Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-02-15

or Indirectly 10 any member of Congress,
for the same interesting himself In any
matter. Concerning the Central Pacific
railroad be had no knowledge. the mon
ey having been paid by Others for such
purposes; nor did he ever have any ne
gotfatlon with Fremont and Hallet to
remove the opposition Of the Kansas
and Iowa Railroad Company to the act
of 1854. for the benefit OF the Pacific
railroad. A long examination followed
as to the stock and bonds, interest, ETC.;
of the road.
Mr.. SheIlabargerasked what is the ag-
gregate amount of profits received
among members of the Construction
Company for that company.
Witness replied that he didn't know,
nor were any Of the gentlemen who
could answer the question in this part
of the country. The books, too, were in
California, There WAS nothing
done that was not proper to be done.
The road was built at less expense than
any other road proportionally as to
length and under like circumstances.
The company have done everything
they agreed to do for the Government,
which had been better served than the
company. Adjourned until tomorrow.
|. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, February l4.-Sena-
ator Edmonds offered a resolution con-
graduating the people Of Spain upon
the peaeeable establishment of a repub-
liean government there, and desiring the
President to communicate to the Span
ish government a copy of the resolu-
ton. Laid over and ordered to be
printed.
Senator Eentou introduced a bill au-
thorizing the President to invite the In
ternatiOnal Congress 10 hold its next
session in the United States.
Senator Cragin introduced three bills
for the relief of SecOr & CO., PeFines, Sc
cor & Co, and of Secor.
Senator Harlan introduced a bill to
declare the Inauguration day legal
holiday.
The Committee on Finance reported
adversely to the House bill amending
the internal revenue law, so as to allow
producers of tobacco to sell one hundred
dollars worth of tobacco annually TO con-
sumers at the place of production.
Senator Anthony offered a resolution
designed to expedite business, remark
ing that unless some such resolution was
adopted an extra session would be re-
quired in order to pass the bills necessa-
~ to carry on the Government. The
resolution was laid over, Senator An
thOny saying that be would call it up
tomorrow.
The Vice-President appointed as the
committee on the part of the Senate to
make the necesessary preparations for
Inauguration, Senators CTagin, Logan
and Bayard.
The House bill to revise, consolidate
and amend the pension laws, was
amended in several particulars and
passed. One of the amendments limits
the compensation of attorneys and
agents employed by applicants for pen
sions.
The naval appropriation bill came up
as unfinished business.
Senator Rice moved to postpone it for
the purpose of taking up his resolution
directing the Committee on Privileges
and Elections to inquire whether there
is any legal State Government in Ar
kansas. but the motion was lost.
Senator Cragin offered an amendment
TO the naval appropriation bill provid-
ing that officers when promoted shall
not draw pay until they are specially
designated by the President to fill va
cancy, and where members of particu-
lar grade not fixed by law shall not take
effect until ordered for examination.
Agreed.
Senator Edmunds offered an amend
ment that the Supreme Court allow
amendments seither in form or sub
stance in appeals in prize cases where il
appears notice of intention to appeal
has been filed with the clerk of the
court within thirty DAYS after rendering
a decision. Agreed.
Senator Edmunds offered an amend
ment providing that no money appro-
priated by an act shall be expended on
account OF vessels or naval stores con-
tracted during the war. Agreed to.
Senator Cragin offered an amendment
increasing the pay of retired naval Off
GERS fifty per cent. additional to that to
which their rank or grade entitled
them when retired, and providing that
no officer on the retired list shall be em-
plOyed on active duty except in war.
On this amendment there was some
debate.
Senator Sherman stated that we now
have more than three times the number
of naval officers necessary.
Senator Logan stated that a short
time since we had a commissioned Off
Ger for every four men.
The amendment was lost.
Senator Sprague submitted the confer
ence report OH the fOrtification appro-
priation bill, which was concurred in.
\ message was received from the
President, calling attention to the dam
ger of a conflict between the Federal
and Territorial authorities in Utah.
The Senate went into executive ses-
sion, and sDOR after adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, February I4.-Mr.
Woods asked leave to offer his resolu-
ton Of yesterday, in reference to the
Spanish Republic.
Mr.. Willard objected, unless it was re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs. The resolution was not enter
tained.
The House as a Committee of the
Whole took up sundry civil apprepria-
ton bills, which appropriates twenty
seven million, nine hundred and fifty-
eight thousand, eight hundred and twen-
~ NOlAdlCs uC NOuSlQEIhllOu OI
these bills as interrupted at two
O'Clock in the evening by the bill for the
distribution of Geneva awards coming
up in special order; pending which,
Mr.. NiblacR made report on the forti-
hcation appropriation bill, which was
agreed to.
Mr.. Swan presented the conference
report on the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Butler, who reported the Geneva
bill from committee, opened discussion
on il, explaining its objects. The first
question to be determined was as to the
ownership of the fifteen million dollars
which England had agreed to pay. So
far as the Judiciary Committee was
concerned, it had determined that the
money was the property of the
United States, free from all trusts
and claims. If this was the correct de-
termination, there remained to the Gov
ernment to provide only such equitable
distribution as seemed to Congress TO be
according TO the principle of natural
equity and justice. This principle will
dispose of a great number of claims that
may come up on the ground that Il
money is i'll trust the Government can
not be made trustee against will that
stated IN its instructions TO agents that
it should not be trustee for this money.
Nobody claimed trust, however, except
the insurance companies. These de-
manded that their claims be first paid.
Being body of great wealth, they had
brought before the Judiciary Committee
two or more able counsel who made ar
guments and submitted briefs, some ar
= III, Z. \ . ~
and claim that il was met by a two
thirds vote against il, for the reason
that the insurance companies entered
into the business of insuring as q matter
of profit; they took no risk, but in the
ory which aS a mile was a faot fbot