The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-24

Congress Yestsrdsy-A Bosl iSr fcnsioners-
Civil Service Rsferm-The Postal UeIe-
sraph-1he Air Line Railroad 70 Wsshiag.
ton-stnG Rank In tho Navy.
A most important bill was taken up In the
Senate yesterday, and passed without Discus
by yeas and nays. We refer to bill reported
by Senator Edmunds, from the Committee on
Pensions, giving to all military and naval PEN
sioners, including widows and orphans, an In
crease OF twenty per cent on the amounts now
paid to them, such increase to commence from
the 4th Of March next, and to continue for five
years. AS the annual amount Of our present
pension roll is thirty millions Of dollars, this
bill will add six millions year to
the expenditures of the government,
making for the five years an additional
outlay Of thirty millions. This is large ex-
penditure in the aggregate, although few would
find fault with the liberality Of Congress In re-
gard to the poor pensioners. We only fear
that II will be made use of as on argument to
continue the income tax and to keep up the
high duties on imports.
The question of the Georgia Senatorshlp
came up In the form of report from the Judi
ciary Committee, declaring Joshua Hill en-
titled to the seat, with minority report de-
clarlng Messrs. Farrow and Whteley entitled
to seats; and still another minority report,
signed by Senator Thurman, endorsing the
majority report, and giving the second seat to
Mr. fOw tba Tar 3,o
They were all laid aside for future action. The
fifth member from Georgia, Mr.. Payne, was
sworn In and admitted to his seat in the House
of Representatives.
The resolutions Of the Indiana Legislature
instructing the Senators and requesting the
the annexation Of st. Domingo, were pre-
sented in the House by an Indiana member
and in tho Senate by Mr.. Sumner. Subse-
quently Senator Trumbulls bill to relieve
members of Congress from importantly In
relation to applications for Office was taken up
and discussed in the Senate till adjournment.
The business Of the House yesterday, as on
every Monday, was of miscellaneous charac-
ter. large number of bills were introduced
and referred. The only one of public interest
among them was one to reduce the rates Of
telegraphic correspondence and to connect the
telegraphs with the Postal Department Of the
government. But inasmuch as the bill rather
seeks to incorporate new company, with
special privileges, than to turn over the whole
business Of telegraphing to the Post Office
Department, it Is not very easy to SEQ where
the advantage over the existing system comes
in. The matter was referred to the special
committee on the subject, and will be heard of
no more during the present session.
The bill for the Air Line Railroad between
this city and Washington came up, but as its
consideration Is limited to what is technically
known as the informing hour" its opponents
mad only to consume the time by dilatory mo-
tons to send it over till next Monday, and that
parliamentary manGuvre was resorted to with
success. Afterwards the bill establishing
staff rank in the navy for officers OF the Med
ical Department, the Pay Department and the
Engineers Department, came mp, and was dis
cussed for some time, the argument on the one
side being that it was necessary to have those
staff ranks defined in order to prevent confu-
sion and disagreement in the service, and the
argument on the other side being that such
designation Of rank was not only unnecessary,
but absurd. However, the Committee on
Naval Affairs carried its point, and the bill
was passed. A summary Of its provisions
will be found in our Congressional reports.
This, with the passage of a bill for the appoint
ment of a commissioner on fish and fisheries,
to Inquire into the causes Of the diminuton
Of the supply Of food fish in the waters Of the
sea coast and lakes, and TO report remedies
therefor, was the only business of any public
interest that came before the House yesterday.