Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-03


Deadlock on the Army Bill on the CUES
ton of Troops at the Polling Places-The
New Senate Certain to be Called For an
Executive Session--severe Censure of
Judge Blodgett by Proctor Knots Re-
port--1IiscellaneOus.
CONDITION OF THE APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.]
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 2.-The condition
OF business in Congress last night was about as
follows: The fertilization appropriation bill
| has been in conference committee since
| January, and no agreement has been reached.
AS the bill relates to little else than few heavy
guns which are of no use and never will be Of
any, its failure will not be matter of great
| importance,
The river and harbor bill is still in the Senate
committee which has added so much to it that
failure of the bill is generally conceded The
| only effect to its failure would be to save the
peoples money and postpone some useful inn
provements.
The deficiency bill is in conference commit
tee. Its failure, although it would be en-
barrassing, would not necessitate an extra ses-
sion. 1t covers debts due by the government
ior many years past and another year can't be
fatal. While failure of the bill might serious
~ inconvenience individuals and bring con-
fusion to certain departments, the government
would get on very we'll without it.
The postofice bill is also still in conference.
The rejection by such large vote of the SEN
ate's amendment regarding the Brazilian mail
contract leaves little controversy between the
| two Houses. 1t said strong effort will be
made to induce the conferees to hold out until
| modified amendment relating to the Brazil
ian mail can be adopted. The House itself
having adopted large part of the senate's
plan to reclassify the conference, can and has
left but little for the committees to fight over
The army bill is another one in conference.
The decided vote in the Senate upon rejection
OF the House plan of recognizing the army re-
moves the chief obstacle to an argument upon
this bill. There is but little left to divide the
two Houses, and the bill will undoubtedly pass
on the conference report.
Only one other important bill remains. and
that Is for the purpose of providing for the
payment Of arrears of pensions. It's failure
would by NO means cause Congress to be re-
called, for the pensioners have been 80 long
without their money that the present payment
will be looked upon more a bonus than
settlement.
EXTRA SESSION.
Aconference was held last evening between
Chas. Foster, representing the Republicans,
and Abram s. Hewitt, the Democrats, to con-
slider whether it will be posi- BILE to come to
any recommendation by which an extra session
can be avoided. 1t is conceded on all hands
that if the political differences between the
two bodies can be waived, all business can vet
be finished. The proposition which has been
submitted as tentative only between these two
gentlemen is, that the Democrats recede from
their attempts to repeal the supervisor law,
and that the Republicans allow repeal of the
test oath, and consent to the amendment re-
organizing the army. The President told
Senator last night that if there is no necessity
for an extra session of Congress there will at
least be an executive session of the Senate
called.
JUDGE BLoDGETT.
There was great excitement here yesterday
among Judge Blodgett's friends on account of
rumors as to the character of the report to be
submitted by Proctor Knott to the judiciary
committee. What the conclusions are he has
kept with remarkable skill to himself but it
was known late last evening among those who
have been active in presenting the case against
Blodgett, that Proctor Knott had decided to re-
port to exonerate Blodgett to some of the
charges, to censure him to others, and SO
frame the report as to make it at least indirect
~ appear that the three young men who in
stigated proceedings were justified in their
course and that the evidence taken was not
such as to warrant RECOMMENDATION of i'm,
parchment. Had Mr.. Knott been able
to give to the testimony of Hesing
full credence, his report would have
been more severe. This at least is the best &C
| credited information that can be obtainable.
Gen. Butler and Mr.. Lynde, members of the
committee, have both said that it would be
| better for Blodgett to have recommendation
OF impeachment made than such report as
MIR. Knott is believed to have prepared. An
| impeachment, it is urged, would enable Judge
| Blodgett 10 secure vindication, while report
| Of the character reported to have been made by
| MIR. Knott would cast imputations upon his
W fY,rn
for defense or reply. There are very strong in
dlcations that Mr.. Knott will be overruled, and
| that the report of the whole committee will be
an entire generation of Judge Blodgett.
PENSION FRAUDS.
Investigation into the alleged pension con-
spiracy was continued last evening by the COM
mittee on expenditures in the interior depart
ment. Theodore W.>Tallmadge, claim agent,
was examined. He had endorsed the circnlars
distributed for the benefit of Dimmick; had
sent out probably not less than a thousand
| circulars with his own name printed on the
back, soliciting contributions from his clients
| for Dimmick.
Dimmick was examined at great length, his
| testimony showing that he was but little ac-
quainted with members of Congress, and had
but slight knowledge as to what was done by
them IN the way of securing the passage of the
bill for arrearages. The investigation develops
| the fact that there are upwards of $4,000 pen
sioners from which subscriptions were to be
solicited, On cross-examination, Dimmick
! testified that he had received money from PEN
sloners during the last three years to aid his
| efforts to secure the passage of the bill. He
could not tell the amount, but thought it was
about 81 900 or 81, 200. About 81, 500 in SUBJ
scriptions had been received in answer to cir
| culars.
VIM. Dimmick, son of previous Witness
testified that subscriptions were coming in by
each mail.
CONFIRMED.
The Senate confirmed the following nomina-
tions: Peter Williams, of Florida, to be United
States Marshal for the southern district of
Florida; Mr.. Rosalie Haines be deputy post
master at Abingdon, Virginia. in the place of
Lewis n, Rose, whose nomination was rejected;
Walter y. Cox, associate justice of the Supreme
Court Tor the District of Columbia.
| AMENDING THE RULES
Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, yesterday intro
duced resolution. which was referred to the
committee of rules, the effect of which would
be to revolutionize the method of conducting
| public business, and to deprive the appropria-
ton committee of the dictatorship it now has
| over the whole House by reason of this rule,
the appropriation bills. The resolution pro-
poses to change the rules SO that hereafter the
military COMMITTEES shall report the army and
fortfcation bills, the commerce committee the
river and harbor bill, the foreign affairs COM
mittee the consular and diplomatic bill, the
naval committee the navy bill, the Indian
committee the Indian bill, and in this manner
to distribute all bills among the committees
which have jurisdiction of the respective sub.
jects. This proposes to leave with the appro-
priation committee proper only three bills, and
will give every member of the House better
opportunity to participate in the general bust
| ness.
FORT DEARBORN PARK.