Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-20
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, Arril 70.


ferred to Committee en- Finance.
PUB. DOCS.
Mr.. Anthony, from Committee on Print
ing reported resolution TO print copies OF the
report OF the Smithsonian institutton
Passed. Also resolution 10 print copies OF
geological report OF the territories
Mr.. salisbury said he saw no use OF print
ing these documents just for them 20 &C .u-
mulste in the folding room. Senators colld
not afford to send them out AZ their Own eN-
pente. There should be some provision
made for the distribution OF these docu-
ments or they should not be printed. He
thought that sll documents printed by Con
gress should be sent out under the frank Of
members.
Mr.. Anthony said this would likely De pro-
vided for in a general law. The resolution
was then passed.
ARMS FOR SOUTHERN MILITIA.
Mr.. Gordon, from Committee ON Military
Affairs, reported Joint resolution authorizing
the Secretary OF War To deliver 30 rides 70
the Washington Light Infantry OF Charles
ton, :. C., and the Clinch Rides or Augusta
Ca, in order that they appear at the Cen
tennial as part Of tue Centennial legion.
Passed.
BOARD or HEALTH.
Mr.. Edmunds introduced dill 10 abolish
the Board OF Health Of the District Of Column
bia, and 10 transfer its duties 10 the Surgeon
General of the Army. he moved that 10 be
referred 10 the Committee on the District OF
Columbia.
Mr. Logan said this proposed 70 impose
additional duties upon n part of tho army.
and he thought IL should go 20 the Committee
on Military Affairs. There seemed a dispO-
sitlOn on the part Of some people, either in
the army or out of il. 10 give the army the
control Of everything In this country. he
was opposed 10 IL.
Mr. Edmunds had no objection TO the ref
erence 10 the Military Committee. Toe bill
was in some sense a double bill, and could
be properly considered by both committees.
The Dill was then referred 10 the Commit
tee on Military Affairs.
VETS OF 1872.
Mr.. ingalls,, from the Committee on Pen
stons, reported with amendments the House
bill amending the law granting pensions To
the soldiers of the war OF 1872 aud their
widows, and gave notice that as soon as pos
sible next week he would call II up.
COMPULSORY PILoTAGE.
Mr.. Anthony presented petition signed by
the governor of Rhode Island aud prom nent
merchants and others OF that state asking
the abolition Of the compulsory pllotage
laws. he said that he received constantly
letters and petitions on this subject. There
As discrimination AT Hell cate in favor
OF the citizens of New York, who did not
states. The Rhode Island sailors knew as
much about Hell Gate as the New Workers
did, and there was no reason way they
should pay for pilO,age. Tue memorial was
referred TO the Committee on Commerce.
STREET PAVEMkNTs IN wAsHINGTON.
On motion OF MIR. Dorsey, the Committee
on the District Of Columbia were directed to
inquire into the present condition OF the as
phalt and concrete pavementS or the streets,
avenues, squares, &c, OF the city OF Wash
lngton, ana what measures are necessary u
preserve and repair the same, and the proper
prOpOrtiOnate cost 10 be borne by the l.. =
aLd the District OF Columbia and The pro-
perty owners, aud 10 report by biIl or other
wise.
THE long BRIDGE
MIR. MOTriD, OF Vermont, submitted res
OlUtlCn, iLstructing the Committee on the
District OF Columbia 10 inquire into the TACT
OF two railroad tracks Deiug laid across one
OF the main bridges over the Potomac, and
into The propriety OF notifying the proprie-
tors thereof TO remove one Of said TRACES.
AID 10 report by oil or Otherwise.
MINNIE SHERMAS'S LEVELS.
Mr.. Morrill, vi Introduced bill aGt4OriL-
ing Mrs. Minnie Fitch Sherman 10 receive
free Of duty the jewels presented 20 ler by
custom house al New York. He said he mad
consulted every member OF the Finance
Committee but the chairman. and they all
sanctioned the bill. 1t was well known that
in the former resolution passed to ALLOW the
reception of this present IL had been intended
that no duty should be imposed upon them,
ont il wss found that this could not be done
bs cause OF The omission 10 specify the sa ne.
He asked the immediate cOnsidera ton Of the
bill.
Mr.. Gordon said he had intended to Intro
duce till fer this purpose himself He
warmly commended it, and hoped it would
be passed at once, and oy unanimous con-
sent.
uDgraciOus he must insist that the BIZ be re-
ferred 10 the Committee on Finance for re-
port OF all circumstances. so that IL may be
properly acted upon. This was very necs
Sary, as precedent was 20 be set.
Mr. HamliD said be believed, as stated by
Mr.. Morrill,, that IL had never been the case
that duty was eXacte1 upon presents made
To citizens of tie United States by foreign
governments.
Mr.. ConklIng urged the immediate passage
of the bill, which be said had practically,
though not technically perhaps, been con-
The circumstances were well known.
Mr.. Edmunds said he had not taken any
thought OF the merits OF the bill. 1t was
likely that he would cheerfully vote for IT,,
but he merely asked that IL take the ordi-
Mr.. Howe said if anything could make
him blush il would be for the United stat es
TO take toll on the generosity OF some one
outside. He did not see that there was any
necessity for the United states TO do suc1 a
thing.
troduced this bill long ago had be obtained
the consent of the chairman OF the commit
fee. 1t was necessary that the bill should
be passed at once, as the diamonds had been
aud, under the law, at the end of two years
they would be sold at auction.
Mr.. Edmunds said, as the sense OF the Sen
ate seemed 20 be in favor OF Immediate &C
tiOn, he would withdraw any objection he
might have.
Mr.. Bayard advocated the immediate pas
sage Oh Iih6 Dill
The bill was then passed unanimously.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATtVES.-Mr.
Lawrence lOhio) introduced the following
bills, which were referred TO the Judiciary
Committee, viz: Relating to the partition OF
real estate In the District OF Columbia; 10
limit the power of courts TO punish for con-
tempt, and Tor other purposes: and n en-
large the privileges OF the writ OF hsbeaS
corpus.
Mr.. Singleton Miss }, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported the diplo-
matte appropriation bill, with the recon-
mendation that the Senate amendments be
non-concurTed in.
Mr.. Young offered a preamble aud resolu-
ton reciting the troubles on the Texas bor-
Ger, and the danger that an embittered feel
ir g may lead 10 acts OF war, and req uesting
The President to order a sufficient force TO
the Rio Grande as to enforce the enforce
ment OF the neutrality laws, prevent hos
tilities along the border and preserve the
eace with Mexico, and that the general OF
the army in person superintend the opera
tiops. Referred 10 the Committee on For
eign Affairs.
Mr.. Cox, from the Committee on Rules,
submitted a report on the case of Charles III.
Smith, journal clerk OF the House, in which
the committee, while generating Mr.. Smith
from Intentional wrong, severely cordemu
his course as a gross error OF judgment, aud