National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-08
SENITE.
FRIDAY. Feb. 7, 1879.

Mr.. FERRY, from the committee on POstOHlces
and Post Roads, reported. with amendments the
post route bill. Placed on the calendar
Mr.. MERRMoS from the Committee OIL the Dis
trct of Columbia. reported back the House bill to
quiet title to real estate In the District Of Columbia,
and said as there were important legal questions
connected with the bill ne moved that the District
Committee he discharged from its further consider
alton, and that it be referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
Mr. MATTHEWS from the select committee to in.
quire as to the best means OF preventing the intro
ductlon of epidemic diseases reported a resolution
authorizing the commitee to sit during the recess
of Congress, and retain the services of three ex-
pcrls, who shall visit Havana and such other places
ns the committee may direct to inquire into the
history Of yellow fever.
The joint resolution also requests the President
to invite the concurrence aud cooperation of the
Spanish government In the examination ana eX-
perlments TO be mnde in furtherancc Of interna-
honal commerce and the sanitary interests of men.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. HAMifN, from thee ommittce Oh Foreign Re-
asons. reported bnck memorials Of the Oregon
Legislature iavorng modification of the treaty of
lS6Swith China so as to restrict the immigration Of
Also Senate bill for that purpose, and moved that
Tie committee be discharged from their further
consideration. So ordered
The Senate BILL on his motion, was Indefinitely
postponed
He then reported back the House bill to restrict
The immigration Of Chinese TO the United States
and asked that the committee be discharged from
Mr.. sARGrNr inquired If the bill would go on the
calendar
Mr. HAMLGN replied in the affirmative; but the
Nice-presdcnt decided IL would not
Mr. HAMIIN then moved that the bill be placed
ON the calendar and gave notice that when 1t
should he taken up he would move that II be in
definitely postponed.
Mr.. SARGENT spoke Of the importance of the Chi.
nese question and the interest which the people of
the Pacific coast felt therein. He gave notice that
on Wednesday next, at 1880 p. m. he would call the
bill mp and urge It's passage.
Conling Kirkwood Eaton. and Morgan the select
committee authorized by the resolution Of Mr. Mat
thcws to sit during the recess and inquire into
claims of citizens of tho United States against the
government of Nicaragua.
=, The Senate then proceeded TO consider bills on
the calendar and the following were passed
Senate bill TO extend the provisions of the act Of
June s. 1874, in relation to prize money to all fleet
officers.
widow of Thomas Ii. Watkins. late captain Com.
pany b. Purnell Legion. Maryland
The above bill led to some discussion, during
which Mr. VOORHEES, said the Commissioners of
Pensions expressed the opinion that the bill grant
Ing arrears of pensions did not apply to pensions
specially granted-only to those granted under gen.
crul laws.
would take s3 100000 TO pay arrears of pensions in
cases now on the roll and there were 100000 yet
So or sSoS ' Arrears nSs Although there were
great many deserving persons, he thought Congress
Ind gone too far. He believed the bill granting
arrears of pensions would take $50 100000 from the
Treasury. The Commissioner of Pensions had said
that 20 per cent. of the pensions were frauduleny
Mr. BECK said the Commissioner of Pensions told
the Committee on Appropriations that 20 per cent
Sned he %SM was aware Of
that fact and ifany steps had been taken to remedy
the evil.
sions, replied that the committee had been so i'll
formed. but Congress had not sustained the com.
mittee in the measures brought forward to prevent
wrongs. The Pension Bureau had been making
efforts year after year to detect fraudulent
and last year, through the efforts of the Bureau,
100000 had been saved.
When The bill introduced by Mr. Burnside on the
9th of April last to introduce moral and social
science into the public schools of the District Of
Columbia was reached on the calendar several
Senators called for its reading and it was read at
length
lit provides that the school officers shall introduce
MS part of the daily exercises of each school in
their jurisdiction instruction IN the elements OF So
economy, puncuolity, patience, selfdenial health,
purity. temperance, cleGnliness, honesty truth JUS
lice pollteness peace, fidelity, philanthropy, patr-
otism, sefrespeet, hope, perseverance,. cheerful.
ness, courage, sef-reance gratitude pity, mercy,
further provides that it shall be the duty of the
teachers to give n short oral lesson every day upon
some one Of the topics menoned %c ana to re-
tration of the same upon the following morning;
and further, that emulation shall be cherished be:
tween the pupils in accommodating thoughts and
facts in regard to the noble traits possible and In
illustrating them by their daily conduct;
The Committee on Education and Labor pro-
posed amendments striking out much of the bill,
"That the school officers shall introduce, as q
part of the daily exercises of each school in their
jurisdiction instructions in the elements of social
md moral science; that shall be the duty of the
teachers to give short oral lesson every day upon
some of the social or moral virtues which char
ncterize the good citizen and to require pupils to
furnish from time to time thoughts or other llus-
irations of the same that emulation shall be cher
isled between the pupils In accommodating thoughts
In illustrating them by their daily conduct"
The Senate voted down all amendments, and the
question being on the third reading of the bill as
MIR SARGENT demanded the regular order and
Y being halfpast one o'clock the time to lay aside
The calendar, the bill went over
Mr. Burnside opposing the posponement of the
bill said he was very sure that some of the legiSla-
had this bill been passed earlier
Mr. HARRIS from the Select Committee on Epi-
demic Diseases, reported bill to prevent the in:
PRODUCTION of contagious diseases in the United
States and 70 establish Il Bureau of Public Health,
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. CoCKRELL entered motion TO reconsider the
vote by which the bill in relation to'prlze money
of fleet officers was passed this morning. He said
II would take four or five hundred thousand dol
lars from the Treasury of the United States.
Mr. FERRY submitted as an amendment to the
PostOhlce appropriation bill the bill which re.
the pay Of tercarrers. Referred to the Commit
tee ON Appropriations.
The Vice President then laid before the Senate
the unfinished business, being the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States, pro.
hibiting the payment of claims of disloyul persons
for property Injured or destroyed in the late war OF
the rebellion.
Mr.. EpMuNps, in charge of that measure, con.
Mr.. Window might address the Senate, IN accord
Rnce with prey ,ous notice.
Mr.. WINDOW then called up the resolution sub
mittcd by him on the 10th of January, providing
for the appointment of Il committee 10 inquire into
The cXpedieuCy and prGcticability Of promoting the
migration of colOred persons.
In his Introductory remarks Mr., WINDOW said
In an honest and earnest effort to find n solution
OF this most troublesome problem, shall not hesi-
tate to expose myself to the criticism Of political
friends MS well as opponents If the truth seems tu
lead in that direction. No one can regret more
than myself the facts and conditions which render
such measure necessary. But however humlli.
nting they may be to our national pride, they must
be honestly met, we would provide remedy foI
them, Accepting the disOgreeable facts as they are
and human nature MS II u.s. let us cndeayor 10 find q
remedy adapted To them.
Fourteen years have passed since the great wal
closed, ana yet fear we are to-day as far from
real national unity and harmony us In 1866 Con.
stiutOnNl amendments aud acts of Congress have
alike failed to enforce rights solemnly Guaranteed
TO large portion of the people. Prejudice and
Castillo growth Of centuries-intreuched behind a
local public sentiment and nurtured and defended
by powerful political organization, have thus far
proved stronger than constitutions and laws. The
"SOuthern question" us 1t Is called still presents
the most difficult problem in American politics. II
is stl the huge forbidden skeleton in our national
closet.
Itstl threatens the inspiration and perpetuauon