The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-05-09
HOUSE.

TO be for debate only.
WASHINGTON, d. C.. May l.-Mr. Chit
tenden introduced bill providing for III,
exchange of fractional silver coin fol
United States notes. Referred.
A number of Senate bills were referred
the House then went into Committee o.
the Whole on he legislative appropriation
bill.
Mr.. FINLEY moved to strike, and thc
clause which directs that the oleri:al
force employed on the Medical and Surgi.
cal History OF the War, shall be employed
on the work necessary 10 the payment Of
pensions.
Mr.. CANCER charged the Democratic
side OF the House with the responsibility
OF reducing the force in the Surgeon-Gen-
erals office TO such an extent as to prevent
the examination OF application FOR pen
sion.
Mr.. BRIGGS thought it high time that
the gentleman from Michigan CANCER
should come to the front to participate in
the hard work of the veterans during the
war. That gentleman had been sitting in a
soft seat in Congress drawing 5000 year
Mr.. ATKINS stated that the clerical
force appropriated for by the bill, was SUI
ticient 10 bring up the arrears OF pensions.
| He sail there was not a man on the floor,
whether he had followed the stars and
stripes, or had fought under the conquered
banner, who desired to obs,ruct the prompt
| payment of pensions
| The discussion which followed took
slightly a political turn, and was partici-
| pared in by Me-srs. Cox, OF Ohio; Baker,
Chit,enden, Durham and Atkins.
A vote was then taken on the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Finley, and it was
| agreed to-l0i to %.
Mr.. CANNON offered an amendment au-
| thorizing a detail to the Surgeon Generls
Bureau of number of enlisted men sufii-
cient to do the work necessary ior the prompt
payment OF pensions. Adopted.
Mr.. DUNNELL moved to increase the
number Of clerks employed in the General
Land Office He stated that the force was
not sufficient to answer the demands upon
it. The work OF the Office was fifteen years
in arrears for want OF a sufficient clerical
(, RE. The amendment was rejected.
Without coming to final action on the
bill, the committee rose, and Mr.. Robert
son, chairman Of the Committee on Missis-
sippi Levees reported bill appropriating
s., ST. ,57i for closing crevices and strength
ening levees on the Mississippi river
Printed and recommitted.
Mr.. VANCE, chairman of the Committee
on Patents, reported bill amending the
patent laws. Printed and Re committed.
Mr.. THROCKMORTON introduced
bill limiting the rates for transportation OF
freight and passengers over the Pacific
railroad bridge at Omaha. Referred.
The House then took recess till $50,
the evening session TO be Tor debate only.
WASHINGTON, d. C., May Mr. Hen
dee, from the Committee on the District of
Columbia. reported back the bill for per-
manent government Of the District. R.ftI-
red to the Committee OF the Whole.
The Committee on Commerce reported
the bill recognizing the life saving ser
vice. Referred To the Committee of the
Whole and made special order for May
10Th.
Mr.. REAGAN, from the same Commit
tee, reported the bill granting the right OF
WAY through public lands to the Barataria
Canal Company, TO construct a canal from
New Orleans to the Gull of Mckee. Passed.
Also, the bill 10 regulate interstate com
merce, and prohibit unjust discrimination
by common carriers.
Mr.. REAGAN explained that the object
OF the bill was Ia prevent discrimination
in charges for freight by railroads, so that
not greater rate should be charged TO one
shipper than to. another. Corporations
were also forbidden from entering into com
binations for the purpose of discriminating
against persons. and places. The Only other
provision was, that they should not charge
more for shorter distances than for longer
distances on the same line Of carriage.
The morning hour expired and the bill
went over without action, and the House
went into Committee of the Whole on the
legislative appropriation bill.
Mr.. VANCE offered an amendment pro
hibiting the Commissioner of Pensions |
from dropping pensions from the rolls on
export statements taken by special agents, |
and moved to restore the salary of examin. |
ers in the patent office to the amount pro-
vided by law. Adopted-74 to 20.
Mr.. LATHROP moved to increase from |
$4,000 to $4,000 the appropriations for |
the contingent expenses of The patent Of |
flee.
Mr. ATKINS opposed the amendment,
and appealed to his friends on the Demo-
cratic side who claimed to be party of
economy to defeat these amendments, which
would swell the appropriations to immense
proportions Every man would have to
stand on his record on such questions,
but he was sorry to see the gentleman on
the Democratic side voting for every in
crease of expenditures.
Mr.. CONGER said he had h ard the gen.
t'eman from Tennessee (Atkins) state many
times that he had come TO a conclusion in
regard to the business Of the House, and,
therefore, no other man must say word
Mr.. ATKINS-That allusion is alto
intends TO say that i have assumed such