Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-12

HoUsE.-Mr. Blackburn, of Kentucky of fered a resolution, which was adopted, for She appointment of select committee of five members to examine into the charges made of abuses of the franking privilege duringthe political campaign.
 The morning hour was dispensed with and the Indian appropriation bill was takenlup by the Committee of the Whole MT. Townshend of Illinois in the chair The pending ques- tion when the House adjourned yesterday was the amendment of MT. Hiscock, appro- priating $1O,OOO to continue the Indian peace commission. The Committee onAppro- priations had inserted clause repeating all laws authorizing the commission, and Mr. Hiscock moved also to strike that out. Af- ter discussion the amendment of Mr. Hiscock was adopted by vote by tellers of S7 to IS.
 MT. Hiscock made point of order against the sixth section of the bill, which was as fol lows: That all bids for supplies of wheat, corn, flour, feed, oats. beef, bacon, pork and other provisions for the Indians and all bids for the transportation of such supplies shall be first opened and the contents awarded thereon at some suitable place in the Missis- sippi valley. The point of order was that the section changed an existing law and did not retrench expenses. The chair sustained the point of order on the ground that the section changed the law which left 1t discretionary with the Secretary of the Interior at what point he should open bids. The section was therefore dropped from the bill.
 providing for the transfer of the management of Indian affairs to the War department, but 1t was ruled out on point of order.
 MT. Frost then offered further amend ment that the appropriations made by this bill shall be expended by the General of the army instead of by the Secretary of the h. terior, which was also ruled out on point of order
 MT. Ryan, of Kansas, offered an amend ment which was adopted providing that all advertisements for contracts involving the expenditure of any money herein appropria- ted shall be made at least sixty days before any contract shall be awarded.
 After sanother unsuccessful effort on the part of MT. Hooker to get in an amendment for the transfer to the Indian bureau the committee rose and the bill was reported to the House. nay and yea vote was demand ed on the amendment to continue the Indian peace commission, which resulted in 1O7 yeas to 11S nays. The bill was then passed by vote of 186 to 12, making the fifth of the regular appropriation bills which has passed the House
 As no other appropriation bills are now ready Mir. Reagan will ask the House to con slider his interstate commerce bill to-mor- row, unless the funding bill is pressed. The Speaker laid before the House a communica- ton from the President, enclosing a cores pondence from the government of France re- questing the United States to send one or more delegates to the international congress of electricians to be held in Paris this year. It was referred to the Foreign Affairs com mittee.
 The Speaker appointed Messrs Converse of Ohio, House of Tennessee, Phillips of Mis- souri, Browne of Indiana and Robinson of Massachusetts as special committee on the alleged abuse of the franking privilege. The House adjourned at 5:15 D. m.