The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-23
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ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
10 THE DAILY LNTELLIGRNCER
CON C r E S S..
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, May %.
The leave Of absence Of Speaker Kerr
was extended 70 FIVE days. :
Mr.. Tucker offered n resolution direct
ing the President 10 inform the House
whether he had received any official in
formation in regard to violence and dan
ger increasing to the American citizens in
the Ottoman Empire, and whether any
steps had been taken for the protection Of
such American citizens residing in Otto
man Empire. Adopted.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Page
declaring that the power to elect a Presi-
dent has never been delegated 10 the
House. The resolution was tabled by q
strict paSty vote.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs was
instructed to report on the Emma mine
investigation next Thursday.
The House then went into Committee
OF the Whole on the naval appropriation
bill. ,-.,., ....... .r..t.g
A resolution TO dismiss Doorkeepet
Filzhugh and transferring the duties of
doorkeepor 10 the Sergeant.at.Arms un.
i'll further notice was passed. s /
TIE NAVAL BILL. F#sl |
la The Committee OF the Whole on the
Naval appropriation bill the pending
amendment was, that offered by Mr..
Whitthorne reducing the number OI navy
officers and their pay:
Mr.. Whitthorne said there were 1912
commissioned officers Of the navy, or
with cadet engineers, cadet midshipmen
and volunteer officers, 1858. When the
number OF enlisted men was divided by
lhe number OF officers, there were four
men 10 one officer; the naval service was
ton heavy, and il was with view
OF economy Us well as OF efficiency that
the Committee on Naval Affairs made
their recommendation. The proposed
reduction Of pay averaged 10 per cent,
which would conform TO and harmonic
with the reduction made by the House
on the pay OF the army officers. The
amendment was reported not in hostility
10 the naval service but to make the pay
Of the officers Of the Navy correspond with
that OF the officers Of the army, grade for
grade and rank for rank. SHcIbelieyed
that that would be Just alike to Navy,
Army and people.
Mr., Hale, n member OF the Appropria-
tion Committee opposed the amendment.
On The Naval list proposed to be struck
at by the amendment were n Porter, q
Rowan, u Davis, Rogers, a Worden and
dozen others. These men had had their
pay fixed al rate higher than That be-
fore the war, largely in consideration Of
their services, and now il was proposed
to strike at them, to take from the Admi-
rails S., 900 year, and to reduce the pay
Of Rear Admirals, Commodores, Captains,
&c. This was the only way in which these
men could be struck at. The gentleman
from Tennessee (Whitthorne) had not yet
had the hardihood 10 propose The dismis-
sion Of these gallant men from the. service,
and sending them ont with nothing to
live on, but 30 lar as he dared had pro-
posed to reduce their pay. He believed
that the American people did not wish to
80 strike down these gallant men TO whom
they owed so much.
Mr.. Mills, OF Texas, member Of tue
Naval Committee, moved an amendment
10 the amendment allowing q longevity
pay OF 10 per cent additional for every
i've years service TO the naval officers be-
low the rank OF Commodore.
Mr.. Daniord, also member OF tho Ma
val Committee, opposed Mr.. Whitthornes
amendment.
Mr.Whitlhorne, Of Tenn, declared that
lie had as much pride as any man in the
achievements Of the gallant leaders Of the
navy In the war. He paid high tribute
to the heroism 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 to the gal.
liant leaders Of the army.
After long discussion vote was TAX
en- first on Mills amendment, allowing
longevity pay, and it was agreed to.
Mr.. Whitthorne's. amendment was then
rejected, the vote by tellers being 72 TO
The motion in relation to the diScon-
tinuance OF navy yards was discussed at
length, but without action the Committee
rose, and the House adjourned.
.. SENATE. .-.s
II. w. Barnum, Senator elect from
Connecticut, took the oath Of Office.
Mr.. Sherman presented the petition oi
A. NJ, Clapp, Congressional Printer, to
the effect that he is an officer OF the Sen
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 detained from him by
that committee, and that no opportunity
was given him for an explanation Of the
charges before that committee. He
moved that II be referred to the Commit.
tee on Privileges and Elections, with in
structions to inquire into the truth Of the
allegations. Adopted.
The Chair laid before the Senate a
communication from the Secretary Of
War, enclosing the communication from
the chief Of the engineer corps, suggest.
ing the appropriation for new snag boat
for the Western rivers, be increased from
$l25, 900 10 $l65,0OO. The Senate then
went into executive session.
At 1:30 the doors were re.opened, but
were Immediately closed again and the
Senate resumed, the consideration OF the
articles Of impeachment against Belknap
At a O'Clock The Senate went into an
executive session again, and after short
time the doors were re.opencd. ,...
Mr.. Wright, from the Committee on
Judiciary, reported adversely on the res
olution instrnctihg the committee TO in
quire into the expenses OF establishing q
penitentiary at Fort Smith, Arkansas
Tor the confinement OF U. S. prisoners
and the committee was discharged IRON
further consideration,
Adjourned.
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