National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-01
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The Sundry Civil Bill and Other Matters
-ROutine Business.

When the Senate met yesterday the
Vice e-PresidentpreSented the credentials ofWillam
Malone, Senator-elect from Virginia. Read and
filed.
Mr.. Davis of West Virginia, submitted the con-
ference report on the legislative appropriation
bill, which was adopted.
The sundry civilappropriation bill was received
from the House and referred to the Committee on
Appropriations.
The Senate took up the calendar and considered
the House bill providing construction fund for
the navy and for other purposes.
Objection to the bill being made, the calendar
was postponed to proceed with it-ayes % noes p
and the subject was further debated. the discus
sion being mainly directed to the provision en-
pOwering the Secretary TO apply the proceeds OF
the fund in his discretion, notwithstanding the
law requiring the proceeds from old material to be
covered into the Treasury
The bill was finally rccommitted to the Commit
tee on Naval Atfairs-ayes Is noes 22.
The following were conSidered:
On motion of Mr.. Mcdonald, the Senate bill for
the survey of public lands in Lucas and Ottawa
Counties, Ohio. Passed.
On motion of Mr.. Voorhees,, The Senate bill to
give any retired medical, pay, or engineer officer
of the navy who has served or may hereafter serve
term as chief of bureau, ana whose name has
been borne on the navy register thirty years the
relative rank and pay OF commodore on the retired
list Passed.
On motion of Mr.. Pendleton the Senate bill for
the relief of the captain, owners, officers, and
crew of the late United States private armed brig
General Armstrong. their heirs, executors, &c
PaSsed-ayeS A. noes, Q.
Mr.. Wallace submitted the conference reports on
the Post Office and Indian appropriation bills,
which were adopted.
The japanese indemnity fund bill was taken up
On motion of Mr. Eaton, after long discussion
upon the order of business in which Mr. Cockrell
stated that the present Congress had passed fewer
bills than any of its predecessors.
Mr. Eaton temporarily yielded the floor to Mr..
Window, who addressed the Senate upon the reSO-
luton on the table, declaring that the Government
of the United States Will insist that its consent is
necessary condition precedent to the construction
of an isthmian thoroughfare.
Proceeding to detail the advantages of the
TchGantepec Ship Railway LEads'l route over
other routes and methods, Mr. Window. after
showing that the Importance of this route had
and other far-seeng American statesmen through
period of more than half century, proceeded
to specify these advantages. This route, being
shorter than the Others would be made available
from ten to fifteen years earlier, would secure
cheaper transit and afford far better facilities for
sailing vessels than could otherwise be obtained.
These and the additional considerations that the
proposed improvement would prove better regu
latof of trans continental railway charges than
any other; that it would establish intimate COM
mercial relations between the United States and
Mexico and prove an effective means of rebuild
ing our commercial marine and restoring our lost
supremacy on the ocean, were commented upon at
some length.
Mr. Hoar moved to amend the resolution by in
serting declaration that the commercial and
other interests of the people of the United States
require provision Tor one or more transit ways
without further delay and that the duty of the
Government to take Immediate steps for securing
the same.
Upon the conclusion of Mr. WINDOWS remarks
the Chair announced as the pending business the
japanese fund bill. The bill, however was laid
over with the assent of Mr. Eaton, to permit rou-
tine business.
The Chair submitted communication from the
Secretary of the Treasury i'll response to the Senate
resolution calling for information in connection
with New York custom house appointments, &c.
Ordered printed.
Mr. Whyte called up and had passed the Senate
bill to reorganiZe and incorporate anew the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company.
Mr.. Whyte in reply TO Mr. COnklng. said the bill
merely authorized the company to reOrganize as at
present after certain foreclosure proceedings are
cOnsummated.
On motion of b1r. Ransom. the Senate insisted
upon its amendments to the river and harbor bill.
and Messrs. Ransom, Farley, and Mcmillan were
constituted the conferees.
On motion of Mr.. Bayard, the Senate joint reso-
luton for the relief of the Philadelphia and Read
ing Railroad Company was taken up.
Mr.. COnking opposed the bill, arguing that the
company came under the tax imposed by the
statute; but upon an explanation by Mr.: Cam
eron of Pennsylvania, that the object of the issue
was 10 relieve the employees from want and suffer
ing, indicated his willingness to vote for the de-
sired relief if this was refused by the revenue
officials after full statement of the case.
The bill was finally laid aside without action,
and the japanese idemnity bill being placed on
the orders as unfinished business, the Senate lat
6:l0 p. m,) adjourned until to- morrow.