National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-17
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.
The Funding and River and EIarbOr Bills
DisPussed

The VICE PRESIDENT submitted a conlmgni-
cation from the Secretary of the Interior trans
mitting to the Senate communication from the
Auditor of Railroad Accounts setting forth certain
facts and figures which, in his judgment, require
an amendment OF the sinking fund act so far as it
relates TO the amount required from the Central
Pacific Railroad Company, that fifty per cent. of
the net earnings of that company may be applied
to the payment of its debt to the Government, in
stead of twenty five per cent, now required by
law Secretary SchurZ, i'll transmitting this com
munication from Auditor French, says: concur
in the views set forth in his letter, and commend
them to the favorable consideration of Congress
Referred TO the Committee on the Judiciary and
ordered printed.
Mr. PENDLETON, from the Select Committee on
the Civil Service, reported bill to regulate and
improve the civil service of the United States.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. EATON, from the Committee on Foreign Re
lations, reported the following:
Resolr6d by the Senate and House Of Representatives.,
That the interests Ofthe people of the United states
of America and the welfare and security of their
Government, are so involved in the subject OF the
construction of ship canals and other ways for the
transportation of sea- going vessels across the
iSthmus connecting North and South America
that the Government of the United States, with the
frankness which is due TO all other peoples ana
governments hereby asserts that 1t VIII insist that
It's consent is g necessary condition precedent TO
the execution of any such project; and also as to
the rules and regulations under which other ma
tiOns shall participate in the use of such canals or
other ways, either in peace or in war; Tabled
temporarily and ordered printed, at the suggestion
of Mr.. EATON.
MI. WINDOW said he would ask TO submit some
remarks on the subject at some convenient time in
the present session.
A substitute offered by Mr. DAVIS, of West vir-
ginia for Mr.. INGALLS, resolution for special com
mittee, to sit during the recess and report at the
next session upon defects in the pension laws, and
what measures are necessary to prevent frauds and
facilitate the adjudication of pension claims, was
discussed.
The expiration of the morning hour prevented
action on the subject.
Mr. ALLISON reported from the Appropriations
Committee, with amendments, the fortifeatiOn ap-
preparation bill. Calendar.
Mr.. HARRIS bill authorizing the appointment of
three hundred additional District policemen was
passed, as amended, extending the period of ser
vice from fifteen to twenty days
Mr.. TELLERS resolution for night sessions, be-
ginning Thursday, to consider cases unObjected to
on the calendar unless otherwise ordered and lin
iting debate thereon, was passed.
Mr.. MCPHERSON reported from the Naval Com
mittee avorably the bill to regulate the promotion
of midshipmen and cadet engineers and establish
the grade of subasSistant engineer in the navy.
Also from the same committee, favOrGbly, the
joint resolution authorizing Commodore Shufeldt
TO accept sword, Persian carpet, and other arti-
cles from the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Mr.. EATON, by direction of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, reported an amendment TO be
proposed to the sundry civil bill, appropriatins
$4,000 to pay the expenses OF an embassy to the
government of Mexico, consisting of not more
than two ambassadors, TO act in conjunction with
the Minister Plenipotentiary OF the United states.
Referred to the Appropriations Committee.
Mr.. MCDONALD addressed the Senate upon the
subject of the equality of taxation presented bv
the declaratory resolution introduced by him for
this purpose on Tuesday. His remarks were de-
voted to an elaborate discussion of the tariffs.
At one O'Clock the Senate took up the calendar.
The only bill of special importance acted upon
was the Senate joint resolution to increase the
number of officers of the army allowed to be de
tailed professors of military sciences at colleges
and universities.
The substitute reported from the committee was
amended by striking out the section repeating all
laws allowing officers on the active list 10 be de-
tailed and adopted. 1t authorizes the President
upon application of the instution (Which must
have capacity adequate for not less than $50 stu
dents 10 detail an officer OH the retired list pro-
fessor &c, thereof provided the institution shall
pay such officer the difference between his retired
and active pay; and authorizes the issue of small
arms and field artillery for the instruction Of and
practice by the student of the institution
The bill passed as amended, the title
being charged TO provide for the pay of retired
officers detailed to colleges and Institutions of
learning.
The consideration of the funding billwas then
resumed. MesSrS. MORRILL,, SAUNDERS, MCDCN
AID, HEREFORD. EATON, VANCE, KIRKwooD, ALI
son, BOOTH, BLAIR, PENDLEroN, VOORHEES,, and
MCPHERSON made speeches upon the bill
After q statement by Mr. BAHARD that he would
press the bill TO Il conclusion tomorrow the Sen
ate (at $50 o'clock went into executive session,
and, when the doors were reopened, adjourned