The Morning herald., 1876-06-23
w "A S HI NGTON
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.
what WAS done In the senate Ysster-
day-The Appropriation Balls Well
difssssa-Osher Matters Of Inter
BY Associated Press.
VI WASHINGTON, June II.
Mr.. Davis submitted resolution request
IN the Secretary OF the Treasury to furnish
the Senate, as soon as possible, with a
statement showing the public debt at the
end Of the present fiscal year, from 1896 to
1876, as it appears upon the books of the
Register Offic.
Mr.. Edmunds objected to its considcra-
tiOn, but it went over.
The Senatethen took up the considera-
tion Of the Naval Appropriation Bill This
bill, as reported from the Appropriation
Committee, appropriates SIG, ll9 ,290, being
an increase over the House bill of $685.
900.
Thurman spoke in favor of the reduction
and Sargent against them. Finally the
amendments proposed by the comDittee on
appropriations were agreed to as follows !:
Increasing the appropriations for pay of
officers, seamon ETC., $5.700, 900 to $780,
600, increasing that for the civil establish
ment at the several Navy Yards from SS5.-
600 to $100, ,00O and that for local pilotage
from $45 900 to $50, 900, when the amend
ment increasing the appropriation for equip
ment of vessels from $970, 900 to $1.250,-
600 was reached.
Mr.. Saulsbury, of Delaware, opposed the
increase and argued that in the present con-
dition of our finances there should be econ
omy.
Pending discussion which followed, the
Senate at three O'Clock, p. M, went into
executive session, and when the doors were
re-opened consideration of the naval appro-
priation bill was resumed, the Senate order
ing that debate on all amendments to the
bill should be limited to five minutes for
every senator.
After further discussion, Mr.. Sargent
called for a vote on the pending amendment,
being, that to increase the appropriation for
the equipment of vessels, and it was agreed
to; yeas "a, nays 20.
The next amendment was to increase the
appropriation for the Bureau of Yards and
Docks from $40 900 to $760, 900, and it was
rejected. Yeas %, nays %. Messrs. Ed
munds, Hamilton, Morrill, (Vt.) and Ingalls,
voting with the Democrats in the negative.
Mr.. Sargent moved to reconsider the vote
by which the other appropriations in the
bill had been increased, and said if he could
not rely upon his Republican friends to
stand by the bill he would accept the bill as
it came from the House of Representatives.
Mr.. Edmunds said he had voted against
the two last amendments increasing appro-
priations, because, if when Congress re-
assembled in December the appropriation
was found insutticient,a deficiency bill could
be passed subsequently. Sargent withdrew
his motion to reconsider the section, provid-
ing for the closing of the hospital at An
napolis during the coming year, which was
then amended so as to allow that institution
to remain open as usual.
The appropriation for the bureau of con-
struction and repairs was then increased
from 81 SOC, 900 to $4,000, 900.
The section restricting the employment
OF workmen at navy yards in October and
November was then amended so as to read,
"no increase of the force at any navy yard
shall be made at any time within 60 days
next before any election to take place for
the President of the United States, or mem
Der of Congress, except when the Secretary
ofthe Navy shall certify that the needs of
the public service make such increase ne
cessary at that time which certificate shall
be Immediately published when made.
The appropriation for the Bureau of
Steam Engineering was increased from
$ss5,000 to 81 ,O0c 900; that from the Bureau
of Yards and Docks, from $440,O0O TO
$5OO, 900, and the amendment of the Com
mittee that; hereafter all appointments of
second lieutenants in the Marine Corps shall
be made from graduates at the Naval
school was agreed to. The bill having been
considered In the Committee of the Whole,
was then then reported to the Senate, and
the amendment concurred in.
Mr.. Edmunds then gave notice that he
would, tomorrow, call up the bill to amend
journed
The House met at eleven o'clock, and i'm
mediately went into a Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky, in the
chair, on the sundry civil appropriation bill
the question being on the amendment offer
ed last night by Mr.. Vance, Ohio, to have
the public printing done under contract BY
the lowest bidder.
Mr.. Randall, Pennsylvania, stated that
the proposition was real test as to the
economical principle Of til Government
Printing Office.
Mr.. Kasson, Iowa, thought that the pro-
position should be reserved for more care
ful consideration in separate bill. It
either meant to give the work to Rives, or it
meant nothing effectual.
The amendment was agreed to, and is as
lows
That the joint Committee on Printing of
the Senate and House shall, upon the pass
age ofthe act, advertise proposals for the
printing and binding Of the debates of Con-
gress for the second session to the Forty
Fourth Congress, and shall award the con-
tract to the lowest responsible bidder, who
shall give bonds in the sum of 100000 for
the faithful performance of the contract.
And it shall be the duty of the heads of the
various departments, and the Librarian of