National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-14


previous day on the army appropriation bill was
resumed and continued until adjournment Sew
eral amendments were agreed to. In the House
several committees reported, and the balance of
the day was consumed i'll discussing the funding
bill in Committee of the Whole. Several impor-
tant amendments were adopted, and, pending dis
cuSSiOn, the House adjourned.
THE SENATE.
Mr.. EATON, from the Committee on Foreign Az
fairs, reported adversely the bill i'll relation to
the Japanese indemnity fund, and favorably as
substitutes therefor two new bills.
Several bills were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. DAVIS. of Illinois: To amend section 4
of the act to fix the pay of lettercarrers approved
February l, 1879.
By Mr.. DAVIS, of West Virginia (by request :
To authorize the taking of certain parcels of real
estate for public use, known as square SO, where
the present city pOSt-Office is situated.
Mr.. MCMILLAN, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported favorably bill recently intro
duced by him providing for the payment of dam
ages which may be occaSioned TO Indians on Min
nesota reservations by the construction of reserva
fOns at the headwaters of the Mississippi under
the act of last year, and also providing that the
appropriation heretofore made for the construction
ofthe dam at Lake eWinnibagoshish shall be applied
Immediately.
On motion of Mr. MCMILLAN, the bill was taken
up. and, after explanation by him, was passed.
On motion of Mr.. LOGAN, the resolution extend
ing the frankng privilege to Senators and members
was taken up.
Mr. WALLACE referred to an allusion to himself
in connection with a recent instance of complaint
of alleged abuse of the franking privilege, as con-
tanned in statement IN the Record OF the previous
day. He desired TO say that the statement pertain
ing to himself was without foundation. He had
at no time authorized the use of his name on any
matter that was not frankable, and would con-
tent himself with this statement in his place as
refiItatiOn of any charge against himself
A motion ofAlr DAVIS, of West Virginia, to refer
was then agreed to-ayeS, 2S; noes %.
TIE morning hour expiring, the Senate resumed
consideration of the army appropriation BILL the
question being upon amendments to the item for
the payment of Government transportation on
land-grant railroads.
The discussion of the previous day was resumed,
and various suggestions were urged with view to
pcrecting the item, to limit the discretion of
the Quartermasters Department and require that
any settlement for transportation by that depart
ment shall be made in accordance with recent de-
ciSionS in the controversy between the Govern
ment and the roads, the latter having their legal
remedy in cases of dispute as to the amount to be
allowed.
The pending amendment offered by Mr. ALI
son was to make the fifty per cent. payment apply
to the amount audited and approved" instead of
"the amount found to be justly due" by the
QuartermaSterGeneral
Mr.. EDMUNDS moved an amendment to the
amendment, making the entire item read as fol-
lows: For the payment for army transportation
lawfully due such land-grant railroads as have not
received aid in Government bonds, to be adjusted
by the proper accounting officers in accordance
with the decisions of the Supreme Court in cases
decided under landgrant acts but in no case shall
than fifty per cent. of the full amount of the
service be paid until final judicial decision shall
be had in respect to each case in dispute s125OOO"
Agreed to-ayeS, %; noes, 49,
Mr.. EDMUNDS suggested that the amendment
reported from the Senate committee appending a
prOviso that such payment shall be accepted as
in full of all demands for said services, being ap
parently superiuous be stricken out
The discussion was then renewed, and was par
ticipated in by MeSsrs. BECK, CARPENTER, Ed
MUNDs, PLUME, BUISsIDE HoAR, MCPHERSON,
WITHERs, and BROWN.
At 10 motion to adjourn was negatived-
ayes, u; nays, 35.
The amendment was finally agreed to-ayes, 25 {:
noes %.
Mr.. BLAIR offered and advocated substitute
paying the land-grant railroads whatever sum the
Quartermasters Department finds justly due the
same to be not over fifty per cent. of reasonable
price for the service if performed by private
individual or corporation for the same road; pro-
vided such payment shall be accepted in full of all
demands for payment for such services, but no pay
ment shall be made in any disputed case until the
dispute is settled.
Laid on the table-ayes 50 noes, II.
The amendments of the Senate committee 10
other items of the bill agreed to as reported.
Pending action upon the bill, the Senate, at $40
p. M, adjourned