National Republican., 1880-03-09
PROCEEDINGS In Congress-.

In tho Senate yesterday Mr.. Harris, from
the District Committee, reported bill to in.
crease the police force of the District by the
employment of fifty additional men, and it
was placed Oh the calendar. An effort will be
made TO secure its early passage to meet the
urgent necessity.
Mr.. Garland, from the Committee on the
judiciary, reported the resolution directing
the committee to inquire whether any lcgisla.
tion is necessary to secure titles in the Dis
trict of Columbia, with recommendation that
IL be indefinitely postponed, no such logisla-
tion being necessary. So ordered.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Kirkwood was
adopted calling on the Secretary of the Treas.
ury for u statement of all expenses growing
out of tho late war, including tho public debt
aud Interest, amount paid for pensions, pay of
soldiers and sailors, etc. down to January /,
1880.
A number Of petitions were presented, bills
introduced aud reports from committees
made, and some progress mado OH the calendar
before the expiration of the morning hour
Mr., Bayard then took the floor in support Of
Mr. Rnmdolph's substitute for tho original
Fitz.JOhn Porter hill. lie maintained, in Op.
position to Mr.. Carpenters argument, that the
power that created could undo the work Of
Its creature aud that the legislative power
which provided for trial hy Court-martal
could set aside tho findings of that court. He
was somewhat unfortunate la his review Of
the circumstances which led to the court.
martial and its findings, in claiming that
General Mcdowell WAS led into tho error Of
cOnfOunding the Both with the Goth of August
by Stonowall Jacksou's report of his move.
ments at that time and that this led him to
a mistake in his evidence against Porter, for
Mr.. Logan, Mt the close of his speech, pointed
out that Mcdowell did not SOC Jacksons report
till years after Porter had been tried, con.
yicted aud sentCrCed
Mr. Logan also corrected briefly and with
effect the error the Senator had fallen into by
supposing a court Of inquiry could follow q
COurt-murtial sentence, and tho other error
that boards of inquiry could review or revise
the work of q court.martal. They were the
preliminary steps toward a court'martial, APP
pointed to inquire whether court.martial
should be ordered, and in no case applied to
civilian. Hence the term court of inquiry" as
applied to the Schoicld commission was u
mlsnOmer.
Mr.. Mcdonald obtained the floor to follow
in support OF the bill but yielded for q motion
for an executive session.
The Speaker announced that tho new rules
would govern the House to-day aud hereafter,
aud the call of States IN Alphabetical order (n.
Btold Of geographically, as hcretofOrol for the
introduction of bills was begun. Thore was
considerable friction under tho new order of
things.
One of the first bills introduced from Ala,
bama, the first State on the list, gave rise to
controversy AS to reference. IL related to
tho tariff, and the Speaker mlod that under
the rules II should 80 TO tho Committee on
Ways and Means, but that tho House could
change tho reference.
A lengthy discussion of the construction of
Rule l3 eusuod, and tho bill was finally re-
ferred to the Ways aud Means Committee by
u vote of las to So. This was considereapas a
practical entombment of the bill for this ses-
sion, that committee having decided to take no
action relating to the tariff this session. Dur
ing tho call of States there were several coca.
sions ON which the free.tralo element in the
House attempted to divert bills from this com.
Der Of bills than usual were introduced tho