New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-21
CURRENT TOPICS AT TIE CAPITAL.
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGIESS-THE CHICAGO RE-
LIEF BILL Observation-Disclosures TIE SHIP
PING AND DISCHARGE OF SEANEN-DEFEAT
OF THE CHINA MAIL SUBSIDY-TIE COOLIE
leY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE

| QUESTION.
| fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Wednesday March 90 1879.
| M Hamilton of Maryland got through the Senate
without trouble, this morning, bin 10 pay VIM. = Pres
ton Of Maryland 1893 90 for cOnestne the seat Of j.
Morrison Harris; after winch Mr. Morton called mp q
bill authorizing the construction of bridge
Ohio River at Evansville Ind. This debated until
the end Of the morning hour, when IL went over Mr.
Morton has offered amendment TO the bill requiring
the bridge to be at least 40 feet above hghwaer mark
The custom has been to require these bridges to be-
feet above low water. Objection made that
the nver being wide at this point, its rise
| and fan is very great, that
| the amendment will, IN effect, allow the bridge 10 he
built lower Than others. Mr.. Anthony desired send
gresSionGi Globe to Conference Committee hut, as Mr.
| fIamn thought the Senate had better concur in the
amendments of the House, no action was taken on Mr.
AnthOny's motion. The Chicago Relief bill taken
up the morning hour, ard speeches made by
strong argument against the constulonay OF the bill.
and the latter ably defending it, Al amendments were
voted down. and The bill passed. The remainder
the day spent in listening to set speeches the
Taria bill by Mr. Morrill, OF Vermont ami Nh. Hamilton
| of Maryland.
MI IIomans general bill regulating the construction
of bridges across the Ohio River brought back in
the House from the Commerce Committee to-day, by
motion TO reconsider and passed, after some inadibe
debate by small group of members, VINO gathered
around MI Homans desk and satisfied Themselves that
Committee passed number OF unimportan bill, and
Mr. Conger got hIs vOumnous bill. provide for the
appointment shipping commissioners. in process of
reading by sections The bill Is designed 10 protect
men against boarding house keepers and other land
sharks providing for the appointment by the L. s.
Circuit Courts OF one more commissioners in every
seaport TO superintend the shipment and discharge
of all sailors. The officers created not
be salared the compensation being from fees paid by
the ship captains ShpOwners. IL is claimed that the
bill VIII he of advantage to both the sailor and his
plOyeI. Before the reading had progressed far, the
Speaker announced that from O'Clock today until the
adjournment tomorrow! had been set apart by the
House, four weeks ago, for the consideration Of the
willard Civil Service bil to prohibit members Of Con
gress soliciting appointments to Office Mr. Willard
stated that the Civil Service Committee did wish to
90 with the bill until the Advisory Board had finished
their forthcoming report, and, on his motion, 1t was
again postponed for four weeks. The morning hour
PRED after, aud the Post Office Appropriation bill
was taken up in Committee of the Whole. Debate
on the subsidy 10 the Pacific Mail Company,
for the Japan and China postal service, was
again renewed. The subject had been thrcadbare
already by three whole days OF argument and the House
was impatient for vote As soon as the Committee
Chairman took the Speakers seat, and turned on the
food of4alk half the chairs in the hall emptied,
and there unusually thin house until o'clock.
when the voting on amendments began. 10 strtnghcL
the amendment for increased appropriation Mr. sar-
gent offered prOyso, which was adopted. permitting
tne Government To the steamers OF the line in case
OF war Mr.. Farnsworths amendment to give the com
pahy instead OF the 100000 increase in ther subsidy,
.he privilege OF buying ships in foreign countries,
was defeated by vote Of 60 10 %. The vote
was tnen taken on the Sargent amendment fixing the
supruy AT SiOOOOO0 aud II lost "A by teller
nehs' % nays, ~ The bin then reported To the
houe anu passed the subsidy for the China and japan
service remaining at sjO0O0O authorized by existing
law some SURPRISE was felt that Mr. Sargent did
demand ne iuf'her test OF the Yeas and Nays is
UNDERSTOOD ha' ne preferred TO make the final fight
upon the report OF Conference Committee as IL IL not
uoup'eu 'rat nv o'na'e VIII place his amendment
upon the bill, which will then 20 10 a cOnfcf.
ence. The friends OF the increased subsidy hone
10 gained enough strength by that lime IL ovrT
small majority against them deyrInneJ nv a.
days vote. About 70 Republicans, incnd,nc E9rns.
worth, shank~, COburD, Burchard, and FikelnbuTg
voted ganst the sargent anne ndment, and only .hont
dozen Democrats supported IT, The Democratic Leader
the changes upon TIE Odiu- word "supidy'' aIl
through the long debate and with such effort that thew
carried Their party BODY with the exception Of the
small squad Oi Eastern men. who followed Me-ers. Brooke
and Potter and supported the Increased appropriation.
At the meeting of the House Committee on the Civn
Service. this morning, committee Of five wds appointed
Ia inquire into the cApedicncy Of reorganization OF the
tore. 81 clerks and bu,an officers in the ee'eial Govern
Dent c'p.JtiDanIs al Washington Tbt II ru'gcd