Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-10
United States Senate.


WAsaIseTos, Dec. 9.-On motion of Senate
Pendleton, so much of the President annua
message as refers to the civil service reform
ron-assessment of government employees fo
political purposes, was referred to select com
mittee to examine the several branches of civl
service. with instructions TO report at an early
day by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Senstor Davis, of Illinois, il
was resolved that the adjournment to-day bt
until Monday.
senstor Pendleton introduced ioiEt rssolu
tion for the purpose of obtaining tie rcad anc
right of way from the Canada line of the Uniteo
States and British America through British
Columbia to Fort Wrangell end into Alaska
Referred.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
communication from the secretary of wal
transmitting copies of correspondence had with
the legal representatives or the confederate
Generals Gregg and Polk, with view to pur.
chase of their private papers relating to the
late war, as per the act of June l6, 1880. The
Polk papers have been placed In the hands OF
the government with permission to use such as
are deemed important to the publication now
authorized by law. The price asked for the
entire collection is SO, 600. The Gregg papers
catalogued. No present price is stipulated fol
them but they, as we'll as the Polk collection,
were appraised iu 1878 at $4,000. aud could
doubtless not be purchased 1t that sum. The
secretary says that heretofore no purchases
for the archives have been made from federal
officers, and only trans-Mississippi (Sydney,
Johnston and Snesd) papers from confederate
officers. The great bulk OF acquisitions have
been gifts. So far as the secretary knows the
only important collections as yet unobtained
are those under consideration. 1t is fer Con-
gress to say whether justice to those who have
freely given the most important documents IS
observed by purchase OF other collections.
The Vice President also submitted a commu-
nication from the secretary Of state. transmit
ting, at request of Madame Thicrs, the eighth
aud ninth volumes of the speeches of Theirs,
late president of the French republic. They
were ordered sent to the library,
Mr. Paddock presented petition for extern
sion of copyright to foreign author5.
Senator Whithers, by request, introduced q
bill to provide for judicial determination of
pension claims against the United States. Re.
ferred.
eenator Garland offered a resolution in
Etructing the committee on military affairs to
inquire whether the United States arsenal
buildings and grounds at Little Rock, Ark,
being one of the posts alluded to by the Presi-
dent in his last annual message, are superfu-
41s -
ously be disposed CT to the State of Arkansas,
and on what terms. Agreed to.
Mr.. Burnside announced that Tuesday next
he will ask the Senate to consider the bill to
apply part of the proceeds of public lands to
public education, etc.
TIE Senate bill for the relief of Mary a.
Lord was taken up. 1t grants her $2 i60 as
arrears of pension for her dead husband. 1t
was opposed on technical grounds by members
of the pension committee, as the requirements
of law had not been observed as to the time of
filirg the application for pension. After de.
bate, the Senate. by vote af Is to 3S, refused
to have the bill read third time. and it thus
drops.
On motion of Senator Paddock the Senate
bill providing for sale of the remainder of
the reservation of the confederated Otoe and
Missouri tribes of Indians in Nebraska and
Kansas, and for other purposes. was taken up.
It provides for the sale to actual settlers of
eaid lands with consent of said Indians, the
proceeds to be placed TO the credit of the
tribes and O new reservation TO be selected for
them, they desiring to quit the present reser-
vation. After debate the bill passed.
Senator Randolph announced that Monday
next he will ask the Senate to consider the bill
for relief of Fitz John Porter, to which he
will offer his amendent noticed yesterday re-
storing Fiz John Porter to the army without
back pay.
On the motion of Senator Garland the Sen
ate bin to secure the safe keeping of money
paid into court, was taken up and passed.
On motion of Senator Plumb the Senate bill
TO extend the time for filing claims for horses
and equipments, lost by officers and enlisted
men in the service of the United States, was
taken up, but without action the Senate went
into executive session and soon adjourned.