National Republican., 1878-05-04
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
coniinnod .from tfra Rlne.l

ruled out on point Of order.
The amount Of appropriation for distributing
seeds was increased to $4,000.
On motion Of Mr.. DUNNELL,a AN amendment
was adopted limiting the amount TO be expcnd-
ed for putting up and distributing seeds to
S0,000 and using the other for the purchase Of
seeds, and requiring q detailed report to he
made annually Of such purchases.
No other material amendments were made
to the clause relating to the Department Of
Agriculture.
Mr.. ATKINS offered an amendment to the
section relating to the Judiciary by appropriate
ing so much rs may be necessary to pay the
salaries Of United States judges on tho retired
list. Adopted.
An amendment was also adopted appropriate
ing $500 for the purchase Of books for the
library Of the Supreme Court
Mr.. HALE moved to restore the salaries Of
judges Of the Southern Claims Commission to
5000, the Appropriations Committee having
reduced them to $1,000, but the amendment
was rejected
Mr.. ATKINS offered an amendment rcstor.
ing the number Of assistant attorneys-genoral
to three, and Il was adopted.
Mr.. HANNA moved to strike ont the clause
which abolishcs the Office Of naval solicitor.
The motion was rejected, and the office re-
mains abolished.
Mr.. YOUNG moved to reduce the amount
appropriated for the rent Of the Freedmcn's
Bank building, now occupied by tho Attorney
Generals office. to 5000.
Mr. FINLEY wanted to make II $1,000,
Mr. ATKINS felt that the rent tsi4 ,000) was
large, but they took into consideration the fact
that the building was tho property Of the
Freedmen who had already been swindled.
That was, perhaps, one reason why they had
not made u lower.
Mr. YOUNG did not consider 1t to be the
Int, % 10 that oh
There was no reason why II should be done,
and there was therefore no reason why II
should pay this oxorbitant rent for the reason
assigned.
Mr.. CHALMERstoo took issue with Mr.. YouNa.
He thought the Government was morally IL
not legally bound to pay every dollar Of which
these poor ignorant colored people had been
swindled. They were told that II they de-
posted their earnings In this institution
tho United States would be responsible for It.
Tho colored people Of his district, as well as all
other col0rcd people, had deposited their earn
ings in the bank, and the Government, he re-
peated, was morally responsible. What this
committee should have done was to appropri-
ate enough money to purchase this building,
so that these poor people could be paia. lie
repudiated Mr.. YoUNG's idea that the Govern
ment should not pay them. Applause on Re-
publican sidc.l
Mr.. Young said General CHALMERS deserved
credit for his philanthropy in this matter, in
view Of the fact that he had q majority Of
eight thousand colored voters in his district.
[Laughter.l But he undertook to say that
General CHALMERS colored constituents did
not have dollars interest In this hank. If
they had deposited at all they would have done
so in tho branch bank at Memphis. He had
had occasion to examine the records there, and
he could not understand that CHALMERS con-
stitucnts had dollar there either. Renewed
laughter.
Mr.. CHALMERS was aware that the gentle.
man from Tennessee was OF the opinion that
the sun rose and set on Memphis. But there
were other cities besides Memnhis and he
knew they had deposits in the branches in
Mississippi. He did represent u district in
which there large majority Of coOrcd peo-
pie, but they had helped to elect him, for
there were many Democrats among them.
Applause
one reducing the amount TO $4,000 was
The bill having been completed, the com.
mittce went hack to make some corrections
and minor amendments.
Mr.. ATKINS moved that the committe rise
and report tho bill to the House; pending
which
make an explanation in Justice TO the Secre-
tary Of tho Treasury.
This request was met with demands for the
regular order and objections on both sides.
Points Of order were made that Mr. FOSTER
had no right TO speak now and every tino
that he attempted to do SO there wero loud
demands for q vote on Mr.. ATKINS motion.
The House seemed TO fear that FOSTER
would say something that might lead to an
extended and perhaps acrimonious debate, and
the members appeared determined that he
should not be heard. He finally, however, did
get a hearing, and all he wanted to say was
that he had made statement the other day
that the Secretary approved Of the consolida-
tion of the Auditors Office. He had since un-
dersto0d differently, and II was due TO him
self and the Secretary to make the correction.
The committee then rose and the bill was
reported to the House.
MR. GIBSON offered the amendment which
h ad been rejected in Committee of the Whole,
restoring the branch mint at New Orleans.
Pending tho decision Of point Of order
that this changed existing law, the previous
question on the bill and amendments was Sec
onded, and the House at half-past Eve took
recess till half-past seven.
The increase made in the bill In the COM
mitteo of the whole was S92,74O, but there
may be some reductions when the items arc
voted upon in the House tomorrow.
EVENING SESSION.
The House met tonight to receive and act
upon reports from the Committee on Pensions q.
Mr. CALDWELL presiding as Speaker pro
teRpOre.
A large number Of bills were reported from
the Committee OH Pensions and referred TO the
private calendar, after which the House went
into Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Fort in tho
chair.
The committee acted favorably upon 10
private pension bills, and they were subse-
quently reported to the House, and the action
OF the committee was confirmed. Among the
bills passed were tho following: Granting a
pension to Mary Wilkes widow Of the late
Rcar-Admiral Charles Wilkes also to Mrs.
Eliza Bayard Anderson, widow Of General
Robert Anderson U. S. A.; also to Mrs. Mar
garet Lowell, widow of General Charles $.
Lowell, U. s. A.
Mr.. WHITE (Pa) moved that the House ad-
journ until Monday; but that was declared
out Of order, as the House met tonight for
pension business only.
The House then lat LOOT D. M } adjourned,