National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-11
HoUSE or REpR Es EyrfTfrEs.


Mr.. MORRISON, from the Committee on Ways and
Means reported u resolution providing for the final
adjournment of Congress at twelve o'clock on the
17Ih of June. Adopted.
Mr.. HARRIS (Va.) asked leave to offer joint rcso-
ton Npp-opriating 5000 for monument to mark
the birthplace of George Washington. He re-
marked that the house of Washmgton's parents
had disappeared, and that nothing remained to
show to poscrty where the Father Of his Country
was born.
The Speaker asked whether there was any oIlec-
ton 10 the joint resolution.
Mr. GARFIELD. None on this side, am sure.
There was no objection and the joint resolution
was passed.
ON motion Of Mr. BLACKBURN, the Senate resoln-
ton relative TO the joint rules of the two Houses
was referred TO the Committee on Rules
Mr. HOOKER, from the Committee on Indian AZ
fairs, reported bill for the aSccrtanmcnt OF the
amount due the Choctaw nation. Referred to The
Committee Of the Whole, and made special order
for the second Tuesday in January,
Mr. Cox chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, reported n joint resolution, rcciting that
allegations arc made that under the laws Of the
Russian government discrimination Is made
against IsrNcile citizens OF the United States in the
matter of holding real estate in Russia, declaring
that the rights of United States citizens shall not be
impaired at home or lbroad, because of religious
belief, and directing the President lin case as is
alleged, existing treaties with Russia found to
discriminate in that any other particular as TO
any class of American citiaensJ 10 lake immediate
action to have the treaties amended as to remedy
.hc grievance.
Mr. MCMAHON, from the Committee on Appropri-
atoms reported back the bill making appropriations
for certain judicial expenses Of the Government
Referred 10 the Committee of the Whole.
The House then. at LOB, went into Committee of
The Whole (Nlr. Blackburn in the chair upon that
BILL all general debate being limited to forty min
ltcs.
Mr. MCMAHON proceeded to explain the provi.
Sions of the bill: The committee had reduced the
their assistants $4,000 for the pay of marshSis and
their deputies $4,000, and for the pay Of jurors
$4,000 The fees of witnesses had been left accord.
Ing to the estimate of the Department of Justice.
He was sorry that the committee had not been
able 70 reduce The pay Of maIsholS great deal
more than II had. No money was appropriated for
the payment of special deputy marshpls for cleo.
ton purposes, because clause In the bill provided
that no part OF the money appropriated should be
used 10 pay any salary, &c., under or In virtue of
title 20 Of the Revised Statutes, or any provision
thereof That title covered the appointment Of
deputy marshals and the subpnnaing of witnesses
before supervisors of elections, Section of the
bill repealed the test oath, and provided new
method of drawing Jurors Section provided that
no citizen should be disqualified from service as
Jurors on account OF race, color, or previous cond-
ion of scryitude.
meant deficiency, 1t means that deficiency
bill would be brought in some time In the future
The Committee on Appropriations had seen tit 10
bring in bill which cut down last years apprO.
priGtions, and the only effect Of which would be
the denial OF Justice ana the postponemont of the
trial of cases.
Mr.. GARiIEFn said In 1870 Congress passed a
lnw resricting the expenditure foraiy one year TO
the appropriation made for that year, when II was
found that the heads OF departments pretended to
make Obligations in form Of contract and II was
enacted that no department of the Government
shall involve the Government in any contract for
The future payment OF money in excess of uppro.
priGtions,
In pai mdtCrid rs part Of the same provision II
Is provided in section 5I32 that no contract or nur.
chase ON behalf OF the United States shall be undp
unless the same is authorized by law cXCcpt mud
here is an exception utterly overlooked In this law
In the War and Navy Departments for clothing.
subsistence, forage, fuel, water or TRANSPORTATION
This may throw little side light ON another bill
to be reported for the army Under the law as il
now stands II Congress neglected u pass the rcgl.
lar appropriation bills or ii the appropriations Yan
out, the army Is still 10 be fed, aud no starved
10 death; tits TO be clothed and not left naked IL is
to be transported, and not lell idle So also with
The navy, But here Is section which nulliles all
that
Here is an inhibition not merely to make any
contract but ITO incur any liability" That is Il
term much broader than has been i'm the statute
hitherto What docs II meau2 II would prevent
hePresident from sending minister extraordinary
TO foreign court, although authorized TO do so by
the Constitution. II would prevent him appoint.
ing Judgct TO new judicial district. In short any
executive act which the President Is commanded
to perform he is here forbidden 10 perform III lis
performance lncurs any liability, Tho meaning OF
y all Is this During the current year there is to
be an election for Congress in the Stale Of California