The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-17
XLVTH CONGRESS-First Session
WASHINGTON, February 1e, 1876.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The Claims Committee reported adversely
on the bill to settle claims for advances by
several States for the war of 1872.
The Judiciary Committee reported ad-
versely on Mr.. Merrimon's bill to pay claims
for carrying mails South before the war.
An adverse report was made by the same
committee on the memorial of the Virginia
Legislature asking payment of the balance
due that State by the Federal Government
for money advanced during the war of 1872,
snd the committee was discharged from
the further consideration thereof.
The bill providing for the selling of tim.
Der lands in California was discussed.
Pending the discussion Mr.. Edmunds said
he was about to inquire what became of the
regular order of yesterday (the case of Pinch.
back).
The Chair replied it was not called up
yesterday, and had been succeeded by other
business.
Mr.. Edmuuds moved to postpone the
pending bill regarding the sale of timber
lands and take up the resolution admitting
Plnchback. He agreed with the Senator
from Indiana (Morton) that the question was
one of high privilege, and already had been
Mr.. Morton said he did not press the reso-
luton yesterday for several reasons one OF
which was that several senators were absent,
and he desired that there should be full
Senate when the vote was taken. II the
senator from Vermont (Edmunds) desired to
have the resolution taken up to make q
speech he would not object.
Mr.. Edmunds said be had never moved to
to1- Of fo ha n
speech. He desired to get the case TO o
final determination. The little he had to say
would not occupy thirty minutes, aHd it was
probable that be would not speak at all.
Mr.. Morton said he hoped the resolution
would not be taken up. There was one
senator sick, and he desired to be here.
Mr.. Edmunds said if the Senate was to
wait until the number Of seveaty-three SEN
ators were present before taking vote the
Pincbback case would never be settled. II
any senator was Ill who desired to vote on
| the side of Pinchback he (Edmunds) would
pair off with him with pleasure, as he did
not intend to vote on that side. He believed
the Senate was as full as it would ever be in
the ordinary course Of events.
The question being on taking up the reso.
luton division was called for and result
ed-ayes, 26; noee,, "a.
Mr.. Logan, of Illinois, demanded the ayes
and noes, and the roll being called the mo-
ton to take up the resolution was LOST
as es, 80; noes, 80.
Mr.. Ferry, of Michigan, in the negative,
was paired with MIR. Gordon, Of Georgia, In
affirmative.
On motion of Mr.. Merrimon, the vote by
which the bill to pay for carrying mails South
before the war was indefinitely postponed,
was reconsidered, and the bill placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Witbers, OF Virginia, presented the
petition of Joseph Segar asking compensa.
lion as United States commissioner from that
State. Referred to the Claims Committee.
After an executive session the Senate ad.
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The bill extending the time for filing
claims for additional bounty to July, 1880,
was passed.
The Committee on Foreign Relations re-
ported urtiyoratly on the propositions 10
terminate the treaty of 1858 with the North
German Confederation.
The amendment to the bill admitting Col.
orado was passed. It appropriates S20,000
TO pay the expenses of the Convention.
The special order, the bill reoganiziDg
the judiciary, was taken up and discussed
without action till adjournment.
Naval Affairs.
THE QUESTION OF REFORMS IN TIE NAVY
1SFER1oRITY OF OUR wAR.vEssgLs, &C.
WAsR1sGroE, February 16.-Representa'
tives Wnitehouse and Danford, OF the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, returned to-day
from Norfolk, whittier they went to examine
into naval affiirs generally. The officers con-
nected with the North Atlantic squadron,
whom they examined, gave their views on the
subject OF reform, making valuable sugges.
tions in that direction. They say In general
terms that our vessels are inferior In construc-
ton, speed, armament, etc, to nearly all other
vessels which they have seen belonging 70
foreign nations, and that in the construction
of our vessels absolute types are followed.
AS to the monitors, they are valuable for
river aud harbor defence. They do not place
much value on the light sloops.of-1ar re-
Gently built, as they are deficient In speed and
otherwise Objectionable. They. however,
consider the Trenton the best of that clsss.
The abuse Of political influence at the
Norfolk navy.yard, and also the abuses Of
the open.purehase system OF supplies, wese
shown.
weather Probabilities.
WASHINGTON, February 16.- For the Mid.
die States. rising barometer, northerly to1
u uoeteriv winds diminishing IN force, ana