The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-01-20
LLVIth CONGRESS THIRD SESSION.
SENATE.

LII. NoorneeS introduced Dill providing Tor
the construction of building for the Con-
gressional Library. The bill to authorize the
appointment of General Grant on the army
retired list was also introduced, besides bills to
require the immediate destruction of stamps on
cigar boxes, torequire the signature on national
bank notes to be written, to provide for the
distribution of unclaimed dividends among the
creditors of national banks, to extend the
ranking privilege, and to regulate the Civil
Service. The bill for the punishment of tramps
In the District of Columbia was discussed at
some length.
Mr.. Bayard, from the Committee on FL
nances, reported favorably on the House bill to
amend section of the revised statutes SO as to
authorize the charge for melting or refining
bullion when at or above the standard. Mr.
Cameron, from tho Military Committee re-
ported adversely the bill for the reorganization
of the national militia, and it was definitely
postponed.
A resolution was introduced instructing the
Committee on Finance to inquire into the ad-
visibility of a change in the organization of the
Treasury and other departments.
A discussion was held on Mr.. Logan's joint
resolution extending the franking privilege to
all official business sent through the mails by
Senators, Representatives. and Delegates in
Congress, and in all other respects to be under
the limitation of existing laws, in the course of
which reference was made to the abuses of the
frankng system.
and Mr.. Withers stated that as compared with
the bill of last year, it showed a net increase of
@262. 900 in appropriations. The clause appro-
priating 1926, 900 to pay land grant railroads so
per cent. of what the Quartermaster Depart
ment finds justly due them for transportation,
to which the Senate Committee added the pro-
vision THAT such payment shall be accepted
as in full of all demands for said services"
was discussed at length, Mr.. Edmunds remark
ing that the trouble in laying down any rule of
so per cent. was that the rights of the United
States with reference to these roads varied In
different cases.
A bill was passed providing for the payment
of damages which may be occasioned to Indians
on the Minnesota Reservations by the construc-
ton of reservoirs at the head waters of tho
Mississippi under the act of last year, and also
providing that the appropriation heretofore
made for the construction of dam at Lake
Winnibigoshish shall be applied Immediately.
The resolution on the franking privilege was
referred to the Committee on Postofices.
During the consideration of the army bill
Mr. Edmunds offered an amendment, which
was adopted, to the effect that the pay
ment for army transportation lawfully due such
land grant railroads as have not received aid in
| government bonds shall be adjusted by the
proper accounting officers in accordance with
decisions of the Supreme Court in cases decided
under the land grant acts, but in no case shall
more than 80 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,
| S125,000. With this modification the original
amendment offered by Mr.. Allison was agreed
to. The other amendments were agreed to as
| reported from the committee.
| A concurrent resolution was adopted instruct
ing the Committee on Naval Affairs to confer
! with the Secretary of the Navy in reference to
the unyeiling Of the statue of Admiral Farra-
| gut.
The Army Appropriation bill was adopted
and the Military Academy bill, which provides
| for an appropriation of 1922, ,131, which was
s72, 307 less than the estimates, but exceeded
the appropriation for 1880 by IS, 901, was taken
up and adopted.
The District Tramp bill was passed.
House joint resolution appropriating $2,-
! 500 to defray the expenses of the International
Sanitary Conference was, after some discus
sion on constitutional law. agreed to.