Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-02-20
PROCEEDINGS OF CGsN'GEES5.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90, 1879.
SENATE.

Mr.. Blaiac, Of Me-, from tho COMMITTEE on
Appropriations reported back the Army APP
preparation bill With amendments PLACID on
The calendar, ard Mr.. Blaine elvo nolico that
Be would call il up for consideration AZ the
earliest opportunity
SIr. McDooaa, Of It'd, called up Tho Seoate
bill to appoint SpruilIc BraGeo al cnSian IL the
U. S. pavy. Passed.
Brader, it will D, remembered, took tho
prize Tor excellence ia the EDglsh Nautical
School, but refused commission in the Eng
ish navy cs it would have compelled hin to
renou1co his American citizenship.
The Senate passed The following bills On the
calendar House bill to aizo circuit courts su'
per7i;ios jurisdiction in certain crlTlnal cases;
House bill TO aneId section S24 OF tic revised
statutes relative 10 fees CT district attorneys
TIE Senate laid aside eupoFasil7 tEcfostottlca
Appropriation bill 10 order that Mr.. Shields Of
Mo-, might spesk 10 favor Of the bill granting
pensious to tho surviving soldiers Ct The Next.
eau var.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The House by vote Of yeas 1855, nays l22.
has determined 10 take up for consideration the
contested election case OF Fi1leyva Risbsc from
tho First district OF Florida.
THE OFFICE GAZETTE.
TIE House Sub Committee on Expenditures
10 tho Interior Department. consisting OF Hep
scsentstivss Lockwood and Willetts-coEn-
Eenced this morning at the Interior Department
90 examination into the publication OF the Pat
ent Ufico Official Gazette. An official state
mcut submitted to them shows the following
averages pcr month ss salaries to pcrsocs con.
nccted with the publication, irrespective OF the
expense Of printing FIVE thousand copies.
In 1872 $S2S.1G; 1878 $l,350l4; 1874
S374.S7; 1875 Sl,3Sl,07; 1876 $50 Al; and IN
1877 Sl,754.O9. TIE remarkable difference is
shown that whilc the salaries for June 1876
amounted to sl92.S0 those for May 1877 were
81, sos. %. The sub committee desired to know
the reason for this great disparity aud Why Ter
the entire year 1877 the salaries amounted to
S2lO,49, but MIR. Bsbson tho officer nos IL
charge Of TIE Gazette said these expenditures
took place before his connection With it.
The amount Of salaries paid for tie year 1878
will be furnished at the adjourned meeting OF
the sub committee on Monday morning to which
limo they adjourned TO further prosecute tho
enquiry.
Congress proposes to give for salsIies for tho
next 6scs year six thousand dollars.
POTTER COMMITTEE.
The Potter Investigating Committee as5am-
bled at half past twelve to day an hour and
half after the time appointed a1d Dir. Jack
Wharton, U. S. Marshal Of the State Of Louis
lana, was called to The witness stand.
He was a republican and had been q
supporter Of the Packard government. Dur
ing the time the returning board of 1876
was sitting ho vas in New Orleans, but
be never attended spy Of their sessions.
There was great deal Of scandal Eloa! at tne
time about public mon, and no heard, among
other things, that Wells was trying to make
money out of his position. ut is not my
Charge" said Mr.. Wharton in explanation.
"The Charge was that the democrats had men
down there with money, and they were making
an offer to buy. and it YVES believed that it mat
ters could be arranged, Gov. Wells was readyto
treat"
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The army appropriation bill, as reported from
the Seuate Committee to-day, is Invested of all
the srmy reorganization sections inserted by the
House The so.called Butler railroad telegraph
amendment is retained in the bill.
We note with pleasure tho temperance OF
tho Fatmvi!ls Mercury aud feel assured that
under thu present able management it has
long and useful career before il. The editorials
show ability and havo tho true Virginia ring,
while the litersry notes and re7ieWs-a ncw
feature-add much to the attrsctivcncss ct the
paper.
We have received q pamphlet copy of tie
official proceedings Of the convention fer the
promotion of American commerce, held in New
Orleans, last December. and which was presid.