National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-07
SENATE.

closing letter from the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs In regard TO the clerical force OF his Office
He states that of the clerks do not receive SAL
aries commensurate with the duties they perform,
and asks that the force be increased in order to
dispose ofthe business promptly. Referred
Mr.. VOORHEES, presented petition of citizens of
the District Of Columbia In favor Of equality of tax
alton in the city and county of Washington, Re.
ferred
Mr.. ANTHONY, from the Committee ON Printing,
reported favorubly on House concurrent resolution
10 print copies Of the memorial exercises of the late
Professor Henry recently held In the hall of the
House OF Representatives. Agreed TO-.
Bills were introduced as follows and referred:
Il, By Mr.. ALLISON: To authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to alot land In severalty TO the Indians
residing upon tho various reservations within the
United States and to issue patents therefor.
By Mr.. SAUNDERS: To punish parties for stealing
horses, mules, and other properly belonging to IN.
BY Mr.. OGT.EsBY; For the relief of certain per.
sons locating homesteads npon the public lands
by MI BooTH Joint resolution to inquire into and
define the acts OF July o. 1866, and June 49, 1870.
granting lands TO the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company Of California
By Mr.. ROLLINS: To authorize the construction
Ola street railroad to the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing in Washington.
Mr.; ROLLINS called up the House joint resolution
making an appropriation of $4,000 for filling up.
Draining, and placing in good sanitary condition
the grounds south Of the Capitol along the line of
tne old canal 1t also appropr9tes 5000 for medi
cal attendance, medicine, and food for the sick
and inlrm poor Of the District and authorizes the
District Commissioners to spend $4,000 additional
for the relief of the poor
Mr.. DAVIS inquired why II was deemed best TO
authorize the District Commissioners to spend SIS
700 lie had no objection to the expenditure of
SloVDO Dy the government TO improve the ground
south OF the Capitol, but he did object to the Dis
trlct Commissioners spending $4,000 additional,
now mat the winter was almost gone.
Mr.. ROLLINS replied that onc.lialf Of the amount
to be expended by the District Commissioners
would be derived from market rents.
Mr.. WINDOW submitted an amendment to REIN
burse the Labor Exchange the amount of 81 2Ts OS
expended by that organization in improving the
s ssan south 5 81 the Capitol but after some dis
House.
Mr.. DAWES, from the Committee on Railroads.
reported substitute for the bill providing for the
payment of 80 per cent. of the amounts required
.by law to be withheld from certain railroad com.
panes for transportation service rendered the Gov
crlment Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. EDMUNDs, from the Committee on the Judi
cary reported fayorably ON the bills TO remove the
political disabilities of Asa Waugh. d. w. NJ Nash,
CT Oliver, +. E. Shepherd Charles +. NJ. Spots.
wood, John d. Semmes. c. II. Kennedy, Henry G..
Thomas, w; b. Sinclair, and II. L. Page. of Vir-
ginia John 4. Tucker, of the District of Columbia
Trhmbei Of Maryland Ivy, T Walker, ofcaiiiornie.
and c. ii. Williamson, of New York all of which
were placed on the calendar.
MIR. PATTERSON. from the Committee on Com
m nhaH, reported fayoraby on the House bill to
calendar.
Mr.. HARRIS, from the committee to inouire ms 10
epidemic diseases, submitted joint resolution re.
guessing Drs. Bemis and Cochrane and Engineer
Hardie &c. complete their reports upon the yellow
lever epidemic OF 1875 for the use of Congress.
Mr.. BUTLER submitted substitute for the Texas
racine Railroad bill now pending before the Sen.
Mr.. CAMERON (Pa.) called UP the bill to provide
Tor the adjustment and settlement of certain inter.
hai revenue taxes enormously assessed and col
leCtHd Dai no,
pany. Passed.
Mr.. PADDOCK submitted resolution instructing
the committee on Agriculture TO inquire in regard
to certain reports recently circulated in this conn
try and elsewhere concerning infections diseases
among horned cattle in the UnitedStates The reso.
Mr.. WALLACE submitted resolution requesting
the committee on Commerce to report the bill
known as the interstate commerce bill the earliest
possible moment. Laid on the table, and he gave
notice that he would call II up at an early day.
Mr.. KEENAN, submitted a resolution requesting
the secretary OF War to transmit the Senate copies
OF all papers recently received by him materially
touching the application of statute of Limitation
10 state war claims. Agreed to.
MT ROLLINS presented a letter from Quartermns.
lerueneral Melgs suggesting plans TO improve the
water supply OF Washington and necessary appro.
priation to carry such plans into effect Ordered
That IL be printed and referred TO the District Com
mittee. N
Mr.. SPENCER, from the Committee on Commerce
reported, with an amendment in the nature of n
substitute, Senate bill to amend certain provisions of
the Revised Statutes OF the United States relating 10
transportation Of animals Placed on the calendar.
AT halfpast one p. M the Vice. President laid be.
iore the senate the unfinished business being the
Joint resolution processing an amendment to the
CONSTITUTION prohibiting the payment of tho claims
Of dsloyal persons for property injured or DESTROYED
IN the late war of the rebellion.
Mr.. BAILEY, in accordance with the notice given
several days ago moved to postpone the pending
and all prior orders and proceedto the considera,
ton OF the bill for the relief of the book agents OF
sss e Says g. eanTSe Evce
and Davis (lll.) voted with the Republicans In tho
negative. ''''
At the request of his colleague. Mr. Edmunds
then consented that the unfinished business should
be laid aside informally and the bill TO provide for
taxing theteniha and subsequent ensuses was taken
up,
Mr.. MORRILL, explained the various provisions of
the Dill and said II would cost less TO take the CEN
sus IN 1850 than II did in 1870, although we had n
population of 100000 more now, Tho hin mo
ylded Tor securing much information which would
be OF great value.
MI; CoNKLlNG referred to the act of 1880 under
whch the censuses of 1850 1860, and 1870 Were
tnken, ana he thought that law satisfactory. The
3Dleel OF census was to apporion representatives
IA Congress, ana not 10 procure all kinds of statis-
Tics. The act of 1850 wss designed TO count not
only the people Of the United States but IL was de-
sens 70 gene6ze ihe facts as to leading produc
make make me enumeration provided for by the Const.
taeon then ~ ne existing law of 1850 has adequate
speak well Of the bridge which had carried US over
Mr.. MATTHEWS favored the passage of The hin MS
reported by the committee He spoke of the value
ofstatlstcs and argued that It was one of the best
methods TO obtain them proposed by this bill
Mr.. HERMAN submitted an amendment proyidIng
that superintendents and supervisors shall take a
Agreed to. ''N'
Mr.. CoNKIISe submitted an amendment provjd.
ing that upon the compilation and publication of
the census the Office OF superintendent shall ceaSe
Agreed TO.
=. He also submitted an amendment providing TINT
the subdivision assigned to any enumerator shall
contain not less than 5000 inhabitants where the
last preceding census shows the inhabitants thereof
Agreed to.
:, The bill was then read third time and passed
Yeas DC nays. A. The negative votes were given
by Messrs. Cameron tPa), Mitchell, Spencer and
Teller. -" ~
Mr.. CoNKLINe who would have voted IN the neg
atiye, was paired with Mr.. Voorhees,, who would
have voted in tho affirmative
The Senate then Ton motion of Mr. Sarpenn nj
40, went into executive session, and when the
doors were reopened, adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRES ENTATIyEs.
Mr. HAYES introduced bill approprlating $500.
600 for the Improvement OF the Illinois River. Re-