New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-13
XLVth CONGRESS---IId SESSION.
prcIUAP REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.

SENATE WAsnINGToN. March ~. 1878.
In the Senate, to-day, petitions were pre-
sented from 1,4OO citizens OF Arkansas asking that
grecnback currency be made legaender for all debts
public and private from large number OF citizens OF
Baltimore demonstrating against the passage Of any
bill levying tax incomes from Commander James
H. Sands for law authorizing advancement in rank
for the relief Of the National Association for the Relief
OF the Destitute ColOred Women and Children; the
Maryland Academy Sciences favorng the passage Of
the hill in relation the Woodruff Scientific Expedition
around the world. 49,.
The following bills reported from the committee
and placed on the calendar:
To rclnouh to the custody Of the Interior Department.
portions OF the Fort FetteTnan ana camp Dougns
The Senate bill prohibit Members OF Congress from be-
coming surees certain bonds with amendment .,.,o
Tho Senate bill TO enable citizens OF FoIida 20 transfer
portion their preempons or homeseads in AID oi iaoaas
with amendment
the President in regard TO diseases prevailing among
swine and also the report of the Committee on Rail
roads upon the bill OF that committee in regard 10 the
Pacific Railroads. Sinking Fund were agreed 10.
Bills were introduced and referred rs follows:
by Mr. DORSEY (Rep., rkl-PrOydin9 Tor tnc re-
pavement OF certain streets and avenues In the DISTRICT
Of Columbia.
more and Ohio Railroad from certain streets III the 'y
OF Washington. Referred TO the same committee
ecca f vos awyerTo regulate the jurisdiction Of
the Supreme Court Of the United States.
MR.. MATTHEWS TRIES IN VAIN TO READ REPORT.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before tho Senate a COM
to q recent resolution OF the Senate relative to timber
depredatons III the Territory Of Montana
Mr. MATTHEW'S (Rep, Ohio said the communication
was long, and he therefore moved that it be referred to
the Committee Public Lands and DO printed in The
Mr. sAEGEN,T (Erp Call said he objected to encuIn-
bcriug he record with such documents Tie had 10 OD
lection TO printing the papers in the usual documentary
Mr.. MATTHEWS then demanded that tho paper
be read at the Clerks desk and said that during recent
t.I. " laA .nl 70 AT a.
Interior IN these timber depreciation cases had been
commented upon, and 10 ir Matthew desired that
done.
the usual FORM any reply of the Secretary OF the IN
terror He then referred the action OF the Secretary
OF thG Interior ~ 'he od @ n 15pst an
In several Western states and Territories. He did not
tie floor VI the senate and make speech, or have
printed in me Ree0rd defence Of his acton.
Mr.. MATTHEWS sad he desired to reply to the sena-
tor from California and, therefore he would have read,
as a part OF his remarks, the communication from the
Nj sARGENr-I object to the paper being read at the
Clerks desk II the senator wants 1t read let him read
Mir. MATTHEWS Very well; can readit.
Mr sARGNEI made the point OF oder that the Senator
OIr MATTHEW'S had not the right under the pretencc
Of discusstnga motion TO refer ComIie Pubc
Lands read document that 1t might appear in The
Ecc0Td without the consent OF the senate. .
The VICE-PRESIDENr submitted the question TO the
Senate follows: shall the senator from ONO 10 accord
communication from tic secretary OF the Interior as
part OF his reEiarksl" ...,
division having been called for. the vICE-PRES-
IDENr called upon all Senators in favor OF allowing the
nator 10 read tic document to rise, When iortysiX
Senators stood up.
MI SARGENT said he would not insist upon further
count lie then objected to the further Consideration Of
the motion To refer tie communication the Committee
on Public Lands and under the rule II WAS laid over
unIil tO-molrOW.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr. CONKLING Uiep., y. " called up the Senate bill
in and Of Il Polar expedition, designed by James Gordon
Bennett reported from the Committee Commerce
yesterday, and it passed unanimously without
debate.
Mr. MORRILL, rep, Wy submitted resolution In
structiuS the Committee the Judiciary to inquire
the eXpedeucy OF ydng that al claims against
the United states. exceeding IN amount the sum OF
900 sha ne P1SeGuteG ana ac4e e,cs se
hbion Of contingent fees in ali eases against
United states, whether in the courts or Congress
Mr. TELLER Rep, Cob presented petition Of
Robert G. IngersO Illinois. aud others, for the repeal
Of the law prohibiting the circulation Of obscene liter0
turc IN the mails In plain violation OF the letter and
spirit Of the fundamental principles OF Govern
inen" few names were sisned 20 the petition. after
which the following and $4,000 others. attached
TO petitions - 90 feet long filed With the House Com
mittce on Revision Of laws" Referred 10 the Com
TIE DIR. HAMMOND BILL.
Mr.. SPENCER tleP., Ala called MP the House bill for
the relief Of VIM A. Hammond late surgeon-Genoral OF
the United States Army, which was discussed ut length
last week
Mr.. FL NIB (l'cp. kinD opposed the DlIli ana ealu
he was opposed the oyerturnng OF the iudg
mcnts OF cours-martial Just aSi much az hc was
opposed 20 Congress oyerturning the judgment OF
a evil or criminal court The t.alOi General Hammond
occupied four months and the proceedings were IN the
hands OF the President abraham Lncoinl for three
and, after careful and patient examination OF the
proceedings, be certified 10 them and directed that
The sentence OF tie court be carried INTO eject.
Secretary Stanton and President Lincoln. who
prominent actors In tho case. now dead, bat TIE
unwarranted manner they dismissed this man from
the service aud put great dis grace upon him. Tho
iends OF tho bll had put clause Ia mat Dr. Hammond
should not be entitled TO back present future pay or
ALLOWANCE At some tlne hereafter some Of us descend
Mr. CONKLlSG uRep., y. y said Dr. Hammond was
citizen OF NewYOrk; u citizen distinguished for his
talents and FOR his achievements III the Held 81 science
lie Is absent from this chamber but lao has been
,peken OF bitterly and nJuS,ly as he ecgld show;
thing he CIr Conklngl could say. The friends
and therefore n0 Would not r to the senator np S@
Kansas Cir Plumb. There wero one or two things,
mond tried by a court of limited and special juris
dctlon, IN the din and chaos OF great war; and Mr.
from Kansas mfr Plumb seemed TO know, the crcum
stances attending the case. lilo was not con-
vcted OF personal turptude; he not
ycted OF vcnality he not convicted OF treason
his trust or OF making gain improperly for himself The
danger that the heiIs of Dr. Hammond would here
and claim recoulpcnse IL the bill should be passed The
whole function OF the bill was to cothe the President
with power to review and aunul. 10 defined extent
only the findings and Judgment OF the court The act
uct AR, tdt the siit " imam y HiinnOnd Snail not
IN yltue OF such restoration to the Army or OF any pro
vision Oi this act or other act, DO entitled 10 back
present or future pay or allowance OF any kind whaso
ever fever there an impassabe barrier enacted
against possible phantom creditor VI the future, that
barrier stood there.
Mr.. PLUME inquired II the Senator would permit the
bill TO be SO amended as to embrace al persons who
were tried by courts martlal.
Mr. CONkLING said the vigilance OF tho Senator from
Kansas (Nr. Plumb was so great that he could not
dOnht that while that SnatOr remained here lie would
sufficiently guard the rights of all others This b had
been passed By tne House Of Representatives., ana he
orr COnklng) for one declined 10 make any unnec ssary
changes in II to send IL back 10 the House to take is
chances Ia the great press OF business.
The bill was then read third time and passed-yeas
80 nays. |. Mr. Plumb only voting ia the negative.
The unfinished business VAS Thea taken up being the