Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-19
FORTI-EIFTE CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY,. February 10

rior calling attention to the amendments to the
Iension laws. already submitted by the Com
issioner Of Pensions. TO prevent frauds uoon
the Pension bureau. 1t refers to the bill grant
ing arrears Of pensions, and says since its pas-
sage the application for blanks has been twice
as great as hetofOre; referred to the committee
on pensions. He also appointed Messrs. Davis
un), Howe and Mcdonald as the conference
committee on the part OF the Senate on the bill
to create an additional associate justice OF the
Supreme Court Of the District OF Columbia, and
for the better administration of justice in said
The river and harbor appropriation bill was
read by title and referred to the committee On
Honee bi,, for tho reo, of tho o,,so ,,
OF the District OF Columbia, was passed without
discussion.
Mr.. Sargent, from the committee on naval
abolish the volunteer navy; " placed % on Se the cal
endar. He also presented a letter of the Secre-
tary of the Navy addressed to the chairman of
the iroE-clad monitors; ordered that it be
printed ard recommtted to the committee on
naval affairs. He also reported. from the same
committee, the memorial of the Philadelphia
common council asking Congress to make sufli-
cient appropriation to protect the League Island
navy yard from overflow, and asked that the
sideration. In submitting the report, Mr.. Sar-
gent said the committee did not express the
opinion that the subject should not be consid-
cred, but the question whether the League
Island navy yard should be removed ought to
be considered also. During a recent storm the
ship-houseS were blown down, and monitor
had been burned there because there was not
water enough around her to put the fire out. II
would probably be better to purchase site for
a yard at Chester or somewhere else; besides,
the question of abOlishing some OF the yards
was icing ag1tated, and the League Island yard
might be one OF them. The committee was dis
charged from the further consideration OF the
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee on naval
affairs, reported with amendment Senate bill
regulating the rank and pay OF fleet marine Off
GERS L. S. A.; placed on the calendar He also
reported faVOrab!y on resolution to print the
testimony taken by the committee on railroads
IN regard to using telegraph lines for CONNER
Cldl llnpCSeS; agreed to.
On motion OF Mr. Mcmillan. the committee on
claims was authorized TO sit during the sessions
OF The Senate.
Mr. Whyte, from the committee on naval af-
fairs, submitted amendments to the river and
ha1bOr appropriation bill to Increase the appro-
priation 1or Baltimore harb0r from SIoo, 900 to
Slto,OCo, and apprOpriating $4,000 to complete
the survey now in progress on the peninSular
OF Mary lard and Delaware, with a view to the
construction OF ship canal TO connect the
waters Of the Delaware and Chesapeake bayS
Referred to the committee on commerce. lie
also submitted an amendment to the deficiency
bill sc as TO enable the Secretary OF the Treas
uly 10 refund to the city OF Baltimore amounts
advanced at the request Of Major General Il. c.
ScEenck, dated June 20, 1863 to aid the United
states In constructing works OF defence. Re-
1er1ed to the committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Thurman submitted an amendment to the
army appropriation bill providing that upon
general courts martial for the trial Of privates
there shall be private or nOn-cOmmiSsioned
officer OF equal rank with the person to be
tried.
In explanation Of the amendment Mr. Thur
man said 1t was drawn by General Ord. Such
was the practice in the German army, and he
had az, no , doubt @ 1t would result In good:
tee On military affairs.
Mr.. Dorsey introduced a bill in regard to L.
censes In the District OF Columbia. Referred to
the District committee.
Mr.. Conkling presented resolutions of the
Postal Reform Association, composed OF Har-
Ter Brothers ard others, praying re ,classifica
titn CT postal matter Referred to committee
on pest offices and post roads.
Mr, Cameron wis, from the select commit
tee 10 inquire as to how clause In regard to
the Hot Springs reservation iii Arkansas, was
omittcd nom the Sundry civil appropriation bill
last year, submitted report Ordered that it
MIR. Howe called up Senate bill to incorporate
the I. s. railway mail service Mutual Benefit
Association. PaSSed-yeaS 26, nays 20.
House bill to fix the pay OF letter carriers was
taken up.
and spoke OF the necessity OF having expert
enced persons for letter carriers. In reply to a
question OF Mr.. Davis (W. Na) he said the bill
would not take over s2oo,OOO out Of the Treas
ury.
After further discussion the bill was read
third time and passed by rising vote Of yeas
25, nays l6. ut provides for two classes Of let
ter carriers In cities which contain population
OF $4,000 or more. The first-claSs to receive
sl,GGO per annum, providing they have been
In service one year, and the second-clasS
10 receive $500 per annum. In all cities contain
ing population Of less than $4,000 there shall
be one class of letter carriers, who shall receive
a salary OF $3.50 per annum: The Postmaster
General may establish a third grade Of carriers.
known as auXiliaries, to De paid $400 per an
NUM-
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
unfinished business, being the post Office appro-
pr1atton bill and amendments proposed by the
committee on appropriations were agreed to.
When the Brazilian Mail Steamship subsidy
amendment was reached Mr.. Beck made point
OF order that it was not germane to the bill,
that is was new legislation, upon an appro-
priatiOn bill. The Senate, by a vote of yeas 80,
nays 90, decided that the amendment was In
order.
HOUSE.-A session was ordered for to-mor-
row night for the delivery of eulogies On the
late Alpheus S. Williams, of Michigan
MI Hewitt (Ala.), from committee on invalid
pensions, reported back bill granting pension
OF s,2 month to soldiers and sailors. who have
become totally blind In the service OF the
United States.
ON motion Of Mr.. Beale. a bill was passed for
the relief Of the Richmond Female Institute.
Mr.. Atkins moved to go into committee on
the legislative appropriation bill.
Mr. Wood stated that he would not oppose
that motion, but he would raise the question OF
consideration against any other bill, unless
the committee on ways and means was allowed
to make reports.
The House then, at 11:2O, went into commit
tee Of the whole {Mr. Blackburn in the chair
on the legislative appropriation bill.
The pending amendment was that oflered last
night by Mr. Herbert, fixing the pay Of jurors,
regulating the method of drawing them, and
repeating the statutes in regard TO the jurors
test oath, upon which point OF order had been
raised by Mr. Hale.
Mr.. Hale argued that the amendment was new
legislation, and did not retrench expenditures.
He did not care whether sections so and s2l
were repealed or not. They were not followed
In many OF the southern states. He had voted
once to repeal them, and he had no objection to
having them repealed If 1t were done in the
proper way.
MIR: Herbert argued that the amendment was
clearly I'D order, and stated that its object was
to have the state laws fairly and honestly car
ried out.
Mr. Wood was surprised that the point of
order should have been raised by the gentle
men from Maine {Hale). He quoted from a
civil Sundry bill, brought in by the committee
on appropriations, of which the gentleman from
Ohio {Garf1eld) had been chairman, and of
which the gentlemen from Maine had been a
member, On which had been placed various
ections containing legislation not Sernane to
he bill.
Mr.. Hale thought there was nothing anala-
gOus in the two cases. In the bill referred to
by the gentleman there had been no attempt to
Orce through the House matter upon which
1t was divided by party lines at the dictation Of