Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-05-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
Miss hellIe's Wedding in the Senate
TiptOh's ResOIHtion-The Civil
Rights Bill.
The Postefles and Pension ApprOpris-
tion Bills In the HOuse-AGmls-
sion u New Mexico, Etc.
HOUSE.


WASHINGTON, May 2l-Mr. Orthp
scented q petition from the women's
christian temperance union of Indian
apolis, requesting congress to amend the
oath of Office so that al the officers un-
der the government shall be required TO
abstain from the use of intoxicating
drinks as beverage during their terms
Of office. 1t was read and referred TO
the committee on civil service reform.
The house then went into commit
tee of the whole on the pOstotfice ap-
propriation bill, Mr.. Scofield in the
chair. Having disposed of this bill
without any discussion or important
change, the committee took up the PEN
sion appropriation bill, appropriating
twenty-nine million nine hundred and
eighty thousand dollars. 1t contains
provision that pension agents fee of
thirty cents for preparing vouchers and
administering oaths shall be reduced TO
twenty cents. 4#
Mr.. Mutt, who had charge Of the bill,
moved, as an amendment, that the COM
pensation OF pension agents who dis
burse over nine million dollars year
shall be four thousand five hundred dol
lars.
Mr.. Kasson made point of order on
Mr.. O'Neil's amendment. The point
was well sustained and the amendment
excluded.
The committee then rose and reported
to the house the postoffiee and pension
appropriation bills.
Mr.. Lawrence desired to offer an
amendment to the postofice bill, pro-
vidiRg that no money shall be paid to
railroad companies for transferring mail
at a higher rate than allowed such COM
panies Immediately preceding the third
Of May, 1873. 1t was excluded, how
ever, under the previous question.
A vote was then taken, by yeas and
nays, on the amendment adopted yes
terday, in committee of the whole, to let
the annual and monthly reports of the
agricultural department pass through
the mails free. The amendment was
agree to. Yeas, 1874; nays, IL.
The pension appropriation bill was
then passed, and Mr.. Foster, of Ohio,
called up the bill to repeal the law under
which Mr.. Sanborn's contracts were
made.
Mr.. Poland suggested that as Mr.
Butler was still absent on account
of sickness, and as the matter was under
stood to Interest that gentleman some
what, it should not be proceeded with in
his absence.
Mr.. Foster said he had been in
formed by some of Mr.. Buffers
friends that it would be several days be-
fore he would be able to attend the ses-
sions Of the house, and that he was will
ing that the subject should be proceeded
with in his absence.
Mr.. Poland said that under the ex-
PLANTATION made he had no objection to
the consideration of the matter now.
Mr.. Foster 0hiol then proceeded to ad-
dress the house in review of the ques-
tions connected with the SanbOrn con-
tract. He criticised Mr.. Buffers speech
some months ago in defense of the San
born contracts and in regard to the
treasury officials. He said that he could
not overlook their carelessness and gene
raj loose management, and that their
attempts to shift the responsibility from
one to the other was discreditable to all
of them. 1t was impossible to determine
exactly where the responsibility for mall
administration OF law rested, but it rest
ed somewhere in the treasury depart
ment. He did not intend to reflect on
the integrity of the secretary; in fact,
there was nothing to show that any
treasury official had had any corrupt
connection with SanbOrn. In eonclu-
sion he complimented the Republican
party for its courage in purging itself,
and said that the Republicans were de-
termined to have it understood that
whenever and wherever corrupt Off
cisl head presented itself there should
be Republican club raised to hit it.
The matter went over without action.
A bill for the admission of New
Mexico as a State coming as special or
der, Mr.. Mckee, chairman of the COM
mittee on Territories, from which the
bill was reported, addressed the house in
support of the measure.
Mr.. Potter opposed the bill. His
speech was delivered in the midstof the
greatest uproar and disorder, so that but
a very small part of the discussion was
audible st the reporters desk.
Mr.. Haskins and Mr.. Kasson advo-
Gated the bill, and General Hoar and
Mr.. Cox opposed it, The bill passed,
yeas, 100; nays, 54.
Mr.. Maynard, from the committee on
banking and currency, presented a re-
port on the senate substitute for the cur
rency bill, and gave notice that he
would ask action on it next Monday.
Adjourned.