Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-13
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS,
WEDNESDAY, MAY IS.

Senators being in their seats.
Mr.. Sargent called up House bill repeating
act fixing the time Of election Of members OF
the House OF Representatives from California
MIR. Davis, from Committee on Claims re-
ported adversely on petition of Dempsey x
O'Iooie, OF Washington, for compensation for
stanonery furnished the Interior department Ia
The river and harbor appropriation bin was
read, and referred 10 Committee on Com msrce
Mr.. lngalls, from Committee on Indian At
fairs, reported bill providing homes tor the Pot
towattamie and absentee Shawnee Indians N
me indian territory, and il was indefinitely
Mr.. West. from the Committee on Railroads.
reported substitute for bin granting right OF
way through public lands for railroad through
Alabama ana Florida.
Mr.. Chandler introduced bill for the bettsr
protection OF emigrants. Referred 10 the Com
mittee on Commerce. Also, bill To incOrporate
the Inland and Seaboard COssting Company of
the District OF Columbia. Referred to Com.
mittee on Commerce.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill to regulate com
merce among the several states and with
foreign nations. Referred TO Committee on
TRANSPORTATION.
Mr.. oglesby introduced bill for the relief OF
the Cblckasaws and the adoption OF the freed
men. Referred TO Committee on Indian r.
fairs.
Mr.. Davis called up his hill TO reimburse the
safe OF West Virginia for losses incurred duri lg
the same.
Mr.. Davis commenced by sketching briefly
the circumstances attending the organic alton
OF the state government OF West Virginia, and
the part taken by htr during the war. He
said that as a state ii had been loyal TO the
government from the very beginning. From
her peculiar geographical situation she was
forced 10 bear the part Of hard knock and cruel
bows from both Of the conteRdipg armies Sue
was the bOlwark, the fortress interposed be-
tween the loyal states Of the north and west.
and the opponents Of the government aud her
people were compelled TO undergo numberless
hardships and sacrifices. He argued az some
length the question OF the Obligation OF the
Government 70 pay It's loyal citizens for losses
sustained at the hands OF the Federal troops
quoting, in support or the affirmative position
which be took ,Nattel, GTatius, Whiting, fancy
and Wilmot. He held that the essence OF the opir
IONS and decisions we're contained in the plain
proposition or Law that the government l.
bound 10 compensate it's loyal citizens for all
property taken from them by its agents, or dc
stroyed by the FEDERAL troops. As 20 the dam
ages inflicted by the confederates. or those re
sultiDg from the accidental csnseouences q.
war, he ssid that West Virginia claimed n
compensation, though in strict justice she nigh
be entitled to il. AZ TO the rights of citizens 10
insurrectlonary states, he held that a loyal cit
zen of Virginia, Louisiana or any other insur
rectlonary state, was as much entitled to pro
lection OF life and property, and 20 c0mpensa-
ton for his property taken or appropriated b.
the government, as citizen OF New York, Mas
.achusetts or any other northern stat
But West Virginia did not come under the heaH
Of an insurrectionary state, as her loyalty wa,
distinctly and frequently recognized by the
Government from the commencement Of the
war TO Its close, by the proclaim atoms OF Presi-
dent Lincoln, and OF the generals OF the army
as well as by the action OF Congress. He main
taihea that me claim which he now presented
on behalf OF West Virginia was neither a new
nor an extraordinary one, and cited a large
number OF precedents, dating back To the Revo-
Iuuonsry war and running down 10 the present
Term or Congress. In regard TO the fears which
nave been expressed a. to the drain
which the allowance OF war claims
would cause upon the Treasury, he said
that they were largely overestimsted. H
exhibited ofhcisl figures and estimates from
whlch ne summed up a. follows: that the
amount OF claims now pending and probably %
De presented would make total OF 5000 900
OF the claims heretofore acted on about one
nth had been allowed. Applying this proper
ton 10 the above amount he estimated that the
probable sum the government would be liable
Tor would not exceed 81, 600 600. To pSy this
amount there is now in the Treasury resulting
from the sale or captured aud abandoned prop
erty In the south some SO 100000 He then
argued that the government was not legaIlg
but in duty bound 10 reimburse the people OF
west Virgins, who had stood up for il in it,
extremity, and at the time when il cost some.
thing to he true to the government He con.
cluded with strong appeal TO Senators to do
Justice TO this claim aud to the people OF the
border and southern states.
Mr.. Scott said that last week to day had been
set Tor the consideration of bills from the Com
mittee on Claims, and unless the Senator from
Ohio objected he would now move to proceed
with bills reported from that committee.
MIR. Sherman said he felt il his DUTY in ac-
cordance with the notice previously given by
him, to call up the substitute for the House
Mr.. Scott said that after the currency bin was
disposed OF, he would ask the Senate TO give
some attention to the business OF the Commit
tee on Claims.
Mr.. Anthony submitted joint resolution an
thorizing Prof. Spencer j. Baird, L. s. fishery
commissioner. to have the engraving for his re-
port executed under the supervision OF the Joint
Committee Printing. Passed
The new currency bill was then taken up.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Butler Mass asked and obtained leave Tor
the Judiciary Committee to report the Geneva
award bill at any time.
The Speaker laid before the House commuui-
cations containing an estimate for appropri.
alton to complete the Chain bridge, above
Georgetown, and in relation TO an offer BY DR.
A. Y. p. Garnett to sell to the government a
piece Of land adjoining the Army Medical Mu.
munications, of no general importance, which
were referred to appropriate committees.
Mr.. Albright, (Pa.) from the COMMITTEES on
Military Affairs, submitted q report upon the
army regulations, and q bill to authorize the
PRONUNCIATION Of the general regulations for tn
government OF the army. Ordered printed and
On motion OF Mr.. Negley, (Pal the II ,use
then went into Committee Of the Whole on tn
The 43d section in relation to the liability OF
u
for damages to property or for loss of life or
personal Injury, caused . prolonged debate,
chiefly As to the construction and effect OF the
section. 1t was finally amended by striking out
the clause In reference to liability for loss OF
life or pereonal injury, leaving that as deter
mined by common Law.
A deba.e arose upon the section (5l) In rela
ton to pilots.
Mr.. Negey, from the committee, offered an
amendment leaving in force the pilot reguia-
and Mr.. Merriam IN. " offered an amend.
msnt to include all registered vessels.
MI. Hale (Me.) offered an amend ment abol-
sning compulsory pilotage on al csasting
The amendment proposed by Mr.. Negley.
was adopted.
Mr.. Potter (N.Y1 offered an amendment
providing that the master OF any inward bound
vessel may select any regularly licensed pilot
Mr. Garfield (ohio, moved . substitute for
the Goth section, requiring al moneys received