The Rock Island Argus., 1878-03-23
RES $40 NAL
SENATE.

railroad sinking fund bill being under
consideration; Mr.. Merriman took the
floor and will speak upon the sinking fund
on Monday next.
1t was then laid aside with the under
standing that it should not lose its place
as unfinished business, and the Senate
resumed consideration of the House bill
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury
to employ temporary clerks, and making
an appropriation for the same. Also
making appropriations for detecting tres
pass on public lands, and for bringing into
market public lands in certain States and
.or other purposes. The pending question
was the amendment of Mr.. Beck to that Of
the Committee, on Appropriations Mr..
Beck in explanation of his amendment
| said the object of it was to apply to the
nnsurveyed lands in the Territories, but
not to effect any organized State or survey
ed lands. If there was any fault in the
law, let the Committee on Public Lands
| frame a law to remedy the defect Che
Committee on Appropriations had no
power to place such an amendment in an
appropriation bill He condemned the
employment of spies and said the govern
Inent should not use them except in cases
Of great exigency He did not submit his
amendment to give any power to the
Secretary of the Interior to interfere in
Discriminatory with the property of other
people, but as long as the government had
property it must be guarded in some way.
After further discussion Mr.. Beck mo-
diied his amendment SO that it should
apply to the unsurveyed lands of territor-
les only, and as modified it was agreed to.
The question then being on the amend
ment of the Committee on Appropriations,
as amended by that of MIR. Beck, it was
agreed to-yeas AZ. nays f. Messrs. Bay
ard. Cameron, of Wisconsin, Herman and
WadIeigh only voting in the negative.
Mr.. Plumb submitted an amendment
appropriating 100000 for railway mail
agents and postal clerk, and iu explanation
thereof, said an appropriation was neces-
sary for mail service on a number of
new western and southern routes He
read letter from the Postmaster General
favoring the appropriation.
Mr.. Whyte raised the point of order that
| the amendment not having been consider
ed by the committee could not be submit
ted to the general appropriation committee.
The point of order was overruled upon the
ground that this was not a general approp-
ration bill. After debate the amendment
was adopted-yeas 81, nays l9,
Mr.. Teller moved to amend so as to
reduce the appropriation from $4,000 to
$4,000 Tabled-yeas 26, nays II. The
amendments made in committee Of the
whole were agred to and the bill was read
the third time, and passed.
After an executive session, adjourned
till Monday,
WASHINGTON, March 22-Mr Ward,
Of Pennsylvania, introduced bill supple
meutary to the homestead laws of the
United States, providing that persons
bona fnde intending to make actual entry
and settlement under the homestead acts
shall receive through the secretary of the
interior free transportation for themselves
and families, farming utensils and personal
effects, to their new homes, and also tc
seeds for two years cultivation.
After the morning hour MIR. Aiken:
introduced resolution directing the com
J mittee on public lands to inquire into the
present system of constructing public
buildings, and whether any changes car
be made in such system to promote tht
efficiency Of the public service. Referred
The house went into committee of tn,
twhoe on the private calendar. The com
. mittec disposed of large number of bill'
and then rose and reported them to tn,
= house and they passed, principally pension
i bills, to the number of about forty. Amopj
them are bills pensioning the widows 0
: Rear Admiral Silas II. Stringham, Lit
= Col. James Totten and Commodore Benz
y |. Totten, and the bill to pay the widow o
! Gen. Custer $4,000 for money paid by he
fathers estate to the government on
l. forfeited bond.
The bill also passed pensioning th
!; widow and minor children of Capt uthri
and the surfmen VINO we're drowned il
: rendering assistance to the crew of th
l. wrecked Huron.
The bill granting an increase of pen
Z sion to $50 to the widow of Maj. Craig
chief of ordinance, was amended in com
mittee of the whole by fixing it at $50 an,
t. this amendment gave rise to discussion
. in the house and was finally adopted an
passed. j
On motion of Mr.. Chttenden the senat
( bill to authorize the Worthington & Siou
!. Falls Railroad Company to extend its roa
q into the territory of Dakota to the villag
! of Sioux Falls, passed
MIR. Huntoon introduced a bill to OF
e ganize the system of superintendent {
II II railway. Referred.
n