Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-27
XXXIXthC Congress.
WAsHISGrON, April %.

WAsHHGrox, April 2s.
HOUSE. -
The Senate bill to refund certain duties
paid on produce started for psrt of the
United States prior to the expiration of the
passed.
Also the Senate bill to facilitate the set
tlement of the Treasursr's accounts.
Mr.. ENGLISH, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported back with amendments
the Senate bill to encourage telegraphie
communication between the United States
and the island Of Cuba and other West In
dia islands and the Bahamas. The first
amendment was to strike out Of the section
the words "in time of peace" so it will
read "at all times" The second amend-
ment was 20 insert after the words Hconsu-
lar agents" the words "and the said COM
pany shall keep all it, lines open to the
public for the transmission of the markets
and commercial intelligence, and all mes
sages and dispatches shall be forwarded in
the order in which they shall be received,
and said company shall not be permitted to
charge or collect for messages transmitted
through any Of its submarine wires more
than at the rate of three dollars and fifty
cts for messages Of ten words" The amend
ments were agreed to, and the bill as amend
ed passed.
Mr.. SCHENCK, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported a substitute for
the bill for the relief of paymasters of the
army. The substitute directs the account
ing officer to put TO the credit of paymasters
or additional psymasters all sums of money
paid by them to officers, soldiers or employ
ees connected with the military service of
the United States, provided such payments
shall be shown to have been actually made
-, faiF fra,,Ir,Iant v,roafina
or intent, and where the erroneous payment
was not the result of gross negligence or
carelessness. The substitute was agreed to,
and the bill, as amended, passed.
On motion of Mr.. SCHENCK the Com
mittee on Military Affairs was discharged
from the further consideration of the Senate
bill authorizing the Secretary of War to set
tie claims of the State Of Kansas for the ser
vices of the militia called out on the re-
QUESTION of Major General Curtis. Referred
to the Committee on the War Department.
Mr.. INGERSOLL, from the Committee
for the District of Columbia, reported bill
placing SIS, 900 at the service Of the Com
missioner of Public Buildings for the pur-
pose of cleaning and purifying the city, in
view of the danger from the cholera and
other epidemics, and asked to have it put
upon its passage
Mr.. WASHBURNE, Of Illinois, objected,
but suggested its reference to the Commit
tee of the Whole on the state of the Union.
He would examine it. and if he found it all
right would make no objections to have it
taken up and disposed of.
Mr.. HARDING suggested an amendment
looking to making the Hall of the House
comfortable. He had been nearly per-
ished since he came here, for want of fresh
air it reminded him of the "Blaek hole of
Calcutta"
Mr.. INGERsOLL replied that there was
a committee on the ventilation of the Capt.
tol.
The bill was read twice and referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. ANCONA, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported back the bill to
extenp the Jurisdiction of the Court Of
Claims, with substitute for the first sec
ton. The substitute provides that the
Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to
hear and determine claims on any Pay
master, Quartermaster, Commisary
of Subsistence, and any other dis
bursting officer of the United States, or of
his administrators or executors, for relief
from responsibility on account of loss by
capture or otherwise, while in line Of duty,
of Government funds, vouchers, records and
papers, and for which such officer was or is
held responsible.
Of Illinois, a proViso was added that Ian ap-
peal may be taken to the Supreme Court, as
in other cases.
The amendments were agreed to and the
bill passed.
Mr.. DELANo introduced bill declaring
certain obligations of the United States and
the National Bank currency subject to taxa
ton under State authority. Read twice and
referred to Committee on Banks
Mr.. DARLING offered a resolution. which
was adopted, instructing the Committee on
Commerce to inquire into and report upon
the expediency of establishing Daboldt's
fog trumper at Sandy Hook, and the port of
New York.
The House resumed the unfinished busi-
ness of yesterday, being the Northern Pacific
Railroad bill. ...
Mr.. STEVENS substitute provides that
no warrant for said lands shall be issued BY
the Government in advance Of the eonstrue-
ton of the several portions Of the road
required by the charter.
Mr.. FARNSWORTH made an argument
against the bill, referring to the active
exertions of the lobby agents in manipulate
ing the Chicago Board of Trade and pro-
curing from It circular requesting the
members from Illinois to vote for the bill
He had made a compilation of the amount
for which the United States would be liable
under the bill and the amount was S69,Ol5,-
600. He would read an extract from
pamphlet published by the Directors OF the
Company estimating the value of land
granted at S473, 100000 and the entire cost
of the road at S120, 900, leaving to the
shareholders a clear profit of $685., $780, 900.
This was the representation when the
company wanted 70 attract capitalists, and
vet It comes to Congress asking further
subsidies. The object sought for in the
passage Of the bill was a speculation in
order that the present directors might sell
out as others had done. He did lot believe
the country needed second railroad to the
Pacific and he thought it better that the
S7O 600 600 asked for should be used IN
5;gging canal across the Isthmus con-
nectinS the waters of the Atlantic and
Pacific, He had not the slightest idea that
this company would build the railroad it
would simply sell out its charter. The last
company had sold its interests for $4,000,
and their charter after the passage Of this
bill would be worth millions OF dollars
When he saw the exertions made by the
| lobby agents and adventurers he distrusted
the whole thing.
Mr.. RANDALL said there was no war
rant in the Constitution for appropriating
money for such purposes.
Mr.. D0NNELLY suggested that the Cen
traI Pacific agents were lobbying against
the bill. 81
Mr.. DODGE addressed the House in sup
port Of the bill. He proposed to consider
the mater as business man. The grant