The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-12-11
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, December 10.
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, December 10.
HOUSE.
House bills were introduced and reIer.
red authorizing collectors TO grant Especial
orders for unloading steamships after
night also establishing a new scale OF fees
and salaries for custom house officers, and
repeating the bankruptcy act; by Mr..
Rice, Of Kentucky, repeating the special
tax on retailers Of leai tobacco; by Mr..
Arthur, Of Kentucky, repeating the en-
forcement act, abolishing the duty on
bank checks, &c, and abolishing the spe-
cial tax on leaf tobacco; by MIR. Peck, Of
Ohio, % amend the act oil the 2Sd OF May,
1879, tor holding U. s. Courts in Toledo;
BY Mr. McHenry, to build a railroad
bridge across the Ohio at 0wensboro.
The House then resumed consideration
Of the bill reported last session by MIR.
Coburn, Of Indiana, TO enable honorably
discharged soldiers and sailors, their
widows and orphan children, to acquire
homesteads OF public lands, with authori.
" TO assign their certitlcs stes and locate
by attorney. Debate ensued.
Mr.. Hawley, Of Illinois, spoke against
the bill, claiming that better provisions in
1t were already contained than IN the law
passed at the last session. He stated that
the qusntity Of land that would be cover
ed by these certificates to soldiers, not
counting sailors. will be $4,000, 900 acres
The bill ought to meet with the cOndem-
nation Of the House, as II was Tor the ben.
eft only Of claim agents and land specuIa.
tors. ...-.. .-sN '.r- as.
Mr.. Stoughton, OF Michigan, a member
Of the Military Committee, defended the
bill. He commended that it established no
new principle, but merely carried out
what had been the policy Of the govern
ment alter all Of the great wars. He ex-
planned that under the provisions OF the
bill there was no danger Of the certificates
getting into the hands of spectators for
1t limited the quantity that could be held
by any one to 800 acres, and required set.
tlement and occupation.
The bill was debated until the expira-
tion OF the morning hour, when it went
over until to morrow.
The House then went into Committee
Of the Whole (Mr. Dawes IN the Chair on
the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr. Sargent, who reported the bill from
the Committee on Appropriations, made
a general statement about it. He said
that the amount appropriated for the cur.
rent year for the expenses of the Indian
service was $685., ,063; the amount pro.
posed in the bill was $685., 1865, or nearly
1000, 900 less.
Mr.. Niblack asked Mr.. Sargent to give
the House his idea OF the present policy
and views of the administration in regard
to the Indians.
Mr.. Sargent replied that he was not
authorized to speak for the administration
on that matter. His own opinion would
be in favor Of doing away with the old
Indian treaties.
Mr.. Shanks, chairman Of the Indian
Committee, stated that so far as his CON-
mittee was concerned 1t would rigidly
adhere to the conditions and spiritol the
treaties made between the United States
and the Indian tribes until some other
mode should be established, with consent
OF Indians themselves, until then the con.
tract between the Indians and the United
States be, 80 far as the Indian Commis-
sion was concerned, most sacredly main
tanned. MIR. Sargent went on to speak on
the commendation OF the Indian policy,
he read table Of statistics showing the
remarkable increase Of prosperity among
the Indians within the last two years, the
value OF individual property increasing in
one year from $3924,000 to $0,941 ,6O0.
All general debate being closed the House
proceeded to consider the bill by para
graphs. Alter getting through about
halt the bill the Committee rose and the
House adjourned.
tSENATE.
Mr.. Trumbult presented q memorial Of
the citizens Of Illinois, against the pas
sage Of q bill to perfect the navigation Of
tho Mississippi.
Mr.. Cooper presented a memorial Of
the Southern Methodist Association OIL
Tennessee, asking payment for the de-
struction OF their property during the war.
Mr.. Sherman, Of the Finance Commit
tee, reported the bill of Mr.. Pomeroy, pro.
hibitng the sale Of liquors in the District
Of Columbia, and moved to refer the sub.
iect to the Judiciary Committee. The
Finance Committee was In favor OF a
law imposing penalty for the benefit Of
the wives or creditors Of drunkards upon
those who sold them the liquor, but
thought 1t rather q question Of morals
than Of finance.
Mr.. Pomeroy said the Judiciary Com
mittee was not o committee on morals.
Mr.. Sherman-Not exactly, but it Is a
committee on laws. ssl-.---
NJ. ConkliDg opposed itsreference to
the Judiciary, and asked whether the
question did not belong to the Finance
Committee. --rr
After some discussion the Senate re-
fused 10 discharged the Finance Commit
tee from consideration on the subject.
Bills were reported by Mr.. Sherman to
authorize the Secretary Of the Treasury
to issue coupons, bonds oi exchange and
registration bonds.
Mr.. Cameron, for authorizing the Pres
ident TO release the Empire Of Japan from
the payment OF the indemnity due the
United States under the convention Of
1884. Ia, - " .5sT
Mr.. Harlan introduced o bill transfer.
ring to the Extra, Denison s. Sioux City
Railroad Company, OF Iowa, all the right
or interest heretofore vested In the Cedar
Rapids q Missouri River Railroad Com
pany, by the acts ofMay 10Th, 1856, and
June 3D., 1884, 10 any public lands lying
within twenty miles Of the line between
Dentson and Ottawa City, Iowa. Refer
Mr., Cole offered resolution directing
the Judiciary Committee to inquire into
the expediency Of so amending the Con.