Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-24
FORTE-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
FRIDAY, May q.

FRIDAY, May2L
SENATE.-Mr. Whyte presented a memo
rial of the merchants and business men of
Baltimore, protesting against subsidies to the
steamships between the United States and
Brazil: Referred to Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Thurman presented memorial of e. ID.
Ball and eleven hundred others, citizens of
Rhode Island, setting forth that they are dis
franchiSed on account of foreign birth or not
being freeholders, and asking an amendment
TO the constitution of the United States that
VIII admit them to suffrage on the same foot
ing as emancipated slaves Referred TO COM
mittee @ on privileges and elections.
Mr.. EdmundS, from the select committee on
the PRESIDENTIAL term, the count of the cleo
toral vote, SC. reported bill to amend title /,
chapter 3, Of the revised statutes. in relation
theret0, and gave notice that he would call up
inc it.
Mr.. Thurman desired to say that the report
was not unanimous, and that he would giye
his views on the subject hereafter.
Mr. Burnside, from the committee on edu.
cation and labor. reported adversely on the
House bill to enforce the eight-hour Law
Mr.. Spencer asked that the bill might be
placed on the calendar. So ordered.
On motlonof Mr.. Davis, the bill to provide
fol, the appointment of an additional circuit
Judge in the second judicial diStrct,waS taken
up and passed.
On motion of Mr.. Bayard, the House bill
providing for the free entry of works of art
for exhibition by societies and institutions for
the encouragement of arts and sciences and
not for sale. was taken up and passed.
Mri iRioErsey EyroR presented memorial from
OF the District of Columbia, asking a law pro
viding for the weighing of coal. Referred to
the District committee.
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT BILL
. The bill TO provide a form of government for
the District OF Columbia came up as unfn-
lShed business at the end of the morning hour,
Ine M Pendlng question being on the motion of
MIR. Bayard to make the tax outside of the
cities one dollar on the hundred. The amend
ment was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Kirkwood. an amendment
was ADOPTED inserting the words real prop-
erty" In the Clause relating To the county.
This makes the tax in the county 81 on real
property rep and and $50 on personal property.
Mr. HamlIn offered the following :-HA And a
poll tax OF ST Shall be assessed upon and col
Iected from every male inhabitant of the Dis.
tIlct VINO Shall be twenty-one years Of age or
upwards"
Mr.. Whyte opposed the amendment as one
Impossible to collect, unless il was made a
qualification to vote and to that he would
never consent. 1t was wrong to impose a tax
to representation from the District, because it
belonged to the whole country, and not to the
people who clustered around the capital
In the course of his remarks, Mr.. Whyte said
ne mad. as commissioner, investigated the
question OF taxation and expenditures, and
reached the conclusion that the government
should pay GU per cent. and the District 40 per
After, further debate. the amendment was
adopted-yeas 25, nays p.
HOUSE.-Glr. Elam, from the committee on
the Pacific railroad, submitted a report on the
bill repeating the 22d section of the Texas Pa
clfc railroad act, and reenacting the same i'm
Iar9r Gar9 ,a Oh tne & New Orleans railroad. The re-
Mr. Henkle introduced a bill to aid i'm the
construction of the Maryland and Delaware
ship canal. and to secure the right OF way
tthrTOugh trC SAID canal for U. S. vessels free OF
The regular order having been demanded
Ine committees were called for reports of a
private nature A large number were re-
ported and referred to the committee of the
whole on the private calendar
Mr.. Mackey. from the pension committee,
fGep0rtea Gi 6 @ Di increasing @ the pensions of sol
or both eyes, to $12 per month. Passed
Dir. Powers, from the same committee, re-
ported oil Increasing the pensions of SOL
dlerS whose legs were amputated at the hin
oint to S37 per month. Passed.
Mr. Walsh, from the same committee re-
ported bill limiting the fees OF pension
was amended, on motion of Mr.. Fuller. and
he fee was limited to $40, and as such it
asSed.
At the close of the morning hour Mr.. Rripbt
| moved that the House go into committees of
he whole on the private calendar, and Mr..
Hewitt (N.Y) antagonlZed this with motion
| 10 60 into committee on
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
and the latter motion was agreed to-
Mr.. Foster moved to strike out the 9th sec
ton OF the bill, which recognized the Bureau
OF Military Justice, which was rejected-yeas
SO. nays SO.
Mr.. Garfield moved to amend the section by
striking out the clause which peremptorily
reOrgaDiZeS The bureau on and after Julv nexf
and to require the board provided for in see
tlon u II OF this act to report whether the reor-
After considerable discussion az to the utili
ty and necessity Of the retention of the present
Judge advocates organization, the amend