Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-05
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS,
TUESDAY, NAV 5.

this morning by the Rev. John TuI.ock, of
scotland. he invoked the Divine blessing
upon the President, the Congress. and the
whole people of the United States, and PRAYED
that the United States and Great Britain might
love each other, and the only rivalry between
the two countries be in ali the elements OF
Christian civilization.
Mr.. FentOn made the formal motion, of which
ne had already given notice, to discharge the
COMMITTEE on Commerce from the further con-
sideration of his bill to regulate the collection
OF customs duties, and the disposition of fines
penalties, and forfeitures. He said the chair
man OF the committee had no objection to it.
Inc motion was then agreed to, and bill placed
on the calendar.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Committee on the
judiciary, reported bill appropriating Sl2,0O0
to compensate Ed. NJ. Randolph for legal ser
vices rendered the government in the Castelaro
claim in California.
Mr.. Pratt, from Committee on Pensions re-
ported bill amendatory of the act granting
pensions to certain soldiers and sailors of the
war OF 1872, and restoring to pension rolls those
persons whose names were stricken therefrom
in consequence OF disloyalty to government.
THE OVERFLOW RELIEF FUND.
Mr.. Morrill, OF Me-, from Committee on Ap
Preparations, reported the bill for the relief OF
the sufferers by the overflow of the Mississippi.
increasing the appropriation from $4,000 to
provisions OF the bill shall not apply later than
September /, 1874.
MIR. Pease said that great restitution existed
in Mississippi, and the authorities OF the state
we're utterly unable TO afford the necessary re-
lief.
Mr.. Alcorn said that in affIrdIng relief under
this bill, care should be taken for the proper
and judiciOus distribution Of the food and
clothing he alluded to the telegram in tn,
morning papers that the negroes aroun Mem.
phis were now refusing to work, alleging that
the government intended to feed and clOthe
them. The difficulty TO be apprehended was
that the labor of that whole country might be-
come demoralized. He had thousand negroes
on his plantation, and he did net ask the gov
eminent to feed them. He would feed them
himself, and when he had no more
for them they. would all starve together.
have been in condition to resist the rising OF
the river, the people of the states OF Louisiana
and Mississippi had been taxed largely to con-
struct levees. and IL the money had been prop
erly expended, it would have accomplished the
object desired. The state of Louisiana had
spent twelve millions in the levees. ana Missis-
this object. Five millions, if honestly and
properly expended, would have been sufi cient
to protect the state of Mississippi from over
flow. The trouble was that the money
was squandered by irresponsible and reck-
less parties. Several of the counties Of Missis-
sippi, including the county in which he
so much on every pound Of cotton raised.
Boards Of supervisors were appointed for the
different counties to direct the expenditure OF
this money. The board Of supervisors for this
purpose in his county consisted of four negroes.
who, he believed, could neither read nor write
and one white man, who was such that the
that could be found than have him. The tax
payers had no responsibility, no share in toe
disposition OF their own money, and this WAS
the reason why it was 50 uandered and diverted
from its legitimate purposes. He (Mr. Al had
endeavored heretofore to get the general gov
erDmeIt to furnish the authority to construct
pay for them as they are able to do. But let
the army officers control IT, the people are not
afraid Of the army officers they know they will
Mr.. Conklng asked how it was that the tax
payers could have no share in the control of
affairs, as no one was disfranchised in Missis-
siP RE-. A,corn said in hi. comfy thar. war.
about II or II colored men to one white man.
They were a very good class OF colored men,
too. He (Mr. Az had no complaint to make
against them. But these colOred men we're told
In the last canvass that If they won Id support q
certain ticket Gen. Grant would oivide up the
Mr. Conkling.-will the Senator name the
parties who made these promises?
Mr.. Alcorn said he did not care to mention
names in his speeches on the stump. liz Would
not 60 into that matter now. He was now
talking about the food: He believed the news
no doubt that there was great deaf. But The he
wanted the Secretary Of War to have absolute
control Of the relief fund. II the idea gets out
eminent intends to feed and ciothe them, that
whole country win be demoralized, and no
more work win be got ont Of the negroes
IuiS y08I. ne tuOukuts 0OW0vof, yQ2t
relief should also be extended to the people Of
Arkansas who had suffered quite Is much q
those Of Mississippi. He would move
An amendment that the additional appropria-
ton be 800 600 instead Of $50 900, and that the
state Of Arkansas be included.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
motion Of Mr.. Garfield (Ohio) an evening Sos
sion was ordered for tonight for the consldera-
ton of the Indian appropriation bill.
THE LATE eAP8 ROBBERY.
Mr.. Foster (Ohio), by unanimous consent,
offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the JOINT committee on the
affairs Of the District Be, and they are hereby,
directed to inquire whether any officers or en-
ployees OF the United states or any officers or
employeesof the District governmenthav been
engaged In any conspiracy to defeat OF hinder
the Investigation ordered By Congress into the
affairs Of the District, and particularly In this
connection TO inquire into al the circumstances
connected with the late pobbery Of the safe in
the once Of the United States attorney for the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Townsend (Ps.), from Committee ON
Public Lands, reported Q bill for the relief Of
settlers on the railroad lands Of the United
States. Passed.
THE UTAH couKrs.
Mr., Poland. (Vt) from Committee ON Judi