The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-07


Port once department. ana directing the Postnas-
ter General ann all otner heads OF department. TO
rescind AL contracts with that firm.
Mr.. KERR tdem| OF Ind objected Co the introduce
lion or the Joint resolution, because mere was no
evidence before the House 10 sustain IL.
TREATMENT or UNION PRISONERS
Mr.. SHASSs, (rep.l OF Ind, nom the select Com
miLtee ON tue Treatment Of Union PRISONERS, asked
aud obtained leave 10 make report NO further
expense If 70 be incurred In examining witnesses.
UNITED STATES COURTS N ARKANSAS.
on motion Of Mr.. ROOTS, lrepl OF Ark, tho Senate
cunt Court for the Eastern district OF Arkansas on
Tie second Mondays Of April and October Of each
year was taken from the Speakers table ana passed.
sALES or CAPTURED AND ABANDONED PROPERTY.
Mr. PAINE, trep.) Of WIS, offered resolution cali
Ing on the Secretary Of the Treasury for information
chase OF captured ana abandoned property mad been
covered into the Treasury, &c. Adopted
REMOVAL OF DISABILITIES.
MI. PAINE from the Reconstruction Committee,
reported bill 10 remove legal and political dissbilk
Ties rom large number or persons ia the recon-
ssrncted States. Ordered 10 be printed and RECON-
United.
aspOKrh OF NATIONAL Banks
MI. H0orER, IRON the Committee on Banking and
currency, reported . bill regulating the reports Of
and recOmsnitted.
The bin requires the national hanks TO make their
reports 10 the Comptroller ofthe Currency the first
Monday OF every month"; IN lieu OF the quarterly and
monthly statements now required the reports for
some newspaper ar the expense Of the bank.
DUTIES ON IMPORTED BARLEY.
usIz, dem o. Pa, presented two nenorials
Irom t1lixens OF heading, Pa, praying Tor the re-
peal Of the duties on imported barley Referred TO
the COMMITTEE OF Ways and Means
rne House then, At two O'Clock. went into Com
mirtee Of the Whole Mr.. Ferry il the chair and
resumed lie consideration OF
THE ARMY APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
Mr.. BLAINE, lrep) OF Me-, who has charge OF rne
bill. stated that, IN view Of the sentiment Of the
House, as presented III che discussion yesterday he
bill which would reduce the amount SlJ,OO0,0O0
A discussion sprang up between Messrs. ELDRIDGE
purchase Of Tords theatre, 10 the cary oi Washing
ton.
Mr.. BLAINE spoke Of the building Az the place in
which the greatest tragedy OF modern times took
place and remarked that IL was very ungracious on
the part o. the gentleman from Wisconsin, TO find
fault with the Secretary Of war because the place
where the great tragedy was enacted had not been
gentleman mean mar ssSss ~ ~
Mr. EinRibas-Nc Sir. wni the gentleman allow
Yr, BLAIEE--It was to rescue IL from that degrade
ton that the Secretary Of War took IL into his con-
troll and thar the Congress afterwards gave MN
money TO vest the property in che United states.
Mr.. ElDRGD6E--l wish TO state that intended 10
make no charge other than this that the Secretary.
without the authority OF the law.
Mr.. nlArNs--Then ne did right.
Mr.. ELpRiDoE-A the gentleman nom Maine
asks nne whether approved or ii or NOT. answered
him that do not approve OF 1t. approve OF no acr
Of any person. whether high or low, that Is in viola.
ton or without the authority OF law ] say that
not because toe Secretary OF War took possession OF
FOrd's theatre la which the tragedy 70 which he re-
fers was perpaiatesi. do not have any issue With
the gentleman on that subject; but u you allow
the Secretary OF War 10 make purchase u this
kind Then you may allow him TO do any other act,
Mr.. BLAINE--I asked the gentleman whether he
knew anything wrong in that transaction and II he
did TO state IL 10 the House.
Mr.. ELDRrDGE--I now state 10 the gentleman that
every net done without authority Of law Is wrong.
Mr.. BLAiNE-The wrong which the gentleman al
leges Ia that, whereas that building che scene
that mercess tragedy 81 the 14th OF April and whte
Congress was not 10 convene for nine mouths. the
Secretary OF War came forward and using che power
not be devoted 70 profane and possibNeveH obscene
annsements. He did that with the approval oS the
vast loyal masses In the United States: and should
regret TO know that gentleman on that side
Of the House. shond object 70 thst action Of the Sec
rotary OF War.
Mr. ELpElDag-I wish not 10 make any charge
against any gentleman, but repeat that such acts
ought not TO be done without authori,r OF law, and
when the gentleman from Maine says that II was
place OF proaIe and obscene amusements ask
him what he means TO be understood by thats
ssssssina,ed IN RIM building II he had nor besn
called there by love Of the amuseinents to when
the gentleman refers. And on day, too, which
some say ought not 10 be violated IN such manner.
I deny that theatre Is scene Of ooscene amuse.
ments.
Mr. SHANES-rhe murder OF President Lincoln
was itself an ACT OF war, and u was Inc duty Of
the Secretary Of War 10 take such steps became
Mr. B,.AiNE--I think thai this discussion has gone
far enough will close II with the remark that ~
this late day the gentleman nom WISCONSIN or any
other gentleman that side Of the House desired 10
cricisc acts winch he may think to lie outside OF the
constitution and outside Of the laws be made very
unfortunate selection when he attacked that act Of
the Secretary Of War; for among the many acts that
commend tue maine Of Edwin NJ Stanton to the
patriotic people Of the country Tor AZ tlnie that WIN
WIN M G EaSsiparne has done many more .ns. win
commend him to eternal lniamy.
of n. n.
building should Dc turned over 10 lee simple 70 the
the y err e nsn sass ami MS Ssss
OF the House
Mr. E00fELD, repl OF Pa, made the point that
the discussion was out Of ORDER and the Chairman ~
Mr. WINDOW, trep.) of MIMI. moved TO reduce the
appropriation for the Quartermaster's Department
from So 0O 900 TO 900 000 and proceeded TO state
facts showing the waste, extravaganza aud corrup-
ton Of quartermasers at distant posts ut the same
time expressly reserving the department at Wash
ington from the application OF bis remarks
After considerable discussion the amendment was
rejected.
ment providing that the commanding Officer Of @
posi- may lease any vacant land or buildings belong
ing to the post TO civilians, and turn over the pro-
cceds 10 the Treasury. Adopted.
The lien appropraftng 81 oo0.00o Tor the arssaai
and armofy at Rock island illinois, one-haf the
amount to he applied TO the construction OF the
bridge connecting Rock Island WITH the ctties OF
Rock Island and davenport, gave rise 10 considerable
ulScuS~ou.
witilsat disposing Of tue subject the comrniltee
rose.
Tae following are the reductions made In the bin
by the various amendments adopted:-For recruiting
service from $500 600 To sI5c000 for pay OF the army
IRON SIS, 600 900 10 siL0cooau: communication OF o.
6cers OF subsistence. IRON s2oOouoo 70 90;
subsistence in KIND ior troops from $5,6Oo0o0 10
sA 800 O00 Quartermasters Department. 5000 00o to
S.OOoO0o cavalry aud artillery horses, $5O0,00o 70
f2l0OoO: mileage for officers, iroTu x2,0O0,00o TO
900 OOO transportation OF the army froln IS,
to s5o0oooo; communication Officers quarters from
struck out
REDUCTION or THE hRstv.
Mr.. GARFIELD, from the Committee on Military AZ
fairs reported an amendment for the reduction Of
the army.
Mr. Dopar, lrep.l OF Iowa, from the majority II the
committee, offered another amendment on Tie sane
subject.
Mr.. BUTLER, OF Mass, offered sflli another
Tue amendment offered BY Mr. GARFIELD, conteii-
plates the reduction OF fne rank and le OF the army
by ten thousand men, and OF the commissioned offi
GERS by SIX hundred aud seventy; the latter by grad
ual absorpion also the consolidation OF the quar-
termasters. Commissary and Pay Departments. and
the consolidation Of tne artillery anu ordnance CORPS
The amendment offered Dy MI. BUTLER, ronteIn-