Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-09
FORTY.SIXTH CONGRESS.
FRIDAY, May 9.


FRIDAY. Mays.
SENATE-Mr saunders introduced bin to
amend the pension laws, and to punish agents
for violations thereof: and Mr.. Teller bill
providing for the publication and distribution
of the Congressional Record to depositaries OF
public documents; which bills were approprl-
ateIy referred.
on motion of Mr. Cockrell, 1t was
Resoired That the Secretary OF the Treasury
be required and directed to report to the Senate
when the second and third annual reports on
internal commerce will be transmitted to Con-
reSS, and why they have been delayed, and
whether such annual reports on internal COM
merce can hereafter be transmitted to Congress
at u e beginning OF each regular session In De-
cemGer or each year with the regular annual
reports on commerce and navigation; and II
Dot. then what additional legislation, Ii any. Is
ntces Sary to secure the Transmission to Con-
G eSs CT such annual reports on internal COM
merce at the beginning OF each regular ses-
SOn.
MT Mcdonald introduced a bill authorizing
promotions In the army.
Mr. Harris. from the committee on epidemic
diseases, reported asubstitute for the bill here
toloIe recommltted TO 1t, to prevent the intro
ductiOn of contagious or infectious diseases into
the United States.
Mr. Beck, from the committee on appropria-
tions, reported back the House bill, with an
amendment, making provision for the payment
of sums OF money, heretofore appropriated, to
James B. Eads and his associates, for the con-
structton OF jetties and other works at the South
pass of the Mississippi. The bill was passed.
The President pro tenn. announced the pend
Ing business to be the bill from the House to
prevent military interference at elections.
Mr.. EdmundS, before commencing his re-
marks, called attention to specified clauses of
the Constitution, with regard to elections and
the powers OF the President, and caused to be
read the statutes authorizing the appointment
of marshals, and defining their duties; and also
the laws authorizing the President to employ
the military and naval force to repel invasion,
suppress fnsurrectiOn, and to execute the
laws. These acts were, he said. passed,
respectively, during the administrations of
washington, Jefferson, jackson and Lincoln.
HOUSE.-Im Immediately after the reading of
the journal, the Speaker proceeded to call COM
mittees for reports of private nature.
Mr.. Knott, chairman of committee on judic-
iary, reported bill, which were passed, removing
the political disabilities of John R. Waddy and
J. Il. North, OF Virginia Also, bill removing
the political disabilities of j. c. Pemberton, Of
Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr.. O'Neill called attention to the fact that
this was the first time citizen Of the loyal city
OF Philadelphia had had occasion to ask pardon
beliOn.
The Speaker said that he had presented the
petition, which was in the usual form. The clti-
zens OF Pennsylvania who had participated in
the war desired that there should be amnesty.
MI Cox thought that the Judiciary commit
tee should report something besides Individual
disability bills. Fourteen years after the war
Congress was discussing private amnesty bills.
Why not make a general amnesty bill, even
though 1t included every man who had taken
part In the rebellion? Why not wipe out the
test oath which those only who had been loyal
had to take? What q farce was all this business
since the sO-caled rebellion?
Shouts OF "so-called" on the republican side
Mr CoX-So-called by you, gentlemen. and
so,calied oy me. Continuing, he said that there
would not have granted grace and amnesty
long ago. To hear gentlemen on the other side
of the house laughing, one would suppose that
the rebellion. He hoped the judiciary commit.
tee would report general bill.
MIR. CoDger said that 1t was not the first time
that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cox
had seemed to indicate bis regret that he had
been able to take the test oath, while others OF
his colleagues could not. (Laughter.l There
was no eompulsion about taking the test oath
The gentleman might possibly take the other,
Mr. COx.-I do not quite understand what nv
sweet friend from Michigan means. laugh
teri
Mr. Conger.-The gentleman says that there
Is imposed upon him the necessity of taking the
test oath that he has been true and loyal He
has expressed a kind Of regret that it should be
SO, net only to-day, but upon former occasions
He MAY take the other oath, If this one ofrends
him SO much.
Mr.. COX said that the sweet singer of Michi
gan llaughteIl was very harshly judged.
gentleman took his breakfast, he drank about a
quart OF lemon juice. [Laughter.l He (CoX)
knew that there was sugar in the gentleman's
nature. The gentleman was not political
Zulu, who dipped his spear head in poison; he
always dipped Ills spear in mOlaSseS, and was
kind and gentle. [Laughter.l
Mr.. Conger replied that the gentleman from
New York need not have sOothed his feelings
with SO much pleasantly, and sweetness, and
sugar, and mOlaSseS, and lemon juice. That
gentleman seemed to be familiar with the kind
OF juice he (Conger) took with his meals. He
gentleman used. 1t might be the Juice drawn
from the broad fields OF the west. [Laughterl
Mr.. Knott put an end to the discussion by de
manding the previous question, and the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, chairman of the com.
mfttee on foreign affairs, reported bill author
lZing Capt. Joseph Irish TO accept grand cross
OF naval merit from the Spanish government.
Passed.
Mr.. Boyd, from committee on accounts. re-
ported bill directing the payment OF clerks
and pages to be computed from the first day OF
The bill gave rise to long discussion. OBJ.
lection being made to 1t on the ground that as
ployes at the close Of the last Congress many
OF them would be receiving double pay for a
portion OF the time. 1t was denounced by Mr.
Sparks as an outrage on the Treasury and
public wrong. The morning hour expired with
out action being taken, and the bill went over.
Mr.. Cook, chairman OF committee on public
buildings and grounds, reported resolutions tes-
Clarke, Of Iowa, who had been a member of
that committee, aud directing the committee on
appropriations to appropriate to the family of
tne deceased MS salary TO the close OF the 10th
The House then, at 1:2O, went into committee
OF the whole lMr. Springer In the chair) on the
private calendar. " OAAo
The only bill on the calendar was one renortad
this morning from the committee on foreign ar
1alrs, 10 pay $2,250 to E. E. Rice for the uSa nv
tne United states, OF property In Hakodadi.
AFTER explanation by Mr.. Cox the committee
rose, ana the Dill was passed.
"A mOtlOn 10 adjourn till Monday was reject
ed-yeas S4, nays 12S.
Ihe House then, at 2.1O went into committee
OF tEe Wh0le (Mr TOWnShend OF illinois, fin the
chalr,) and took up Senate bill authoriZing the
employment OF three additional assistants in
The library of Congress.
THE POTOMAC BoATs-A Contract Entered Into
IDe board OF directors OF the Richmond and
FREDERICKSBURG Railroad Company have entered
lLtO contract with the Potomac Steamboat
company for a day boat connection between
washington and Quantico, to go into operation
June l.. The agreement, unless in the meantime
Is TO continue In force for the period of fonrr
years, and thereafter unless and until the CON.
tract shall be terminated by six months nrevi.
GUS notice from one OF said parties to the nfher
Ibe companies are to be separate and indenen.
0ent, While maintaining cOntinuous linz nt