Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-10
FOrty-Sixth Congress.
WASHINGTON, March 9


 SENATE.-Mr. Thurman, of Ohio, presented g memorial of delegates of Indian tribes in the Indian Territory remoustrating against the passage of the bill to establish United States court in that Territory. In view of the i'm portant legal questions involved in the sub ject, he moved the reference of the memorial to the Committee on the Judiciary.
 MT. Garfield, of Arkansas, opposed this and the matter was laid over.
 MT. Bailey, Of Tennessee, submitted reso- lution instructing the Judiciary Committee to investigate and report concerning contract alleged to have been made between the Gen. tral Pacific Railroad Company and the Union Pacific Railroad Company on the one part and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company on the other, in reference to passenger and freight rates, and to report what legislation is neces sary to prevent the execution of the same, and protect the public interest. The resolution was agreed to.
 After disposing of few bills on the calen- dar MT. Mcdonald took the floor on the Fitz John Porter case. He read the message of President Hayes transmitting to the Senate the report of the board of officers. Presi- dent Hayes stated that he had given the pro cesdings such consideration that he deemed it necessary to lay the entire case before Con gress, as he was without power to carry out the conclusion of the board without the con sent of Congress. The conclusion of the board was that such action should be taken as to annul and set aside the finding of the court martial and restore him to the rank in the army from which he had been dismissed. Mir. McDonald said the President was right in say ing to Congress that it was not within his power to carry out the conclusions of the Board, and he therefore sent the matter to the law mak- ing power to be dealt with by them. There is something unusual about military punish ment. General Porter is not only deprived of his place and covered with disgrace, but the sentence of the court martial follows him through life and debars him from any civil appointment. He denied the proposition that Congress had no right to repeal the sentence, especially as to that part not executed The then passed in review.
 At 4:40 the Senate adjourned until to-mor- row.
 HoUsE.-Mr. Morton presented memorial of Morgan & Oo., Moses Taylor and other importers and refners of sugars, pr aying for the retention of the present graduated scale of duties with the addition of clause to the present law, obliging all sugars below No 10 in color, testing above ninety-two degrees, to pay a rate of duty as if between numbers 10 and 13 referred.
 The bill to establish department of agri- culture was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
 Mir. Scales, chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported bill authorizing the President to prescribe police regulations for the government of various Indian reservations, and providing 8 punishment for murder, arson, rape and burglary.
 The House then took up the bill in relation to political assessments, and Congressman House. of Tennessee, spoke in favor of the bill. He attacked the proposed civil service reform of this administration and declared it all sham from the first, when in spite of President Hayes letter of acceptance, the plat form of the Cincinnati convention and the inauguration address and message of the President contributions were asked from office holders, and members of the Re turning boards in Louisiana and Florida had been rewarded. He called attention to the Presidents civil service order and said it had been violated at every opportunity that pre- scented itself. He argued that nothing but such bill as that now pending would prevent such evils in the future.
 MT. Young of Ohio, obtained the floor and will reply tomorrow.
 The House at 4:45 adjourned.
 THE SOUTH.