Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-24
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.

authorlzlng the secretary OF the
Treasury to purchase gas saving instru-
ments for use in the buildings under con-
troll Of the Treasury Department. Ruled
out on point of order.
Mr; King, OF Louisiana, moved to strike
out tne clause prohibiting more than $25, 900
OF the balance Of the appropriations preyi-
ously made to prevent the spread of yellow
IeVer ana other epidemic diseases to be used
Tor tnat purpose during the coming fiscal
year. Ihe exemption from yellow fever which
the South had enjoyed during the past few
years did not augur freedom from it during
the approaching summer. IT the govern
meht had the right to protect its people
against foreign enemies, certainly this Demo-
cratic Congress could not refuse protection
against an enemy which simply meant
death.
Pending action on the amendment the
committee rose.
Mr.. Cobb, Of Indiana, from the Commit
tee on appropriations, reported back the
District OF Columbia appropriation bill with
the Senate amendments, recommending
concurrence in some and non-concurrt nee
in others OF those amendments. The report
was agreed to, and then, at eleven O'Clock.
the session OF Tuesday ended and Wednes-
days session commenced.
Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky, from the
Committee on Appropriations, reported
back the post office appropriation bill with
the Senate amendments, recommending
concurrence in some and non concurrence
In others OF those amendments. The report
was agreed to.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, called up for con-
sideration the unfinished business, the ap-
portionment bill.
Mr.. Conger, Of Michigan, raised a oues-
dou OF consideration in favor Of the sundry
civil appropriation bill. The Republicans,
with one or two exceptions, refused to vote
on this question, and, the vote standing
yeas 123, nays 5, in favor of taking up the
apportionment bill, the point Of no quo
rum was raised.
Mr.. Frye, of Maine, stated that the Re-
publicans were to have had a conference
last night, but that it had been necessarily
postponed. Therefore, they were not in q
condition to proceed with the apportion-
ment bill at present. IL the gentleman
from New York would allow other business
10 intervene the Republicans would meet
this evening at 4:3O, and it would then be
determined whether this business should go
on or not.
Mr.. Cox-'I suppose that after that no
dilatory motions viii be made"
Mr.. Frye-''I do not say that"
Mr.. Cox-'I viii yield to the gentleman
to his honor to put the bill through"
Messrs. Frye and Copger stated that they
had not heard the last remark Of the gentle
man and would not therefore consider that
any agreement had been made.
Mr.. Cox then gave notice that he would
call the bill up tomorrow after the morning
hour.
The House then resumed consideration in
committee Of the whole OF the sundry civil
soks
ment, offered by Mr.. King, of Louisiana,
to the clause relative to the National Board
of Health, was rejected.
Mr.. Beale, of Virginia, offered an amend
ment, appropriating SO, 600 for the compile
tion of monument to Mary, the mother of
George Washington, at Fredericksburg, Va.
Ruled out on point Of order raised by Mr.
Bragg, OF Wisconsin.
Mr.. Dibrell, of Tennessee, offered an
amendment appropriating IS 900 to continue
the improvement of the National Cemetery
at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Adopted.
Mr.. Bragg, of Wisconsin, raised a point
OF order against the clause of the bill appro-
priating $40 900 for the purchase OF the pri-
vate papers of the late Confederate Generals
Bragg and Polk, relating to the late war
The point of order was OYerruled by the
Chairman.
Mr.. Thomas, of Illinois, moved to strike
out the clause making the appropriation.
After a long and somewhat heated discus
sion. in which Mr.. Blackburn led in support
Of the proposed purchase of the papers, and
Mr.. Bragg. OF Wisconsin, in opposition to
it, Mr. tThomss' motion prevailed, and the
clause was stricken from the bill. The
committee then rose, and the House took
recess until 7:30 o'clock.
The evening session of the House was
entirely devoted to the consideration of
bills relating to the District of Columbis.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, Mr.. Coke, from the Com
miStee on Indian Affairs, reported favorably,
without amendment, the House bill for the
ascertsiument OF the amount due the Choc-
taw Nation. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Kirkwood. from the minority OF the
special committee on the subject, reported
a bill for the relief of the Ponca Indians.
Tabled temporarily.
Mr.. Butler addressed the Senate upon his
proposed amendment to tie river and har-
Dor bill, for a survey and examination of
routes for the Blue Ridge canal, in the In
terest of water transportation to Charleston.
After transaeting some unimport4nt busi
ness, the Senate took up and passed the
Notifications appropriation bill, With the
amendments of the Senate committee.
The bill for the new Congressional library
building wss then taken up, aud
the Senate committees amendments
agreed to in committee OF the whole. The
bill was then reported to the Senate and
passed-yeas 80, nays Is. 1t fixes the site
for the new building upon the six squares
on the east front of the capitol grounds,
aud limits the cost of the land and damages
therefor to 81, ,000 GOO.
Pending consideration of the library bill
Vics President elect Arthur appeared on
the floor and made the acquaintance of
many Senators OF both sides OF the chamber,
who were introduced to him, from time to
time, by Senator ConkliDg.
Meanwhile, Senator Blaine made his ap-
pearance, after protracted absence on ac-
count of lines, and was congratulated by
D-mocl ats as well as Republican Senators,
upon his convalescence. Later he was en-
gagged in conversation with General Arthur.
The Senate then adjourned.
THE BLUE RIDGE CANAL.
The amendment to the river and harbor
bill proposed by Senator Butler in the Sem
ate to-day, appropriates $4,000 for ascer-
tanning
First. The cost of improving the Hiawas-
see, Little Tennessee and Savannah rivers
up to the head of practicable slack water
navigation.
Second. The exact profit of routes
through Hightower and r lbun Gaps, with
cross sections at suitable points from which
It can be determined to what extent an in
cliued plane system IN be utilized, and esti-
mates of the cost of building the necessary
canal be made.
Third. A comparison OF the cost, dis
tances, lockage, ETC., of Hiawassee and Lit
tie Tennessee routes with each other and
with corresponding elements of the route
via the Tennessee, Coosaw and Ocmulgee
rivers surveyed in 1874.
RETIRING CIRCULATION.
The legal tenders received by the Treasury
Department to day from national banks for
the purpose of retiring their circulation,
amounted in round numbers to $2.SO0, COO.
They came from twelve banks, two OF which
are In New York city, one each In Phila-
delphia, Boston and Albany, and the re-
mainder from banks in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and New York.
THE APPoRTIoNMENT MATTER.
The Republican Representatives, in
caucus held to-day, decided not to vote for
any apportIonment bill which shall fix the
number OF Representatives in the House at
less than 319.
MATTHEW'S AND BILLINGS NOMINATIONS
STILL HANGING FIRE.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held
special meeting to day but again postponed
action on the Supreme and Circuit Court
nominations of Matthews and Billings.