Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-02-28
Complaint from a Number Of COlOred
People of Florida, Alleging that the
Laws of that state Do Not Pro-
tect Them, Laid Before
the Senate.
Speaker Randall's Personal Explanation,
and a Committee of Investigation
Granted at His Own Request
1he Seward COntumacy
Case, Etc.

submitted the report OF the majority, and
said that the minority reserved the rigat to
submit a report ORDERED to be printed.
| Senator Teller also submitted Il resolution
continuing the COMMITTEES until next session,
and authorizing It to sit during the recess.
| OJe;ed 10 by Senator Bayard, aud laid
aside.
Senator M'Donald called up the house bill
to provide fer holding district and circuit
courts of the United States at Fort Scott,
Kansas. Passed.
Senator Conover presented a petition from
three hundred and thirtysiX colOred people
Of Columbia county, Florida, complaining
that they are not protected in their rights by
the laws of Florida. Referred.
| Senator Morrill,, from the committee on
| finance, reported an amendment to the house
| bill making appropriation to pay arrears
| of pensions. 10 provides that, IN order to
provide tor the prompt payment OF arrears OF
| pensions, the secretary OF the treasury shall
dispose OF, at not less than par, four per cent
| bonds, not exceeding eighteen millions, or IN
lieu thereof issue certificates of deposit, pro
vided for in the act of February 26, 1879,
the proceeds of the sale of such bonds to be
| applied exclusively to the payment of claims
for arrears of pensions arising under the act
| OF January 25 1879 Referred.
Senator Dawes, from the committee on
! finance, reported an amendment to the bill
| making ar appropriation for the payment of
| arrears OF pensions, so as to provide that IN
no case shall arrears of pensions be allowed
| and paid from time prior to the date OF
ac' ual disability Referred.
Before disposlng of the bill the senate went
| into executive session.
When the doors were reopened, Senator
| Spencer, from the committee on commerce,
reported the river and haroor appropriation
bill, with amendments. Placed on the cal
| eldar.
The census bill, as amended by the house,
| was referred to the census committee.
! The senate then resumed consideration OF
| the bill making an appropriation for the
| payment of the arrears OF pensions. The
| amendments proposed by the committee on
| appropriations, providing that pension agents
| shall receive for their services IN paying ar
| rears, etc. thirty cents foc each payment, and
| apDrOpriating fifteen thousand collars to meet
| such expense, and striking out Of the house
bill the clause providing that the act grant
| lag arrears of pensions shall extend to pen
| s!0os granted by special acts OF congress,
were agreed to.
Senator Dawes submitted an amendment
| reported by him from the committee on
| finance this moruing, providing that IN no
| case shall arrears OF pensions be allowed and
| paid from time prior to the date OF actual
disability. Agreed to.
Senator Ingalls, submitted an amendment
| from the committee on pensions. 1t pro-
| vjdes for dividing the States and Territories
number; provides for commission to attend
10 each Of said districts at least once year,
ana assigns the pension surgeon and pension
clerk to make medical and surgical exanlna-
tons and to take testimony IN pension cases.
1t further provides FOX the appointment OF
such pension surgeons and clerks by the sec
retary of the interior, and the examination
of pensioners with q view to preventing
frauds on the pension bureau. Senator In
gals in explanation of the amendment, said
it was IN the direction OF reformation. 1t had
been before tue senate before 1t the system
| of examining pensioners and applicants be
adopted as proposed by this amendment, it
was thought that frauds could be detected
| and much money saved.
Senator Edmunds raised The point OF order
tLat this was legislation on the general APP
preparation bill.
The chair ISanat2r Hoarl decided that this
was not a general appropriation bill.
Senator Edmunds said he did not think 1t
wise for the senate to act upon this matter
with haste, as it made great change IN the
pension laws,
After debate upon Senator Edmuuds' S
point of order, the chair submitted the CUES
ton to the senate, and it was decided that
this was not a general appropriation Dill, and
/ that the amendment was in order
Senator Voorhees, said he did not bsleve
this bill would accomplish all that was
claimed for Il. 1t contemplated radical
| change IN the pclotUA Dllitdu' 1ESttou VI
! organizing a corps Of e4aUz4uers outside, he
preferred a reorganization OF tue 5Rteau IN
side.
Pending discussion, the bill was LAID aside
tenn porariy.
Senator Window, f.om the committee on
| appropriations, reported, with amendments,
tins suudry civil appropriation bill. tlaceI
! on the calendar.
! Senator Witnars called up the house reso-
luti0ns in memory of TIE late Beverly
{ Douglass. Suitable remarks upon the lite
aud character of the deceased were made by
Senators Wthers, Thurman, Hereford, and
Ransom, and the senate, as q further mark OF
respect to the memory Of the deceased, adj
iourned.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
In the senate the nomination of Samuel
HAYES as postmaster 1T St. Louis called forth
extended remarks from q nEmbar OF sena-
; tors. The committee on postoihces ana post
roads being equally divided reported with
! out recomm endatiou. 1t was opposed maln )
Chauncey J. EIley, should have been re-
tanned in the Office upon civil-service princl'
p tiles. The fact vas developed in the debate
however, that the President had informed
the comm tiee that rejection Of the pend
5 ing nomination would not have the effect oil
raInstatiug Filley, and that he would mol
under any circumstances reappoint him
The nomination was confirmed by'a vote oil
y yeas to l6 nays, the Democrats with one
or two exceptions all voting in the affirmative
AZ THE HOUSE.
5 Mr. Randall made a personal explanation
| in regard 10 the charges made against MN
| in letter wEitten In September, 1876, by
| Special Agent Wllliams to Major w. b
, | Moore, in regard to the appropriation war.
2 | rants issued to the bureau Of engraving ana
7 | printing, and offered resolution providing
= for the appointment of special committed
4 | to inquire into the said charges.
1 | - think It due to say at this time that
| have never had ia my i:te one dollar OF In
| terest as stakeholder, o. IL any ether way
| directly or indirectly, 10 any paper I2Il "a The
{ ! United States or elsewhere; nor has anyone
q | nearly or remotely connected with me eve
had. have never had, directly or indirectly
| as stockholder or in any other way, any In
p terest in any bank pote company IN tn
| United States or elsewhere, ! Eish to adj
? | further that ! never in nay HE spoke 70 y T
e Bristow, Mr.. Conant. Mr.. Jones, Mr. Iayio
j. or auv other person, as to appropriation war
T. | rants FOX any purpose whatever, and that
Il | never spoke or knew of those two approprla
! tons as mentioned unti ! came to read c
them"
Messrs. Hale, Kelly and Thompson lie
pubiicans) paid very fine tribut.s TO the IN
: | tegrlty of the speaker and secuted the charge
:, as unworthy Of so much investigation. MI
!, | RanGa!, however, insisted that a formal III
. | curry and rrpSSt was due to him and to ia
| country, and, therefore, by unanimous vote
- 1 the committee was granted.
Tne report IN reference to the ventilation {
he house Was discussed Tor two hours, an
2 gss finally adopted 9Th various amend
| mentg.
ID The following commissioners were az
"a pointed to carry opt the provisions OF the It
port, aad 10 serve without compensation