Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-05-12
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS. t
This Afternoons Proceedings
THURSDAY, May Il.

THURSDAY, May Il.
SENATE.-Mr. Rice made a report from the
Conmittse Of Conference on the bin relating 20
tie Hot sprlngs reservation in Arkansas; which
Mr.. Kellogg. from the Committee on Cam
merce, reported the bin TO aid the Junction ana
tTeshwster railroad OF Delaware 90 build
p er at lewes, Delaware. with = request thsf n
be placed on the calender.
Mr.. Harlan introduced bill exemptins fror,
taxation certain property In the District OF Co.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bin granting the use OF
pntic reserv atoms In the District Of Columbia
20 the Island institute.
Mr. Morrln Me. offered resolution re1uest-
ING the President 20 communicate % the Senate
any ihiHmstlon that be has relative 20 organ
lHeo bands OF persons AZ or near Cheyenne, Wv
omng Territory, which was adopted.
MI Wilson moved 30 take up the ARMY hiu
/ which was not agreed 20. '
The legislative, executive and judiciary an
Al ~. OH va then taken uP, the question
signed % place the refining OF bullion in hand.
Of private parties, and after q short discassiop
the bill was laid aside. and the army bin was
taken up, the question being on striking out the
first section reducing the army % IS ooO and in
sert 30 600, which WAS agreed TO-
The question then REQUIRED on striking ont
the trst section as amended, which was rejected,
Mr.. Ferry moved 20 strike out the eleventh
section, which provides for the appointment
OF a board 20 retire officers who may be re-
duties - NNA
Mr.. Ferry regarded this section as threa, %
turn out OF the service those officers who disi not
resign IN consequence Of the indaceme held
out 20 them. He opposed the compulsory re-
tirement OF sick or disabled officers.
In the discussion the opinion was expressed
that discrimination ought 20 he made between
those who ought 10 be absolutely dismissed from
the service on account of ieInQ ueacies and
those who had become disqualified by reason OF
wounds or sickness incurred In the discharge Of
Mr.. Wilson moved an amendment 20 the sec
ton, TO meet this view, 20 the effect that only
such officers shaw be reported 90 the Board who
are unit for duty hy reason Of other causes than
wounds or disease incurred in the line of then
duty.
Mr.. Corbett suggested how would Il he IL the
disease was delirium tremens. lIaughterl
Mr.. Wison.-Then il would not have BE- IN in
CURED in the line OF his duty
The amendment was agreed 20.
Mr.. Howard moved that every officer who ia
reported for retirement shall have a hearing
before the board; which was agreed TO-
The question was then taken on the motion OF
MI; terry, " strlke out the entire section;
Mr.. Sherman moved an amendment repeating
all acts or parts Of acts preventing retired off-
GERS from accepting or holding civil position.
He mstanced the case Of General Fessenden.
son OF the late Senator, who had lost a leg in
the service, and whose fellow-citfzens had de-
sired TO make him Mayor OF Portland lie had
also in bis memory an officer OF high rank, who
had really lost his life, was now breath
ing through one lung, and whom the
people of Ohio would be delighted 90
give any office IN their gift,, and yet
civil position. He mr. So could see no Justice
in denying q retired on GER, who had done his
country service, the right to hold Office. Their
pay Is not sufficient. and they are condemned 10
live in poverty. The whole opposition TO this
thing comes from a vague idea that the people
OF the United States are afraid of military men
having control OF the government, bat he
thought il was time that we had outlived this
idea.
HOUSE.-rhe House proceeded AZ onea 70
the consideration Of the bill reported Yesterday
from the Committee on the Causes of the de-
cline of American Commerce.
MI. Allison, who yesterday made a point OF
order 10 send the bill 20 the Committee OF the
Whole, on the ground that IL made an appro-
prlauon and imposed taxes, withdrex that point
OF order upon Mr.. Lynch, who had charge OF
me oll' consenting that amendments might be
Mr.. Wells CMo.) then obtained the floor on
the bill, but Welded to
Mr.. HAYS, ALA, } TO make a personal explana-
non. Mr.. Hays sent TO the Clerks desk and
mad read an extract from New York paper. IN
which he HAYS was charged with having used
bis official pOiitiOn as q member of Congress 20
obtain fee from a Mississippi pilot named
DIVINE, Tor securing TO him claim 10 which he
was justly entitled under the government The
article I'm question also charged that members
OF Congress were IN the habit of acting as claim
agents and prOstituting their Off cial patrona0e
TO MI their own pockets. He denied the charge,
or that there was the least foundation tor it and
explained at length the only agency he had in
the matter, which was perfectly proper and
which had been approved by the Naval Commit
tee, which had charge OF the case OF Divine
The newspaper article, he said, was written At
the instance of Mr.. HoratiO King Of Washing
ton, who pretended TO be Divine : agent but
against whom he (Havs) had been warned by
Divine, and had been told not TO hand any
morey or papers in the case to said King He
(Mr. Hays had been called upop by King, ana
wanted the papers in the case. and they were
refused. and this unprovOked attack resulted
He proceeded 10 denOunce Mr.. King in violent
language.
HE Speaker announced MeSsrs. Kelsey. IN.
h-,l Butler, Mass and Niblack, lind } as the
conference committee on the part of the Heuse
disagreeing votes on the Pension bill.
Mr. Wells then concluded his speech on the
shipping bill, and was followed by Mr FinkelD-
burg; after which the bill went over. aud the
House as in Committee Of the Whole resumed
consideration OF the Tariff bill.