Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-15
F0RTY-s SECOND CONGRESS
This AGternoon,s Proceedings
SATVRpAr, February IS.

tee appointed to wait ON the President and Vice
President elect, announced that they had per
formed that duty. The President replied tia,
he accepted thesoffice, and he would endeavor IN
the future as in the past to discharge Lis duty
to the best of his ability. The Vice -Presiden,
elect also accepted 6he Office and said that nj.
aim would be to discharge his duties fairly and
faithfully.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine. from the committee of
conference on the consular and diplomatic APP
preparation bill submitted a report which was
concurred in.
Mr.. Anthony called up the order,
LIMITING DEBATE
on appropriation bills, and excluding from such
bills all amendments not germane.
Mr.. Hamilton Of Md. said he objected TO lin
ting debate TO five minutes ii such propositions
were to be offered Of which notice had alre adv
been given. One Amendment 60 the naval bill
was now pending providing that this govern
ment should guarantee millions TO private par
ties to build immense dock yards, to b under
their own control. He objected 20 debate on
such important propositions being limited to
Mr.. Thurman objected to the rule as being not
only improper, put a. not really calculated 60
facilitate the dispatch Of business
Mr.. Trumbull called attention to the opera
tons OF this rule at the last session. Ii provided
that no amendment not germane to appropria-
ton bills be received, yet what actually did take
place under that rule? most important ball,
in relation 70 elections and through the oper-
ations Of which a lawful state government has
been overthrown, was offered as an amend
ment TO an appropriation bill. and was ruled i'm
order and put ON by majority of the Senate.
Mr.. Conkling alluded To the great consump-
ton OF time caused by Senators making politi-
cal speeches intended for popular effect, and de-
provision by which a wholesome limit could be
put on debate.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Averill, (Minn.,) from the committee on Indian
affairs, by unanimous consent, report ed a bill
authorizing the Secretary OF the Treasury TO
settle the accounts of Charles r.. Brown and j.
r. Hassler, late agents Of tue Chippewa Indians
IN Minnesota. Passed.
Mr.. Dawes, Mass, } from the select commit
tee TO wait upon the President and Vice Presi-
dent-elect and inform them of their election, re-
ported that they had discharged that duty, and
that they were charged to report to the Senate
and House the acceptance of the trust by the in
dividuals respectively.
Indian affairs, reported a bill regulating pri-
yate contracts or agreements with Indians,
which, among other restrictions. makes il un-
lawful for any officer of the United States TO
contract with or aid i'm the enforcement of any
contract with any tribe Of Indians or any indf-
vidual Indian, until said contract has been APP
proved by the Secretary Of the Interior and the
commissioner Of Indian affairs, and recorded in
the Office Of the latter. Passed.
Mr.. Scofeld Pa asked leave TO report bill
granting an annuity OF $50 per month TO Mary
Swift, daughter Of Thomas TruNton. deceased.
late commodore in the L. 5. navy. but objection
was made.
Mr.. willard (vt) asked unanimous consent
to offer joint resolution cozgratalating the
people OF Spain upon the establishment of a
republican government i'm that country.
Mr.. Banks Mass 81 object to that. object
20 that. II Is proposition to approve Of slavery
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
nicati0n from the President transmitting a
report Of the prison commission. Referred 20
the committee on education and labor.
Also, a message from the President i'm relation
to the condition Of affairs in Utah. Referred TO
the committee ON the judiciary.
Mr.. Braxton (Na.) introduced bill for the
removal OF the disabilities Of Vim. Smith. OF
Fauquier county, Va, and il was passed.
The regular order was demanded, and
THE GENEVA AWARD BILL, -
on which the previous question was ordered yes
terday, came up as unfinished business.
MIR. Peters, (Me.) offered and advocated an
amendment allow ing interest on losses from the
late of the loss, instead of the award. He
urged that the interest had been computed in
the award, and received by the government. It
mad been paid to the government atsix per cent
IN gold and il could not afford to hold back the
hve per cent. interest in currency. 1t was true
the government lost one years interest, the time
which elapsed between the award and the time
liked for payment, but that was more than made
up by the difference between the five and six
per cent. In his Judgment, after every claim
was paid there wonld be q surplus of over Eve
millions dollars and that was another reason
why this interest should be allowed
MT Hale lMe) thought the bill now reported
the best Of all the bills which had been pro-
amendment proposed by Mr.. Peters should be
adopted He argued that the men who paid the
war risks were the real losers, and not the in
surance companies who were enabled to nav
their losses by the increased sums paid for war
premiums.
Mr.: Frye (Me.) said, representing the largest
ship-building district i'm Maine, he supported
the bill reported by the committee. He did not
want claimant from his district to come here
to Washington to get his claim allowed. He
said he had been ON the committee of claims.
and knew how the claimants Jared in this den of
thieves outside Of Congress, where claim agents
met them and demanded $500 for influence with
member Of Congress whom they did not Know
He opposed putting money in the pockets of the
insurance companies over tie profits they made
from the war premiums, but favored giving il 10
those patriotic ship-owners who refused 10 put
their ships under foreign flag.