National Republican., 1879-01-22
HENITE.

The Vce.president laid before the Senate COM
municntlons from the Secretary Of War; inclosing
reports of Captain A. NJ. Damrell aud Major c. II.
Suter Engineer Corps in regard to surveys for the
improvement of Mobile harbor Alabama, and the
Missouri River at or near its junction with the
Kansas River. Referred TO the Committee on Com
merce
Mr. HoAR presented the petition Of q number of
prominent naturasls and professors connected
with Harvard, Yale and other institutions oflcarn-
ing, asking Congress to purchase the work of Pro-
fessOr Glover on North American insects.
Mr.. MAXEY, from the Committee on Military AZ.
fairs, reported bill making an appropriation of
$4,000 for the purchase of necessary ground and
erection thereon of military post NJ FL InsO, Texas
tTho bill was reported unanimously by the com.
mittee, in accordance with the recommendation OF
the secretary of Warl
Mr.. MORRILL,. from the Committee on Finance,
reported without amendment the House bill to
facilitate the rounding OF the national debt Placed
OF the calendar
lThis is the bill which passed the House Of Rep
Ieseniaves on the 10th Instant and authorizes the
Secretary of the Treasury In the process of rciund
ing the national debt under existing laws, TO eX-
change directly, at par, the bonds OF the United
States bearing interest at per cent. per anninn,
authorized by law for the bonds of the United
States commonly known Ms liNe-twonties, outstond-
ing and uncallod; and whenever all such i've
twenty bonds shall have been redeemed, the provi-
sions of this section and all existing provisions of
law authorizing the rcfunding of the national debt
shall apply to any bonds of the United states bear
ing Interest ut per cent per annum, or higher
rate which may be redecmable, In any exchange
made uuder the provisions of this section interest
may be allowed on the bonds redeemed FOR q period
OF three months.
The bill received the unanimous approval OF the
Committee on Finance.
Bills were introduced as follows aud referred:
by Mr.. HERMAN For the relief of the trustees OF
the CoTeoTan Art Gallery, IN Washington. D: Q;
by Mr.. PATTERSON: To authorize the Commis
sioners of the District of Columbia to make deeds
i'll certain cases.
BY Mr.. WInlERs: Creating national public
BY Mr.. MATTHEWS; To prevent the introduction
OF contagious or infectious diseases In the United
States, and TO establish bureau Of public health.
By Mr.. CHRlsTIANCY: In reference to PROOF OF
marriage in cases of bigamy.
By Mr.. DORSEY; To provide for aScertatning and
settling private land claims in certain States ana
Territories.
BY Mr. CHArFEE; Joint resolution directing the
cancellation of the 81 and 81 United states notes
hereafter
by Mr. HowE (by request TO regulate and de-
fine the stall of the Marine Corps.
By Mr. MATTHEWS: Joint resolution relative to
determining claims of citizens of the United States
against the government OF Nicaragua.
Mr.. CONKLING submitted II resolution instrucung
the Committee on the District OF Columbia to in-
quire whether one of the two railway tracks over
the Eastern Branch bridge, near the Washington
navy-yard, should not be removed. Agreed TO.
Mr. WHITE called up House bill relating to the
National Road, in the State of Maryland, ana TO
give consent Of the United States 10 certain act
of the General Assembly Of Maryland in relation to
said road. Passed
On motion of Mr.. VOORHEES, the vote by which
the bill granting pension 10 the widow Of the late
General Charles Thomas was yesterday indefinitely
postponed was TeConsdered, and the bill was re-
committed TO the Committee on Pensions.
Mr. EAToS introduced a bill TO extend the patent
OF Austin q. Day for improvements IN hard rubber
Referred
Mr. jOHNsroN presented the petition of DR.. Asa
Wall of Winchester, Va, for the removal Of his
political disabilities. Referred.
Mr.. CoSKLING presented petition of merchants,
ship-owners aud others Of New York, praying leg
islation providing for the repayment OF war pre-
miunls out ofthe Geneva award nnd, Referred.
The Indian trust fund bill was taken up.
Mr.. BECK moved TO strike out live and Inser!
"four' us the rate Of interest TO be paid. /
This amendment led 70 lengthy dlseussion
Pending discussion Mr.. WISDOM moved 10 lay
the bill aside. Agreed to.
The bill to amend the patent laws was also laid
aside informally so us not to lose It's place, ana The
Senate proceeded 10 consider the naval appropria'
ton bill
In explanation of the bill, Mr.. WrNDoM said as i
passed the House OF Representatives il nppropri
atcd u OlS 1890 The total amount of estimates
was slIls7, ,Ssl.l5 The appropriation for The navy
for the present fiscal year was Sll,lo2GI0' inc
Senate Committee on Appropriations added To The
House bill $50 500 making the total Of the blll Ns re-
ported TO the Senate, SlI,lO Oi0jS9j,
The items OF increase made by the Senate COM
mittee were as follows: For purchase of postage
stamps, S5OOC.:or clothing and bedding destroyed,
$500; for grauities and medals, 500 for repairs
TO dome for telescope Mt the Observatory, 500; FOR
changes in controlling clocks, &c, $500; for provi'
siOns, clothing and watcr for ships, &c, $1,000;
for purchase of testing machine and contingencies,
Bureau OF Provisions and Clothing, and the Senate
committee increased the amount TO 81 100000.
All the amendments reported by the committee
above mentioned were agreed TO without debate
Mr.. WHyrE submitted an amendmeut to III
crease the pay of the plumber at the Naval Aead-
emy from - To 81 per day, and
Mr.. ALLISON submitted an amendment grading
the assistant astronomers at the Naval Observatory
at sl5C0, y, ,7CO and s2lOO per annum according
out on points of order that they Increased the ap'
proprialion.
Blane) desired TO address the Senate on this bill
but was not prepared TO 80 on to-day.
The bin was therefore laid aside until tomorrow
n RSE to hSn ho Ec wRsS RRGf he 81 @o" @ @G"R
"Ihat bourd of three naval officers from either
the active or the retired list DC appointed by INC
report TO the next session of Congress the number
OF Officers, line, sGa, and warrant needed for navy
with 5000 men, and that, until hereafter directed
promotion In the navy above the grade ol ensign
"And further, that the same board Of Officers
shall consider nnd report whether any oi me pres
ent nNvyyards may be dispensed with, and
whether in any other way, the expenses Of the ma
val establishment may be decreased without im,
after July /, 1888, only such number ol
the graduates OF the United states Naval
Academy IN any one year shall be entitled to ap-
pointment as mdshipmen IN the navy MS are rc
guircd TO I'LL vacancies, 10 be determined by the
Academic Board on the basis of their standing IN
the graduating class, aud If die number OF midshp
men shall not have been previously fixed and linn
ited by law il sholl be The duty of Inc Secretary to
10 Tx ana limit IL on or before July |. lSS3.'
ordered that they be printed.
Mr. MITCHELL presented the petition OF Alex. r.
Shepherd, OF Washington, ID. g., asking m oppro
priuton for tlc payment of the rent ofa building
on j. street owned by him, and occupied by The
Post Olllce Department. Referred to the Commit
tee on Claims.
The Senate then, at $50 p m, went into execu
tive session, and when the doors were rcopened nd
journcd until tomorrow.
IOUSE ar HEI,RESI IcNJ,iTJVIy