The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-12
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WASHINGTON.

Committee the House bill directing the Secretary
Of the Treasury to admit free OF duty the monu-
ment designed by Admiral Porter and now being
executed in Rome by Franklin Simmons to the
memory OF the officers, seamen and marines OF the
navy who fell in defence Of the Union The bill fur
ther authorizes the Secretary Of the Navy to have
the monument brought in national vessel to An
napols where 1t Is to be erected In the grounds OF
the Naval Academy. While the bill was being read
all eyes were turned towards the seat of Sumner,
who might oppose having the monument erected
at ALL but ne was absent ana the bill was enacted
without opposition.
Soon after Mr.. COfax became Vice President the
Senate, avowedly as a compliment to him, passed
q bill admitting chime of bells for o church near
his residence In Indiana duty free, against the
port OF the Committee on Finance This pre-
cedent has not been followed. The Senate
refused yesterday to permit Catholic
priest in New Orleans to receive free of
duty marble altar presented to him by his former
college associates In Ireland and to-day bill to
permit the New York Seventy-ninth Hghlanders
to import set OF uniforms including belts, free Of
duty, was virtually killed, although Cameron was
to have secured its passage his brother having
fallen at the head OF this regiment at the first battle
of Bull Run. au
The Senate went over twice as much OF the calen-
many private claims, none OF them involving any
question which led to discussion. Opposition was
manifested to the House resolution proposing an
adjournment from December 20 to January 6, and
an attempt was made to shorten by some or those
Senators who are keeping house here and don't
want to leave. But this was voted down and the
long vacation was carried. Az only eight weeks
will now remain after the holidays for the transac
ton OF business there will be slim chances for jobs
and swlndling schemes
Lively Proceedings I'm the H0use-A Bill
lingsgate Debate on the Soldiers and
Sailors Land Claims and the Indian
Appropriation Bill.
In the House the greater part OF the day was
FILTERED away in aimess debate upon the Soldiers
and Sailors Bounty Land bill and the Indian APP
preparation bill. The passage Of the latter was a
foregone conclusion; but several members would
not miss the opportunity OF dilating the fertile
theme of poor Lo. There were, as usual two sides,
representing extreme views. One was for treating
the noble savage as the original American gentle
man; the other side quoted approvingly Phil
Sheridan's recipe for the determination OF vermin
The first thing presented was memorial from
the Centennial Commissioners. 1t Appealed to
Congress for aid in order to make the cele-
bration worthy OF the occasion, the people
having shown in this matter an apathy
not at all iattering to the national
pride. The memorial was referred to the Centen-
NAL Committee. The Soldiers Homestead bill then
came up for consideration. Mr.. Hawley, from Con-
nectlcut, made speech showing that there can be
but one honest opinion on this bill; that it bears
the impress OF job on the face OF 1t. He estimated
the number OF persons TO be benefited by it at
100000 Giving certificate for 100 acres to each
there would be set anoat all OF once land warrants
At
North would abandon their present homes and pur-
suits to settle upon those lands in the far Western
wilds9 Echo answers not one out Of 100. The
certificates would become mere trash in the
market. They could be acquired by the
land SPECTATORS for q tribe, say ten dol
lars apiece. They would be deprecated for the
additional reason that 2oo,oooooo acres have
already been squandered away upon railroad cor
poratons, which are now selling at q nominal
price. Thus the soldier, his widow and orphans,
would have little or no benefit from this act. All
the advantages Of 1t would accrue to the land
sharks.
Mr.. washington Townsend said the Pennsylvania
department Of the Grand Army OF the Republic, in
session at Easton In February 1872, expressed its
disapprobatIon of the bill. He presented circular
to that effect signed among others by the Governor
elect OF Pennsylvania. The mention Of General
from the same State, the effect Of red flannel
Haunted in the face of a bull. He declared the
Grand Army OF the Republic was only political
machine In the interest OF the railroad corpora
tions Those who had signed the circular
were not soldiers who had borne q muskey
through the heat Of battles. General Hartranft
had caused 1t to be denied that he ever signed the
circular in order not to injure his chances OF cleo
ton. He (Speer) had been called liar not less
than fourteen times by . Hartranft organ, for
having asserted that the circular bore Hartranft's
signature. Here Washington Townsend, whose
face resembles that Of medieval sage jumped to
his feet and catechised the bellic0se Speer as to
the truth Of his assertions. The controversy be-
came highly personal and sensational. The two
gentlemen fell to ransacking the gutter OF the late
campaign and peting one another with ngurative
mud balls. Mr.. Townsend exclaimed that all the
rebels were democrats; that nine-tenths
Of our army were republicans the war
had been fostered by Northern demo-
Gratis and so forth. To cap the climax ne
declared that there was not a single democrat in
the House who had borne musket In the war. At
this Randall, from Pennsylvania, rushed forward
and exclaimed, 'Thave borne musket as private:
have YOUR Washington Townsend was fain to
acknowledge that he had not, upon which Speer
said, with whitening sarcasm. 81 know he hasn't.
Like Jobs horse ne smelt the battle from afar."
'He was making money In the rear,' said another
democrat. Groups gathered round the combatants,
repeated rapping OF the gavel restored order and
the wordy war ended amid shouts OF laughter. At
the expiration Of the morning hour the bill went
over. 1t has no chance Of passing at least not
until Its chief and most Objectionable feature Is
changed by amendment.
The French spolfataon Claims.
Mr. Leonard Meyers, from Pennsylvania, pro-
prosed to-day that January % should be liked