National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-03
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE.
Discussion on the Sundry Civil Bill
Other Matters Disposed Of


Yesterday in the Senate the credentials
of Samuel Bell Maxey, reelected Senator from
Texas, were presented by Mr.. Coke Read and
fled
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, from the Committee on
Public Buildings, reported adversely the House
concurrent resolution granting the use of the
Museum building to the Light Infantry Corps of
the District Of Columbia on Monday evening"
March Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Davis. of West Virginia, stated in regard to
the Joint resolution for the payment of Government
employees in the District for holidays, which had
been referred to the Committee On Appropriations
that that committee had been so much engaged of
late that the subject had not been considered. As
chairman of thecommittee, he had overlooked the
resolution and, believing it to be O meritorious
proposition, he now reported itRthis own instance
without any recommendation by the committee
., Mi. Paddock made an lnehectual effort to have
floor TO Mr.. Beck for the sundry civil bill
Alter dSpoSing of business of no special interest
the Senate took up the sundry civil appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Beck, who reported the bill, explained the
items ofincrease made by the Senate committee
promising follows: The amount of the bill as it
passed the House about $40, 10000 and the
total reported to the Senate So $40 0O0 the
Senate having added S2,ll9000 The aggregate
S9i000O less than the estimates, and s24 900 in
excess of the total of appropriations for the
current fiscal year. The items of the in
crease made by the Senate committee were
Office building in New York, 100000; for the
assay office, New York $4,000; new light -hoIIse
on the coast of California, $4,000; constructing
revenue steamer for the Gulf coast Ito supply the
loss of one now uSeleSs SO coo; for the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, $4,000. Passing over O
number of small items, he said the committee had
upon quite urgent representations, added $4,000
to the National Board of Health appropriation and
100000 to enable the Superintendent of Public
Buildings TO proceed with the cutting of granite
for the new west and centre wings of the State,
War, and Navy Departments building, this last in
crease being made now so as to avoid probable
delay of the work to follow from deferring
the purchase and preparation of the gram
ite until the expiration of the coming fiscal
year lin June, 1882 when the season would
paratveiy little of the time otherwise availa-
bic for the work. 1t had also been made apparent
to the committee that a hall for the safe keeping
of records of the executive departments IA bill for
this object having already passed the Senate and
being now in the House, ought to be erected and
5000 900 had been appropriated for site for such
a building, the same to be erected under the su-
peTyision Ofthe Quartermaster General in SEPARATE
compartments, &c, so as to be made as absolutely
proof as possible Zoo The 81 Pension ems office was
sufficient accommodations, and upon economical
considerations, the committee had recommended
$3.50 900 for site for building for the use of the
Pension Bureau. An addition of $4,000 had been
made for the Pensacola navy yard. Upon the
recommendation of the committee in charge
of the bill (Which had passed the Senate and was
now pending i'll the HOusel providing for search
by United States vessels for the steamer Jeanette
an item of S1T5G90 had been Inserted. Other items
of increase were for buildings at Annapolis and
Norfolk; 81, ,T44 for the improvement of Govern
ment property at the Hot Springs, Ark. to keep 1t
from being washed away; $1,000 for the support
of the Government Insane Hospital; and $4,000
for the purchase of lands from the Creek Nation
for the use of the Seminoles. This item was to
carry out law enacted in 1915, the reason for it
being that the Government, when moving the
Seminoles, had by mistake located them upon
lands still belonging to the Creeks instead of upon
the territory west of certain line as described i'm
aEs
thousand dollars had also been allowed the French
and American Claims Commission.
In Committee of the Whole the bill was read and
the amendments of the Senate committee acted
upon reached.
The following, in addition to those mentioned
by Mr.. Beck, were among the amendments re-
ported by the committee: For the expenses of the
Louisiana commission OF April, 1877 s. $50; for ex-
penses OF surveys for the Delaware and Chesapeake
ters at the Naval Academy. $4,000 for the pur-
chase of works of artby the Joint Committee the
Library, $4,000.
The amendment to enable the Secretary of the
Treasury to procure information concerning and
TO make inspection of neat cattle shipped from
any part of the United States to any foreign port
SO as to enable him to cause to be issued to the
shippers of such cattle certificates, showing that
such cattle are free from pleuro- pneumonia, was
amended, On motion of 4lr. KirkHood, by increas-
ing the amount from $4,000 10 SIS 900.
The amendments having been agreed TO with
few exceptions, on which separate votes were re-
served, and the Dill gone through with, Mr. Bay
ard, by instruction of the Finance Committee,
moved to amend by adding the following as an
additional section:
That the Secretary OF the Treasury may at any
time, apply the surplus money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof rs he
may consider proper to the purchase or redemp-
tion of United States bonds: Pyorided that the |
bonds SO purchased or redeemed shall constitute |
no park of the sinking fund.- but shall be Cancelled"
The amendment was adopted without debate or |
objection, bir. Bayard casually relnarking in repy
TO Mr. Logan and Mr.. Mcdonald that without this |
provision the Secretary could not extend his pur-
chases beyond the requirements of the sinking |
fund, and that 1t would apply to any bonds the |