Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-11
CONGRESSIONAL


WASHINGTON, February 1O.-In
the Senate to-day numerous petitions
were presented and referred. One by
Mr.. Sumner, from the Reform League
Of New York, to appoint a cOmmis-
tsiOn Of inquiry to visit the South and
examine witnesses and report on the
| condition of freed people there.
Mr.. Howard, from Committee on
Pacific railroad, reported, with an
| amendment bill, to incorporate Red
river valley, Oklahoma and Santa
| F'e railroad company, Laid over.
| Mr.. Nye was appointed in place Of
| Mr.. Stewart on the Committee on
/ Southern Outrages.
A memorial from the Nevada Legs
lature, for the repeal Of the duty on
| quicksilver, was referred.
The House bill to amend the act Of
| July 3, 1870, providing hOmestead5 for
| the officers, soldiers, seamen and ma
/ rines OF the late war, was reported
with an amendment allowing an ad-
| ditiOnal quarter section of good land.
A bill TO establish a diplomatic mis-
/ sion at Berlin upon the same grade
/ and enOluments with those at Paris
and London, fixing the salary Of the
Minister at $17, 800, and OF the Secre-
tary Of the Legation at S2625 per year,
| was referred.
Mr.. Morton submitted a resolution
instructing the judiciary Committee
to inquire what further legislation
was necessary, if any, to secure the
| cOlOred people Of Kentucky and other
States the right to testify in the State
courts in a case to which white per-
| sons are the parties.
The bill to authorize the issue aud
payment by the officers Of the Treas
ury of checks under five hundred
| dollars, lost or destroyed, passed.
A message was received from
the House, announcing the death Of
Representative COvOde, Of PennsyI-
Yania. Remarks eulOgistiC Of the de-
| ceased were made by Messrs. Scott,
Sumner, Sherman and Cameron, and
| the customary resolutions of respect
adopted.
EUsni1g SessiOH.-The attendance
| Of members at the evening session
was very slim. The Senate took up
the legislative, executive and judicial
| appropriation bills, and some amend
ments were agreed to. The amend
ments reported by the Committee on
Public Buildings were adopted, ap-
| prOpriating five hundred thousand
| dollars for a new State Department
building; the setting apart Of the
Capital and Agricultural Department
grounds and the grounds south of the
Presidents house for establishing a
public park, and providing for the
sale Of the third judiciary square on
the north side. The bill was laid
aside, and the Indian appropriation
bill taken up. An amendment was
reported from the Committee on Ap-
preparations, involving a general re-
ductiOn of the appropriations voted
by the House, were COncurred in, and
both bills, as amended, ordered to be
printed and the Senate adjourned.
HOUsE.-BiII to permit William II.
HanscOn, late Naval Constructor in
the Navy, to withdraw his resigna-
tiOny which was accepted on the 9TH
Of January, 1865, and to reinstate him
in Office.
Referring to the charges against
HanscOm, Mr.. Banks said they were
trumped up and sent to the House by
Admiral Porter. He declared that,
IN the opinion of the people Of the
country, HansCOm was as superior in
point of reputation to Admiral Porter
as the Apostle John to the traitor
Judas. Laughter. Referring to the
intimidation of naval officers by the
Department, he said he had heard
within the past two days of scores Of
naval engineers having said that the
Tennessee, now on her way to San
Domingo or some other place, was not
seawOrthy, and that they were un-
willing to risk their lives on her. He
did not understand, however, that
any engineer Of the navy told any
passenger Of the danger. Why? |
Because they were in a situation
where they could not give their hon
est opinion; because if they ran con-
trary to the schemes of the Bureau
men Che did not refer to the Secretary
Of the Navy, they would lose their
place and reputation.
After Mr.. Banks on Mr.. HanscOm, 4
Mr. Butler took occasion for scathing
a speech on Admiral Porter, cOncIud-
ing by begging the gentlemen not to
offend his nOstrils and make him wish
he had a wash bowl and a tooth
brush to clean out his mouth by
bringing that man Porter before the
House again. Let Porter rest in cor
ruptiOn which he has made for him
self.
The House went into Committee Of
the Whole, Cox in the chair, on the
naval appropriation bill. Washburne
moved to insert an additional section, |
authorizing the President not to ac-
cept the resignation Of any officer of
the navy until the number Of officers /
IN grade, to which officer shall belong,
is reduced to the number authorized
by law, and whose resignation shall
take effect on or before the 1st Of Jan
uary next, and any officer so resign
ing shall be entitled to one years sea
pay in addition to pay due such officer /
at the date when his resignation takes
effect, the provision not to apply after
the number of officers be reduced to
the number allowed by law. Agreed
to.
The committee rose and the bill
passed. The bill provides for the PEN !
slonIng OF surviving officers and en- |
listed and drafted men, including
militia and volunteers who served |
sixty days in the army or navy. in |
the revolutionary war OF in the war /
OF 1872, and hOnorably discharged,
and TO the surviving widows Of such |
pensioners, at the rate Of eight dol
lars per month.
Ih9 HOugp adioF1rwaH