The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-31
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, May 80.
SENATE.

Mr.. Grimes reported adversely on the
petition for an increase of the pay OF
naval officers.
Mr.. Sprague called up the joint reso-
luton for the payment of certain Ken
lucky home guards, called into the
United States service to repel rebel
invasion under John Morgan, in 1862,
which was passed at one o'clock.
Mr.. Howard called up the Recon
struction resolutions.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Blaine, from the Select Commit
tee on the War Debt of the Loyal
States, reported bill to reimburse the
States which have furnished troops to
the Union army, for advances made
and expenses incurred in raising the
same. Mr. Blaine said that after con-
ference with the members of the COM
mittee and the friends of the bill, he
found an indisposition to consider the
bill at this time. He therefore yielded
his own judgment and moved that the
bill be recommitted to the select COM
mittee, and that the committee be con-
tinued as now organized, with leave TO
report during the next session. Agreed
to.
On motion of Mr.. Blaine, the Com
mittee on the War Debt was discharged
from further consideration of the bill
to reimburse the State of Kansas for
monies expended in furnishing troops,
which was referred to the Committee
on Appropriations.
Mr.. Stevens, from the Select Commit
tee on military and postal railroad
from Washington to New York, report
ed back the bill to authorize the build
ing of n military and postal railroad
from Washington to New York, which
was recommitted with a motion by Mr..
Stevens that he would call it up in
week.
The bill to promote the construction
of a line of railway between the city of
Washington and the Northwest, for ma
tionaI purposes, and the bill to author
ize the Cleveland & Mahoning railroad
to continue and construct their road
from Youngstown, Ohio, to Pittsburgh,
Pa, and make it n military and postal
road, were reported, but the morning
hour expired before action could be had
upon them.
The Speaker presented a communion
ton from the Secretary of War, trans
hitting two reports from Maj. GenI
Stoneman, concerning the recent riot at
Memphis, which was laid on the table.
The House resumed consideration of
the bill to provide for restoring the
States lately in instruction to their
full political rights.
Mr.. Bromwell, of Ill, addressed the
House. He supported thoroughly and
lHe ISpOAb u LAS ASSOhA-
strucLion committee. The measures
were not all that he or any one desired,
but were a series of measures which he
thought would materially aid in secur-
ing the largest attainable liberty of all
the people of the country.
On motion of Mr.. Schenck, further
consideration of the subject was post
poned until next Monday.
The House then proceeded in con-
sideration of the final order, it being
bill reported by Mr.. Schenck, from the
committee of military affairs, to reduce
and establish the pay of officers and to
regulate the pay OF soldiers of the Army
of the United States.
Mr.. Schenck detailed at length the
object of the bill and the operations of
the present cumbrous and roundabout
mode of calculating pay and allow
ances of officers. He indicated several
amendments which he desired to offer
to the bill. These were to make the
pay of General $4,000; of Lieut. Cen
eral $4,000; to allow to officers in lieu
of the present longevity ration, 10 per
cent. additional for every five years of
faithful service.
The amendments were incorporated in
the bill.
Mr.. Blaine exposed the inequality of
abolishing the Communication of rations,
showing the cost of living at Fort
~
contracted for wood at $50 per cord; for
corn at SO per bushel, and for flour
Mt ST5 per barrel, and where he said
Brigadier General could not support
two horses or two children on his pay
of s., 500. officers on the Utah expedl-
ton could not have lived on double their
pay, if they had not been allowed conf
mutation of rations.
Mr.. Farquhar inquired whether the
difficulty could not be obviated by al
lowing rations in kind at the distant
posts.
make great difference, but there was
no such provision in the bill.
Mr.. Thayer opposed the bill, he held
it to be manifest that in this country,
covering such a vast extent of territory,
the expense ofliving must differ widely
in different parts of the country, and
that inequality had always been rene
died here and in other countries bymak-
ing the Government the purchaser of
the necessaries of life, and furnishing
them to officers and men as part of
their pay. The abolition of that system
would work the grossest inequality,
and common sense and common JUS
tice were against the proposed change.
The Speaker interrupted Mr.. Thayer
to present messages from the President
and Senate in reference to the death of
Lieutenant-GenerRl Scott, when Mr..
Schenck expressed the hope that no
other business would be done by the
House to-day except to concur in the
resolution of the Senate directing the
two Committees on Military Affairs to
report what method should be adopted
by Congress to manifest its apprecia-
ton of the high character, tried Patri-
otism and distinguished public services
of Lieutenant General Scott. The res
olution was concurred in, and, on mo-
respect to the memory of General Scott,
adjourned.