National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-12
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.
The Library Building Discussed In
the Senate.
No Action Taken as TO n site--Naval Appro.
priation Bill Passed-r Transfer of the
Coast and Gcodctic Surveys Dis
cusscd - Contested Election
Case Reported - River
aud Harbor Bill.
SENATE.


municotlon from the Secretary of War, transmit
ting letter from the Chief Of Engineers, United
States army, protesting against the proposed change
In the clerical force In his office, contained In the
pending legislative, judicial, and executive appro.
priation bill Referred.
Also n communication from the Secretary of the
Interior in answerto Senate resolution OF the DIST
ultlmo in regard to additional clerical force neces
sary in the Pension Office and the Surgeon Gener
al'sOnice to insure tho prompt examination of pen
sion claims Referred TO the Committee on Appro-
printions.
On motion of Mr.. CoNKLINo the vote by which
The Joint resolution authorizing the Commissioners
OF tho District Of Columbia 10 receive and report
upon unadiusted claims for damages to real estate
In the District OF Columbia was indefinitely post.
poned Yesterday was reconsdered and the BIZ was
placed on the calendar, with the adverse report.
Mr.. MERRrNoN said this subject would be covered
bya bill hereafter to be reported
Mr.. WINDOW from the conference committee
on the naval appropriation bill, submitted a re-
port. which was agreed TO- and the bill passed
Mr.. WINDOW, In explanation OF the report, said
the Senate added $4,000 TO the House bill. The
House conferocs had rcccded from tho disagree
Senate conferees had reccdcd from an amendment
involving $4,000 additional for provisions and
clothing The n as 49, agreed upon appropriated
priation for the preseut fiscal year, and sl57ll25O
less than the estimates for next year
The Senate then on motion of Mr.. Withers. pro-
ceeded TO consider the bills on the calendar for the
removal of political disabilities of various parties
and bills were prssed removing the disabilities of
Nash, II. Y. q. Thomas. Charles F. NJ spottswood
John D. Simms, G. II. Kennedy, w D. Sinclair and
X l.. Page, of Virginia Isaac r. Trmble, II. Y
IT, Lewis, and W. G. WyshOm of Maryland; G. II
Williamson Of New York John 7. Tucker, of the
mia.
Mr.. CAMERON tPal submitted Joint resolution
providing for commission to consider and report
what legislation is needed for the better regulation
Of commerce among the States. Referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. CAMERON (Pe.), from the Committee on Ma
val Affairs, reported adversely on Senate bill au-
ihorl1,ng the retrGment Of Colonel William II:
poned.
He also reported from the same committee favor
ably on Senate bill aDproprlating $1,000 to pay Ed
ward Shields and Others Orinjuries received by the
explosion ut me Bridesbnrg (Pa1 Arsenal on Au-
gust 1875 Placed OF the calendar
RMr. MORRILL, from the Committee on Finance
reported without amendment Senate bill TO amend
sections 6l6I and 5l7l of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, relative to the deposit of bonds.
Placed on the calendar
out amendments Senate bill authorizing the con-
version of national gold banks. Placed on the cal
endnr.
Both of the above bills were introduced by Mr.
Morrill, yesterday and then published.
Mr.. DORSEY, from the Committee on Appropria-
bill with sundry amendments. Placed on the cal
endar
Mr.. BECK, n member of the Committee on Appro
prations, reserved all points of order in regard to
The bill just reported.
Mr.. DORSEY also reported from the Committee on
Appropriations the amendments recently submitted
by Mr.. Ferry from the Committee on Post.Oflices
and Post-Roads in regard to Redistribution Of
mail matter and REIMBURSEMENT of compensation paid
to railroads for transporting the mails. These
amendments are in substance those attached to the
post route bill of last year, which bill failed on &C.
count of the Brazilian mail subsidy amendment
In submitting the report Mr. Dorsey said the com.
mittee made no recommendation. but they would
not oppose the amendment should the Committee
ON Post-Ofices and Post.Roads urge It,
Mr.. FERRY gave notice that he would urge II, as
the committee had instructed him to submit 1t.
Bits were introduced as follows and referred:
B, by Mr. PADDOCK; To provide for term Of the
United States Circuit and District Courts at the city
of Lincoln, Ncb. aud to divide the State into two
judicial districts.
BY Mr.. DAWES To amend the act of June 90, 1874
amending the charter of the Freedmens Savings
By Mr.. KERNAN: To authorize the President to
appoint George Foster Robinson to be paymaster in
the army.
[Robinson is the man who defended Secretary
Seward from the assassin Payne and was injured at
Mr. PATTERSON, from the Committee OH Terri
tories reported favorably on the bill to establish
United states court in the Indian Territory and for
other purposes Placed on the calendar, together
with written report on the subject.
William Thompson, of the Revolutionary army
was discussed until halfpast one o'clock p. m. and
then laid aside.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
unfinished business, being the bill to provide ad
gress which led to lengthy discussion.
Mr. HOWE spoke of the necessity Of increased ac-
tanned $4,000 books and $4,000 pamphlets and the
number was increasing daily.
-, The Pin, as reported proposes to erect the new
library building on Judiciary square,
TO this bill Mr.. Morrill,, chairman Of the Com.
mttee OH Public Buildings and Grounds submit
ted an amendment TO purchase the squares east of
the Capitol between streets north and south and
First and Second streets east.
Mr. VOORHEES, favored the amendment of Mr.
Morrill,, and said we had been exceedingly unfor.
iunae In the selection of sites for public build
E we YG eac R ers s5eeOn Of public 6ud
~ some distant day the Capitol might be removed
TO some more central portion Of tho Union. One of
moval of the Capital would be the wretched taste
exercised in selecting sites for public buildings
brary from the Capitol building and argued ed that hat
there was ample room to extend the building and
dome with building beneath it instead of build.
ing with dome surmounting it. The dome had
an eXtinguishing effect 1t was excessiyoi it was
colossal. He argued that the raising of the centre
OF the building, would add to the grandeur of its
appearance. He referred to the Senate chamber
badly ventilated, and characterized them as iron
boxes, In which hundreds were kept daily, like
individual In this country about whom there Ind
been much talk and threats of prosecution. Had
he mt. Conkling) been called to prosecute him he
would not have overlooked the fact that under his
sanction an iron box was made in each end Of the
building, whore men had to work and were kept
pehned up, without opportunity to sec bird or
tree or get mouthml Of pure air,
IN the above remarks Mr. Conkling referred to
Jefferson Davis, who was Secretary of War; and
had charge Of the construction Of the dongs Of the
Capitol buildingl
Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Conking spoke of
the bad ventilation of the Senate Chamber, and
paid tho health, the comfort the convenience, the
expedition of business In the long years to come,
would be benefited and derive great advantage by
The transfer of the two Houses of Congress 10 some
more desirable part of the building, which might
be done by adding to the structure.
Mr.. MORRILL, denied that the Senate Chamber
was badly ventilated and argued that the Atmos-
phore In II was as pure US that in any room In the
world.
After some further discussion, Mr. CoEKLING sub,
mited resolution TO recOmmit the bill to the
Library committee, with instructions to report n
Div providing for q commission of skilled persons
70 examine ana report to Congress touching the
sile for new library and especially the practical
changes which may be made in the Capitol build.
Ing for the accommodation Of the two Houses of
Congress and the Library.
Pending discussion
The Senate, at 4.20, on motion of Mr. Thurman
went INTO executive session, and when the doors
Were opened, at O:2O p M, adjourned until tomor-
row.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
The conference report on the naval appropriation
bill was presented by Mr.. Clymer and was agreed
10.
The majority and minority reports of the Com.