Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-07

900 instead of 10000 as the house proposed. he
sad the house after FIXING the number Of men To-
serted provision that there shall be no more than
ZO,OOo enlisted in the army at any time, unless
author ized by law. The senate committee on ap-
preparations retained this clause, changing the
number to 25,000, and it was retained for the pur-
pose OF permanently fixing the army at 25,000
men.
MIR. Allison submitted an anne ndment TO strike
ont OF the house bill the words above mentioned
ito permanently fix the number Of tho eniis,ad
men"
The amendment was agreed to-
MessIs. sa' gent, Maxcy, Mitchell and Fuller
opposed any reduction OF the army.
MIR. uer expressed the belief that we we're on
the eve of the greatest Indian war the govern
ment had ever known, aud that the Indians al
ready from the Canadian border down To rexa,
were on the war path.
After u short discussion, the amendment of the
committee on appropriations, increasing the army
TO 200, was agreed to--yeas 49, NAYS 49,
Mr.. Thurman, from he committee on the iudic-
iary, reported a bill cseating board TO be known
as The Pacific railroad commission.
Placed on the calendar.
MIR. Mcdonald OF Indiana gave notice that he
would submit sub,tituie for the bin Of MIR
Thurman when it should be consideTed.
1t was order ed The substitute be printed
Inc consideration OF the amy appropriation
bill was resumed, and the smeudme ut submitted
by MIR. Blaine, providing that enlistmeuts IN the
'ei'iSS nv tNStth Opv al OF fuu was
agreed to.
Other amendments reported by the committee
on appropriations Tor the quarter master and sub
slstence departments, SO to provide for an ncreas-
ed number Of men, was agreed to.
Mr.. Burnside, from the committee on miltary
affsirs, submitted an amendment proving for the
appointing OF commission to consider the whole
suelec. matter oil reorgan zng the army.
Messrs. Bsyard and BLAIR submitted amend
ments to Buluslde's amendment.
Mr. AIlisan nI Int
recung said commission to consider aud report up
on tue general Indian question, AS to how the In
dian uihes within a Ieas ouablc time may become
seli-supportiug.
Pending the discussion, Messrs. Dorsey, Sar.
gent and Nitners, were announced as the confer
ence committee on the post Office appropriation
bill
The senate went into executive session, and
when the doors were reopened adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Laphsm, by request offered a resolution
Tor the appointment of u committee of five men,
oers to act with the senate committee to receive
upon the 22d of February, 1879, the United States
centennial safe aud It's contents.
The house by yeas 1877 to NAYS 1903 an amend
ment 10 the Oil In relation to internal revenue
laws, reducing the tax on tobacco to sixteen cents
aud liking the tax on cigars at five dollars per
thousand
Mr. Sun til of Pennsylvania submitted a confer.
the pay ment Of Invalid and other pensions.
The report was agreed to.
The speaker appointed the following conference
on the legislative appropriation:
Messrs. Atkins, Durham and Foster.
On the post office appropl aion bill: Messrs.
Blunt, Cy mer aud Baker of Indiana.
The house resumed the considerati Of the
Dill amending internal revenue laws the pending
question being an amendment Of Mr.. Covert as
slHe ndment OF Mr.. Fucker.
The amanhmatt nod
1903.
Further action on the bill was then suspended,
and the house went into committee of the whole
on the deficiency bill. The amount appropriated
by the bdl Is Si $40, 100.
Mr.. Blount explained the provisions of the bill.
The total deficiency Tor 1878 only amounted to
$4,000. The remainder of the amount was
made up Of appropriations and appropriations
pIior to 1876.
There was also an appropriation of over ST.
0OO,On Tor the payment OF claims against the
navy depart nent.
MIR. Lb mer explained the appropriation for The
pay OF the navy. This deficiency arose from the
TACT that under the last adm nistrstion of the
Wy, the funds for the pay of officers and seamen,
was nth lessly seized upon and used ia different
bureaus of the navy for tue purpose of allowing
the secretary of the navy to euter into large
tracts. / he navy was in debt for years prior TO
those egislated Tor by the 44h and 45th congress.
Nearly The sum of j. GOO, 600 had been grabbed
navy, and approp. itted to hl, pet contractors
ks not authorized by Jaw
Mr.. Herbert of Alabama spoke against the Tex
as rail- DAD bill ss a scheme OF Tom Scott, winch
would not benefit the whole country, and partIcu-
atly would not benefit single southern state
east OF the Mississippi
Mr.. Willis, chairman of the committee on nav
al expenditures explained the provisions of the
deficiency bill in regard TO the payment of claims
against the navy department, the facts of whica
are already known.
Nh. Wnnhorne, member OF the committee
naval expenditures defended his action in refus-
ing to give assent to the report OF the committee
II conmending the Appropriation OF S2,2l, 900 for
the payment Of claims against the navy depart
ment.
General debate upon the bill closed
The committee arose aud the house adjourned.