Mr. NESMITH. I do not object to the proposition contained in the amendment as to the biennial legislative sessions. I think that is proper. What I do object to, and what I think is improper, is the provision that these judges shall determine the amount of labor that they shall perform for their salaries, and fix the districts in which they shall perform that service, in contradistinction to the Legislature. I believe the Legislature are better qualified to do that. Now, sir, there has been some hasty legislation on this subject. Only this week a bill passed here for the purpose of correcting the evil of the absence of Federal officers in the Territories from their posts. I must say, with all deference to the Senate, who passed that bill, that I believe they have infinitely increased the evils which were intended to be remedied. Heretofore officers could only be absent by permission of the President. If they were ab Before the Senator sent without that permission they forfeited their salaries during the time they were absent. The bill that we passed the other day is of the same character, I think, with the bill now pending. It provides that an officer may be absent from the Territory 30 days without any leave of absence, but he must not be absent more than 30 days at one time. Now, sir, there are 3 Territories very nearly contig uous to the State in which I reside, and many of the officers of those Territories are appointed from that State. Under the provisions of the bill which you passed the other day it would only require the Federal officers in the adjoining Territories to remain in their Territories 12 days in a year; that is, they could be absent 30 days, and then by returning one day be absent 30 more. Under the operation of that law I am satisfied that the people of the Territories will be deprived of the services of the Federal officers to a greater extent than heretofore. The evil will be very much increased by the passage of that bill. I think this bill is of the same character. It is calcu lated to relieve the Federal judges from discharging any duties in this Territory except such as they may determine in their own pleas ure that they will discharge for the compensation which they receive from the Government. If it be satisfactory to the Senate, I should refer that the bill would go over until it can e more thoroughly investigated.