build, wears s handsomo brown beard, has a voice of pleasant calibre, and Is decidedly an agreeable man to meet. He told a Tribune reportor last evening that the scribe could not guess his age. The mind- reador who held the Faber putyit at 30 years, Herr Most ill be 37 in a fow months, Heisa a- rian byjbirth and was apprenticed to a bookbinder., Ho firnt came to the front as a soclalist fourteen years ago, when he protested against the treat- ment of the socialists by the govern- ment of Austria. He was promptly plumped into prison, and apon his releasy visited many towns and oities in Auatria, never failing to advocate the soclalistio cause. The authorities ran him out of Vienna, aund Herr Mcst went to Chemnitz, where he edited The Free Press. His expres- sions were here regarded as criminal, and he was again thrown into jail. Leaving prison bars once more bshind him, he went to Mayence snd started The Volkstimme. He was sent to the reichstag in 1874, and the penalty of a speoch which he delivered in~ de- fonse of tho Paris communo was nine- teen months in jail. Subsequently he started the Betlln Free Presa and wrote & number of bo'ks and pamphlets devoted to the propaganda ot socialism, He was many times arrested and sent to jail, and it was not until 1878 that he de- termined to leave the continent and settle in Eogland, In London he ¢s- tablished The Freiheit, but was sent to jail in 1880 for praising the assassin ot the czar. When Lord Cavendish and Secrotary Burks were killed in Phowaix Park, Dablin, Most's paper, The Froiheit, printed an sriicle which resulted in the suppreseion of the: paper. Her majesty's blue-coated “bobbies” swooped down upon that printing office and the place that knew it knew it no more forever. Herr Most_and his compositors were es- corted to jail, and upon his release the editor of The Froiheit determined to come to America and plant his paper here, . § At the office of the Arbeiter Zsitung last evening Herr Most was found in company with Herr Spisr and Dr. Schmidt. He was in & communicative mood, and had many agreeable things to say about tho city of Chicago, its growth and its magnificent future. He consideras America the grandest coun- try in the world. “Do you intend to stay herel” ‘At present not longer than a fow monchs, I have agreed to return to England, snd I intend to keep my word,” “What was your special object in comiug to Amerios!’ ““To entablish the Freiheit here and to present my views to those who care to listen to them.” “‘Is not the Freihelt now published on the continent?" ‘“Yes, In Switzerland, It was trans- forred there when the English govern- ment supprossed it. It has been pub- lished regularly, and 1t will so con- tinue. It has never omitted an Issue on time,"” “Do you belleve in the Commune?” ““Yee. It seems to me to be the embodiment of fair play, and fair play you know is a jewel. I entertain the viows of the Carl Marx school of agl- tators, but advocate the practice of the anarchist. Iam not one of the impracticables, I-believe in an even division all around 1 hold that the domain of the country should be owned by the people, and that the profit from the manufactories should o divided between those inter: in them, Bome people claim that I contemplate the overthrow of society. Bec, 2. That all lands granted to railrosd companies, subject to pay- ment of costs and fees of surveying, and 8o forth, shall reyert to the Uni- ted States, and be considered public lands, in all cases where within one yenr after such comnpanies shall be en- titled to pay such costs and to demand d recoive patents for such lands, the said companies neglect to pay such costs and foe e A Heavy Excursion: Special Dispatch to Tus Kxx. WasmiNaroN, December 27,—The Japanese prince and suite in company with the secretaries of state, war, navy and treasury, with General Sherman and members of the diplomatic corps and committees on forelgn affairs and foreign relations, have gone to Mount Vernon on the Despatch, Suicide. Special Dispatch to Tus Bex, Say Fravewsco, December 27.—A Tucson dispatch says that Sergeant Rufus Somerly, of the Sixth cavalry, committed suicide at Fort Lowell this morning by shooting himself with » carbine in the presence of his com- pany. Ho was a graduate of West Point, and formerly & lioutenant in the Sixth cavalry. e was compelled to resign on_sccount of drunkencess and misconducl. The sulcide is at- tributedto driok, It is not so. I would build up society and give it a healthier tone,” “But you eulogized the men who assassinated the ozar,"” “‘In the Interest of the people, yes. That one man's wesk will decided the destinies of millions, HE CREATED UNTOLD MISERY, He was a tyrant, He deserved death and his death was simply an act of too long delayed justice, !l‘lm amount of human misery that man caused will never be understood. Hlis death was but an eplsode in the forward march of freedom, People inclined to criticlse say that the socialist and communist are impractical. It is not true, The people are]always practical. You can always trust them to rise to the level of the ocoasion, They admire nothing so much as justico, and they can be trusted to enforce the prineiple of fair play and half the road. In Amerlea I shall speak for the welfare of the workingmen, Workiogmen the world over are revolutlonists, and their emancipation can only come through agitation, Where the workingman has no power, social and national baukruptoy must foliow. The labor movoment s gaiuing steadily, and there is strong ground for hope for a brighter future for the workingman,” Use Redding's Russia Salve in the Louse,and use Hedding's Russian Salve in the stable, Ty it,