Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senate Amending Army Appro-
pFiatiOn.
The Claims of Loyal SOutherners.
House Struggle for Mileage.
"The Great American Swindle.o
Constructive Stealing"
The Claims of Loyal Southerners.
Constructive Stealing"
SENATE,

SENATE
WASHINGTON, March l9.-Mr. Spencer.
from the Committee on Commerce. re-
| ported fayorably on House bill to Improve
the mouth of'the Mississippi river, appro-
propriating $4,000 for the purpose, such
appropriation to be available from the
passage of the act, and asked its immediate
consideration. Objection being made by
MIR. salisbury, the bill went over.
Mr.. Dennis, from the Committee on
Commerce, called up the bill reported yes
terday from that committee amendatory of
the act to prevent the determination of fur
bearing animals in Alaska. Passed.
MIR. Chandler called up Senate bill to
authorize the employment of certain aliens,
and engineers and pilots. Passed.
Mr. Buckingham submitted a resolution
instructing the Secretary of the Interior to
communicate to the Senate the number of
Indians, including women and children,
captured and killed by United States troops
during 1873, together with the number of
citizens and soldiers killed by the Indians
during the same period. Agreed to.
The Senate then proceeded to the con-
sideration of bills on the calendar.
The Army Appropriation.
The Chair announced that the consider
alton of the bill to equalze the distribution
of the currency would be resumed, that
being unfinished business.
Mr.. West moved the Finance bill be laid
aside and the consideration of the Army
Appropriation bill be resumed. Agreed to.
MIR. Allison called up the bill appropri-
ating ten thousand dollars to pay the ex-
penses of the joint committee to investi-
gate into the management of affairs of the
District of Columbia. Passed.
The Senate then resumed considerationof
the army bill, apprOpriating $4,000 for an
army medical museum, medical and other
necessary works for the library of the Sur
geOn Generals Office. Agreed to.
The second section Of the bill in regard to
uneNpended balances was amended TO read
as follows: That all balances of appropria-
tiOns for whatever account made Orservices
of the department of Quartermaster-G General
and CommissaTy-G Generals of subsistence
prior to July 1, 1872, which Oh the Both of
June 1874, shall remain on the books
Of the Treasury shall be carried
to the surplus fund, except such as the
Auditor of the Treasury, whose duty it is
TO settle the accounts against such appro-
priatiOns, shall certify to the Secretary of
Treasury to be necessary in the settlement
of such accounts pending in his office.
Loyal Claims.
The Committee on Appropriations have
reported in favor of striking out the last
section of the bill as it passed the House
which provided that all claims of all citi-
zens who remained loyal during the war
for stores or supplies taken or furnished
during the rebellion for the use of the army
of the United SSateS, and for the use or |
loss Of vessels or boats while employed in
military service as including any such |
claims now pending and undetermined on !
any debt Of the Government, shall be pre-
sented to the Southern Claims Commits |
sion before Nov. IL, 1875, who shall have |
exclusive jurisdiction to hear all such |
claims now pending and undetermined in |
the department of the QuarteTmaster Cen
eral of subsistence shall on the passage of |
this act, be transferred to the Southern |
Claims Commission, together with the |
evidence thereon. The House further pro-
vided that there should be two additional |
of that Commission to devote |
their time exclusively TO the claims trans |
ferred. But the Committee reported in |
favor of striking out that section and in |
serting the following:
The Quartermaster General, COmmiSsa- |
~ General and Third Auditor of the Treas |
ury shall continue to receive, examine and |
consider the justice and validity of such |
claims as shall be brought before them un- |
der the act Of July 4, 1864, and the Secreta-
" of the Treasury shall make a report of |
each claim allowed by them at the COM
mencement of each session of Congress to |
the Speaker ofthe House ofRepresentatives,
who shall lay the same before Congress fer /
MeSsrs. Scott and Buchanan favored the |
adoption of the amendment proposed by the
committee, and it was agreed to.
Mr.. Logan moved an amendment appro-
priating SO, 900 to continue the use of the |
modern breech loading system of Ordi-
nance.
Mr.. West raised the point of order that |
The amendment had not been submitted to
he committee and notice had not been
given of the intention to offer.
Mr.. Logan said the Secretary Of War IA
Vored such an appropriation, and he read a
letter from that officer in favor thereof.
He asked that the letter be referred to the
Committee on Appropriations and gave no
-ice that he would move the amendment to
a future appropriation bill.
Mr.. West asked unanimous consent to
offer an amendment repeating so much of
the act of July 5, 1898, as forbid detail of
officers of the army as acting paymasters,
and authorizing the Secretary of War to
make such detail and prescribe the bonds
which he may consider necessary. Objec-
ton being made it was withdrawn.
Mr.. West gave notice that he would offer
It as a substitute for the bill to increase the
pay department of the army when that bill
should come up, on the ground that there
was no use of raising the staff of the army,
after the rank and file had been reduced.
Mr.. Stevenson offered an amendment |
upon the Court of Claims iuris-
fiction to determine all claims growing
put of the war, of persons who remained
oval or who took the oath of allegiance
lfter the Presidents proclamation of De-
,ember 1868, and abolishing the Southern
Claims Commission.
Pending discussion Mr.. Logan moved the
Senate proceed to the consideration of
executive business. Agreed to.
The Senate then went into executive
eSsion and soon after adjourned.