Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1878-12-04

The House is engaged in call O
States for bills for reference. Sew.
eral bills have been introduced, one
in regard to the recoinage of the sil
yer trade dollar into standard silver
dollars. The repeal of the resump-
ton act. The appointment of a
commission on the yellow fever epi.
demic, etc.
Caucuses were held this morning
by both Republican and Democratic
members of the Senate to determine
their respective courses of action
upon the Blaine resolution sub
mitted yesterday, which provides
for an inquiry by the Judiciary
Committee concerning the alleged
violations of the right of suffrage
at the recent elections, and the
propriety of enacting additional
legislation for its more perfect secu-
rity in all the States of the Union.
The Republicans have decided to
press the resolution for adoption,
after amending to provide that the
investigation shall be made by
special committee instead of the
Committee on Judiciary. They
also determined in the Republican
caucus that resolution shall
be offered shortly for the
discussion and action IN the Senate,
declaring the entire validity of Con-
stitutional enactments, and asserting
the propriety of enforcing them by
appropriate legislation. The Dem
ocratic Senators, with unanimity,
decided to take the position that the
Blaine resolution should be amended
so as to refer to the alleged VIOLA
tions or abridgements of the right
of suffrage in both the Northern and
Southern States, instead of omitting
reference to specific parts Of the
country, and that as thus amended
will vote for its adoption.
General Sherman to-day appeared
before the joint commission for the
transfer of the Indian Bureau to
the War Department and submitted
a number Of official documents to
verify in detail his previous state
ments regarding the advisability of
the transfer. He described at
length the sufferings of the Indians
under the present management, and
said the army should be transferred
to the Interior Department, or the
Indian Bureau to the War Depart
ment. That under the existing
management the Government was
very heavily taxed and the "poor In
dian" driven to the wall notwith-
standing.
The House is in Committee of the
Whole on the Military Academy
Appropriation bill, which appropri-
ates $276,647, a reduction of $1G,-
900 below the appropriation for
the current year.
TIL foil owing resolution was
adopted by the conference of the
National, or Greenback party, last
night:
ResoEved, That this conference
recommend that in all the States
where the National party is not now
organized or represented on the
NOtional Committee a convention
be held at the capital of each State
on the 22d of February. 1879, for
the purpose of perfecting such orr
ganization and appointing some
proper peason to represent such
State on said committee.
Among the resolutions sent to the
Senate to day, of persons appointed
during the recess, were that of John
5. Mosby to be United States Con
sui at Hong Kong, and Sam. w.
Johnson, to be Collector of Gus
toms at Corpus Christi.
In the Cabinet to>day there was
general conversation upon fnan-
cial affairs. The opinion was ex~
pressed by the President and heads
of Departments, that everything
was in excellent shape for the re-
sumption of specie payments on the
1st of January.
The Sec etary of the Navy is
improving in health, but thought it
prudent not to leave the house to-
day.
The bill introduced by Senator
Armstrong to-day to amend the
River and Harbor Act of March 3,
1875, provides for advancing pay,
ments to J. B. Eads, for improve
ment of the south pass of the Mis-
sissippi River, to correspond with
the past and prospective increase in
the rapidity of its progress.
Several subcommittee on appro-
priation bills were in session to day.
Representative A. Herr Smith,
who has in charge pension bill
will have it ready to the full COM
mittee tomorrow.
Representative Clymer will COM
plete his preparation of the naval
appropriation bill before the close
of the present week.
Senator Allison, who is Chairman