The sun., 1878-04-03
WHAT CONGRESS DISCUSSED.
COLORED TROOPS, THERdILRO1DS. THE
MONUMENT, AND MR. POLK.
The Negro Enlistment Bill Hecommitted-Re-
marks by Biaine-Thurpaan on the Lobby
Gen. Butler on George Washington's Taste.

The Negro EnIiument Bin Hecommitted-Re-
marks by Hinine-Thurrann the Lobby
Gen. Butler on George Washington's Taste.
WAsH1NGToN April Am the Senate, on
motion Of Mr. Edmunds uicp.. VT. the rcsolu-
tion to transfer to the State Department for safe
keeping the records Of the Electoral Commits
sion was taken up and agreed to-
Mr.. Burnside rep. H. H. called up as tho
special order the bill to remove ali restrictions
now existing upon enlstments Of colorcd cti-
zens in any arm OF the United States military
service. lie explained that there we're but two
restrictive sections In the Revised Statutes. and
the Military Committee had therefore proposed
ar n substitute for tho BILL one rcpcaling those
sections.
Mr.. Maxey Dcm. Texas) said II was tho duty
Of the recruiting officers to take the best ma
tcrial for the army they could get. II colorcd
mon made the best soldiers. the army would in
time be q coored army; II white men were
preferable 1t would be white army. lie be-
licved the effect OF this measure would be to
mako the four regiments now composed OF col
orcd men become gradually composed OF white
mon. For this reason he favored tho bill
Mr. Allison Rcp.. IowW thought the amend
ment was capable Of the construction placed
upon 4 hy Mr.. Mayey. and asked II that was
whnt Mr.. Burnside intended.
Mr. Burnside said that under the law colorcd
men could not bc enlisted in the engineer CORPS
or in The artillery and white men could not bc
enlisted in regiments designated as cOlored
regiments; He desired to have the army open
The bill was recommittcd. with nm amend
ment by Mr.. Bane uiep.. Mel that hereaitcr
coored men shall have full right to enlist in all
arms OF the service.
The senate then went on with the Pacific Rail-
rond Funding hill
from the Judiciary Comtiittcc. which. he said.
proposed no change in the contract but rather
to secure the faithful performance Of the con-
tract NJ the expiration Of twenty years
Mr.. Thurman dem. Ohol gave notice that
he would ofcr an amendment making the first
in which the sinking fund might be invested.
Mr.. Blaine asked how 1t would be II this
amendment we're adopted In case the bonds
should be stolen. AZ In tho case OF the Indian
trust bonds. in the Interior Department. some
years ago
power In 1881. and then there would be no
trouble about bonds being stolen.
Mr Blaine said TaS as when he the Senator'S
IL was the recollection Of that fact that led him
TO make, this inquiry, Tho managers OF the
sinking fund. they could make Il. pay a high
,5os Gr rate Of coIIS n,erest II might be hs
they might not be there twenty years
hence. and under other management the
S1ds S mSht ndnSS tss dg Mnfs and ny away
wise provision that tho Government should be
custodian Of the fund. He thought this fund
Navni Pension Fund and Geneva Award Fund
are held. For the fifteen years he had bccn in
Congress. the Pacinc roads had been before
Congress in some form or other. He had nm
ambition 10 survive this legislation. but, under
the proposed bill. thero was no final settlement.
Would II not he better to say e. the roads exactly
what was required ofthem and then let them restp
So long ms these subjects could be brought be.
fore Congress, Congress would ba made the tail
to the kite Of Wall street lie did not think IL
contrary to the spirit OF the bill to add provisO
that. 40 long as the roads comply with the pro-
visions Of the acts Of 1862 and 1864 Of this act
legations ~ To the sinking fund. Let something
BE- done Ia keep this from being n running sore
for the next fifteen &C twenty years.
Mr.. Thurman said that experience was tho
answer to the Senator from Maine. During ths
two years this subject had boon hcfor0 the SEN
ate. he hnd never seen lobbyist hostile Ia tho
roads. He had seen the lobbyists of the road in
committees rooms. in the corridors. In The gal
lcrios on the floor. and at the houses of Sena-
tors. III they were TO be- tied up for the next
twenty years. he wanted quite different bill
from this. lie would much p et"r To let the law
stand as II is than to tie up the hands of the
Government for twenty years.
Mr.. Edmunds said that there had been
no pressure of private interests on Congress
OF hfty cents n linz being paid for editorials In
newspapers u influence legislation. II" sup
posed q higher rate was paid now. What II
was costing now they would ind out before they
got through.
Mr. Sargent Rcp.. Cali said that. II an OK
cessive burden WAS put on the roads. thcrn
| must be- an increase in rates of charges. or
| the roads must be- allowed To- 20 to ruin. There
| could be- an adjustment made which would be
| to tho interest Of tho Government and " the
| roads. He believed the Judiciary Committees
| licvod the courts would hold that there was an
| impairment Of the obligations OF u contract in
| the bill.
Tho Senate went into executive session.