National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-12
HOUSE or REpR Es EyTiTIpEs.


Mr.. STEPHENS, chairman of Committee on Coin
age. Weights and Measures reported bill providing
for the adoption by the United states Of the French
meris system, not only as TO measurements and
weights, but also as to coinage. Ordered printed
and recommitted.
a resolution was adopted for the printing OF
5000 copies of volume 2of the report on thog geo.
graphical and geological survey of the Rocky
Mountain region
Mr.. Cook, from Committee on Post.onices and
Roads, reported a supplemental post route bill,
Mir. CARLISLE, from Committee on Ways and
Means, reported bin relating to vinegar factories
established and operated prior TO March l, 1879,
On his motion The bill was laid on the table, and
the senate bill Of the same title was taken up and
passed.
Mr.. CARLISLE also reported bill authorizing a
compromise of the claims of the United States un.
der the Will ofJoseph L. Louis. Passed.
Mr., RICE, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
reported Joint resolution authorizing the Score.
tary Of the Treasury TO make final adjustment! of
the claims OF certain foreign steamship companies
arising from the illegal eXaction of tonnage dues.
Printed and rccommitted.
Mr. KIMMEI, from the Committee on Public
buildings asked leave TO report bill for the re-
moya OF the bathrooms OF the House for the en-
largement of the restaurant.
Mr.. COSGER objected.
Mr. SINGLETON tMiss) from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported a bill repeating so much
OF the act approved June 90 1875 as relates TO the
steamer b. p. Cheney, Passed.
On motion Of Mr.. FRYE the pending business of
the morning hour-the bill relative to the removal
Of from state to E FED wh referred
Standing that 1t should not be brought up again at
the present session.
Nj KNOTT chairman of Judiciary Committee
submitted report upon the veto messages of the
President Printed aud recommtted.
The House then at lao went into Commute of the
Whole (Nlr. Springer in the chair ON the army Np.
preparation bill.
Mr. CiYMER, the member of the Appropriation
Committee who has charge of the bill made brief
explanation Of II. lie said that it was precisely
the vetoed bill save in three particuars-the sub.
stitntIon ofa new sixth section, the appropriation
pot at omaha and the appropriation Of $4,000 for
II new military post near the Niobnra River,
.o Ths he estimates Of the WGr peGament were oyer
ing about 81 100000 over The appropriations for the
current fiscal year. lie gave the items going TO
one thousand dollars being for the Pay Department,
$4,000 for The Qnartermaster's Department, SlO,
goo for the Ordnance Department. aud 100000 for
Mr. WHITTHoRNE moved to reduce the maximum
of the army from 5000 to l5,O0O, lie expressed his
regret at the increase Of the appropriation for the
army. He believed that there was no necessity
whatever for an army in this country, and that the
army was sore on the body polite. II had been
demonstrated in recent years that the fathers of the
Republic were right in holding that the surest re.
ii1nce Of the country was in he militia
orical fact that the second veto message OF George
Washington Qn 1870 was in reference 10 bill Tor
the reduction OF the army which he denounced MS
the army was not still larger.
Mr. MCMILLAN. What was the strength of the
Mr. KEIFER. do not know, but 1t was much
larger pToportionately than il Is now.
Mr.. Whitthorne's amendment was rejected.
Mr.. WEAVER moved TO strike out the section pro.
vldng that each member of the graduating classes
Of 1879 and 1880 of the Military Academy may after
Of that sum shall render him ineligible to appoint
mcnt in the army until two years after his Gradua.
ton except In case of war.
Mr.. FRYE advocated the motion on the ground
that the section offered bride 10 young man To
leave the Army after having been educated for
the service of his country.
The motion to strike out was defeated, and an
amendment incorporating in the section the words
with the consent Of the Secretary Of War;" was
adopted.
On motion Of Mr., Johnston section Q, in regard
TO promotions in the army was stricken out.
The consideration of the money portion Of the
bill Having been concluded, the committee pro.
reeded to the consideration of section g. providing
That no money herein appropriated shall be paid
compensation OF the army TO be USED as police
The general debate upon that section was opened
Dy Mr.. BAKER, who viewed the section as a mere
mcumbrance, as mere political tub thrown to a
whale, n0smuch as the President was not now
clothed Win the power Of placing me troops Of the
Viewing the section in that light, he would move
to strike II out, but should his motion be defeated
he would sl vote for the bill lie would not be
deferred from doing his duty to the Constitution by
reason OF me met that political necessity had con.
strained any party 70 put on bill provision
which was mere idle thunder.
Mr. HAwLEi said that the Republicans, looking
at ne section, had naturally begun to wonder
whether there was not u covert meaning m IL, be-
cause MS II stood II was merely an encunbrarce
What was a police ioTce2 TWAS sworn constNb
ulaTy, duly organized. That the Republican party
had ever claimed that the army should be used as
apollce was mistake. The section might com.
mand the, assent of Republican OF the deepest
dye who believed in having the Federal law 10.
spCcted everywhere and at al times.
Mr. GARFIELD reviewed the attempts of the ma.
jory TO obtain the repeal Of what II termed griey.
Gnces The minority had said at the last session
and II still said that it had never insisted on the
use OF the army 10 run elections; that there never
had been such law that II had never desired to
have such law or such practice, and that If any.
thing vital was necessary 10 prevent the running of
elections by bayonets, II was ready to help pre-
vent II.
When the present session had opened the major.
ity had brought IN an army bill which had in II
not the repeal of the offensive law, but PROPOSE.
ton 50 to modify the law of 1863 as to enlarge its
restrictions, and which carried with II an absolute
criminal statute against any civil officer who
should attempt 10 Keep the peace at the polls by
calling IN am armed force TO help him. That bin
had been wrecked on the rock OF the Constitution
and had gone down and no longer lived ON the
tnee of tho waters the pOlitipll sen