Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-20
FOrty-Second Congressional Session.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May IS, 1872.
GENATE

SENATE.
The senate adopted, without discussion, that
clause of the house army bill which provides
that hereafter it shall be illegal to brand, mark
or tattoo the body of any soldier by sentence of
court martial, and the word "cOrpOreaf' shall
be striker from the forty-tfth of the rules and
articles for the government of the armies Of the
United States.
Liberal appropriations were added to the
house bill by the senate for the depot of the
engineer department at Willet's Point, and for
experiments there including one of $4,000 for
the expenses of trials with tOrpedoeS.
The appropriation of S150,0 for the manu-
facture of arms at the Springfield armory was
saddled by the senate with this proyisO: That
no part of this appropriation shall be expended
until breech-loading pattern for musketS and
carbines shall have been adopted for the mill
tary service, upon the recommendation of the
board TO be appointed in connection with the
present competitive trials of breech-loadiug
arms in the field, which board shall consist of
not less than five officers to be selected by the
secretary of war; and provided further, that the
system when so adopted shall be the only one
to be used by the ordnance department in the
manufacture of musketS and carbines for the
military service.
The senate by a vote of 33 ayes to II NAYS
adopted message to the house requesting re-
turn of the resolution passed in January last
making the 29th of May as the day for the final
adjournment.
The senate accepted the conference report on
the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill,
and then resumed the consideration of the army
appropriation bill, the pending question being
on Mr.. Coles appeal from the decision of the
vice president ruling out of order the amend
ment 10 repeal the section under the army APP
preparation act of March 8, 1871 which prohib-
tied the secretary of the treasury from retaining
money due from the government 10 the Pacific
railroad.
Mr.. Cole withdrew his appeal, so the decision
of the chair stands.
The following amendments were agreed to
Appropriating S2O3,00O to enlarge the military
depot of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; for the pur-
chase OF surgical apparatus aud appurtenanceS
for the relief of persons disabled in the military
and paval service and not included within the
terms ofany law granting artificial limbs, St0,-
600; for expense of trial of torpedoes for harbor
and land defence, $4,000; for experiments with
and tests of heavy ordnance, S1S0,O00.
Mr.. Stevenson moved an amendment that no
money appropriated by this act shall be paid to
any railroad in arrears TO the government for
the payment of interest on its bonds.
Mr.. Steward moved to lay the amendment on
the table; carried.
Mr.. Cole renewed his amendment in another
form, and said the Pacific railroads was built
with the peoples money and belonged to the
people, and that it was absurd for the govern
ment TO pay them for the little service they do
for the military department; rejected.
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment providing
that the government shall pay no royalty fol-
the use Of arms patented by citizens of the
United States; agreed to. The bill then passed
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine submitted resolution
resembling the senate concurrent resolution fol
adjournment on the goth of May, and asked its
immediate consideration, but Mr.. Casserly OBJ
jected, and the resolution went over.
The senate went into executive session and
| soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
The house concurred in the conference repOr
on the West Point appropriation bill.
The day having been especially assigned tC
the committee on claims, large number of billt
were reported from that committee. A bill was
passed apprOpriating S847 ,997.90 to pay thu
awards made TO claimants by the southern claims
commission.
Mr. Blair of Michigan reported bill to pay
$21, 436 to the governor of Maine, TO be paid by
him to the owners of land on the northeastern
boundary of Maine, which was transferred tC
the British government under the treaty of
Washington. The bill passed.
Mr.. Swami made report from the conference
committee on the consular and diplomatic APP
preparation bill. The only important point Of
difference between the two houses was as to the
Central American mission, and that was com
promised by an arrangement that there shall be
but one minister to the Central American repub
lies after June 80, 1878. The report was agreed
to.
The bill to pay Mr.. Conner, representative
from Texas $1,000 for expenses of defending his
right to seat in the forty-irst congress, gave
rise to a long discussion, it being claimed on
one side and denied on the other that this wal
an unusual proposition, and would be establish
ing dangerous precedent. The bill passed.
Mr.. Sargent made report from the confer
| ence committee on the Indian appropriation
| bill.
After explanation by Mr.. Sargent, Mr.. Becl
| said large proportion of the amount appropri
ated by this bill, So, 100000 went for scheme
and jobs to enrich retainers of senator's, who ha
within their own grasp the entire control of In
| dian affairs. He gave notice that at the mex
session, when the presidential election was over
| and when it could not be treated as a party
measure, he would show to the house and tt
the country frauds that were being perpetrateo
through Indian treaties, and millions on mil
lions that were being squandercd and stolen by
thieves who were managing these things. The
conference report was agreed to.
A conference committee was ordered on the
steamboat bill, and Messrs. Negley, Conger and
Hambleton were appointed.
The house then, at 40, adjourned.