Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-17


States, and who served twelve months aud
upwards and having hecn hoDoraOly dischar-
eea, shall be entitled 10 an adequate bounty
ct land. OF eommutatIon for such bounty IN
money.
This resolution, afteT'a good deal of de-
bate and amendment, IN which McssrS.
Waiter, Storry, Co56, Ed,cardS, Little and
Rkea took part, WAS rejected.
There had been = ferred 10 the same
! committee, on motion Of Mr.. Comstock, of
| n. Y. a resolution, that il is eApedicni 10
| allow a pension Ia officers of the present
army who were wounded in the service
during tic late war.
This motion was also rejected by
large majority.
The committee then rose and reported
It's proceedings 10 the House.
The question being on concurrence in
these several voies-
| Mr.. johnson, III spee.h of half an
hour, entered his proies; against the sew
eral decisions Of the House.
Jhc votes in committee of the whole
were then seyeraly concurcdin.
! When the 9th resolve was under censi-
Jrration, Mir. Robertson of Lou. moved To
amend ii by adding to il proposition 10
this elect: that the military committee
be instructed to enquire into the expetIien-
cy OF educating AT The Military School OF
the u 5. the sous OF all officers, non com
nlsS'oned officers or privates, who have
| fallen IN fighting for their country.
After considerable discussion, in which
Mr.. Williams of n. G. Mr.. ISn,ith of Md.
| Mr.. johnson of Kentucky, MIR. FORSYTH, MIR.
Lovndes, and Mr.. Mercer, look part, the
amendment was negatived, not, it is be-
lieved, from an objection to the principle
1t embraced, but to lis introduction i'm
| this manner.
After the whole of the resolutions had
| been disposed of and the 9th referred 10
the Military committee to bring III bill
| nr. Robertson renewed, in ID separate
form. the proposition lie had failed lust
now in carrying by way of amendment.
But itgrew late, and the House adjourn
ell without coming TO a decision on it.
| - MIR. Johnson's speech, and the re-
marks on the proposition of Mr.. Robert
son, shall he hereafter report d.-N. Int. |
FRIDAY, FEB. l3.
Dir. LowndCs from the committee of
| Ways and Means, reported bill max
Ing appropriations for the support of the
navy of the United States for the wear
1918; which bill was twice read and com
mitied.
Mr.. Johnson of Ky. from the commit
Il u
peallng so much of the act of July 6,
| 1912, as allows extra pay and emolu-
menis TO brevet rank which was read,
and (alter some conversation on the
course II should take, aud after once de-
ciding against commitment, but which
decision subsequently was re-considered
and reversed) was committed 10 COM
mlttee Of the whole house.
On motion of Mir. j. s. Smith, the Sc
cretary oil the Treasury was requested TO
| lay before the house statement of the
number of tons of bar iron, iron in pigs.
and cast and rolled iron, that has been i'm
| ported into the u. States annually. and
from what countries, from the first of Nav,
1872, 10 Tie first of May, 1917, and if a.
ny, what quantity has been exported dur
ing the same period
On motion Of Mr.. Robertson of Lou.
the committee of Ways and Means were
I instructed 10 enquire into the expediency
OF amending the laws in relation TO the
salaries and emoluments of the Registers
and Receivers ofpublic monies.
| The Speaker laid before the House,
report from the War Department on the
| petition, referred TO ihat Department. of
| General Moses Porter; ara reports from
the Secretary oflhe Treasury on the sub
lect OF General ST. Glars unsettled ba-
lances, and on the petition 81 Joseph w.
Page.
Mr.. johnson of Kentucky, offered the
following motion for consideration:
Resotred, Thatthe Secretary Of War be drec-
ted to report TO tho House Of Representatives.,
ms opinion as to the propriety of Continuing the
oihce of claims for the term of one year from
the eth OF April next, and IT, in has opinion, This
Office stoud not be continued to ,rhat branch of the
Wdr Department icouid IL be proper to transfer the
duties ~ the commissioner to Investigate Tie claims
for lost property.
Mr.. Poinderter questioned TIE propriety
oil calling on the head Of department for
his opinion as TO the necessity OF expedi-
ency OF continuing an office.
MIR. Williams OF n. &. remarked, thata
similar resolution was already referred to
the committee ofclsims, and If they had
deemed ii eXpedient TO call or the Secre-
iary of War, they would have done So
1T was proper to call for facts from de
partment, but not for opinions, and the
House was as well qualified 10 Judge of
the propTicty of continuing this office as
the Secretary of War. The course pro-
posed was irregular, and he disapproved
of it, though it was with reluctance that
he opposed call for information.
Mr.. Johnsom of Kentucky, said this re-
solution was different from that which had
been referred to the committee Of claims,
and there was no irrcguiarify in calling
upon adeparlmcnt 10 know what branch
Of ii particular business could best be
referred to- The Secretary OF War had
control over this business 10 certain ex-
tent, and he was best able to give infor-
nation on the subject. The Office Of
claims bad been created for certain pnr-
poses; this office was about TO expire by
law, and he thought it perfectly proper
and rcr,ii.,r IN eli o., fI.n Gnnrni.,r.. nr