The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-12
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[7slegra11ned tothe Roekzssand Ar0us.
xLvx CONGRESS.
HOUSE.

w NASHlNGION. u 2us 1t'-hf. DiACk~
burn offered resolution reciting that
there was on the Speakers table a voIum-
inous paper referring to the abuse of the
frankine privilege and moved that COM
mittee of FIVE be appointed to examine
these charges and other abuses that may be-
brought to its attention about the trans
mission of documents, letters etc, Adopt
ed. and the House went into committee
on the Indian appropriation bill.
The objaction of Mr.. Hooker to the
amendments appropriatiDg $4,000 for the
expenses of ten citizens for the act of
1863, and striking out the clause repeating
the laws creating such commission, was
oyerruled.
The amendment was adopted, 81 to 73.
Messrs Carlisle, Geddes, Wilson and
noticed as voting in the affirmative, and
Mr.. Valentine the only Republican voting
in the negative.
Mr., Hiscock rose to point of order
against the sixth section Of the bill, which
provides that all bids for supplies for pro
visions for the Indians and tor the trans-
portation of the same shall be first opened
and contracts awarded thereon at some
suitable place in the Mississippi river
valley. The point of order was sus-
tanned and the section was stricken out.
Mr.. Hooker soffered an amendment
providing for the transfer of the manage
ment of Indian affairs to the War. Depart
meut after the lst OF July next, After
short and noisy discussion the amendment
was ruled out.
akMr. Frost, in order to avoid that point
of order offered an amendment providing
thatIthe appropriation made bythis bill shall
he expended by the General Of the Army
instead of the Secretary Of the Interior,
but this was also ruled out on smotion of
Mr. Ryan, OF Kansas.
An amendment was adopted providing
that all advsrtisementsstor contracts shall
be made atSieast sixty days before any
such contracts are awarded.
The amendment sadopted in com mmittee
relative to the Indian commissions was
reported-yeas LOG. nays ll9.
At the conclusion of the roll call the
vote was a tie. but before the announce
ment several Democrats who voted in the
affirmative changed their votes to the
negative: wiihs the aforementioned re-
suit,
Mr.. Anderson also changed his vote to
negative and moved to reconsider.
Mr.. Springer moved to lay that motion
moved to adjourn.
The motion to adjourn being defeated
Mr.. Anderson withdrew his motion to re-
consider and so the amendment was re
iected. Tbs bill then passed.
The Speaker laid before the House
message from the President transmitting
copies Of the correspondence relating to the
invitation extended by the French republic
TO this government to send one or more
delegates to represent it iu the internation-
al Congress of electricians to be held at
Paris, Sept is, 1881. The President re-
commends that an appropriation be made
for that purpose. The message was re-
ferred to the committee on Foreign AT
fairs.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Jan. lI.-Mr Maxey.
from the Military Comm reported
with amendment bill for this relief of
Gen. Ord,
Mr., Bayard from the Finance Com NIT
tee reported favorably the House bill to
amend the Revised Statutes. to authorize
charge for melting and refining bullion
when at or above the standard.
Mr. Cameron, from the Military Com
mittee. reported adversely the bill to
recognize the United States Militia, Indef
| nateiy postponed.
Mr.. Slater introduced a bill to reduce
the price of evsn numbered sections Of
public lands within the limits of any
railroad, military or wagon road grant
TO pre- emption settlers to $l75 per acre.
The bill to punish vasrants in the Dis
trict of Columbia was discussed.
The bill was fntlly laid aside without ac
ton and the Senate took up the bill for the
relief of Ben Holiday. After considerable.
discussion, Mr.. Cockrell, on leave, sub
mitted resolution, which was agreed to,
calling on the Postmaster General for
copies of all contracts. orders, charges,
correspondence. proceedings and actions
concsrning the carrying of mails across the
continent between the first days of Janu-
ary, 1857 and 1867 on what was CON monty
| called the overland route. Also for all
information in the books of the depart
ments of payment, increase Of paymeu is
and the full amCuots paid on acc Dunt OF
such contract service and change, iDciud
| ing extra compensation. Pending debate
on the Holiday case the Senate adjourned.