Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-15
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, February 14-Ssa-
Gte.-The House joint resolution ap-
prOpriating $500,000 to George F.
Robson in recognition of his services
in saving the life of Secretary Seward.
Passed.
Mr.. Cole, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported with amend
ments his POstoffice Appropriation
bill, which was ordered printed. One
of the amendments authorizes the
Postmaster General to increase the
mail service between San Francisco
and China and Japan, by doubling
the number Of trips by the mail
steamers of four thousand tons bur-
den and increasing the subsidy of the
line of China mail from $500, 600 to
81 100000. The bill also provides for
the selection of cadets to the Military
and Naval academies. Referred. In
such appointments Representatives
are required to select ore from three
applicants standing highest after a
competitive examination to be con-
Quoted by & committee of three
who are residents of the district and
who are designated by said Repre-
sentatives. 1t also provides for the
examination or admission within two
years of any candidate who fails to
pass the examination at the military
or naval academy.
The subsidy bill authorizing a mail
steamship service in the Gulf of Mex
leo, between the port of New Orleans
and certain points in the Republic Of
Mexico, was considered in committee
r0F hn vrTh al Oh
directs the Postmaster General to ad-
vertise for, and authorizes him to con-
tract with responsible persons, who
shall be American citizens, upon the
most advantageous terms, for the con-
veyance of a semi-mOnthly mail ser
vice from New Orleans, Uia Calves
ton, to certain Mexican ports; the
contractors, within eighteen months,
to construct three first-class iron
steamers, of not less than fifteen
hundred tons burthen each, to be
subject to acceptance or rejection
by the Postmaster General and
approved by the constructor detailed
by the Secretary of the Navy, and in
time of war or danger the Government
to take the vessels by purchase or
payment Of a sum equivalent to the
interest on the ascertsined value of
the mail contract, which is not to eX-
ceed ten years nor an annual cOmpen-
satiOn of 100000. A reasonable COM
pensatiOR to be paid for the first
eighteen months for any pioneer ves-
sci placed on the route.
A bill making an appropriation of
$14, 600 for the compensation of Mich
Olas II. Trist, as negOtiatOr of the
treaty with the Gaudaloupe HidalgO,
was passed.
HOIse.-The consideration Of the
report Of the Committee on Military
Affairs on the West Point Academy
difficulties was proceeded with. Res
Olutions were reported by the COM
mittee as follows;
ReSOlUed, That the House of Rep
resentatiVes recommend to the Secre-
tary Of War to restore Baird, Barnes
and Fleckinger to the military acade-
my at West Point, to take effect with
the beginning Of the next academical
year; then permit them to proceed
with the fourth class without further
punishment for the Offense heretofore
committed by them.
ResolUed, That the House Of Rep
recommend that the Sec
retary Of War convene q court of
inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining
what members Of the first class were
the instigatOrs and leaders in the affair |
of January Sd, and that they be at
once dismissed from the academy, and
the remaining members of the elsss
engaged IN the affair be punished at
the discretion of the general court |
martial to be convened for their trial, |
MIR. Butler, Of Massachusetts, offered |
the following as a substitute for the
second resolution:
ResOtUed, That the House Of Rep
resentatives recommend that the Sec |
retary Of War refuse at the graduation
Of the first class the customary fur
Tough or leave of absence, bat that
every member of the class be at once
on their graduation ordered to their
duties as officers Of the army, and