Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-16
FOrty.secOnd Congressional Session.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April Is.
SENATE.
Bills introduced; BY Mir. Morrill,, ofVermont,
providing that no money shall be paid from the
proceeds in the treasury of any captured or
abandoned property without special appropria.
ton.
BY Mr.. Conklug directing the sale Of the
site of the present post office 10 the New York
chamber of commerce for 5000 600.
MI PomerOy, from the committee on public
lands, reported the bill Incorporating and grant
ing the right of way 10 tile Fort Bridger and
Mintah Mountains railroad company.
Senator Cole presented three handsomely
bound volumes to-day, containing the sigma
lures TO q petition from San Francisco against
granting GOat island to the Union Pacific rail-
road.
Senator Sumner presented the resolutions of
the state OF Massachusetts relating 10 ,eameh's
wages and called the attention of the committee
on commerce TO bill for this purpose, which
he had introduced in 1856.
Senator Wilson reported a bill permitting the
interment of all houorably discharged soldiers
and sailors in national cemeteries, which was at
once passed without a disSentingvote.
At one O'Clock Senator Thurman took the
floor on the admission of Gen, A bbott as a sena-
tor from North Carolina,
After Mr., Thurman concluded, Mr. Cole
moved to postpone further consideration of the
subject, in order to take up the deficiency bill,
carried, % TO 49,
The fiuepreSident submitted the message of
the president vetoing the bill to increase the
pension of Mrs. Abigail Ryan, which, on motion
OF MIR. EdmundS, was referred tn the committee
on pensions An understanding was had that
the North Carolina Senatorship would he again
taken up next Monday; and the bill reported
by the select committee on southern outrages,
was set for Wednesday of next week,
The deficiency bill was then proceeded with.
Among the amendments adopted are the follow
ing, appropriating $4,000 to pay the mileage of
senators at the executive session of last Nav to
ratity the Alabama treaty. authorizing extra
compensation in the discretion Of the president
to the United States consus at AlgierS, BOu-
logne, Lyons, MarseilleS, Nantes, Nice and
Rheims, for extraordinary services dur
ing the late war in Europe; for con-
tmung work on the new state depart
ment building during the balance of the pres
ent fiscal year, 100000; reducing amount APP
propriated for the quartermaster's department,
$4,000; providing that no part of the appro-
pnaton for signal service nor any appropriation
for the several departments of government shall
be expended for telegraphlng between said de-
partmens and their officers or agents, except at
rates first to he established by the postmaster
general, under section of chapter 230 of the
statutes OF 1866, when over lines subject thereto
TO supply the deficiency in the appropriation
for the ninth census, $50 600; authorizing the
payment to employees of the Springfield aTmory,
who were such on and after July 80, 1868 name
ly: Thesum respectively by which their wages
were reduced by order of the war department
under the eighl-hour law, so called.
Without action on the bill, the senate adj
iOurned.
As usual on Monday in the house, the states
and territories were called for bills and Joint
resolutions for reference only, and among a
large number OF these the following were intro
duced and referred to the committees indicated
viz:
BY Mr.. Hale of Maine, bill for the relief of
William L. Haswel, committee on claims.
BY MIR. Pyre of Maine, bill for the relief of
James N. Hager committee on claims.
BY Mr.. Bell Of New Hampshire Joint resolu-
ton to adjust the claims of the state of New
hampshire, committee ON military affairs.
BY MIR. Willard of Vermont, bill to regulate
the manner of counting and declaring the votes
OF electors of president and vice president
BY MIR. Banks, bill to authorize the secretary
of the treasury to grant compensation to the
captors of the steamers Highland Light and
Louisiana Belle, during the late war Commit
tee on claims.
BY Mr.. Butler, of achusetts-HesoIuton
of the legislature of Massachusetts in relation
to the pay OF Seamen; committee on commerce.
Mr.. Bell, of New Hampshire, introduced to-
day in the house the following joint resolution ::
That the proper accounting officers of the
treasury be and are hereby authorized and di-
rected to adjust and pay the claims made by the
state OF New Hampshire or of the cities and
towns OF said state, in accordance with an
agreement with the governor of the state of
New Hampshire, by the provost marshal general
OF the United States, acting under the dircc-
tons and authority of the secretary of war;
providing that no payment shall be made in
any case of deSertion The resolution was
referred to the committee on military affairs.
MIR. Frye of Maine Introduced bill, which
was referred to the committee on claims, to pay
to James M. Hager of Richmond, Nc, S1375, il
legally eXaCted from the master of the ship Ida
Lilly, and covered into the treasury.
Mr.. Hale of Maine reported bin TO pay VIM
Il. Caswell S15,74375, in full compensation for
losses by act of the general government, which
was also referred to the committee on claims.
Mr.. Coburn introduced a bill authorizing the
appointment OF Joint commission to make a
survey and report upon the navigation of the
st. Lawrence river from Lake Superior to the
mouth of the st. Lawrence, aud requesting the
Dominion of Canada to appoint a commission
to cooperate. Referred to the committee on
foreign affairs.
Mr. Hancock of Texas offered resolution,
which was agreed to, authorizing the president
to appoint a commission of three persons to in
qulre into the extent and character Of the dep
relations on the Mexican border, the number of
persons murdered SC. The commission is au.
thorized to visit the border and TO take testimo-
ny there after ten days notice. The sum of
$4,000 IS appropriated to meet the expenses of
the commission. lie resolution was approved
by the committee on foreign affairs.
MIR. Williams of Indiana, chairman of the
committee on expenditures in the war depart
ment, made report with the testimony taken
ON the investigation into the sale OF arms and
ordnance stores during the FrancO-P russian war;
ordered printed with the views of the minority.
The committee reports the following conclusions:
FIRST, that the act of congress of July 20, 1868,
authorizing the sale of unsuitable arms gave
by far Interpretation of its letter and spirit
full authority to the secretary OF war TO sell and
dispose OF the arms and ordnance stores in ques-
ton, and that in doing SO he violated neither
the letter nor spirit of the law; second, that
the proceeds of the sales were promptly paid
INTO the treasury; third, that no sales were
made to any known agent of either of the bellig-
erent governments, and that no act was done by
the secretary OF war or any of his subordinates
that was calculated to impair or violate any in
ternational obligation; fourth, that no official
OF the United States government was pecuniari.
ly benefited in connection with the sales; fifth,
that the only party benefited was the gov
eminent of the United States in having disposed
OF unsuitable arms at the highest market price,
to the amount OF nearly Sl0,000,000.
The house proceeded with the consideration
of the river and harbor improvement bill, which
appropriates about S5,000,000
The bill passed with few unimportant
amendments. Mr. Hansocll introduced bill
for the appointment by the president of three
commissioners, at a salary of ten dollars a day
each, to inquire into the depredatons ON the
frontiers Of Texas by bands of Indians and
MeXicans, and appropriatng $4,000 for expenses
Of the commission. The bill passed and the
house adjourned.
Fires.
POUGuK N