New-York tribune., 1873-03-01
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
GEN. BUTLER's SALARY BILL.
1... - .-..I. !. r-Lt ~. III. t-nInL-NEL

WASHINGTON, Friday. Feb 2s, 1878.
The salary question came up at the evening session. in
Committee OF the Whole in the shape Of recommenda
ton from the Committee Appropriations This report
included the Butler proposition adopted last Monday
night increasing the salaries of the President Cabinet
Uflcers Supreme Court Judges, and Members Of Con-
gres and to this the Committee Appropriations had
proposition 10 increase the salaries of the
officials. MI Buter objected srenuously TO hav-
ing his proposition thus brought back again. and the
Chairman tried 70 convince him that the thing was in
regular and proper parliamentary shape, Dut Mr.. Butler
not 10 be convinced aud finally the Chairman, Mr.
Dawes gave way, and Mr.. Garfield exricated the Com
mttee from the mudde by abandoning the proposition
about the House employees and moving that the CON-
mtee rise and report the bill 10 the House. BY this
means q further vote on the salary question was
avoided Committee. Mr.. Butler Tesorted TO inge
niOus plan avoid direct vote in the House by yeas
and nays his proposition. He moved TO suspend the
rules and agree with the action OF the Committee
Of the Whole all the amendments in a lump,
bat he could not get the twOthirds vote and so
the salary amendment had TO so through the crucial
test OF vote bv yeas and The result unsats
factory TO the raiders, although they had the almost
sohd support OF e REPRESENTATIVES, Irom the southern
the scheme defeated, Mr. Butler changed his vote
He made that motion. and then moved adjournment
which prevailed, and so put of the final vote till tomor
row.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Secretary OF Treasury, in his annual report
recommended that no public buildings be begun
during the next fiscal year. Those already commenced
authorized by law in different cities Of the country
eure about sOO000O0 TO be appropriated for completing
continuing the work upon them. The House, in pre-
pairing the sundry Civil Appropriation oil made pro-
vision for continuing the work public buildings, but
the Senate Committee interpreted the Secrearys report
In such way as 10 recommend that no
money be appropriated for that purpose, and
struck out the most Of the paragraphs OF this kind and
the allowances made for the others very much cut
down. Had there been one or two States suffering by
this the Senate would probably have stood by the Com
mttee but there hardly Senator on the floor who
ead not have post-Ofice, court, or custom-house
which he was very desirous OF having com
unless he brought home money TO continue or com
Plete the work. The first appropriation that had
Tor post-ofhee at Fall River, Mass. On this
pretty lively debate arose as was test case the
recommendations. IL became apparent that there had
een sufficient i9grong M 70 carry the snihs inDSg1 %
reduced one-half. A victory over the Commit
The appropriation for the New.York Postonce put
up from g. 900 TO 10000 at which figure the House
sSeco Il the PSadeiphS Ost6fBce With 81 sccooO' the
scnciunsti POst-once with t70o.oOO, the apPropra;
nS ss tSe senate AnSoD1atieD Som
ttee tonight in this matter or public buildings
DSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE SOUTHERN CLAIMS
BILL.
Great anxiety exists among great number Of worthy
creditors Of the Government over the prospective
failure Of the bill appropriatng money TO pay the
awards OF the Southern Claims Commission. Every
Seo bes examined into the matter Is aware that this
Commission has adjudcated the cases that haze come
before IL IN such way place the interests OF
Government In all before those OF the citizen In
the first place, all claimants have been put to an almost
test as loyalty; then the allowance made for
sreles taken by the army has been down in almost
ssey case at least so cent from the known market
value Of them the time they were taken. After the
awsrds made they were very carefully examined
~ the House Committee Claims, and the bill pro-
mdDg for their by the appropriation OF some
ssng less than million dollars passed; when
nt bill before the Senate Committee ON
0sims one member absent and the remaining SIX
were all lawyers Three of these BeDators thought tha
'sey found N OF the awards principle recognized
they could not agree ~. and 80 they voted against
MI As the Committee was divided, the Dill Was
ted without recommendation, and went upon the
saar, whore, a. the majority OF the Southern Sena
H.. s.Ee eitber disposition ability TO push IT, ~ u
4 s.,y fsn These awards are mostly 20 pay small
vlns OF few hundred dollars each, and 10 persons
| sass "s sadly Ia need of what has been awarded W
Lses yeaE the bill 70 pay the awards that hso