Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-14
Forty.second Congressional Session
WAsHiNsToN, y. C., Feb 10.
SEN A'f:s

Mr. Anthony presented memorial from Ad-
lniral Charles Wilkes, asking that he may be
authorized 10 resume publication oi reports Of
his exploring expedition which was interrupted
by the war, or that if the government does not
desire TO continue the work, he may be permit
ted TO publish it on his own account.
Amer the expiration of the business honr
there was a prolonged struggle rs to what bIi
should he considered.
Mr. Trumbul desired to dispose of 4 bill for
retiring United States judges.
Mr. Fcrton urged The consideration of his
custom reform bill.
Mr. Cole demanded the postp0uemcnt of all
other business udtil the legislative, executive
aud judiciary bill could be passed.
| Mr.. Roberts asked for acton on the amnesty
| question.
| On this last named demand quite discussion
| arose, Mir. Sumner asserting that amnesty and
| equal rights must be coupled, while Mir. Sawyer
urged thelr separate consideration.
| Mr.. Wilson declared that he was sick Of this
| protitlcss controversy. lie thought that in Il
few days the house would pass fhc equal rights
bill introduced yesterday by Mr.. Hooper, and if
the senate would then pass it, then amnesty
could be enacted
After further discussion, adjourned,
HOUSE.
Mr. Eames presented the resolution Of the
Rhode Island legislature in relation to the set
tlcmCut Of the French spo'iatiou claims.
Mr. Hooper, from the coinage committee, re-
ported the coinage bill, which was recOmmtlcd
some time ago.
Mir McNally, member of the committee,
raised the point that it was not the report of the
committee, and objected to its immediate con-
Sidcration.
| The difficulty was settled by making it the
| special order for the second Tuesday in March.
The committee on public buildings and
grounds reported a bill for the construction of Il
public building at Albany, N. Y, aud quite
discussion cnsucd upon it.
Nj Garfield, chairman Of the appropriation
committee, opposed the bill on the ground that
it was test case, and that if this hill was passed
1t would open the door for further and larger
appropriations In the same direction. The bill
was advocated by all gentlemen who represented
0caiites that wanted public buildings, and in
spite of Mr.. Garfeld'S objection the bill was
passed, and even the yeas and nays could not he
obtained. The bill apprOpriates three hundred
and fifty thousand dCllais.
Mr.. Dawes chairman of the committee of ways
and means, asked consent to make a statement
with regard 10 The resolution adopted yesterday
directing the committee 70 report bill to take
the duty off tea and coffee. He SAID the commit
tee was not exactly prepared to report Il bill, but
he would like to make a statement
There were objections on several grounds, and
Mr.. Dawes was not allowed to make the state
mcnt.
Mr.. Hale also inlerposed an objection, because
| 1t Would interfere with the appropriation bill.
| The house then went into committee Of the
| whole and proceeded to the consideration of the
| naval appropriation bill. Mr.. Hale OF Maine
| who has charge of the bill, said he bad not in
| tended to speak upon the bill until he was in
| formed II few days ago that the democratic MEM
| beIs OF the committee would attack the bill. The
| notice OF this attack made it necessary that he
| should make statement. He said the naval
| appropriation had been reduced from year to
wear, and in this bill if was reduced several mil
| lions below the appropriation of last year. The
present bill will cover the real expenditure for
the next fiscal year, unless there is some extra
ordinary emergency not now in the view of the.
committee. He hoped this bill would cover all
expenses for the year, and that there would be
20 deficiency. The appropriation is not, there
Tore, iaaclOus and deceptive one. The amount
appropriated here is Il large sum
Mr. Hale then went into an exhibit of the cX-
2enScs of the navy department for the years
| preceding The war. This exhibit showed that
III 1886, 1851, 1858, 1859 and 1860, &c., the sums
| appropriated was about fifteen million dollir
| each year, while the pending bill made it only
| three millions greater. He called attention to
| the Tact that this was Il time OF profound peace,
| and under demoGratic administration and with
| this exhibit, he invited any attack that might
| be made upon the administration as TO excess
| i've expenditures in the navy department Mr.
| Hale then proceeded to show how this money
was expended, for he said rs the appropriations
| were not much higher than in time of peace,
| II an attack was TO be made it could only 0e on
| the ground that the money had been wrongtully
| expended. He argued that The utmost economy
had been shown in The civil establishment of the
navy department.
Without any disposition Of the bill the COM
| lnlttee rose and the house Adjourned.