Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-14
AT THE CAPITOL TODAY.
COMMITTEES-HOUSE APPOINTMENTS, ETC
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.


mittee on appropriations, reported favorably the
Dill supplying the accidental omission OF the word
''and" +" in the clause OF the sundry civil appropria
tiOn act OF the last Congress, making an apprupra
| tlon for a new pension building. He explained
that the omission had restricted the appropriation
OF $2OO,0OO then made to the purchase of a site
although 1t was intended to apply also to the pur.
chase OF new building.
Laid on the table at the suggestion OF Mr.. Ed.
mundS, to enable inquiry to be made as to the suf
! ficiency OF the appropriation.
MT Garland, from the committee OF Territories
reported favorably with a written report bill to
legaize the election OF the territorial legislature
New Mexico, held in 1880. and for other purposes;
placed on the calendar. Mr.. Saunders, from the
same committee. reported favorably a bill to ex-
tend the northern boundary of Nebraska: placed
| on the calendar.
On motion of Mr. Sherman, the committee on the
Gar1eld memorial services was increased by the
addltlon OF Two members namely, NeSsrs Conger
Bills were introduced and referred to committees
as as stated: BY Mr. Ingalls-FOr public building
public buildings. Also (by request)-For an in
dustrial home for girls in the District of Columbia
TO District of Columbia. BY Mr.. Camden-For a
IurIner appropriation to continue the improve
nent OF the Ohio river in West Virginia: also. in
relation to steamboat inspectors also for the con-
struction of two fce-breakers in the Ohio river.
near Parersburg, WA: all OF which were referred
| 70 @ committee on commerce By Mr.. Davis (W.va.)
For courthouse and post office buildings at
VI [.
Edmunds-For ascertaining and settling private
land claims in certain states and territories; to
| amend the Revised Statutes relating to steam.
DoaG inspection and license; to commerce.
by MI: Hawley-To authorize the President to
make the necessary arrangements to carry into
eHect any convention between the United States
and Nicaragua for the adjustment OF claims which
may be duly concluded between the two govern
ments; to special committee on Nicaragua affairs
BY Mr. Plumb-Joint resolution for the relief of
Company; to railroads
Resolutions were submitted and disposed OF as
foilows:.By follow Mr. Hoar-For the reprinting of the
count c3, IN January, 1877; adopted. BY Mr.. Jones
lFla l-RequeSting the Secretary of War to COM
municate M information OF evidence on file in the
war ONCE relating To the construction of a ship
canal across the peninsula OF Florida, including
estimates of cost of the work and the surveys
made by the United States with view to the con-
structOn OF such canal; laid over and ordered
printed By Mr.. Butler-Directing the Secretary
OF the Treasury to forward to the Senate state
ment showing the nuInber of farms pla nta tons
with the number OF acres in each, sold In the state
OF south Carolina under the act for the collection
OF direct taxes in fnsurrectionary districts etc
approved June z. 1862. Adopted
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
AT the close OF the morning business in the Sen
ate the subject of the presidential succession WAS
brought up and Mr.. Beck addressed the Senate to
Illustrate the urgency for legislative action
THE DEPARTMENT CONTINGENT FUNDS INvEsTIGA-
TION.
The Senate committee on appropriations to-day
took up the Thurman resolution, directing an in
vestigation OF the expenditure OF contingent
funds by the various departments. The subject
was referred to a subcommittee OF five consisting
Of Allison (chafrman), Logan, Hale, Davis, Of
West Virginia, and Coc6rell, with Instructions to
obtain from the departments such facts as are
nee1ed, and especially to get the testimony taken
by the Treasury committee that investigated
Pitney and have it printed. There was some dis
cation, the democrats urging that it be done with
open doors, but this question was not decided. The
Sun-cOmmlttee is to do the work Of investigation
and report back TO the full committee. They will
begin work Immediately.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES
this morning agreed to report favorably on the
bill introduced by Senator Saunders, to straighten
the northern boundary of Nebraska, by extending
it on the 43d parallel to the Missouri river The
land thus to be taken from the area of Dakota and
added to Nebraska consists of part OF the Sioux
Indian reservation. The bill is not to take effect
however, until the Sioux title shall have been ex-
The committee also to-day authorized favorable
report On Senator Pumb'S bill to validate the
ef Sa% M4co r members M%c OF the
pltance with the congressional law, recurring the
territory to be previously redistricted.
THE wATNOUGH NOMINATION.
The Senate committee on naval affairs this morn
ing took up the nomination Of j. H. Watrnough to
be paymaster general Of the navy, and decided
that the full committee shall examine into the
case In all its bearings. Nothing further was
done.
Kx-sPEAKER RANDALL's THREE PER CENT BOND BILL.
Next Friday ex-Speaker Randall proposes to in
trOduce his bill authorizing the Secretary OF the
Treasury to issue bonds in denominations of $50
and multiples thereof bearing interest at the rate
OF three per cent, redeemable In five and payable
for the outstanding 80 per cent bonds. known as
the continued fves, issued in July, 1870, and JAN
uary, 1871.
THE BILL TO RETIRE GEN. GRANT.
tod nv Mr.
the Senate committee on military affairs to pro-
vide for placing Gen. Grant on the army retired
list, reads, as amended by the committee, as fol-
lows: "Be 1t enacted, &c, That in recognition OF
eral OF the army, the President be, and hereby is,
authorized , to nominate and, by and with the ad-
Vic yce and consent & OF the Senate to appoint him to
De placed on the retired list with pay accordingly
All laws and parts OF laws in conflict herewith are
suspended, for this purpose only" The bill passed
the committee by a party vote OF five against
three: Senator'S Logan Cameron (Pa.), Harrison
SeWell and aaWley In the Affirmative; Cockrell,
Maxey and Grover In The negative; and Hampton
absent
APPOINTMENTS ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
The following appointments were made under
the Doorkeeper Of the House to-day: Jonathan
f; Whitacre, @ OF Indiana messenger on the SOL
messenger, vice Matthew O. Gorman; Edmund L.
Hfllery, page; Samuel Keller labOrer in the fold
Ing room, vice X. P. Proctor.
The following appointments were made to-day
unoer the Clerk OF the House OF Representatives:
Thomas II. Mckee, superintendent or the dOcum-
ment room, vice ex-Representative Morgan II.
Rands, removed, and William NJ. Morris, mes
senger In the library.
John ID. Severn was to-day appointed messen-
ger under the Postmaster OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEES AND THE HOLIDAY ADJOURN
NENT.
One OF the officers OF the House said last night
that Speaker Keifer would be ready to announce
the committees Of the House when 1t met on FRI
day next The impression among members, how.
ever is that they will not be announced until the
day previous to the holiday recess The impress
sion is that Congress will adjourn on Wednesday
of next week until the middle Of the first week in
January.
CAPITOL NOTES.
Mr.. Mcpherson, the clerk OF the House of Repre-
sentatiyes has received series OF resolutions
adopted by the colored republicans OF Maryland
endorsing his appointment OF VIM. Il. Smith (col-
ore() to be the librarian OF the House. The reso-
lut!ons set forth that this act on Mr. MePherson's
part show him to be ian unprejudced christian
statesman
The bin introduced by Mr. Calkins, OF Indiana,
In the House yesterday, to equalize the bount.es
OF soldiers who served I'm the late war; is the oil
bill u give $685. per month for each month OF
actual service, deductsng ell bccnt.es previously
Fpcpved from IfDitnd Stafac &