The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-11
ISAalew honni, OF Maine, Chandler, stewart and

JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES.
senate Hsssrs ANTHONY no Whyse snd H sns VIC
JOINT Committee on Eslr0ued BitlS-0n she part OF
the senate, Messrs. Ross, Patterson, OF New Hamp-
JOINT Oommfttse on tAe Ltbra,p-On the part Of
the Senate, hessrs. Morgan, Howe and Fessenden
=, so s oon;ssses on Rstrencns,t-O the part OF
new Hampshire, and bSckalew.
JOINT Committees TO Reefse ana Ftx the Fay or
senate Messrs r. Fesscnden Sherman an and Busyaley.
10 E5dnsisse Claims and Accounts t0r Repairs ana
FURNISHING NE Executive AdslsS0n-On the part Of
on Ordaance-On the part OF the Senate Messrs.
Howard tchairmanj Cameron and Drake.
on Revising Rules or the Ss70k-Messr1. Anthony
tchairmanl Pomeroy aud Edmunds.
Mr.. RICE, (rep.l OF Ark, moved to add two men,
bers to the COMMITTEES on the Pacific Railroad az re-
personalities OF the S0uth but at the suggestion OF
Mr.. Edmunds he withdrew the motion temporarily
The PRESIDENT then directed the Secretary to read
the calendar OF bills and resolutions on the table,
most OF which were referred TO the appropriate COM
mittees
RESUMPTION or SPECIE PAYMENT
On motion OF Mr.. SUMNER, (rep.) OF Mass his bill
to resume specie payment on the 4lh OF July next
was laid over until next week, when, he said, he
would move to refer IL TO the Committee on Finance
RECONSTRUCTION IN GEORGIA.
Mr.. SUMNER also explained the purpose Of the bill
introduced by him 70 carry out the Reconstruction
acts In Ge0rgia-viz, TO resume to certain extent
the power OF Congress over that State consequence
OF the Legislature having been illegally constituted
and on his motion II was referred to the Committee
GRADES OF OFFICES IN THE ARMY AND NAVY.
Mr.. DRAKE, trepl OF Mo-. explained the purpose OF
and lieutenant general in the army and admral and
vice admiral IN the navy to be to Keep those grades
in reserve as rewards FOR extraordinary public ser
regular promotion and accommodation. 1t was re-
lerred first to the Committee on Military Affairs to
the Committee on Naval Affairs.
THE COPPER BILL.
the House Dill to regulate the duties on copper,
IN
Mining.
THE INDIAN BUREAU. !.
When the House bill to restore the Bureau Of Indian
Affairs 10 the War Department was reached.
Mr.. THAYER, rep.j Of Neh, moved to reierit to the
Committee on lndian Affairs, and
Mr.. WILSON, rep or Mass, moved to refer II 10 the
Committee on Military Affairs, and remarked that
the proposed transfer was favored by several distn
gulshed generals
Mr.. FERRY (rep) OF Conn.,, opposed sending il to
the Committee on Indian Affairs. because send IL
there would ne thought, be fatal TO the BILL Of which
kr. TIPToN, (rep.) of Neb., favored the motion
TO send II 70 the Committee Oh Indian Affairs, be-
the Indian policy OF the government that committee
which had so long had charge OF the whole subject;
was the one most iii 10 deal with It.
Mr.. MORRILL,, (rep) OF Me-. thought IL should go as
a matter OF course TO the Committee on Indian
Affairs because the subject properly belonged there
The suggestion OF the senator from Massachusetts,
mr. Wilson, that the transfer was favored by some
OF the generals did not strike him very good
reason for making such transfer. The recommends
bin had been reported by the Military Committee OF
the House was not to control the action OF the
Senate: and he would say, further that II was
question upon which even the generals were divided
In opinion
Mr.. THAYER, rep, OF New, said that the sena-
tor from Connecticut mr. Terry had given stranger
reason for not sending the bill TO the appropriate
c0mmttee-namely, that 1t might be reported upon
uniavoraby. Ii that were to be recognized as q
reason for not making the usual reference OF bill
II would be as well to abolish all committees at
once. II there was disposition to rush this bill
thrnn hn nrnf Ia mae
prepared 10 say now how he wonld vote upon the
bill, had he any personal reason for wishing to
send 10 committee rather than the other having
the nonor to be q member OF each but he did not
want the usage OF the senate departed from In
this respect. AS 10 the recommendation OF the gen
eral spoken OF he would say that he had documents
in his desk showing that the Lieutenant General had
opposed the transfer.
Mr.. SHERMAN, rep.) OF Ohio, said he wished to
have IL referred TO the Committee Military Affairs
for the reason that similar bill had been referred TO
the Committee on Indian Affairs two years ago and
mad never been reported at all. The subject was
important one, upon which the Senate had right
TO expect al early report; and n he could have
syrance that the Committee Oh Indian Affairs would
give IL proper aud early attention he would vote Tor
the reference Of the bill 10 that committee, otherwise
he would not
Mr. TRuMBULL, trep.) OF H., said that to refuse TO
send TO the Committee on indian Affairs this bin,
which properly belonged there, would be TO make a
rejection upon that committee which he was not
prepared w make. As to the other similar pnl OF
which the senator from Ohio tMr. sherman hal
spoken, there might be good reasons why the CON-
Mr.. WILSON, trep) OF Mass, said that during the
Indian war In oregon this matter had been fully IN
came TO the conclusion that the Indian bureau ought
TO be transferred 10 the War Department and that
millions OF dollars had been lost 10 the country by
the transfer from the War Department to the De-
partment Of the Interior.
Mr.. CoNKLNG. trepl Of y. y, was perplexed to
the proper time TO 20 into the merits OF the subject
The senate should remember tina. 1t was q very
important one, demanding immediate attention and
although he agreed that technically the Committee
on Indian Affairs was the proper one to which the
bill should be referred yet the Old maxim that achild
should not he put nurse to unfriendly mother'
was good, and he thought II must be apparent to all
men that the tribunal which bill proposes to GUST
OF Jurisdiction is not the best pass upon II.
Mr. CoNNEss, rep.) OF Cal, proposed to get rid OF
the difficulty by motion TO constitute the Com
m,ttee on Indian Affairs and the Committee Mill
tary Affairs joint committee 70 consider the subject
Mr.. MoRRrLL, rep, Of Me-, replying 70 Mr.. Conk.
ling's suggestion that the Committee on Indian
Alars would not be disinterested tribunal said
that the Committee Military Anairs whose juris
diction the bill proposed TO augment, was not in
position to be more impartial.
Mr.. CoNKLING denied that he had said that either
committee was disqualified IL deal with the matter
fairly, because OF the interest the result He had
only stated the generally accepted view that
tribunal which IL Is proposed TO oust OF Its Jursdic
ton by ccrtain bill Is not likely to be the best or
wisest tribunal TO deal with that measure While he
did not think either OF the committees named
disqualified yet II arrangement could he made
IKE that proposed by Mr.. Conness. by which II
fer IT..
Mr.. DAVIS, tdem) OF KY, said that he had formerly
opposed the transfer ~ the War Department, ne
was now strongly induced 10 vote ior H.
Mr.. CoRBh1T, trep1 OF oregon. thought that the
transfer would not result In greater economy, and
said that his experience In oregon mad satisfied him
that where there were tie most troops there were
the most difficulties with the Indians.
Mr.. HENDRICKS, ldeH.) OF Ind, said he regarded
the military service Of the United states the most
expensive government service il the world, and pre-
dicted Increased expenditures Instead OF economy
II the transfer to the War Department was made.
Mr.. FBssRSDES. rep.) Of Me thought 1t must be
clear TO every one that the subject or the bill be.
longed properly to the Committee on indian AfaIrs,
aud that TO refuge 10 make the reference would be
on the committee. He was IN favor OF
sending the bill TO the proper committee. from which
no had no doubt the senate would In due time have
q iull and satisfactory report His own opinion was
IN favor OF the transfer; nut if ne could he satisfied
either bY report or in debate, that that opinion
was wrong, lie would be prepared 10 change It,
Mr.. DOolIrrLE tdenll or Wis, said that some years
ago joint committee having charge OF the whole
subject had, upon fnl examination OF u, aided by
tue testimony Of army officers and civilians reported