National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-05
CONGRESS- YESTERDAY.
For The ReIiefof the Jeannetfe-The FL
t0ral Count-Prfyafe Bills. &c.

| foral C0unt-Prfvate Bills, DC.
I Messrs. WALLACE, WINDOW, and BECK
were constituted the Senate conference committee
on the Indian appropriation bill.
MeSsrs. WINDOW, DAVIS of West Virginia, and
WTHERs were constituted the conferees OH the
naval appropriation bill.
| The Vice President submitted from the War De-
partment an abstract of the military force of the
United States. Tabled.
The District appropriation bill was received
| from the House and referred TO the Committee on
Appropriations.
Mr.. MORRILL,, from the Committee on Public
Buildings reported favorably the House bill apprO-
priating S26 for the flooring of the National Nu
scum.
Taken up on motion of Mr. MORRILL,, and, after
explanation by him, passed finally.
| On motion of Mr.. ANTHONY, the House joint
resolution for publishing Haydens Atlas of Colo
rado was taken up and passed finally
| Mr.. BAYARD, from the Committee on Finance,
reported the refunding bill with amendments. He
said that in view not only of the Importance of the
subject but of the necessity for prompt action upon
it, he proposed to call up the bill at an early day
next week.
The bin was ordered to be printed and placed OH
/ the calendar
| Mr. PENDLETON, from the select committee on
4 the subject, reported favorably, with an amend
ment the Senate bill TO allow The principal officer
| of each of. the Executive Departments to occupy
seats on the floor of the Senate and House. The
amendment permits either House to dispense, by
standing orders. with the attendance of one or
more of said officers either of the days respec-
lively assigned for their attendance. The bill was
accompanied by an elaborate report, and Mr.. PEN
DLEToN gave notice of his intention TO call il up at
the first favorable opportunity.
| Mr.. MCPHERSON moved 10 take up the bill ap-
proprating 100000 to be used under the direction
| of the Navy Department TO prosecute a search for
the steamer Jeannette. of the Arctic exploring ex-
pedition.
Calls were made for the regular order
| Mr.. MCPHERSON urged his motion in the inter
est of humanity. He said the Jeanette, which had
whose progressive spirit in that matter worthy
of all commendation, had not been seen since De-
cember, 1879. Grave doubts were entertained of
her safety Referring to the necessity of prompt
taken by it, indispensable, he remarked that if
| the Sir John Franklin relief expedition had been
one year earlier in its search it would have saved
| two hundred souls
The motion was then agreed to- and the bill be-
| ing before the Senate, Mr.. MCPHERSON submitted
q substitute, appropriating $4,000, or so much
| thereof needed, TO be applied under the direc-
| ton of the Secretary of the Navy to the immedi-
ate charter, purchase, equipment, and supply of a
vessel 10 prosecute the search for the Jeanette
| and such other vessels as may be found during
! the cruise to need assistance. He explained that
two whaling vessels were supposed 10 be now in
| distress in the Arctic Sea.
| Mr.. EDMUNDS said he was opposed to original
expeditions, because the constant warfare against
the North Pole which civilized nations were under
taking from time TO time was losing warfare, as
the qu6ntum gained for science was entirely out
weighed by the suffering and loss of life i'll the
effort. The Government having authorized the
sending out of the Jeannette he willing to help
TO get her out of the difficulty although Congress
! would probably have TO make like provision for
| the vessel now sent out.
Mr. MCPHERSON, in reply referred to the first
and second Grinnell expeditions, the voyage ofthe
Resoute, &c, to show that the percentage of loss
lively small. He believed in the practicability of
the route by Behring's Strait and hoped yet To see
Polaris edition of the New York Herald published
at the North Pole.
Mr. McPHEpsON's substitute was then adoDtad
and the bill, as thus amended passed finally.
AT one o'clock the calendar of unobjected bills
came up as the order of business, when
Mr. LOGAN moved its postponement to take up
the Grant retirement bill Rejected-ayes 26 noes,
9G-a party vote, except that Mr. HILL, Of Georgia,
with Mr. DAVIS, of Illinois voted aye with the Re-
publicans. Mr.. LAMAR, who voted no, explained
that the bringing up of the matter this morning
would interfere with more important question.
motion by Mr.. LOGAN to take up his franking
privilege resolution was also voted down by a
party vote-ayes, 20; noes, 81
At halfpast one O'Clock Mr.. MoRGAN's resolution
denying the right of the President of the Senate
make the electoral count came up in regular order
as unfinished business.
After discussion, Mr. EDMUNDs' amendment was
rejected.
Mr.. HOAR moved an amendment adding to the
resolution the words land that it is the duty of
Congress, without delay, to institute measures to
execute the due and orderly performance of said
duty in the future" Adopted.
Mr.. MoRGAN's resolution, as thus amended, was
tnTR gRa agresd nsan nays Ii, hT hiab
regular order, then informally laid aside, and
the Senate resumed consideration of the pension
appropriation bill, the question being on Mr..
WnHERs amendment inserting the provisions Of
the sixty surgeons bill.
Mr.. LOGAN occupied the intervening time until
adjournment in opposition TO the amendment, and
in personal remarks against the Washington cor
respondent of the New York Tribune. He argued
that the change OF machinery proposed by the
amendment would result in increased expense to
the Government, without any resultant benefit !;
that the character of the surgical service would be
the same, and that the Pension Office had now all
the power essential to a proper execution of the
law.
During his remarks Mr. LOGAN was in,errogated
by Messrs. BURNSIDE, CAMERON of Wisconsin,
BLAIR, and BOOTH.
During the discussion message was received
from the President transmitting letter from the
Secretary of the Navy in reference to the dispatch
of vessel to the relief of the Jeanette polar
pedition. Tabled.
Without action on the pending amendment TO
the pension appropriation bill, the Senate lat five
o'clock adjourned until Monday.