The National tribune., 1882-08-05
WHAT CONGRESS ISD0ING.

In the Senate on Thursday, July 27, con-
sideration of the naval appropriation bill was
resumed, several speeches being made on the
subject. A committee of conference was ap-
pointed on the disagrecing votes on the
japanese indemnity fund BILL
On Friday in the Senate a bill was passed
appropriating SG74G2l for the publication of
the tenth census reports. The bill was passed
providing for an international conference to
fix a common prime meridian for the reckon
ing of longitude and the regulation of time
throughout the world. The bill providing tor
certain increase in the pay of letter-carriers
was passed. The Senate then, in Committee of
the Whole, took up the naval appropriation bill,
the discussion of which occupied the remainder
of the session.
In the Senate on Saturday the bill was passed
regulating the carriage Of passengers by ocean
steamers; also the bills to regulate immigra-
ton and appropriating a years salary to the
widow of the late minister to Liberia, Mr..
Garnett Consideration of the naval apprO-
priation bill was resumed. Mr.. Beck offered
an amendment reducing from $1,0O00OO to
100000 the amount appropriated Tor com
pleting the DEiantonomah and launching the
other four monitors prohibiting the compile
tion of those four vessels until further order
Of Congress, and directing the naval advisory
board to report as to the advisability of their
completion. Mr. Becks amendment was
adopted. The clause relating to the monitors
was then disposed of. As it stands it reads as
follows: "That 100000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary of tho above amount
80, ,20O,0OO) shall be applied by the Secretary
Of the Navy to the following objects, namely
Under the Bureau of Construction and Repair,
to building and fitting the turrets and pilot
house of the ironcad steamer MiantOnomah,
and to the launching to the best advantage
Of the ironclad steamers Monadn0ck, Puritan,
Anphitrite, and Terror, and that no futher
steps shall be taken or contracts entered
into or approved for the repairs or COM
pletion Of any of the four ironclads afore-
said until the further order of Congress;
and the naval advisory board created by
this act is directed to report in detail by the
first day OF December, 1882, rs to the wisdom
and cEpcGicncy of undertaking and completing
the engines, armOr and armamclts of said IRON
clads, and whether any changes in the original
plan or plans should be made together with
the cost of the completion OF each according to
the plans recommended, if the completion OF
any Of them is recommended; and that any
part Of the appropriation for said bureau not
used rs above specified may be applied toward
the construction Of the engines and machinery
Of the two cruising vessels provided for in this
act" Mir. Miller, Of California, moved to strike
out the clause of the bill abolishing the grade
Of commodore and to insert provision for a
board of commissioners to consider all matters
relating to a proper reduction of the official
list of the navy and the adjustment OF the
several corps thereof. The motion was, after
debate, adopted by q vote Of 81 yeas to y nays
Mr.. Ferry presented a petition of members OF
Garfield Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at
Coloma, Mich, praying for the passage of the
House bill for the increase of pensions to those
who have lost an arm or leg or suffered dis
ability equivalent thereto in the service Of the
United States; which was referred to the Com
mittee on Pensions.