Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-29
I'm the House.


In the House.
Mr.. Shelley reported back from the COM
mittee on roads and canals the senate bill for
the construction Of a railroad from Bismarck
to tie Black Hills, but on the reading of the
bill it appeared that it makes grant of land
for railroad stations, which made it liable to
the point of order that it must be first con-
sidered in committee of the whole, and that
point being made the bill was withdrawn.
On motion of Mr. Wood, the senate amend
ments to the house bill for the free entry of
articles imported for exhibition by societies
established for the encouragement OF the arts
and sciences were concurred in, and the bill
passed
The bill for holding an election for repre-
sentatiyes in California to the forty sixth con-
gress, on the first Wednesday III September,
1879, passed
The house then voted on the amendments
to the army appropriation bill, and all items
which had been increased on the basis of an
army force of twenty FIVE thousand men,
were restored to the original amount on the
basis of twenty thousand.
Tie amendment fixing the number of cav
airy regiments at eight, and of infantry at
eighteen, was concurred in. Also the amend
meut fixing the maximum of privates IN
cavalry at one hundred and twenty-five. The
amendments striking out the section re-organ-
izing the adjutant-general's department and
the lnSpectOr-g6l6rdI department were HUI
concurred in, and those sections were restored
to the bill. The new section, No. 10, In re-
gard to the retirement of officers, which was
substituted last Saturday for the other sec
tons that were stricken out on points of Or
der, was retained. The amendment trans
ferring the control of the Indians to the war
department, was agreed to-yeas, $50; nays,
lis.
The next amendment was that offered in
the committee by Mr.. Knott, prohibiting, I'M
der penalty of a fine and imprisonment, the
employment of part of the army as a posse
coniitdtus, or otherwise, under pretext or TOR
the purpose of executing the laws, except
when such employment may be expressly au-
thorized by act of congress. The amend
ment was adopted; yeas, 100; nays, 70. The
bill was passed without division.
The man features of the bill as passed are
fixing the strength of the army at twenty
thousand men; fixing the number of cavalry
regiments at eight, with companies of not ex-
ceeding one hundred and twenty-five pri-
Yates; and of infantry regiments at eighteen,
with companies OF not less than sixty privates;
reducing the force of the various staff depart
ments; providing for board to reorganize
those departments; providing for board to
recommend the retiring or mastering out OF
officers; fixing the number of major generals
at one, and of brigadier generals at three;
after those figures shall have been reached,
VI
camp; reducing pay and em0luments OF OIL
GERS; transferring the Indian bureau to the
war department; and prohibiting the employ
ment Of troops for civil purposes unless spe-
cially authorized by act of congress.
Mr.. Wood gave notice that he would move
to proceed with the tariff bill at the first OPP
portunity, to-day or tomorrow.
Mr.. Wigginton made a conference report
Oh the bill to encourage the growth of tim
Der on the western prairies. Agreed to.
Mr. Reagan called up his bill to regulate
interstate communication on the railroads.
The question of consideration being raised,
the house refused to consider the bill now
yeas, 103; nays, l22.
The house then proceeded to the business
of the morning hour, which was call on
committees for reports.
MIR. Waddell, chairman of the postothce
committee, reported adversely on the bills to
facilitate the letter correspondence, and to
establish line of steam vessels between
New Orleans and Siberia; laid on the table.
Also favorably on the bill to establish a postal
savings depository, and to aid in refunding
the interest bearing indebtedness of the Uni
ted States; referred to committee OF the
whole. Also bill providing an ocean mail
steamship service between the United States
and Brazil; referred to the committee of the
whole.
Mr. Giddings, from the same committee,
reported bill appropriatipg fifty thousand
dollars to provide for the transportation OF
the United States mail between Galveston,
Texas, and Vera Cruz, Mexico. Referred to
committee of the whole.
Mr.. Caldwell, from the same committee,
reported bill amending the revised statutes
so as to provide that every postmaster, except
those appointed by the President, shall make
quarterly reports of the money received or
charged by HIM for postage, ETC., and that
every postmaster appointed by the President
shall render monthly accounts OF all such
moneys so received. Passed.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
house proceeded to the consideration OF busl-
ness on the speakers table, and number Of
executive documents were referred. The first
bill on the table was that for the repeal of
the bankrupt law with the senate amend
ment.
On motion of Mr.. Knott, the amendment
was concurred in without division, and the
bill now goes to the President for his sigma
ture.
The senate amendments to the District of
Columbia government bill were non-con-
Cured in.
The senate bill for the appointment of the
Hot Springs commission having been reached
Mr. Fuller offered a substitute authorizing
the appointment by the President of three
commissioners, who shall serve for one year,
and shall have the same power as has been
enjoyed by the commissioners whose term
has already expired. 1t also declares forever
| free the waters of the hot springs on Hot
| Springs mountain, and permits all persons to
| lay pipes for the purpose of supplying baths,
| ETC., with the water.
Pending action the house adjourned.
| ----s