The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-06
CONGREss.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, February GA memo
rial was presented from the Philadelphia
Board OF Trade, asking the Establishment
of an ocean mail steamship service In
American built iron steamships, with
England.
Mr.. Beck, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported amendments to the
internal revenue law as follows: The first
section restored the provisions OF the law OF
1879, allowing producers OF tobacco to sell
at the place Of production to consumers an
amount not exceeding one hundred jol.
lars. The second section proposed to In
crease the fractional parts Of barrels re-
quired to be stamped, by including to
provide that q man who made wine from
grapes raised by himself, might sell It al
the place OF production without paying
the twenty-five dollars special tax now
required. The bill was passed.
Nir. Moore, chairman OF the Committee
on Invalid Pensions, proceeded to make a
report of the pension bill, but before do
ing so commented uniavorably on the &C.
tion Of the House yesterday In passing
the bill making the pension OF Mrs.
Wood date back to the date Of her hus-
bands death. The rule was that the pen
sion should take effect from the passage
of the bill, and there was no propriety In
making distinctions between widows OF
general officers and the widows Of pri-
Vate soldiers.
Mr.. Blaine, (Speaker) who yesterday
left the chair, introduced and advocated
the bill referred to, again took the floor
and deiendeded the propriety Of that
measure, remarking that 1t was the only
instance Of q person Of lineage OF Gen.
TAYLOR receiving any benefit from the
Government of the United States.
Mr.. Speer from the same Committee
reported bill repeating the provisions
of the act of the 4th ol July, 1854, which
prohibits the allowance ofpensiOn claims,
unless prosecuted 10 a successful issue
within five years from date, being filed,
and allowing claims 80 barred to be
granted and allowed within two years
from this act, upon satisfactory parole
evidence. After discussion the bill was
passed. A large number Of pension bills
were passed.
Mr.. Packer from the Committee on
Roads and Canals reported bill author
izing the construction Of railroad bridge
across the Mississippi river at Memphis,
Tenn.
In reply to questions by MIR. Finkeln.
burg, he stated that the main span OF the
bridge was to be 400 feet in the clear,
and that the bridge might be built with q
draw.
Mr.. Finkelnburg opposed the bill, re-
marking that all were agreed that no
bridge with draw should be built on the
Mississippi below St. Louis. Such bridges
had already done damage enough above
that city. No such detriment TO COM
merce should be permitted below that
point, and it was questionable whether
any bridge should be permitted between
St. Louis and New Orleans. The Mer-
chants Exchange Of St. Louis had met
yesterday in order to consider that sub
iect, and he expected to hear from that
meeting tomorrow. He hoped that the
bill would either be recommitted or re-
lerred 10 the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Cox gave notice that he would
move to lay tho bill on the table.
Mr.. Potter asked Mr.. Packer whether
the bill had been recommended by the
engineer officers OF the governments
Mr.. Packer replied that 1t had not, but
that the interests Of the government were
entirely guarded by making the matter
subject to the judgment and control OF the
Secretary OF War.
Mr.. Potter cautioned the House against
repeating the blunder. 1t had been COM
mitted some time ago in authorizing the
bridge across the Ohio river at Cincln'
natl, which had subsequently, to be
changed at great expense, for which the
government was now held responsible.
He was satisfied that no bridge should
ever be permitted by Congress across any
of the great rivers Of the country without
the most careful deIiberation, and without
the examination and report Of some Off.
GERS Of the government not connected
with private interests.
The morning hour having expired, the
bill went over without action till to'mor'
The House went into Q Committee Of the
Whole, Mr.. Burchsrd in the chair. The
postofice appropriation bill as reported
january 10Th, appropriates $32, sos, ,767,
Of which all but SO 09l0,6@ is to come
from the revenues OF the department.
But Mr.. Palmer, who had charge Of the
bill, remarked that since the abolition OF
tho franking privilege the Postmaster
General was willing to have the sppro-
priation reduced by $1,60OOO0.
Mr.. Cotton offered an amendment In.
creasing them for letter carriers from $l,-
100000 10 $1,700000, and allowing their
employment in places with population
oil 10000 inhabitants within the postottlce
delivery.
After long discussion involving the
whole Of the letter carrier4sYstem and the
compensation oi letter carriers, which
Messrs. Cox and Myers endeaVored, but
failed to have increased.
The amendment by Mr.. Cotton was
agreed to. ,m
adjourned.
Petitions were presented by Mr.. Conk.
ling for tho greater security Of the mail
service; to increase the salaries Of United
States District Judges in New York; for
and against the repeal Of the bankrupt
law, aud Tor repeal Of the tax on national
banks.
Mr.. Vickers demonstrated against re-
peal of the bankrupt law.
Mr.. Wright presented petition from
the business men Of St. Louis for such re.
peal.
Nr. Buckingham from the Committee
on Indian Affairs reported without
amendment, the House bill for the relief
Of settlers on the late Sioux Indian Res.
Crvatiou in Minnesota.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen from the Committee
on tho Judiciary reported adversely the
bill to refund 2per cent to Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois.
Mr.. Thurman submitted minority
| -. .,n-gnkaA nth