Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-02-06

Mr.. ' uOfDeeS Supmlttcu II fesO-
luton requesting the President, If
not Incompatible with the public
interest, 10 transmit to the Senate
a statement as TO how many acres
of land in the Indian Territory
have been surveyed INFO sections
and quarter sections, for what pur-
pose said survey has heen mace,
and how much land remains in said
Territory not surveyed; also, what
amount Of lands were owned by
the several tribes Of Indians pre-
vious TO the treaty Of 1866, and
whether the Indian title to such
land has been extinguished since
said treaty was made; and. if so,
10 what extent and for what con-
sideration. Agreed to.
\ favorable report was made on
the Senate bill appropriating s275,-
900 to purchase the Freedmau's
Bank huilling in this city.
Mr. Hoar read n communication
from the Commissioner of Pensions
in regard to the application of
soldiers for pensions not having
been acted upon on account Of the
insufficient clerical force in the
Office of the Snrgeon General,
where tho hospital records. of the
army are kept.
Mr.. Window, chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations,
stated that the clerical force of the
Surgeon Generals Office in 1876
was 100, and it was then cut down
in the general reduction of that
year to 1855. Last year, however,
the force was increased ny detail
ing 90 enlisted men for duty in that
office.
Jan. 3l.-The Senate hill appro-
priating 100000 for the erection
of suitable posts for the protection
of the Rio Grande frontier was
passed.
Mr.. Hamlin sent to the clerks
desk and had read resolutions Of
the Maine Legislature in regard to
the silver question The resolu-
tions favors a single gold standard
and declare that the Senators and
Representatives in Congress from
that State truly represent the peo-
pie of the State in opposing the
Silver bill.
A petition from citizens of Law
renee county, Pennsylvania, favor
ing the passage Of constitutional
amendment separating church from
State. Referred.
Mr.. Voorhees, presented petition
from the Governor Of Indiana, ask
ing an appropriation for payment
to the States Of InNiana. Penn
sylvania, New York, Vermont and
other States in like condition Of
unpaid balances of actual expen-
ses incurred by them respectively |
for the enrolling, equipping and
troops to aid in the sup |
preston of the late rebellion. Re
ferred.
HOUSE.
Jan. 25.-The steamboat bill, F..
revising the steamboat laws, was
passed by vote of 173 ayes to so |
nays.
Jan. 2S.-The anti-suhsidy reso-
ution was adopted by vote of
Isl yeas to IS nays. The resolu-
ion declares that in the Judgment
IF the House no subsidies in money,
bonds, puhlic lands, Endorsements
Or by pledge of the public credit
should he granted or renewed Ivy
Congress 10 associations or cor
porations engaged in or proposing
70 engage in public or private en-
terprises, hut that all appropria-
ions ought to he limited to such
and purposes only as shall
he imperatively demanded by the
public service.
The Mathews resolution TO pay
The bonds in silver, was passed Ivy
4 vote of 1S9 yeas to 70 nays.
Mr.. Stephens introduced a hill
to make importers use the metric
system of weights and measures.
Referred.
Mr.. Butler presented a memo
rial Of the Norfolk Conference of
Unitarian and other Christian
churches at Walpole, Massachusetts,
declaring that honesty was a vital
part of religion, and protesting
against the passage of Bland silver
bill. Referred.
Mr.. Butler-"Mr. Speaker, will