The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-03-05
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON. March 4-The senate
committee on appropriations to-day autho-
rized the chairman. Mr.. Davis. of West
Virginia. to report for passage the follow
ing important measure based upon, but in
many particulars, differing from the orig
inal bill introduced.
A bill to repeal certain laws relating to
permanent and indefinite appropriations.
Be it enacted, etc., That all laws hereto
fore made fol. the appropriation Of monies
from the general treasury for the specific
and permanent indefinite objects, except
so far as they provide appropriations for
the sinking fund for the payment of the
interest premium on the principal of the
public debt or of bonds issued to the
Pacific railroad companies. or for expen-
ses pertaining to the refuuding of the
national debt not exceeding one half of
one per cent of the bonds authorized by
the acts of July IA. 1870. Jan. 20. 1871
and Jan, IA, 1876, for the expenses of the
Smithsonian Institution. interest on the
trust fund or for the payment of interest
on the navy pension fund, for refunding
taxes illegally collected and for allowance
or draw backs under the internal revenue
laws, for marine hospitals or fer the sup
port of the soldiers home, for repayment
to importers OF excess Of deposits, deben-
lures or draw backs, etc and for the pay
mcnt Of the proceeds Of sales of unclaimed
merchandise under the customs rev.
enue laws, be ard the same are
hereby repealed, to take effect
from and alter June 80, 1881. Provided d
that the payment Of expenditures which
shall be properly incurred within one year
pIior TO June 80, 1881. under any of TIE
appropriations affected within one year
after that date, at the expiration of which
time any balances remaining unexpended
Of such appropriations shall be carried to
the surplus fund.
Sec. 2 That all appropriations hereal :
ter to be made shall romain available for
two years for the payment of expenditures
properly incurred within the time for
which they are appropriated, except ap"
preparations for the construction of public
buildings. rivers and harbors, Eght houses
and ports. which shall remain available
for like purpose for period of four
years, at the expiration Of which period
all appropriations which shall have been
upon The books of the Treasury for said
period OF two or four years respectively
shall be carried to the surplus fund, and
with the exception Of appropriations for
the public debt, the limitation herein
placed upon expenditure shall apply to ali
appropriations now gpo1 the books of the
Treasury.
Sec. : That it shall be the duty of the
heads of the several departments Of the
government to include in their annual cs-
times to Congress estimates of the amounts
required for expenditure under the ap-
preparations affected by this act for the ser
vice OF the fscai year 1882, and annually
thereafter.
Sec. 4. That all laws or parts of laws
inconsistent with the provisions of this act
be and are hereby repealed
A bill was reported to the House to day
by Representative Aiken making the De.
partment of Agriculture an executive de-
partmeut, and its head a member of the
Cabinet. 1t was accom- panied by a minor
ity report.
;. Gen. McNeils rejection was effected BY
very decisive vote, 80 nays against 7
yeas. This action was based upon an
adverse report from the Judiciary Com
mittee, accomp panied with statement to
the effect sthat Gen. Mcneil in the year
1862. while In command of United States
troops at Palmyra. No, ordered the exc
cutioD of eleven citizens of that neighbor.
hood who had been arrested. but not yet
tried, on the general charge of bush
whacking, aud did execute ten OF them
as a measure of retaliation for the alleg-
ed abduction and supposed murder OF a
Union man in the same county. McNeil's
order required The execution OF these
prisoners if the missing Unionist was not
returned within a certain period, aud as
nothing was heard from the latter the
orders were carried into effect by Mcneil
Provost Marshal upon the designated day.
1t was also stated by members of the
Judiciary Committee. in executive session,
that the life of the eleventh prisoner was
spared by the Provost Marshal upon an
enforced condition that the honor. OF the
formers wife should be the price of her
husband release, and that Gen. Non ell
continued this same Provost Marshal 10
service under him after the disgracefuI
facts became knoYn.