Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-12
FORTT.FIFTH CONGRESS,
THURSDAY. December IL.

Ordered that it be printed and lie on the table.
Mr.. Dorsey presented a petition OF the Wo
mems Christian Association Of Washington, d.
c.. setting forth the character of the work done
by the association and asking an appropriation
OF $4,000. Referred to District committee.
Mr. Ferry, from the committee on pos. offices
and post roads. reported favorably on Senate
bill TO designate. classify and fix the salaries of
persons in the railway mail service. Placed on
the calendar: He also reported from the same
committee favorably on House b!ll toi iiN thep
OF letter carriers Placed on the calendar.
THE fORTIFlCATIoN APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED.
MIR. Window called up the House bill making
appropriations for f0rtiiicationS and other works
OF defense and for The armament thereof during
the next fiscal year
In explanation of the bin, Mr.. Window said
the committee on appropriations recommended
an increase of the appropriation foT the protec-
tion. preservation and repair Of fortiticatlOn
from s1Gooc0 10 s2CoeOo. They mlde this re-
c0mmendatiOn upon information from the de-
paftment that recent storms had in ured some
OF the Notifications. and it would require con-
siderable money TO repair them. They also re-
commended an increase OF the appropriation
for the armament OF sea coast fortitica,ionS
from Sl25,000 to $3.50, ,o00 because II was thought
that our fOrtiiicatiOnS should be armed with
guns of heavier calbTe.
The amendments proposed by the committee
were agreed to. and the bill was read a third
time and passed.
Mr.. Davis Iil) presented a petition of cfti-
zenS of Chicago asking that tract OF land OF
rot less than one million nor more than three
million acres be held and used for a national
".
disabled and infrm persons may have q home
Referred to the committee on public lands
MI. Anthony. from the committee on printing
reported back the bill relating to DllD!ic nrinf
ing and binding. Passed lit authorizes the
public printer TO print and bind papers and
documents for Senators, Representatives. and
Eelegates IN Congress, upon payment Of the
cost tnereof and ten per cent additionall
MI. Blaine called up House bill To correct an
error of enrolment in bill making appropria-
tons for sundry civil expenses of the Govern
m u II of
regard to the Hot Springs reservation in Ar
kansas. lit appropliateS s27 ,ooO for expenses of
the commission to determine the claims of set
tiers on the Hot Springs reservation: authorizes
the President Of the United States appoint such
commission, to consist Of three members. to
hold ofiIce for one year, &c being an exact copy
Of the clause as passed at the last session.
Mr.. Hill objected to that portion OF the bill
which authorizes the Secretary OF the Interior
10 lease the Arlington hotel on the reservation
TO the present proprietors at an annual rental OF
houses and sites for the same.
NJ Dorsey. in reply, said tie prnprietorS of
the Arlington hotel had erected the billding at
cost Of 100000 before it was decided that the
land belonged to the United States The land
was not worth cent and it was but just that
the men who had built the hotel should be nro-
tected and allowed to retain possession of the
property by paying ground rent.
Mr. Hill argued that this was improper iegis-
htlon upon the Slndry civil appropriation bill
OF last session, and it was now Sought to pass it
because ii was omitted from the Sundry civil
bill either by accident or design. That argl-
ment mad no force Will him. He spoke of the
medicinal qualities OF the waters OF the Hot
Springs, and said they should be kept perfectly
free from intrusion.
Mr.. Garland advocated the passage Of the BILL
AS the measure passed at the last session and
was omitted from the sundry civil bill it should
be promptly re enacted now, and the integrity
OF the record of Congress maintained.
Mr.. Hill submitted an amendment to strike
out all that part OF the bill authorizing the lease
OF the Arlington hotel bath houses and Sites
and 1t was rejected.
The bill was then read a third time and
passed as it came from the House of Represent
atiyeS, without amendment
During a brief discussion as to the order o
business. Il was agreed that a vote Oh Mr. Ed
munds bill to amend certain provisions of the
Revised Statutes in regard to the count of the
electoral vote should be taken tomorrow.
HOuSE.-Mr. Giddings introduced bill re-
lating to the classification of mail matter Re
fened
AIR: Page introduced a bill making allowance
for M the @ rent OF I; $. land offices: Referred.
offered the following:
Whereas 1t is alleged that at the election held
In the city OF New \ ork on the 5th OF November,
1875, L. S. Commissioner J. J. Davenpo t. acting
as chief supervisor Of election for the second
judicial district, was guilty of Illegal. unjust
ana oppressive exercise of pretended authority
in causing the arrest, detention, and impriSon-
ment OF citizens innocent of offence, by which
he deprived them of the right 10 vote, and SUBJ
Jected them to indignity, insult and intimela-
tiOn, without warrant of law or juStifcatiOn
which arrests have since been declared Illegal
in test case, by judge of the circuit court of
the Cnited States and whereas, Ii these allega-
uOnS be true, that officer should be forthwith
removed and punished:
ResOlred, That the committee on the judiciary
be directed TO proceed. without delay, to an in
vestigation OF the conduct OF said Davenport at
the time aforesaid, with power TO sit in the city
or New \ Ork, by subcommittee or otherwise:
and that said subcommittee Shall have all the
authority OF the whole committee for said pur-
pose, with power TO administer oathS, send for
persons and papers. to sit during the sessions Of
The House, and to report at any time.
MI: wood stated that he presented the reSolu-
1lon In consequence of a long petition, signed
by the most respectable citizens of New York
asking for The investigation. He was himself
prepared to back UP that petition by very many
ward.
Mr.. Garfield made point of order against the
resolution. on the ground that Davenport was
not an ilnpeachab,e officer, bHt suggested that
the resolution should he laid over untn tom ly-
row. when lie would aid the gentleman in bring
ing il up.
The Speaker hoped that the suggestion would
be followed in order that he might inquire as to
whether the resolution involved a question OF
privilege or not.
Mr.. Wood stated that he would give his assent
10 the proposition If the petition aud attidayits
presented could also be printed in the Recoid
Mr. CODger objected 10 the printing OF any
thlng except the resolution.
gan OBJECT TO the printing OF petition.
Mr. Conger:-lIe does.
Mr. Wood.-Then want the whole country
to know it.
The matter was then postponed until TO-
IlOrIOW.
Mr. Wood chairman committee WAYS and
means.l reported back Senate resolution for the
adjournment over the holidays from Dece nber
21st to January 9th; with anne ntlment providing
Tor adjournment from December 10Th to Jan
ualy Sth. The amendment was relected-yeaS.
ll2: nays, 13O, and the Senate resolution amend
ed by making adjournment date from December
90. was adopted.
The regular order being demanded the House
resumed the consideration Of the Geneva award
bill, and was addressed by Mr.. Willis lNYl In
favor OF the majority report of the Judiciary
committee.
WAY SAM COILYER WAS PARDONED.-It is said
that sam Collyer, the priZe-fighter, was par
d0ned out OF the New Jersey penitentiary be-
cause OF powerful influence exercised in his
favor on account Of an incident that happened
In the war. His young friend Alexander the
son OF wealthy BrOOkly lumber merchant. was
shot down at his side. In the evening. while
the fle was yet brisk, Collyer stole over the
Held. found the body Of his friend, and carried
lt 10 place OF safety. lie buried the body.
marked the spot, and wrote to Mr.. Alexander
In Brooklyn, who afterwards recovered the re-
mains. For this service Mr.. Alexander and the
9ead soldier boys uncle became Collyer's
ifiendS. They watched his career as prize
nghlef, ana after he was sent to state prison
they were unceaSing In their efforts in his be-
lalf until they obtained his pardon. During