Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-07
FORTT.FIFTH CON6RESS.
FRIDAY. February 7.

SENATE-The Vice President laid before the
senate communication from the Secretary OF
the Interior, enclosing letter from the auditor
OF railroad accounts, submitting reasons why
the appropriations for his Office should be in
creased instead Of decreased. Referred to the
committee on appropriations.
Also, communication from the Secretary Of
war. transmitting letter from the paymaster
general. U. 5. A, in regard to deficiency in the
appropriation for pay OF the army, &C. Re-
feTIed TO same committee.
Mr. Eaton presented petition of citizens of
Connecticut against the appropriation of money
10 improve the Connecticut river above Hart
ford. Referred to committee on commerce.
MT. ConklinS presented petition of citizens OF
New YORK city, 1avoring the passage of the bin
introduced by Mr.. Booth, authorizing the inter
change OF subsidiary coin and L. s. notes. Re.
1erled to committee on finance
MI. Ferry, from the committee on post Offices
al q post roads, reported, With amend nentS the
Pest route Dill. Placed on the calendar
MT Matthews, from the select committee to
inquire as TO the best means OF preventing the
INTRODUCTION OF epidemic diseases, reported a
JOINT resolution authorizing the COMMITTEES TO
SIT during the recess Of Congress retain the SER
wees OF three experts who shall visit Havana
anu Sucn Otner places as the committee may
alfect, to inquire into the history of yellow
Iever The joint resolution also requests the
resident TO invite the concurrence and co-ope-
ration of the Spanish government In the exam
NATION and experiments to be made in furCuer-
ance OF international commerce aud the SAM
taIy interests OF men. Placed on the calendar.
relations reported back memorials OF the Ore
gon legislature favOring a modification of the
treaty or 1865 with China so as 10 restrict the
immigration OF Chinese to this cOuntoy Also
Senate bill for that purpose and moved that the
committee be discharged from their further
consideration. SO ordered. The Senate BILL on
his motion, was indefinitely postponed He
then reported back the House bill TO restrict the
immigration or Chinese TO the United States
ana asked that the committee be discharged
from lis further consideration.
r if1frr rod lin
the calendar
MIR. Hamlin replied in the affirmative, but the
Vice President decided it would not
MI Hamlin then moved that the bill be placed
ON the calendar and gave notice that when iU
should be taken up he would move that it be
Indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Sargent spoke of the Importance of the
tnlGeSe question and the interest which the
people OF the Pacific coast felt therein He
gave notice that on Wednesday next at 1:3O o.
ID. he would call the bill up and urge its pass
age.
MIR. Mcmillan presented petition of women
OF Minnesota favOring the passage of a law
prohibiting the sale Of Intoxicating liquors In
lEe District OF Columbia. Referred to the Dis
t let committee.
The Vice President appointed Messrs. Hamlln
COIkl1ng kirkWOod, Eaton and Morgan the Sc
iect committee authorized by the resolution OF
Mi. Matthews TO sit during the recess and In
qulre Into claims Of citizens of the United States
against the government OF Nicaragua.
Tie senate then proceeded to consider bills
Senate bill to extend the provisions OF the act
or June Sth, 1874, in relation to prize money to
an meet oficers. House bill granting a pension
to Ju Ia Watkins, widow of ThOS. H. Watkins
late captain company b, Purnell Legion, Mary
land.
The above bill led to some discussion. durlnp
Whlch MI NoOrheeS said the commissioner OF
pensions expressed the opinion that the bill
granting Arrears OF pensions did not apply TO
pensions specially granted-Only TO those grant
ed under general laws.
a \ hn ,trdn
would take $4, GOO GOO to pay arrears Of pensions
III cases now on the roll and there were 100. OJo
yet to go On tie roll, some OF which would re-
ceiye ten or twelve hundred dollars arrears
Although there were a great many deserving
persons, he thought Congress had gone TOO far
He believed the bill granting arrears OF pensions
would take 1lfty million dollars from Inc Trea-
sury. The Commissioner OF Pensions had sal
that twenty per cent. OF the pensions wer-
frauduently paid.
MIR. Beck said the commissioner OF pension,
told the committee on appropriations that -
per cent OF all pensions now paid were fraIliu-
lent. He inquired IL the committee on pensions
was aware CT that fact, and if any SteDS had
been taken to remedy the evil.
Mr: lDgalis, chairman OF the committee on
pensions, replied that the committee hal beeu
SO Informed: but Congress had not Sustained
the committee In measures brought forward C.
prevent wrongs. The pension bureau had been
making efforts, year after year, % detec.
e lraudulent cases, and last year; through The
Efforts OF the bureau, $500 900 had been saved
Wien the bill introduced by Mr.. Burnside on
the 9Th OF April last, to introduce moral and So
cial science into the public schools of the Dis
tr1ct OF Columbia, was reached ON the calendar
several Senators called for its reading, and il
was read at length.
HeUSE.-Mr. Stephens submitted a resolu-
ton of the legislature of Georgia in favor OF the
bill to apply the proceeds of the sales of public
lands to the education of the people. Laid on
the table.
On motion of Mr.. Clymer, Senate amendments
to the naval appropriation bill were non-con-
CURED in.
Mr.. Baker (Ind.), from conference committee
on the fo1tificatton appropriation bill, reported
that the committee had been uaable to agree
and asked for further conference. Agreed to-
Mr.. Acklen offered resolution calling on the
Secretary OF the Interior for a copy of the re-
port made to his department by Special Agents
Adams and Hale In regard to the CalcauSen
log seizures. Adopted
Wednesday, February 10, was set apart for
the delivery OF eulogies on the late Representa-
tive WEIGH, of Nebraska.
The regular order being the morning hour,
and the pending bill one to correct certain land
boundaries in san Mateo county, California,
speeches were made by Mr. Buckner in opposi-
ton TO the bill and by MessrS. Bicknell, May
lam, Lapham, Butler, Luttreil and WiggintOn
In its favor.