Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-05-29
Donation OF a Site to The Fisk Universi-
ty-The Case Of sykes VS.. Spencer,
from Alabama.
The Territory OF Pembina-The Ques.
tlOn OF Womaa's Suffcage Defeated
by Vote Of Nineteen to
iWenty-niBe.
The Senate Currency BIZ and Amend
ments in the HOuse-COnfsrenee
Ordered-The Army. Etc.
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, May 2S--On motion
/ Of Mr.. Sawyer, the senate amendments
I to the bill to legalize and establish a
pontOOn railway bridge across the Mis-
sissippi river at Prairie dU Chem, were
{ concuued in.
Mr.. Scoffeld, from the committee on
naval affairs, reported bill for the re-
lief of Mercy Anne Hall, widow of Cap
tain Hall, OF the POlsris, to pay her
eighteen hundred and thirty-six dollars,
the amount Of his pay up TO date, De-
cember 81, 1873, when the officers and
crew of the POlsris were paid off, and to
authorize the purchase OF his papers and
prior explorations at a cost not exceed
ing fifteen thousand dollars.
After an explanation by Mr.. Scofield,
and some remarks in opposition by Mr..
willard, the bill passed.
Mr.. Maynard, from the committee on
banking aud currency, reported back
the substitute for the senate amend
ments to the currency bill. He de-
manded the previous question, which
was seconded by 95 to Is, and the main
question was ordered. The first vote
was on the adoption of the substitute re-
ported from the committee on banking
and currency, which was rejected-yeas,
III; nays, III.
There was much excitement as the
progress of the vote showed how close it
was. When the roll call was concluded,
the vote stood l04 to los, but many
changes were made, and the exact vote
was announced as above.
The vote was then taken on concurring
ia the senate substitute, which was re-
jacted-yeas, 20; nays, 164.
Mr.. Maynard then moved commit
tee of conference on disagreeing votes,
and it was so ordered; yeas 122; nays
81. So the whole matter goes to the
conference committee.
The house then took up the bill for the
gradual reduction ofthe army.
Mr.. C0burn explained and advocated
the bill. He disavowed on the part of
the committee on military affairs any
disposition of hostility to the army; on
the contrary, the committee had moth
ing but profound respect and honor for
the army. His personal judgment was
that the reduction provided for in the
pending bill was not large enough. He
thought the government could get on
with an army of twenty thousand as
well as with an army Of thirty thousand /
men, the main work of the army being |
TO take care of the Indian frontier. He |
proceeded to analyze the the details of |
the bill, and estimated the saving to the |
government which its passage would ef- |
feet at about seven million dollars.
Mr.. Butler Mass. gave notice of an |
amendment which he intended to offer, |
that the headquarters of the army shall /
never be removed from the capital of the |
nation except in time of war.
Mr.. Nesmith protested against the re-
duetion Of the army in behalf of the /
frontier settlements. If these constant |
attempts to interfere with the organiza- /
ton Of the army were to be kept up, no /
officer of spirit aud culture would desire |
to remain in it. Congress had better /
abolish it at once, and let the Indians |
take possession Of the frontier.
Mr.. McDougal proposed an amend !
ment to the seventh section in regard to |
the adjutant-general's department, by |
making it consist of one adjutant-gen- |
general with the rank Of brigadier-gen- |
eral, two assistant acknowledgements |
with the rank OF colonies, four with the |
rank of lieutenant colonel, and two with |
the rank Of major.
Mr.. Banning spoke at length in favor
of the reduction Of the army, and a con-
sequent saving to the government and |
people Of an enormous amount of |
money. He also advocated a transfer
of the pension and Indian bureaux to
the management of the war department,
thereby securing great saving OF pub.
lie funds, and at the same time more
in the service. He spoke OF
the great abuses in the system Of COM
and assignment of quarters in /
Washington and elsewhere to any Off
Ger, and gave a full, comprehensive re-
view Of the present discipline and prac-
tices of the army as now organized.
After further discussion, Mr.. McDou-
gal moved to lay the bill on the table.
The previous question was then
and the bill went over till to-
morrow.
The speaker announced the following
IS a special committee on Arkansas af-
airs: Messrs. Poland. Ward TIL 7,
WOodford, Ssyler [Ohiol, and Sloss.
The house then took a recess till half
)ast seven O'Clock, the evening session
o be for the consideration of the bill to
.mend the tariff.