Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY lS-lu tuo
Senate, Mr.. Stewart from the Pacific
Railroad Committee, substituted ma
iority report, in opposition to the views
Of the minority, on the Omnibus Rail-
road bill. :,
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to repeal
the act fixing the headquarters OF the
General of the Army at Washington,
recurring all orders of the President and
Secretary of War to be issued by him,
and in case of his inability by sickness,
the next in rank and providing that he
shall not be released from command, nor
assigned to duty elsewhere, except at his
request, without the approval Of the Sem
ate, and that all contrary orders shall be
null and void.
Pomeroy, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported an amendment to the
bill amendatory of the act of July II,
1868. relating to the location of agricul.
tural scrip. As amended, the bill pro-
vides simply that all such scrip shall be
received fsom actual settlers in payment
of pre-emption claims in the same man
ner az is now authorized by law in case
OF military bounty land warrants. Also,
adversely to the House bill to declare
forfeited to the United States certain
lands granted in aid of the construction
of railroads in Mississippi, Louisiana and
Florida
Pomeroy introduced bill to abolish
and forever prohibit peonage in New
Mexico.
Williams, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported bill for the sale OF
the Hot Springs reservation in Arkansas.
Grimes called upthe bill in relation to
captures made by Admiral Farraguts
feet, in the Mississippi river in 1862,
which passed. He also called up bill
TO compensate the officers and crew of
the Kearsarge for the destruction of the
Alabama. 1t gives to Commander Wins
low and his crew $4,000
Trumbull called up bill to reorgan.
ize the judicial system of the United
States. 1t fixes the number of Judges OF
the United States Supreme Court at nine,
and provides for the appointment of
Circuit Judges TO perform circuit duties
now performed by the Judges cf the Su-
preme Court, but it requires thai each Of
the latter shall do circuit duty for aiiesst
one term every two years. Went over
by the expiration of the morning hour.
The Indian appropriation bill was
taken up and passed.
An amendment. transferring the In.
dian Bureau TO the War Department,
was rejected.
The Committee on the Pacific rail.
road was relieved from further conside-
ration on a number Of railroad bills, in
c!.a:.s the Memphis, El Pase and Pa
ci6c road.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill coptinu.
ing education aud collection OF
debts BY the Freedmen's Bureau until
otherwise instructed by Congress also,
continuing the Freedman's Hospital at
Washington, Richmond, and other points
until next July. Referred to Committee
on Military Affairs.
In the House the Army Appropriation
bill was taken up, and all the amend
ments reducing ordinary appropriations
agreed to.
Kelley made u speech, expressing his
faith in the Government.
Blaine appealed to the House not to
agree to the amendment striking out the
sam of $4,000 for military surveys, or to
the amendment, offered by Butler, for
the reduction of the army.
After considerable discussion, the
Army Appropriation bill passed, with
Blaine's substitute stricken out.
Mr.. Blair, of Michigan, from the Com
mittee on New York Election Frauds,
offered resolution directing the Ser
geapt-at-Arms to arrest aud bring before
the House two reereant witnessed, John
n. Bell and David W. Reeves, of
Orange county, New York, which was
agreed 10.
A resolution was sdopted ibquiring
into the Incarceration of Emilia Cubsda,
a United States citizen, by the Captain
General Of Cuba
A resolution was passed providing for
payment Of the expenses Of the removal
Of Thad. Stevens remains from Wash
ington.
The Judiciary Committee reported q
bill 70 defae felonies and misdemesnors,
and 10 regulate peremptory challenges.