Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
Clapp, who ought TO be CIapped Into
Jail, goes before the Senate for Re.
dress of Fancied Grievances.
The Snag-BOat for our Western Rivers
Fort Smith cannet have a United
States Penitentiary.
The Belknap Impeachment Discussion
in the House on the Naval ApprO-
priatiOns Bill-Etc.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-H. w. Bar
mum, senator elect from Connecticut,
took the oath of office,
Senator Sherman presented petition
OF A. NJ .Clspp, congressional printer, to
the effect that he Is an officer of the sem
ate; that great injustice has been done
him by the committee on printing in
the house Of representatives; that the
books Of his office are retained from him
by that committee; and that no oppOr-
tunity was given him for explanation OF
the charges before the committee. He
moved that 1t be referred to the commit
tee on privileges, with instructions to
inquire into the truth of the allegations.
Adopted.
The chair laid before the senate a COM
munication from the secretary of war,
inclosing communication from the
chief Of the engineer corps suggesting
that the appropriation for the new snsg.
boat for the western rivers be increased
from one hundred and twenty-five thou
sand to one hundred and fifty-five thou
sand dollars. The senate then went into
executive session.
At half past one o'clock the doors
were reopened, but were Immediately
closed again, and the senate resumed the
consideration of the articles of impeach-
ment against Belknsp. At balf.psst
four the senate again went into execu-
tive session and after a short time the
doors were reOpened.
Senator Wright, from the committee
on judiciary, reported adversely on the
resolution instructing the committee to
inquire into the eXpedieDcy of establish
ing penitentiary at Fort Smith, Ar
kansas, for the confinement OF United
States prisoners. The committee was
discharged from further consideration.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The leave OF absence of Speaker Kerr
was extended five days.
Mr.. Tucker offered q resolution direct
ing the President to infofm the house
whether he has received any official In.
formation In regard to violence and dan
ger menaciDg American citizens resid-
ing in the Ottoman empire, and wheth-
er any steps have been taken for the
protection of such American citizens re-
siding in the Ottoman empire. Adopted.
The speaker called the States for bills.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Page de-
claring that the power to elect the Pres
ident has never been delegated to the
house of representatives was tabled by
strict party vote.
The committee on foreign affairs was
instructed to report on the Emma mine
Investigations next Thursday.
The house went into committee of the
whole on the naval appropriation bill.
The resolution TO dismiss Doorkeeper
Fitzhugh, and transferring the duties of
the doorkeeper to the sergeant. alarms
until further orders, passed.
In the committee OF the whole on the
naval appropriation bill, the pending
amendment was that offered by Mr.
WhitthOrne, reducing the number OF
navy officers and their pay.
Mr.. Whitthorne said there were now
one thousand six hundred and twelve
commissioned officers in the navy, or
with the cadet engineers, cadet mid
shipmen and volunteer officers, one
thousand nine hundred and fifty-three.
When the number Of enlisted men was
divided by the number of officers, there
was four men to one officer. The naval
service was tOp-heavy. 1t was with 8
view of economy, as well of efficiency,
that the committee on naval affairs
made this recommendation. The pro-
posed reduction Of pay averaged ten per
cent, which would conform to and bar
moniZe with the reduction made by the
house OF the army officers. The amend
ment was reported not in hOatility to the
naval service, but to make the pay of
the officers of the navy correspond with
the officers of the army, grade for grade,
and rank for rank. He believed that it
ho inc 70 hn !,
the people.
Mr.. Hale, q member Of the sppropria-
ton committee, opposed the amend
ment. On the naval list proposed to be
struck at by the amendment, were
Admiral Porter, Admiral Rowan, Ad-
mirsl Davis, Admiral Rogers, Admiral
Worden, of the old Monitor, and dozen
others. These men had had their gay
fixed at rate higher than that before
the war, largely in consideration Of their
services, and now it was proposed to
strike az aCthem-tO take from the admiraIs
three thousand dollars year, and to re-
duce the pay Of reSr-sdmirsls, cOmmn-
dOres, captains, etc. This was the only
way In which these men could be struck
ct. The gentleman from Tennessee
(Whitthornel had not yet had the hard
ih0Od to propose dismissing these gall
liant men from the service and sending
them out with nothing to live upon, but
so far IS be dared to, he proposed to re-
duce their pay. He believed that the
American people did not wish to see
struck down those gallant men to whom
they owed 30 much.
Mr., Mills Texasl member Of the na-
val committee, moved an amendment
to the amendment, allowing q longevity
pay Of ten per cent. additional for over
tive years service to naval officers below
the rank of commodore.
Mr.. Dapford, also member Of the na-
val committee, opposed Mr.. Whit
thorneis amendment.
Mr.. Wbitthorne replied tosMr. Hale,
and declared he had as much pride
as any man in the achievements of the
gallant leaders Of the navy in the last
war. He paid high tribute 10 the he
roism OF Porter and Rowan, who are
living, and TO the memory Of Cushing,
who is dead; but he would pay them no
higher tribute than he would 20 the gal
Isnt leaders Of the army.
After a long discussion q vote was ia
ken; first, on Miips amendment, allow
ing longevity pay, sud it was agreed to,
Whitthorne's amendment was then re-
jscted, the vote by tellers being seventy
TWO to seventy-iOur.
The section IN relation to the discOn-
tinuance of navy-ysrds was discussed at
length, but without action the commit
tee rose and the house adjourned.
Disgraeed.
ST. LOUIS, May q Joseph Reilly,
young physician of this city, was arrest.
ed this evening for stealing q pocket