Huntsville gazette., 1882-03-04
FORTY.SEYENTH CONGRESS.

| THE bill placing Gen. Grant on the re-
tired list, with an amendment by Mr.. Sher-
| man making the retirement additional to the
number already authorized by law, passed the
Senate on the 23d by a vote 50 to II, all the
Republicans voting for it, with Brown of
Georgia. Davis of Illinois, Jones of Florida,
and Ransom of North Carolina. The remain
ing Democrats voted against it. Mr.. Logan
reported from the Military Committee joint
resolution introduced early in the day by Mr..
George for the relief of destitute persons
in districts flooded by the Mississippi and its
tributaries. A substitute authorizing the ex-
penditure of 100000 by the Secretary of War,
in CO operation with State authorities, was
promptly adopted. The House resumed
consideration of Mr.. Holmans amendment to
the Post Office appropriation bill, providing
that whenever any contractor shall sublet his
contract for the transportation Of mail
on any route for less than he contracted to
perform the service, the Postmaster-General
may declare the original contract at end,
and enter into agreement with the sub-con-
tractor, without advertising, to perform the
service on the terms at which he has agreed
with the original contractor to perform the
same. Mr.. Atkins offered an amendment,
providing the sub contractor shall enter
good and sufficient bond, and that the orig
inal contractor shall not be released from his
contract until bond has been made by the
amended, was agreed to-99 to So. The 100000
relief measure passed without question.
A RESOLUTION by Mr.. Davis, of West
Virginia. requesting the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs to inquire into the expediency of
giving more aid than is now provided to the
various States and Territories in order
to promote and encourage the or
ganization of the militia forces of the
country and strengthen their efficiency,
was adopted on the 24th Mr. Van Wyck
urged investigation of alleged frauds in the
township survey system. He said surveyors
general and other Government officials had
combined to make surveys OF worthless lands,
and then to use the scrip they would get in
return for deposits for surveys to purchase the
most valuable Government lands OF the
West. Deposits amounted last year to about
s. 900 OOO but most of the surveys were value
less to the Government because OF the worth
lessness of the lands surveyed. Referred to
Committee on Public Lands. The immediate
amended and passed without opposition.
After executive session the Senate adjourned
until the 9th. ~ In the House, ME-. Belmont
offered resolution directing the Committee
on Foreign Affairs to inquire into the abstrac-
ton from the files of the State Department of
certain letters and documents referred to in
the letter of the Secretary of State, February
II. Mr.. Kasson offered as substitute the
Wheysas. 1t is alleged, in connection with the
Cbili-Peruvian correspondence recently and
officially published on call of the two houses
of Congress that one or more Ministers Plen-
ipotentiary OF the unltea STATES We're eleneT
with business transaction in Which the inter-
yention of this Government was requested or
expected; and whereas, II IS Alleged tna1 Ger
have been improperly lost or removed from
the files of the State Department; therefore,
be it
Pesolred. That the Committee on Foreign
Affairs be Instructed to inquire into said alle-
cations and ascertain the facts relating there
10 and report the same, with such recon-
mendations as may be deemed proper.
Mr. Belmont accepted the substitute, and it
was adopted without objection Some private
bills were passed and the House adjourned for
one day.
In the House of Representatives, Feb.
9th. Mr. Reed, from the Committee on Rules
reported resolution tor select committee
of nine to consider all questions relating to
woman's rights Adopted-1l5 to IS; nearly a
marty vote Mr.. Page moved to amend the
Post. office appropriation bill by striking
from the clause appropriating 100000 for
necessary and special facilities. on trunk
lines the words ION trunk lines" SO
al to leave it in the discretion of the
Postmaster General to secure special facilities
on any mail lines. Mr.. Bland objected to the
anpronriation characte1iZing it as a corrup
ton fund contending that the money now
given to Vanderbilt and Jay Gould should be
used in the extending OF the star route service
Mr. Atkins said Mr.. James reformed and cut
down the mail service on small star routes,
but increased the pay to a railroad company
$4,000 for the transfer of one car from one
train to another. He had enabled one COM
pany to realize an extra proflt OF $1,000 ana
It was limited that the man who held the ma