Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-18
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
TUESDAY, January Is.

memorlals ana petltions were presented and re-
ferred.
Mr. Drake presented memoria, of letter ear
riers Of st. Louis, asking an increase OF compen-
satiOn. The memorial is endorsed by the Lieu
tenant Governor of Missouri, the Mayor OF ST.
Louis, and other officials. Referred to Commit
Mr.. Drake introduced bill to regulate the ap-
praisement and inspection of imports and for
other purposes. Referred to Committee on
Mr. Abbott introduced bill to increase the
efficiency of the army. Referred to Committee
on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Hamlin called up the joint resolution
relative to the seizure Of spirits in California,
and moved that it be indefinitely postponed.
The bill went over at the expiration Of the
morning hour.
The Vice President appointed as a member
OF the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian In
stitution Mr. Hamlin, in place Of Mr.. Fessen-
The House bill for the admission of Virginia
was then taken up.
Mr.. Thayer concluded his remarks in oppo-
sition to the admission without restrictions,
claiming that his action was influenced by re-
gard for the oppressed loyal people Of Vr-
MT. Nye replied to Mr.. Thayer. arguing that
the Radicals of Virginia had voted for the con-
stitutiOn as il passed, and il would not be good
faith to them. He (Mr. NJ had too high
regard for the elective franchise not to bow to
Mr.. Drake repeated his argument against ad-
mission, denOuncing the people OF Virginia as
anu nut W DC
HOUSE.-Mr. Paine (wis.) was entitled to
the floor this morning, upon the Apportionment
bill, but yielded in order that there might be
The Speaker laid before the House number
OF Executive communications, which were re-
ferred to the appropriate committees.
The consideration Of the League Island bill
which was reported from the Naval Committee
last week, was then resumed.
Mr.. Dawes (Mass.l opposed the bill on the
md hot Asv,x-p
ton of money. The bill in effect, he said au-
thorized the Secretary of the Navy to sell as he
pleases, to whom he pleases, when he pleases,
and on such terms as he pleases, property of the
United States valued at three millions dollars.
subject only to the approval of the President
who, from the very nature of his position, can
of the circumstances. All the money realized
from the sale OF the Philadelphia yard was to
be diverted to the purchase of League Island.
While he had every confidence i'm the President
and Secretary of the Navy, he was Opposed to
placing such power over money in the hands of
any one man. If the bill was to pass he favored
Of the sale Ia be paid into the Treasury
Mr. Dawes then proceeded to show how the
bill would eventually cost the Government sew
eral million Of dollars, and said 1t was proposed
10 ioliow IL up with an appropriation of $500, 900
for the work at League Island. The chair
man Of the Naval Committee [Ar. Scofieldl,
the other day naively remarked that the
preparation, but he forgot to say that the bin
was to be followed up by the application of
the Philadelphia delegates for an additional ap-
the Government with unnecessary extravaganza
In submitting the estimates to Congress. He
quoted from the estimates of this year and
those submitted last year to show that they had
been increased for every navy-yard i'm the coun-
try, and that the appropriation for all the navy
yards aggregated asked for this year was three
million dollars, against four hundred and fifty-
one thousand dollars last year. As a friend of
the present Administration he would be par
d0ned for what he would say upon the subject:
put his duty to the country and his position in the
House OF Representatives impelled him to speak
plainly. He was compelled to confess that the
estimates of the heads Of Departments did not
inspire confidence in his mind. He found, by
comparing the estimates of the present Secre-
tary OF the Navy with those Of the last Secreta-
~, that the appropriations this year were large
ly In excess, and yet we were promised retrench-
ment. The only prospect OF retrenchment he
held out wac when the Secretary said by a new
arrangement of naval vessels he would save two
millions of dollars in the article of coal alone
IN nnat was certainly remarkable saving, when
Ime that coal last year only cost $50 600
This was only equalled by the statement Of an
other Cabinet officer, who proposed to save
S5,O0O,oOo by the abolition of the franking priv
1lege, when upon a fair calculation, il was
ascertained that il all the postage on franked
matter was paid, 1t would only amount to two
millions dollars: II the mathematicians who
mad put these ideas into the heads Of these
Senators could have their way the national
debt would no doubt be paid before the end of
the year. In this estimate ofextravagance of other
matter matters similar to this, involving appro-
priations for public works, were not included.
This League Island business was q pnblic work,
and the Hoouse should look carefully whether
very properly postponed or deferred for the
present. The Administration of Andrew
johnson surrendered to the people on the
al alleSanon IA on.p OF prohigasy and extravagance
the power was transferred to new hands,
under promise Of economy, and the
people would hold this Administration to full
flment of the promise made that the Govern
ment should be managed with econemy. And
how are the pledges given when this Admins
tration came into power being redeemed? He
held in his hand the estimates submitted for the
first year Of this Republican Administration
He knew he was occupying an ungracious po-
s,tiOn, but he proposed to speak plainly upon
this subject For the last year of Andrew john
sons administration the estimates were three
hundred and three millions. which this House
cut down twenty millions. But the actual
estimate Of that Administration was three
hundred and three millions. That was the
pronigate Administration, which the peo-
pie called to sure account for its prof
ligacy, and stripped it Of power. But, now,
this Administration? In the aggregate it is
S331 $40, 17462 or an increase over the last year
of Andrew JOhnsOn's Administration of S29-
Qs1 ,l6462; or it would have been S49, 600 900 i'm
excess if the estimates had not been reduced
$40 ,OO0, 600. But it is due to the Post Office De-
partment to say that an error of - 900 900 has
excess to $40 ,000 But in this is not included
the little plum Of $500 600 which the Philadel-
Phia delegation will shortly ask of Congress
Nor isthere included in this the 81 500 600 in gold
asked for, for Samana and st. Thomas. Nor is
there any calculation made in this for the
millions that win be added to the appropriation
bills in the other end Of the Capitol. If the
pledge made by the Republican party when this
administration came into power Is to be redeem
ed II must be redeemed by the Representatives
Of the people for he saw no hope of cutting
down expenses either ct the other end of the
Capitol or at the other end Of the Avenue. And
If We are to retrench st all, here is the place to
1t, right where public works were to be COM
menced. This was no work that had been
commenced and which required an appropria-
ton to complete what had been commenced. It
Is right here where It b proposed to commence
public works, that we can best cut down and
retrench. Tit is not done here It win not be
done 1T all.
EXECUTION OF CoLoRKD MAN IN NORTH
CARoLINA-StyS0glef for Lye-A letter of the
18th instant, from Tarb0ro', North Carolina, to
the Richmond State journal, gives the follow
ing part culars Of the execution at Tarboro' on
Friday last, Of Lewis Hines, colOred, for the
outrage Of young white girl named Sarah l.
johnson, on the 18th Of April last: "When con-
Quoted to the scadold the condemned man made
no confession, but did not deny his guilt. A
deputy sheriff then adjusted the rope, but 90
loosely that when the criminal was swung OF
the knot came beneath his chin. His legs were
not pinioned. When he fell he struggled fear
fully. by exIsordinary exertion the suspended