New-York tribune., 1879-12-13
XLVIrH CONGRESS-IID SESSION
REGULAR REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

ONLY THE uorsr IN syssfoN-TIE FORTiFfcarfoNs
AND PENSION APPROPRIATION BILLS passed.
FEW PRIVATE BILLS DISPOSED OF.
| HOUSE. WASHINGTON Dec. IL 1879.
| bill for the appointment or an inter-
oceanic Commission to determine the best plan anu
rou,e for the establishment OF a communication Tor
trade and commerce between the Atlantic ana Pachc
Oceans across the Isthmus OF Daren, was introduced
by Mr. GIBSON Dem, LsD. and referred to the 'om-
mittee on Commerce. TIE bill provides for mo appoint
ment by the President of . commission " CONSIST "i
five members--one from the Navy and one from the
Army one from the Coast Survey, and two from ciVh
life The Army Navy and Coast Survey members are
without extfa compensation; thc ci'h mc"i'c''
are to receive 300 per month
MIR GILLETTE OFFERS ANOTHER RESOLUTION.
Mr. GILLETTE tDem and Gbk.. Iowa. introduced
the following JOINT resolution. which was referred 20
| ihe Committee on Coinage. Weights and Measures:
gessIred BY he senaf, ard Hosse or R>7rcssnfatrIs
Of fhe Caittd Sfas Of America ~ Congress asse@oo
Thai we are orpo, reduction ~ tie volume Ot
United STATES egsltender notes pow andlhg uu,.
contrary, ae iu favor OF substituting grtrnuaenSs s
for National bank thus saving many millions OF
dollars Of taxes to the people annually: ., ,.,-o-
s;riced coinage OF the 4I2lgrans silver dollars had
bee the pac,e of tnis country for eighty years lror
Tae SPEAKER then proceeded to call committees for
Ens we're pa sod removing the political disabilities o.
Atner slnead, of OREGON j. u Brooks and u a. HILL
bin was pss authorizing the Assist ut Treasurer
OF the United siaiesat to wave lDe 'niotos
=
drafts him held by the Masonic Bank. OF liis-
Mr. McC0oK Csep y " from tie Committee on
Military Affairs. reported hlll granting ihr ilsl ot
the Water shops pond In Springfield Mass
- the Springfield aud New London Railroad COMPANY
Mr MORSE Dcm Mass) from The Committee
Naval Affurs. rr ported bl 10 locate and purchase
new size the Umed States Naval Observatory. Re-
TERED to the Committee OF the Whole.
F'resr Affairs. reported bal permitting leu,enant r.
v Green To accept certain decorations conferred on hh
bv thr perpr Oi Russia. Passed.
On motion of Mr.. SCALES (Dcm. n. c. the Ssnste
@ Interior to negotiate With lie Uie Indians the
lbqushment OF their reservation IN Color ado was
taken from the Speakers table aud referred 10 INC
Committee on Indian Affairs.
Tux F0RnTCAnoNs BILL PASSED
Mr. BAKER rep. Ind.). from the Committee on Ap-
propIlations reported back the Fort hcaons Appro-
priaiIou bil which was referred to the Committee of
the Whole and tho House then. NJ l:20 went ito
Cominrfee Of the Who Mr.. Converse (Dsm., OHIO IN
| the chair on the bill 80,
the aame a The bills the last two
appropriated 100000 for the preservation and re
tcrpeoes for harbor defeLce. The appropriation ior
the armament OF the cOast crtHcaicns including heavy
guns and hawitzers powder, etc. has been increase bv
The sum Of 100000: lasi year me ~ %s ,
Ordnance Service. s1067 900; the Secretary OF
War rcdured the estimate To tOVOoVO, ana The commit
ise h:,s reamee1 y 10 tr rs nrnn Of conyer,nc
bore cannon INTO rlhed guns. II Congress con
tinued 90 appropriate $25 900 year for tha purpose
will twenty years before enough guns can bo con-
veried 10 the forts in the hsrbor OF New York,
| fr REAGAN Dem. Tex moved 10 amend the bill
by making an approximation of $50 600 batteries
the eience o: Ca yesion hso% & uc T Di b Ti vs
sci oi maritime power IN Is necessary to provide m
| provide for The defence Of Galveston
/ Mr.. BAKER ODpOsed the ameudmrut II is The policy
OF the Committee On Appropriations u construct no
crthcatOns hut simply 10 preserve those already
MIR HAwLEY (Rep. Conn.,. member OF the Com
r7tee Appropriations opposed DIR. Re gau's amend
n,ent. the ground bat tine committee deems II best
fhO
Notifications 10 what neee' ay ior me care ana
projection OF ose now N exist'ncc and not 10 recon-,
mend any expenditure either for nrw works or Tor the
comileron Of those partly constituted II that rue
70 be aeHrird IRON VI te eser 'n, NAV ' h
ror,zinr IN this matter because that
ise xrr- hest work, ib1t can he C0us.rct ID are I'M
mpnse sand or earth works what really wanted s
| GOOD guns ~ arm exsiing fortihcalions.
Mr.. CLNME.. tDcn.. PENN another member Of tNe
committee expressed his fi concurrcnce In the views
OF Mr. Hawlcy. The committee, he said, IS unanimous
this time TO enter upon any general ssem OF sracoai
Qualifications The committee mas not, therefore. re-
i"w works or the Improvement or enlargement OF old
ones. The best of the old works Chose IN New,York
II4rhOr insrancel, unlifted ~ Withstand the
sftaeSs which can made by existing ordnance.
M a practically vnlueless unless millions
spent In strengthening them. They are mere shells
now I'm nproveuen "a cannon and perfection Of the
torpedo system are the most important things nov
Mr. EEAGAN's amendment was adopted.
Mr.. REAGAN moved TO strike ouf the provision Tor
the or the smooth hnrc cannon INTO rlneS
ON tho ground that the conversion VIII tend TO weaken
MIR HAwLEY denied that the gun would he weakened,
and described the manner N which tue conversion is
The am .ndmeut was rejected.
| The Commtree rose, and reported the bill TO the
House, ard II was passed
PASSAGE or THE PENSION BILL.
The house then, at p. IN. went into Committee OF
| the whole.
Mr.. HOOKER. (Deui.. Mss) in the Chair on the Pen
sio, Appropriation hill.
Mr.. HuBBELL. CRep.. Eich.l said the bill appropr
aes Si2 against So. .a66 900 last the
decrease rng made necessary oy The large increase III
| the number OF pensioners daring the past year
TIE hill agreed to In eoinniltee without amend
ment and being reported 20 the House, was passed
The House then at 2:15 p m., into committee OF
tbs whole Mr. MILLS tDem. Tcx). la the chair. tie
The first bin on the Calendar was ono appropria ting
$4,000 indemnity ana compensation to the widow
and ners of Henry Leef. Tor the illegal seizure OF The
| bark Mary Theresa by the United States Consul at
Bahia- Brazil. After tong debate Mr SMITH dssp.
Penn) assrd Mr. McIASE Dem. Md. who sdyo
eating tue bill. vheiher the government Is Responsible
Mr McLANE repiled that certainly 1t H. but irnmei-
atcly added that II Il not legally responsible This is,
however he said claim appealing to The or Con-
Tne claim has been before Congress 10. thirty
aud times been reported IAyOrsbly the
| House by the Committee on Commerce.
Finally the committee ruse and reported the bill 10
the opposition being ted by Nc CONGER tfiep. Mch)
Mr.. COVERT tDem. n. IL attempted To secure nd
iourument oi the House until Tuesiay next, but
| un nsuccessful.
| M WAITE Rep Comm introduced bill amending
Mr. wILBER fRep.. n. " presented petition of John
Thompson Of the Chase National Bank for more con
| veneni paper circulating medium. Referred.
resolutions Mississippi Valley States Commssiou
which ordered printed
| WOOD tDem.. N. " adjourned until noudsy.
Amy ORDERS