National Republican., 1878-05-28
HOUSE OF REPRESENTxTIYEs.

Under the regular call of States the follow
ing among other bills were introduced and re.
ferrcd:
By Mr.. LANDERs: For relief Of John Mac.
Donald, Of Washington, D. C.
By Mr.. WILLIS: Making it unlawful for
the Secretary Of the Treasury to enter into
contract for sale of United States lands ex.
cept after advertising for proposals therefor.
By Mr. WOOD: To establish a permanent
sinking fund. ut sets aside $lOoOoo,OOo an.
nually after 1st of July next to pay the inter
est and principal on the national debit
By Mr.. CHALMERS: To encourage the
higher education Of cOlored children In the
District of Columbia and the several States.
By Mr.. NEAL: To establish national uni.
versity.
By Mr.. KElFER: Authorizing donation
OF condemned cannon for a monument to Gen.
eral George A. Custer. at West Point, NY.
By Mr.. WILLIAMS lMich.) Relating to
tax.sales and tax-titlcs in the District OF
Columbia. Also bill cxcmpting from taxation
sertain property in the District of Columbia,
Ihe homestead Of the late Chief.Justice of the
United States. Also bill to provide for the
Iale of square No. 4l6, in the city Of Washing
ton. ID. {.
BY Mr. CLARK (Mo.): In relation to the
printing and publication OF the Congressional
Record
By Mr.. DEAN: To authorize the Commis.
piOncrs of the District of Columbia to pay Ger.
tain outstanding claims for clerical services in
the District of Columbia.
On motion of Mr.. BANNING, II was agreed
that when the House adjOurns on Wednesday
II be until Friday, in order that members may
participate in the ceremonies Of Decoration
Day.
On motion. of Mr.. PAGE, the Secretaries of
War, Treasury, and Interior, and the POstmas.
ter-Gcneral were directed TO inform the House
Of the number of employees In their Depart
nents respectively, and designating those who
were discharged from the naval and military
service of the United States.
MIR. HARRIS (Alass.l, from the Committee
on Naval Affairs, submitted q bill and report
In relation to the settlement of the estate Of
the late Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren. Or.
dered printed and recommitted.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the army appropriation bill, Mr..
BPRISGER In the chair.
Debate on the pending amendment, which
was to transfer the Indian Bureau to the War
Department, was limited to thirty minutes.
Mr.. STEPHENS opposed the transfer be-
cause 1t was defamation Of local self govern
ment toward the Indians.
Mr.. cox IN. " and Mr.. HASKELL pre-
dictCd that gentlemen who voted for the
amendment to-day would live to regret it.
Messrs. PHILLIPS BANNING, SCALES, AND
PATTERSON (Col.) advocated the amendment.
The amendment transferring the Indian
Bureau to the War Department was adopted
by a vote Of ll3 to l07
Mr. KNOTT offered an amendment prohib-
fing the use of any portion of the army as a
posse cOmnitdius, except us authorized by act of
Congress, under penalty of fine and imprison-
nent for the person so offending.
Mr.. GARFIELD made the point of order
that this was new legislation, and was not in
the nature of retrenchment.
The CHAIR said that MS such legislation rs
this hnd heretofore been admitted without
objection, he would not take the responsibility
Of ruling 1t out of order, but would submit the
question to the House.
Mr. GARFIELD wanted to understand
whether the Chair would submit the point of
order, or the direct question to the House.
The CHAIR said he had practically over
ruled the point Of order, and would submit
the amendment to the House.
Mr.. SCHLElCHER offered an amendment
providing that the amendment of Mr.. KNOTT
should not apply to the Mexican border, or to
the enforcement of the neutrality laws OH the
Northern boundary.
Mr.. LAPllAM expressed surprise that the
gentleman should have offered this amend
ment, because II was limitation upon the
Constitutional powers OF the President.
Mr.. KNOTT inquired whether the President
could use the army for any purpose other than
what was authorized by law.
Mr.. LAPllAM said that when Beauregard
fired OH Sumter many people in the United
States held that the President had no legal
warrant for calling out 5000 troops to defend
the country. The President had duty to
perform under the Constitution, aud if he were
President Of the United States. and this law
was placed before him, he would ignore it, and
obey the Constitution
Mr.. KNOTT was surprised that the gentle
man should make such speech. If that doc
trnc was correct, then this country was under
an unlimited military power If the President
could in his judgment and at will override
law.
MIR. sCHLEICHERs amendment was re.
jcctcd.
Mr.. SoUIllABD argued in favor of Mr..
RNoT'r's amendment, iUr there was necessity
for restraining the power Of the army. If such
law as this had been in force before the
peace OF States would not have been disturbed
and Legislatures interlered with.
Mr.. DUNNELL said he had heard good
deal about Federal troops interfering IN cleo
tious, but there was no evidence that they had
ever changed the result in single State. If
they went intoa State they did so upon call
aud to preserve the peace.
Mr.. SOCTllARD inquired if they had not
intortrrcd with State governments and turned
out the legislators elected by the pcoplcY
Mr., DUNNELI, Oh, We have heard "A rnnd