National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-04
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.
Rapid Work on the Appropriation
Bills Yesterday.
The sundry Civil, Deficiency, Fertilization,
Post-ohice, River and Harbor, and Ar
rears of Pensions Appropriations
Out of the way-SpringerR Rid
ing His Seward Hobby
in the House, sc.
SENATE.

debate, during which
Mr.. CHANDLER said that eighteen years ago he
and JEFF Davis came into the Senate together, and
both at the time swore TO support the Constitution
Of the United States. Davis Ind come from
Picrcos Cabinet, and when he took the oath there
was treason in his heart and perjury on his lips.
He took an oath TO support government he meant
10 overthrow. He (str. CHASDLER) considering
the conduct OF Mr. Davis during the war, did not
expect to hear euloges on Jen Davis on the floor
of the Senate. He was surprised to hear them, es
pecially as every man. woman, and child In the
North believes JEFF Davis to be a doubc.dyed
traitor
After further debate by the leading Senators on
either side Mr.. Iloars amendment was agreed to-
yeas, %; nays, %.
The amendment Of. Mr. Shields, placing Mexican
volunteers ON tho pension roll as thus amended,
was then relccted-yeas, 20 nays, %
The bill for the payment Of arrears OF pensions
was then passed in nearly the condition 1t came
from the House.
Mr.. ALLISON reported the conference committee
ON the legislative appropriation bill unable to agree.
He said the committee could agree upon every
question involved in the bill except the political
questions 1t might as well he understood that the
question of an extra session depends upon the pc.
tical questions involved in two three bills, and
that If IL was the intention OF gentlemen to insist
on that legislation, and there should be no agree.
ment, there must be an extra session. On his mo.
ton another committee OF confcreuce was ordered
on the bill, and Messrs. Window, Allison, and Beck
were appointed such committee.
On motion of Mr.. FERRY the Senate took UP the
bill exclusively establishing post routes IN various
Mr.. ALLISON made report from the select com
mittee appointed in June last, concluding as fol-
lows:
AFTER full consideration. they find unanimously
The statements of Mr.. Matthews TO be true, and that
he had no connection with any real or supposed
fraud In the election in Louisiana, and that he has
not been guilty of any corrupt conduct in any OF
the matters referred to in the testimony, while we
cannot but regard his action In respect to James i.
hndersGns effort TO obtain an appointment TO Office
under the circumstances as wrong and injurious TO
lhc public interest"
Tho rpnOrt ~ or1erod IN no nrintp1
On motion Of Mr.. GORDON the Senate took M the
resolutions of the House in respect TO the death of
Julian Ilartridgc, of Georgia. when he offered fur
lher resolutions OF respect, aud delivered eulogy
on the character of the deceased, and followed
by Mr.: Booth and Mr.. Lamar IN n few appropriate
remarks
The resolutions were agreed to, and the Senate, at
$40 o'clock, adjourned till Monday afternoon at /
o'clock.
MONDAYS SESSION.
The Senate met Mt one o'clock y. m.
Mr.. TELLER called up the resolution submitted
by him a few days ago, providing that tho select
committee appointed under the resolution Of De-
eomber 10, 1877 to inquire into certain alleged vo-
ations of the constitutional rights of American eil
tCns during the late elections, he continued until
The next session of Congress with authority 10 sit
during the recess.
The resolution was agreed to.
On motion OF Mr.. ANTHONY the Committee oil
Printing was authorized TO sit during the recess.
The Senate then, ut 1:25 p. ~. ON motion Of Mr.
EdmundS. went into executive session.
At $40 the doors were reOpencd. A message was
received from the House of Representatives AT
amendments of the Senate TO the river and h0rbor
Appropriation bill.
On motion of Mr.. SPENCER the Senate insisted
npon its amendments and committee Of confer
ence was ordered. MessrS. Spencer, Mcmillan, and
Ransom were appointed the committee on the part
Of the Senate.
Mr. HARRIS called up House bill granting luris.
dction to the Court OF Claims in the case OF the
Ichooner Don Pedro Passed.
Mr. MORRILL, called mp the bill providing for tax
ing the tenth and subsequent censuscs. The
amendments Of the House We're agreed TO and the
bill was passed.
Messrs Harris, Rollins, and Merrimon were mp
pointed the conference committee on the bill CON
corning street railroads IN the District OF Columbia.
Mr., DAVIS called up the House bill for the relief
of soldiers and sailors becoming totally blind in
the service of their country. Passed,
Major Joseph b. Collins to the army and retire him
with the grade of major. Passed
Mr.. MCMILLAN, from the Committee on Claims,
reported, with amendments, the House bill for the
allowance Of certain claims reported by the nc
counting officers of the Treasury Department.
Passed.
Mr.. WIYDoM, from the conference committee on
the fertilization appropriation bill submitted re-
port, which was agreed TO- and the bill passed.
Mr.. WADLEIGH called up Senate bill for the relief
Of Joseph L. Stevens, postmaster at Manchester, n.
II. Passed
Mr.. McMILLAN called up the bill making appro.
priation for the payment of claims reported by the
Southern Claims Commission, which was discussed
Mr.. SARGENT submitted resolution directing the
Secretary or the Navy to furnish, for the informa-
ton of the Senate the reports OF the survey of the
Panama and Nnppa lntcrOCouniC SliDCannl routes
made in 1875, with the accompanying papers.
Agreed to-
Mr. sARGENr also submitted resolution to pay
the committee clerks, pages, and other employees
of the Senate their per diem compensation for
thirty days after the adjournment OF the session
Mr. ALLISON, from the conference committee on
the deficiency appropriation bill, submitted u re-
port; but Mr.. Edmunds objected to its present con-
sideration and stated that he wanted time Ia ex
amineit. Subsequently he Withdrew his objection
and the report was agreed to:
Mr. WINDoM. from the conference committee Oh
the sundry civil appropriation bill, submitted a re-
port; but objection was made to its present consd
Grafton by Mr.. Edmunds, audit was laid aside tenn
porariy
The Senate then ut FIVE o'clock p, m on motion
of Mr.. Conkling, toolSa recess until eight O'Clock
pm.
EVENING SESSION.
The Vice. President laid before the Senate a mes
sage from the President transmitting the final re
port of the Centennial Commission, with compi
mentary remarks respecting the success of the ex
hibition, which was ordered TO be printed.
On motion Of Mr.. SARGENT the Senate took NJ
the report OF the committee OF conference on thu
disagreeing amendments TO tho sundry ciyil bill.
Mr.. EDMuNDs objected to that part Of the repor
which relates to the Moline Waer-Powcr Works a
the Rock Island Arsenal.
A brief debate occurred, in which Messrs. Ed
munds, Window, Allison Dawes, and Davis en-
participated.
Mr.. Dorsey hoped that this bill would not be re
turned TO the House, ms suggestedby Mr.. Edmunds
because there would not be time between now ant
tomorrow to again act upon II.
Mr.. SARGENT said If the bill was to be returned t
tho House ~ were uetlef 90 now, as tne con
tinuation of the debate half hour longer woult
leopard the passage Of the bill.
The Senate agreed to the conference report
yeas 80; nays. 81
The Senate took up and passed the House bill I,
promote the education of The blind.
Mr.. ALLISON made Il report from the committee
of conference OH the disagreeng amendments L
the river and hnrhor bill, and It was agreed to-
On motion OF Mr.. BRUCE, chairman OF the Com
mittee on Mississippi Levees, the Senate took vi
the House bill reported by him from that commit
tee providing for the Organization Of the Missis
Blppi Improvement Commission, the deepening o
that river and the protection Of the aluval lands
II approprates $4,000 for the payment Of ex
pelses and for surveys. The work Is to be exc
culed irom time TO time as appropriations may b
made for the purpose.
After discussion, and II now being eleven o'cloCl
Mr.. DORSEY said he was as anxious us any Sen
htor TO secure the passage Of the bill but ii 1t wa
much longer discussed Inc would move to lay IL OF
HE table IN order that other business may be con
gidered
Tho debate was resumed, the principal point G
which was WIN reference to those parts of the h
which, II was said might be construed to aulhoriz
the commencement OF the work irrespective of III
previous action Of Congress, while ON the other sid
II was argued that no money could be expende
until the plans ofthe proposed improyementshoul
be approved By Congress.
The bill was amended TO meet objections
Mr.. CHAEDLER said that this bill was Tor the r.
oaInation of lands in tie delta Of the Mississippi
B2,OO0OO0 acres which were donated by the Gen
eml Government to the States In which they II,
ana now II was modestly asked that the land
should be reclaimed. As for the survey Of tn
mississippi this had been going on Tor years. thi
river had been surveyed and resuryeycd.
MIR. EUsTIs in reply, said that no such donate
lands would be claimed under this bill. The
Were not situate on the Mississippi River,
The Senate disagreed to the motion of Mr. Char
tn Lao l.tll Ian ltf. tt1 %