The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-17
HE THUNDERER DISASTER.
TWENTY-FIVE LIVES. LOST
HE WAR IN, EUROPE,
DOUBTFUL BATTLES.
nxLIvTH CoNGREss--F'iirst Session.
WAsHISGToN, July 15, 1876.


WAsHISGToN, July 15,, 1876.
s. SENATE. !. -
Yhe bill for the relief OF James 2. Buck
ner, collector OF Louisville. was passed.,
The bill extending the duration OF the
Alabama Claims Commission was discussed
at length and passed. .s!T. .e
The river and harbor bill was resumed.
Amendments were agreed to authorizing
numerous surveys, improvements, DC, in
Guiding a survey Of Dan river from Clarks-
vile, Va, via Danyille to Danbury, n. c.;
| survey OF Staunton river from Roanoke to
Brookneal, Va; survey OF the Roanoke
river from Weldon, n. c., to GAINESVILLE, Va.
Several other amendments were offered and
disposed Of. f.i&9i
Mr.. Edwards, OF Vermont, said as the bill
came from the Houseit appropriated So, S12,-
$50. The Committee on Appropriations had
reduced that amount by striking out certain
provisions, to the extent OF about 100000,
and then added various amendments increas-
| ing the bill to the extent Of $936,000, making
an increase Of about $4,000 as compared
with the House bill. The Senate had rein
stated all the provisions OF the House bill,
which the Committee on Appropriations
had recommended to be struck out, and had
added other amendments, which made the
sum total OF the bill, as it now stood, about
ST ,O0O,0 900. He questioned the proprlety OF
this course, and submitted substitute fort
whole bill, providing for the appropriation
! of $4,000, 900 for the fiscal year ending June.
| 80, 1877, to be expended for the repair, ex-
! tension, preservation, and completion OF.
work; for the improvement OF rivers and
harbors, under the direction OF the Secre-
| tary OF War. Such eXpendituresto be made
so as to best sllbserve the interests OF COM
merce, the Secretary OF War being required
to report to Congress at the opening OF its
December session all expenditures made
under the provisions of the act. :
| Mr.. Gordon, Of Georgia, said he desired
to economize and yet improve the rivers
and harbors and preserve the works which
have been begun. He spoke OF the river.
and harbor improvements in his own State,
and stated that there was not single appro-
Driation in that State which could not have
| been doubled with propriety. He hoped
his friend from Michigan, Mr.. Ferry, would
withdraw his motion TO instruct the commit
| tee to report the House bill, and let the
| House bill be accepted now by non-concur-
renee in all the amendments proposed by
the Committee on Appropriations OF in the
Committee of the Whole. r.
Mr. Ferry accepted the suggestion OF the
Senator from Georgia and withdrew his mo-
! ton. s -@t. -
| No further action was taken.
| Adjourned. - ~ A.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. +
| Mr.. Williams, OF Michigan, introduced
| bill granting pension OF 500 per month 10
Mrs. Elizabeth Custer, widow OF General
Custer.
Mr.. Terry. of Virginia, eulogized the
career of General Custer in the late war, and
hoped his side OF the house would be unanl-
nous in paying this tribute to brave man.
The bill was then passed without discus
sion. .,r.E ','&..s.
Mr. Williams, OF Missouri, asked leave to
introduce bill granting q pension OF $50 q
month to Emanuel and Mary Custer, the
father and mother of General Custer.
| Mr.. Rusk, Of Wisconsin, thought that the
| bill came before the House in very irregu-
lar manner, and that it should go to the
Committee on Invalid Pensions.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, thought that the
whole matter partook OF sad irregularity.
Clusters death was irregular in many sad
WAYS; but whatever might he thought of
the origin OF the Indian war, in which he
fell; whatever might be thought OF the
War Department, or the commanders
over him, he asked the, House not
to hesitate moment in giving relief
to the stricken family of a brave
officer. That would be better than monu-
ment; kinder, gentler, more becoming the
American Congress, and more consonant. to.
the feelings Of the American people. He
was glad. to see the gentleman from Virginia
| Terry, who fought in the civil war against
Custer, urging the House to pay Just
tribute to a brave soldier. He hoped the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Rusk) would
make no objection to the bill.
Mr.. Rusk replied that he had had 10 OBJ
lection to the first bill, but he thought the
present bill should go to the Committee on
Invalid Pensions.
The Speaker then asked II there was any
objection to the introduction OF the bill,
when Mr.. Rllsk and Mr.. Ainsworth. OF
Iowa, objected, and the bill was decided not
before the House.
Mr.. Cannon, OF Illinois, suggested that
the Committee OH Invalid Pensions should
at an early day report bill granting pen:
sions to the children of'the men who Tell
under the leadership Of Custer.
MIR. Rusk, from the Committee Oh Invalid
Pensions, then reported a bill granting
pension of $50 each per month to Emanuel
81. and Maria Custer, the mother and father
OF the Custer brothers who fell in the late
engagement. The bill was passed without
| division.
The House then went into Committee OF
the Whole for the protection Of the Texan
frontier. a long discussion ensued, with
| no action. Ia .
Adjourned.