Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-26
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS,
FRIDAY, February 20.

| tary OF War endorsing the report of Gen.
| Custars expedition TO the Black Hills Laid
| from the Secretary of War communication
| endorsing the report of the inspector of
national cemeteries. Referred TO Committee
| ON Military Affairs.
OF DISTRICT INTEREST.
Mr.. Thurman called up bill amending the
charter of the Freedmans Savings and
Trust Company and for other purposes which
was passed. Also bill extending time Tor th e
Board of Audit of the District of Columbia O
receive and audit claims. Passed. Also bin
TO amend section 1892, of the revised Statu
III reference TO the stamps on beer barrels
| and the cancelling or the same Passed.
Mr.. COnkllng, from Committee on Judi
claTy, reported House bill in reference to
reducing the term of confinement of United
States cOnvictS.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vi, from the Committee on
Finance. reported back without amendment
/ the tax bill. He reported it without recon-
mendatiOn, as the committee was equally
divided upon il. He said that he Woufd call
ii up to- morrow.
Mr. Scott, from Committee on Finance. re-
ported adversely on bill introduced by Mr.
Robertson to reimburse depoSitors in Freed
mems bank by the sale of u. $. bonds, and
the till was indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Howe, from tine Committee on the Lii
brarY, reported back the petition of ChaS.
, Lanlnan, and asked to be discharged from
its further consideration. He said the pc
titioner asked to be compensated for alleged
infringement of copyright of his Congress
SiOnal Dictionary by the compiler of the-COn-
greSsiOnal Directory. The petitioner had re-
Gently asked 10 Withdraw his papers.
The civil rights bill was then proceeded
with.
HOUSE OF RESENTATIVES.-Th
read ng o. the journal had progressed to the
first yea and nay vote, on going into Com
mittec Of the Whole on the appropriation
bill was reached Mr.. Storm demanded the
reading Of the names of those voting or
absent This demand, If insisted upon
throughout, would require the consumption
OF several hours in reading the journal.
TRUCE.
MI. Hurlbut (Ill) therefore submitted a
proposition that by unanimous consent the
reading Of the journal be waived and the
session until five o'clock be given TO the
Committee on Appropriations for the CON
sldeTatiOn of the Sundry civil appropriation
bill, and al that hour the House take recess
until halfpast seven O'Clock, when the bill
reported by Mr.. CobuTn shall be before the
House for debate only, and that the demand
for the previous question shall be considered
seconded when ordered by the House.
After some discussion the proposition was
agreed to.
BY unanimous consent number of bills
were reported or taken up and passed, among
them were the following:
On. motion of Mr.. Todd Pa the Senate
amendments to the bill supplementary To the
several acts prescribing the mode of collect
ing evidence in contested election cases were
cor CURED in.
On motion of Mr.. Townsend pa con-
ference was ordered on the House bill to in
corporate and regulate railroad companies
in the territories of the United States and
granting the right OF way through the public
lands.
Mr.. Phillips tKansas) reported bill for
the relief of settlers on railroad lands.
Passed.
Mr.. Cessna, from the judiciary Commit
tee, reported a bill for the removal of restric-
tionS upon the right of members of Congress-
elect during the recess of Congress. Passed.
This bill Tepeals the clause prohibiting
the clerk from paying members Where noLice
of contest is tled.l
Mr. McNuIta Ill.) asked, but failed to OBJ
tain, consent TO offer a bill, and gave notice
that he would object TO all others,
Personal EXPLANATION.
Mr.. kaSson (Ind.) obtained leave to make
q personal explanation in regard TO his vote
on the Pacific railroad bill, and said, in sub
stance, that he had been reported as voting
for the bill, while he had been among its
most active opponents.
On motion of Mr. Garfield. the House then
went into Committee of the Whole on
THE SUNDRY CIVIL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. Randall pa made the point of order
that the clause requiring the money for the
completion of the new jail in the District OF
Columbia 10 be expended under the direction
of the Secretary OF the Interior changed eX-
isting laws, and that portion OF the paragraph
was stricken out, leaving the money To be
expended as now provided.
Mr.. Randall Pa offered an amendment
providing that the work of fencing and in
closing the grounds, and the heating appa-
ratus for the new Jail shall be done by the
lowest responsible bidder, after advertise
mCnt. provided it does not interfere with ex-
listing contracts. Adopted.
MesSrs. Hawley Comm and Butler Mass
under pro JOTm0 amendments, condemned the
ventilation and acoustics of the Hall of the
House, declaring il the worst they ever saw.
Mr.. Platt (Na.) defended the acoustics of
the Hall, and charged the difficulty in being
heard to the general conversation going on
among members, in the lobby and in the gal
leres, no attempt being made to lower the
voices below the ordinary tone-and said
that there was 10 difficulty at any time in
bearing the voice OF the chaplain in any part
of the Hall.
MessTs Cobun (Ind) and Eldredge (Wis)
condemned the hall as unfit for the purpose
for which il was uSed--thc latter declaring it
no tit place for human beings, where Gods
sun could not shine upon them.
Mr.. Butler (MaSS.) defended the mOiety
system, and Mr.. Dawes replied.
The paragraph in relation to the District
of Columbia WAS amended on motion of Mr..
IOughridge so as 10 read: ITO pay on behalf
Of1he United states as a portion of the gene
raj expenses of the District of Columbia to
be expended by the Commissioners of said
District STO60. 900 With a proviSo that Sala-
rIeS shall not be changed from the rates now
fixed bv law"
Mr. Thompson PA advocated the pay
ment OF a just proportion Ofthe taxes by the
government upon the property owned by ii
fn the District of Columbia, and denied that
ment of The streets.
Mr. Cox offered an amendment TO the para
graph appropriating $4,000 for the purchase
OF works of art for Ornamenting the Capitol,
providing for a council on matters of art to
act with the Joint Committee on the Lii
brary i'm selecting works of art. Ruled out
on point OF order