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

oil file.
Also, communication from the Secretary Of the
Interior transmitting letter from the Commits
soner of Pensions relating to the act granting
rears Of pensions, and suggesting certain amend.
ments TO that bill calling the attention of Congress
to the present system of adludicatiug pension
claims, and the adoption OF proper legislation for
the protection OF the Government against fraudu.
lent claims The Commissioner recommends an
appropriation Of $4,000 for temporary clerks In his
oiiice estimates that s3l 0000O0 viii he required to
pay arrears o( pensions to those on the rolls on
January 25 1879 the date of tho passage of the bill
S25OOW to pay cases added from January % TO the
close Of the present fiscal year md SjOO000O to pay
arrears IN cases added during the fiscal year end.
ing June 30, 1880. The communications were re.
ferrcd TO the Committees on Pensions and Appro-
Mr. VOORHEES, presented n petition. signed by
members of the bar of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, favorng the repeal Of the net
OF June 49, 1873 IN regard to special assessments In
the District of Columbia Referred TO the Commit.
tee on the Judiciary.
Mr. MERRIMoN from the Committee on the Dis.
trlct of Columbia. reported adversely on House
concurrent resolution authorizing the Commissions
ers Of the District of Columbia to receive and re.
port upon ,inndjusted claims for damage to real
estate in the District of Columbia. aud upon House
Dill to incorporate the Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospi.
tal OF the District of Columbia, and they were in.
definitely postponed
lie also reported, from the same committee, with
amendments, House bill to abandon u portion of
Rock street. In the city Of Georgetown, d. G. Placed
OIL the calendar
Mr. ANTHONY. from ihc Committee on Printing
reported favorably on the resolution 10 print extra
copies of the annual report of the Smithsonian In.
stltuon for 1878. Agreed to-
lie also reported iavorably on House resolution
10 print copies OF Professor Hayden's tenth annual
report for the Interior Department. Agreed TO-
Mr.; CAMERON Pa.l called up Senate bill for the
relief of sufferers by loss of the Government steamer
j. Don Cameron. Passed.
Mr.. WrHERs presented petition of the Catholic
Young Mems National Union. protesting against
the discrimination made by the United states Gov.
ernment in the appointment of chaplans in the
army and navy, by which Catholic soldiers and
seamen are deprived of the benefit of their religion
and III The appointment of Indian agents whereby
vast numbers of Indians who are Catholics are
placed in charge of denominations In which hey
have no interest or confidence. Referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
Mr.. CoNKLING, from the Committee on the Judi
eary, reported adversely on House bill to provide
Tor inc stamping OF unsamped documents and pa
pers Senate bill to amend and re-enact section 81
Of the Revised Statutes, In relation TO certain dis
trict courts; and House bill, fixing the compensa.
ton Of United States Marsha.s and Deputies and
Tor other purposes. They were all indefinitely post
ponod.
the Committee on Naval AiIhirs to consider and re.
port upon the ACCESSIBILITY of making sufficient ap
preparation for the completion of the four double
turreted monitors-Purltan, Amphridite, Monad.
mock, and Terror-now in process of construction,
as set forth in the letter of the Secretary of the
Navy OF January Q, 1879. He sent to the Clerks
desk and had read letter from the contractors at
Wilmington, Del. to the effect that the Amphrldite
had been upon the ways for several years. resulting
taking work on account of that vessel occupy
ing the ways. The resolution was agreed to.
,b ME- :s Mo M called up House bin e authorize
funding of the public debt 1t authorizes and d.
reefs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue in ex.
change for lawful money of the United States that
may be presented for such exchange certificates of
deposit of the denomination of So bearing inter.
est at the rate of per centum per annum and con-
yertibe at any time with the accued interest into
the per cenum bonds described in the refunding
act; and the money so received shall be applied
only 70 me payment OF the $40 bonds in the mode
The Senate Committee on Finance reported an
amendment making the rate of interest 3.O65 per
centum instead OH per centum.
Mr.. HERMAN moved to amend so rs TO make the
rate of interest per cent.
Mr. CocKEELL opposed the amendment, and said
he could not vote for any bill to make the Govern
ment pay per cent. interest. He believed the
doyeInment should not pay over 3per cent.
Mr. KEENAN, said the object of this bill was to en-
able persons having small earnings to accumulate
enough to get $50 or n 500 bond.
The ameendment of Mr.. Herman was agreed to,
and the bill was then read third time and passed
Bits were introduced as follows and referred
BY MI M91RILt: Authorizing the conversion of
Also bill to amend sections 5l67 and 5l7l of the
Revised Statutes relative to the deposit of bonds by
BY Mr.. WINDOW To authorize the City of Win.
mona to construct operate, aud maintain bridge
across the Mississippi River at Winnona.
7, ny Mr, EANLIS provldins for compensation to
= +. Rice for property transferred by him to the
Government OF the United States for the use of The
diplomatic and consular representatives at Ia.
kodadi. Japan.
by Mr. PLUME, to provide for the disposition of a
portion of the Fort Hayes military reservation, In
By Mr.. BooTH, to authorize the collection of Gus.
toms at san Francisco; TO fix the compensation of
night Inspectors in the custom house.
Mr. CoCKRElL submitted an amendment to the
army appropriation bill providing that supplies and
goods for the army shall be delivered to and re.
ceipted for by the quartermaster commissary
ferred.
Mr. DAVIS dll.A from the Committee on the Ju,
dietary, reported with amendments, House hin 70
create the northern judicial district of Texas; 10
change the eastern and western judicial districts of
That state and to fix the times and places for hold.
Ing court therein. Placed on the calendar.
The army appropriation bill was received from
the House Of Representatives, and, on motion of
Mr.. Blaine referred to the Committee on Appro-
The Senate then proceeded to consider bills on
the calendar and passed that authorizing an ex-
tension OF the patent Of Albert Fuller of New
York for Improvement In faucets.
Mnen me bill authorizing railroad companies to
construct and maintain telegraph lines for COM
lnerclal purposes and to secure TO the Government
the use Of the same for postal military and other
purposes was reached, twas laid oyer, a hearing
roads to The Western Union Company and other
parties interested.
Mr.. MATTHEWS gave notice that he would call It
up on Friday next, the day after the meeting OF
the Committee on Railroads.
me Senate then resumed consideration of the
diminished business, being the bill to provide addi-
ton9l accommodations for the Library of Congress,
aud II was laid aside Informally IN order that Mr.
MeCreory might address the Senate, in accordance
with previous notice, on the bill recently intro.
duced by him TO transfer the Office OF Indian Affairs
from the Interior to the War Department.
Mr. MCCREERY then, in an able and forcble
speech In favor of the transfer which commanded
marked attention from the Senators and Represent
atives who had come over TO listen to it, and from
the galleries, which were crowded TO their utmost
capacity.
Mr., PADDOCK called up the resolution submitted
ON me 4th OF December last by Mr.. Davis (W. Na.)
lnslfucting the Committee OH Agriculture TO CON
slder what can or ought TO be done by the General
government 10 better advance, encourage, and fos'
Ter agricultural interests.
lie also spoke at length of the Importance of the
AGRICULTURAL Interests of the country and the neces
sly Iof congress taking action TO build up that in
At the conclusion of Mr.. Paddocks remarks the
resolution was agreed to-.
Mr.. CoNklING from the Committee on Com,
merce, reported lavorably on House Bill TO author
ize the construction of bl idge across The Missouri
River ut or near Lexington, Mo. Placed on the cal
endar ~ " w ~
Mr.. GARLAND gave notice that on Saturday next
ct 1880 p, m, he would move TO take up the Texas
Pacific Railroad bill.
Mr.. ALLISON, from the Committee on Indian Az
fairs reported iavorably on Senate bill 10 enable
the Secretary of the Interior TO make final settle
ment with the Pottawatamie Indians of Michigan
and Indiana under treaty stlpulatons. Placed on
the calendar.
The Senate then, at four o'clock p M, on motion
OF MI. Morrill, went into executive session. and
when the doors were reopenod, at $3.50 p M, ad
Journed.