Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-25
FORTT.SL1TH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY, February 25.

CVAkA sC10AA ACCs
WEDNESDAY. February 25.
SENATE.-The Vice President laid before the
Senate communication from the Secretary of
the Interior transmitting letter from the Com
missioner of Patents relative to deficiency of
s. 800 in the appropriation for Illustrations for
the Patent 0fce Gazette for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1850. Referred.
The Vice President presented petition of the
National Temperance society for commission
on the alcoholic liquor traffic.
Mr.. Herman and others presented similar peti-
tionS from other temperance societies.
MIR. Thurman and others presented petitions
signed by officers Of railroad companies against
reduction Of duty on steel rails.
Several petitions were presented for admis-
sion, free Of duty, of materials used in making
paper.
Mr.. Withers presented a joint resolution Of
for educational purposes.
Mr.. Hereford, from the committee on claims:
reported adversely on Senate bill for relief OF
certain employees Of the US. courts in the Dis
trict of Columbia Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee on naval
affairs, reported adversely on bill to authorize
the assignment of rear admiral on the retired
|. list to duty as governor of the naval asylum Of
Philadelphia. Indefinitely postponed.
Bills were introduced and referred as follows:
By Mr.. salisbury (by request)-To authorize the
District commissioners to dispose OF ground in
square 446 for market and school purposes.
tne a 81 Pm Nsla r thu snn
how many paymasters are now on the rolls Of
the navy; how many OF such the laws authorize;
Edward Bellows became dropped from the roll
Of such, with the record and proceedings affect
ing him, and how and under what cfrcum-
stances he has been restored to the list OF pay
masters. Adopted.
Mr. Whyte asked unanimous consent to have
the bill to remove the disabilities OF James
Monroe Heiskell of Baltimore taken ~. Heis-
kell served in the confederate army when boy
and under section 1918 Revised Statutes Is in
eligible to appointment in the army. He thinks
he may get an appointment as paymiIaaster IN the
army, and askes to have his disabilities under
the said section removed.
Mr.. Edmunds asked why the Senate avoided
passing the bill repeating the statute entirely;
He thought that would be a more open and
brave act. He characterized this and all Of its
kind as parts OF policy to break down the
guarantees of our liberty.
Mr.. Garland moved an amendment to the bill
making 1t repeal the statute referred to. The
amendment was adopted.
Mr. Edmunds demanded the yeas and nays
on the Sd reading Of the bill, which resulted,
yeas, Sc; nays, %.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke against the final passage
OF the bill.
Messrs Thurman and Beck favored it.
Mr. Logan supported it.
The morning hour having expired the matter
went over, and the Senate resumed conStdera-
ton OF the five per cent bill.
HOUSE.-The following memorials were pre-
sented by Mr.. McLane, and appropriately re-
lClItu. hSIIlOll ldl VI Il.
the removal Of the tax ON paper and the repeal
of the duty on printing type Memorial of
wholesale grocers, praying for law to prevent
adulteration of food.
Mr.. Beale, from the committee on manufac-
lures, reported bill to prevent the adultera-
ton Of articles Of food and drink. Printed and
recommitted.
Mr.. Bicknell chairman of the committee on
presidential election, reported back Joint reSOlu-
ton amending the Constitution as to the elec-
tion OF President and Vice President Printed
and recommltted.
Mr.. Davis (Cal) offered a resolution calling on
the President for copies of such dispatches as
have been recently received from the consul
general at Shanghai on the subject Of slavery
In China and that portion Of the code
Mr.. Dunn asked leave to report from the COM
mittee On public lands, for immediate action, a
resolution directing that committee to investi-
ervation in the state Ct Arkansas.
Mr.. Conger objected.
MI. Covert oferea resolution calling on the
secretary OF Var for information as to the num-
Der Of cadets dismissed from West Point during
the past and present year, as to whether any OF
those cadets have been reinstated, and If so, the
reason therefor. Referred.
MI. O'Neill offered resolution, which was
adopted, calling on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for Information from the lighthouse board
as to the establishment of a light ship on Five
FathOm bank, about ten miles northeast Of the
present ight-ship, and as to the estimate of the
cost of the same. Adopted.
Mr.. Blount, from the committee approprla-
tfOnS, reported back the star service deficiency
bill and 1t was referred to the committee of the
whole. The House then, at 1890, went into
committee (Mr. Scales in the cha1D upon that
bill.
Mr. Blackburn raised point Of order against
the bill. Under rule Il it was necessary that
in an appropriation bill, if the appropriations
were not itemized, the maximum sum to be
appropriated must be stated No sum was stated
in the first section, and the concluding section
did not mention the total sum appropriated by
the bill, as was also required by rule II.
Messrs. Blount, Cannon, and Conger con-
tended that that rule applied simply to general
appropriation bills, and did not include within
its provisions deficiency bills like the one under
consideration.
After further discussion, the chair declining to
rule upon the point, submitted it to the COM
mlttee, who refused to sustain it.
MI. Blount then proceeded to explain the pro-
visions of the bill. Shortly after the meeting OF
Congress communication had been sent to the
House asking for an appropriation of So 600, 900
for the star route service, for the present fiscal
year. The committee on appropriations had
asked time to inquire the reason of the large
deficiency. 1t had not as yet obtained informa-
tion on which to make full report to the
House. There was something, however, which
it might report The amount of money appro-
priated for the present fiscal year for that ser
vice had been $5,9O0,G00. The cost of service,
even without any Increase OF service hereafter,
would be 81, 500, 900.