National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-11

BY Mr. FULLER: For the relief of certain persons
locating homesteads on the public lands. Also dc.
chfnR forfeited to the United States lands granted
to aid In the construction of railroads not surveyed
in ten years from date of grant
BY Mr.. Fort: To abolish the office of Water Reg
lister in the District Of Columbia.
, By Mr. EDEN: Authorizing the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia to cause suits to be brought
for losses sustained by the District on account of
excessive payments Oh assessment for improve
mcnts.
by Mr.. BUCKNER: Directing the Secretary of War
To report plan to reorganize the militia.
by Mr.. MABriN Resolution of the Legislature
of West Virginia remittlng to the Representatives
Of that state ne matter Of voting for or against the
by Mr. BRENrANo; For the improvement of the
water front of Washington city.
BY Messrs. CRApo and BuSDY To extend the
Jurisdiction OF Justices Of the peace In the District
of Columbia.
by Mr. WAIT: Making moiloble matter printed
by the papyrognph process rate rs Third class mat
BY Mr.. FOSTER To discourage usury and pro.
mote legitimate rates of interest.
IL prohibits banks from allowing Interest OH dc.
by Mr.. CAIN: To amend the law relating to the
sale of lottery tickets in the District of Columbia
so MS To permit church. school, aud charitable scot
cites lotteries for the disposal Of articles.
BY Mr. LIGoN: Aboshlng the duty oil quinine.
Permission was granted to the. Committee on
Commerce to report the river and horbor bill to-
morrow for printing and recommitinl.
Mr.. MANNING moved to suspend the rnles ard
pass tho bill repeating the statutes IN regard to the
appointment aud payment Of supervisors of cleo
ton, and special deputy marshals to aid such SUI
pervisOrs.
The motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill
was dcteaed-yeas 1876; nays 49, not the necessary
two-tblrd vote In the Affirmative.
MIR. ACKLEN introduced bill to restore the frank
Ing privilege to letters sent or received by mem
bcrs of Congress
Also bill TO abolish the mileage of members of
Congress, and to substitute the payment OF actual
travelling expenses. Referred.
Mr.. PHILLIPS moved to suspend herules and pass
The bill to establish postal savings banks. De-
fcated-yeas, 80; nays 1871
Tuesday 18TH was set apart for consideration of
reports from Committee OH Ways and Means.
Mr.. ROBBINS moved to suspend the rules and
adopt the resolution setting aside Thursday, 18th,
for the consideration of the sugar bill. Agreed to
yeas, 100: nays "a.
Mr.WmITTroRNE moved to suspend the rules aud
adopt the resolution setting apart Thursday. Goth,
for the consideration of the report of the Naval
Committee on the matters recently investigated by
IT, Deieatcd-yeas, 1913; nays 107, not the necessary
twothirds vote in the affirmative.
The House then, ut three O'Clock, went into Com
mittee of the Whole (NIr. blackburn in the chair
on the Legislative executive aud judicial nppro-
praton hill
THE bill approprlatcs sl51jIA75 as against csti.
mates of Sl6,00660l aud as against an nppropria-
ton in the like bill of last session of Sl535 23S
Mr. ATKINS chairman of the Committee on APP
propratons) made statement in regard to the
bill aud the state of the finances. large part of
the speech was devoted TO an explanation and de-
Tense of the provisions In regard to the const and
geodctic survey of the country. The bill transfers
tie charge OF Sucn surveys rom the treasury De-
parment to the Interior Department.
1t also abolishes the offices of Surveyors General
from the 3Oh Of June next. Their duties are here
after to be performed by the Superintendent Of the
Coast and Interior Survey It creates the Office of
Director of the Geological Survey. with salary OF
5000 and provides for commission on the codiil.
cation of laws relating to the survey and disposition
of the public domain. Mr. Atkins dwclt upon those
| featuresot the bill and showed the Importance and
necessity of the change In regard to the state OF
the finances he said that the condition of the Treas.
| ury admonished the House that there should be
continued and renewed efforts for economy. as the
admission had to be made that with the sinking
| fund satiSlied) there would be deficiency OF
| 100000 900 or Sl2, 100000.
The only two propositions in the bill which were
likely to provoke serious contest the proposed
| change in the system of surveys and the equaliza
| ton of the force and salaries of the employees OF
both Houses. lie could not understand why the
Senate should conclude that II alone had the right
| to Judge of the number and compensation of It's
officers and employees. 1t was not q question OF
| dignity; 1t was one of constitutional right-thC
| right TO determine how much taxes shall be i'm.
| posed for the purpose of compensating employees
| As Representatives of the people the House could
| not, dare not, yield that right.
| Mr.. FOSTER expressed his approval of the BILL a.
a whole, and suggested that the position taken by
| the Senate In regard TO It's exclusive control over
| the number and compensation of its employees
| was not confined to the Republican Senator'S but
| was held just as deerminedly by the Democratic
| Senators. He reminded the Democratic House
| that there was 10 equalization of salary between
the employees of both Houses and those of the Elk
ecutve Departments, the compensation of the for
mer being some 40 per cent higher Than the latter
| There was therefore, no logic in the attempt tc
equalize the compensation OF officials of the two
| Houses.
Mr.. MONROE made some remarks in favor Of a
more liberal appropriation for the Bureau OF Edu-
| cation.
Mr.. DURHAM replied to Mr.. Monroe, arguing tina
as TO the collection of school statistics sc, the
| commissioners of education IN the various States
could obtain oil necessary information and Stats
| ties from each other
Mr.. BUTLER argued for the proprety of the en-
plOyees of Congress receiving larger compensation
| than those of the Departments, the former being
subject TO the great strain of long, continuous
sOns; and although employees of Congress were
employed only part Of the year, yet their compen
| sation was fixed on the same principle that rent
| In Washington were fixed. members having to pay
as much rent for the houses they occupied they
| could have the same houses Mt for the whole year
lie also advocated more liberality to the Bureau
of Education, stating II disgraccful fact tina
| while in the Prnssian army every man could reat
| and write, he had seen rolls gilmore than five thou
| sand men In the American army four out of every
five OF whose signatures were made by marks. This
| was from the want of well digcstcd system Of ed
ucaion All that there was of value in the Massa
| ceusetts system of education had been brought by
the late Horace Mann from the kingdom OF Prussia
The House then, at five o'clock, adjourned.