Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-13
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, July 12.-MT. Harris,
chairman Of the committee on elections,
reported a resolution on the Louisiana
| contested election case, declaring Dur
rell, the sitting member, entitled to his
seat. Adopted.
The bill providing for the sale Of Fort
kearDey military reservation, was taken
from the speakers table and passed.
Mr.. Atkins offered resolution recitiug
that there was military commissioner
appointed by special order from the de-
partment of the Tennessee, in 1852, to
Investigate the amount of damage done
by the rebel raid on Henderson Station,
aud that large amount Of money was
collected from the citizens to reimburse
the government, and directing the COM
mittee on expenditures in The war de-
paItment to learn the amount, and from
whom and to what use it has been ap.
propriated.
The house then proceeded in the regu-
lar order of business to consider the bill
reported by Mr.. Page. from the commit
tee on Indian affairs, declaring the
country north Of North Platte river and
east of Big Horn mountains open to ex-
ploration and settlement. The demand
for the previous question not being sus-
tanned, Mr.. Mason moved to recOmmit
the bill, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Morgan, from the com mittee on
Indian affairs, reported back the senate
bill providing for the sale Of portion
OF the reservations of the Confederate,
Otto aud Missouri Indians of Kansas
and Nebraska. Passed.
Mr.. Harris, from the committee on
naval affairs, reported bill relating to
the promotion Of commodores on the
retired list of the navy. 1t provides
that the secretary OF the navy may pro
mote to the rank Of rear-admiral on the
retired list, in addition to the nine al
lowed by law, commanders who have
performed distinguished services, or who,
being, at the outbreak of the rebellion,
citizens of any State engaged therein,
exhibited their fidelity in adhering to
the flag Of the Union.
Mr.. Hewitt, from the committee on
foreign affairs, reported back the resolu-
ton d Declaring that the action of Robert
G. Schenck while United States minis
ter to England, in becoming a director
of the Emma mine company, and his
operations In connection with the shares
of said company and vendors thereof,
as ill-advised, unfortunate, and incom-
patible with the duties of his position.
Adopted without discussion or d.
vision.
The house then went into committee
of the whole, Mr.. Monroe in the chair,
on the bill for the protection of the Rio
Grande frontier from cattle thieves and
murderers from Mexico.
Mr.. Townsend, in the course Of his
speech, commented severely upon the
Democratic policy OF cutting down the
strength Of the army below what he
called its present pitiful figure of twen-
ty.five thousand man, and Rscrib2d it az
much to get rid of the colored regiments
IS its prOfessed purpose Of economy. He
ridiculed that profession, and warned
the Democrats of the house that if they
went 10 then to work to cripple the gov
eminent and disgracs it before foreign
nations, they would awake spirit such
as had been awakened in 1850, and
which had never been and would not be
put down. He criticised MIR. RsndslPs
conversion to the faith of economy in
the face of the fact that he had pocketed
the back pay two years sgo, and said
that he wanted the country to under
stand that this con vert to the doctrine
OF retrenchment and intreuchment, re-
form and deformity, kept that five thou
sand dollars in bis pocket.
Mr.. Bland Mo reminded Mr..
Townsend that Mr.. Randall was not
present.
Mr.. Townsend replied that if he could
have the opportunity of saying these
things in RsndslPs presence he would
do SO, but potential previous questions
had met him all through the session,
and ne had not been permitted, even to
protest against the high-handed parti-
san legislation and harraugues Of which
the house had been the scene. The COM
ml,tee rose without action in the matter.
On motion Of Mr.. Banning, the sem
ate amendment to the bill in relation to
leave OF absence OF army off GERS was
cOncurred in, and the house adjourned.