National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-06

River upon the alluvial lands of the delta.
Mr.. GIBSON opposed the amendment Why tie
the hands Of the commission, and say that II should
not consider incidentally the question Of protect
ing the aluvial lands7 If the amendment pre-
vailed II would be equivalent to nstructing the
commission to report against the lefty system and
in favor Of the outlet system, Congress should
leave the commission unincumbcrcd by instruc.
tons aud free to take all systems into considcra-
ton,
Mr. MoNEY opposed the amendment because II
would virtually foresal the action Of the commits
sion The bill as reported, was good bill, though
not as good MS he thought It should be. But In
bringing bills before the House two things had TO
be cousidored-what was wanted and what could
begot and he was therefore heartily In favor Of tho
bill rs reported.
Mr.. BANKS was opposed to any proposition In the
bill which looked to the closing of outlets be.
impossible If that should be done.
Tho amendment was then rejccted-2s to 80.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Banks was adopted,
striking outsthc clause which gives the commits.
sioners life tenure Of Office
An amendment offered by Mr.. Morrison was
Sdon.sd d rec he to complete ING
The passes nj the mouth Of the river.
The next amendment was one offered by Mr..
Sparks striking out the clause authorizing the com
mission to take into consideration plans and est.
mates for the protection of the nluval lands of
the Mississippi. RejcGled1;yeas' o.: nays. l2s
adopted, directing the commission TO report on the
feasibility Of all plans submitted to IT,
Of the bill relating to alluvial lands were rejected.
Mr.. ROBERTSON Withdrew his amendment appro-
prlating 1851 500 for strengthening the lcvees of
the Mississippi.
The bill was then passed-yens, 1855: nays "a.
Mr.. COBB from the Committee on Elections. Sub
mitted report on the Florida contested election
seat and that Horatio Bisbee Is not.
Mr.. PRICE submitted the views OF the minority
land, as he stated. the views OF the majority Of the
subcommttcoI declaring Horalio Bls6cc entitled
To the seat
Both reports were ordered printed aud rccommit.
tod.
The House then at 215 went into Committee of
the Whole (Mr. Carlisle in the chair) on the army
On motion of MIR. HEWITT, IN. W the number of
nidcs.de.camp to which the General Of the Army
shall be entitled was increased from three TO four.
Mr.. WHITE (Pa.) offered rs all amendment to the
bill substantially the bill known as the Army reor-
ganiZation bill.
Mr.. HALE made a point of order against the
amendment. The chairman could only look to the
operation of tho amendment during the year that
the appropriation bill covered and If there was any
thing in the bill which might result in the increase
of expenditures during tho coming year, II must
clearly be ruled out of order. There was PROPOSE
ton in the amendment which allowed officers to
retire with hreeyears pay. and that clearly brought
II In antagonism to rule 100.
Mr. sAYLER antagonized the point Of order The
amendment was clearly within the spirit and let
Ter of rule 12O since It was germane TO the subject
| matter and in the direction of retrenchment of
| expenditures.
| could not be ruled out.
Mr. HARRIS tya) argued that the amendment
was not In order. 1t was lust that character Of
amendment that rule 100 had been framed to ex'
| Clude.
Mr. BANNING stated, In opposition to the point of
order that every provision of the amendment pro-
vided for a reduction of expenditures.
Mr. CALKINs supported the point OF order and
| criticised the Committee on Appropriations for ad
hitting such All amendment
| Mr.. HEwIrr-Tho committee did not bring in the
| bill.
| NJ. h,,t IL.
| and do not oppose 1t.
Mr.. HEwITr-How oppose it, except by point of
| order?
Mr.. CALKrNs-Tt could be opposed by the commit.
tee standing up and standing by the rules of the
| House.
Mr.. HEwITT-we do We have not brought the
| What more could we do?
| Mr.. CALKrNs--It was brought in by the consent Of
| Mr.. HEwITT-On the contrary. Il was offered in
| this House neither with or without consent of the
gentleman. cannot prevent its Introduction any
| more than the gentleman from Indiana can.
| Mr.. CALKISs was glad to hear that the gentleman
from New York was not in favor of the amend
| mcnt
| Mr.. HEWITT IN. Y.)-I did not say was not in
| favor of II.
Mr.. CALKlNs-Then ask the gentleman to take
| Mr.. HEWITT IN Y.)-I do not say whether ] am
in favor Of 1t or against it. simply say that 1t did
not come In with my consent or against It.
| tons did not want this amendment on the oppro-
pration bill II would not go there. Everybody
| Mr.. WHITE (Pa.) stated that the amendment had
not been offered at the instance or by the manage
ment of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hew-
itl.
Tho Chairman stated that the amendment did
come within the spirit of the rule. While II was
doubtless new legislation still 1t was In the direc-
ton of reduction of expenditures and therefore
he overruled the point of order,
Mr.. WHITE stated that the living and solitary
| thought of the amendment was to promote the
efficiency of the staff department Of the army.
| u was not a revolutionary proceeding, nor was 1t
hostile to the efficiency ofthe army.
Mr.. BEEBE offered an amendment authorizing
the appointment of George +. Robinson as pay
master in the army, with the rank of major, to re-
ceive pay from the 18th of April, 1865
Robins IN is the soldier who saved Secre tNry W.
II. Seward from the assassin on the above date.
Mr.. HEWITT IN. " raised point Of order against
Congress should reward Mr. Robinson, but it was
certainly not proper that he should be made pay
master upon an appropriation bill.
The point of order was sustained and the amend
ment ruled out
Mr.. HEWITT wished, in reply to some remarks
made by the gentleman from Indiana (Calkins), tc
state the position of the Committee on Appropria
tions on the amendment 1t had never been con
sidered by the committee. nor had It's details eyei
been discussed by 1t. He himself had read the
amendment for the first time this morning. That
amendment would undoubtedly produce reduc
ton Of expenditures and reorganization of the
army, but the Committee OH Appropriations was In
no respect committed in It's favor.
Mr., Cox IN " said that as a rule he was not ir
favor of aflixng general laws upon appropriation
bills, yet something should be done iOrthe reorgan
ization Of the army The amendment simply pro
vided for a less expensive army How? by illinl
up the regiments by cutting down the commits
stoned officers and staff In word, by taking thu
drones out of the army.
| Mr.. BANNIEG favored the amendment. Gentle
men fought il hard because they were encouraged
by the army here In the shape of officers and die
not care for the soldier on the plains The voice
that asked for the passage OF the bill came from the
enlisted men of the army. 1t came from Custer an(
the men who fell with him. He knew that to stant
up and fight for the reorganization that the linz
wanted was TO fight against all that society had fol
a member of Congress, but he knew also that 1t wa'
to stand up for the people and ondeavor TO make
their army compact body of men. He moyel
that the committee rise, In order that the amend
mant might be printed.
This was opposed by Mr.. GARFIELD and other Re
publicans, who wished TO have the vote taken Il
once but II was agreed to-yeas, LOG; nays, o.
The night session for reports from the Commtte,
on Public Lands was postponed until next Wedes
lay and the House then. n 1l1 adjourned.