National Republican., 1882-07-03
CONGRESS- ON SATURDAY.
Passage OF the Legislative, ExccutIV
nnd judicial Bitl-Thc Naval BIII.

The Senate on Saturday considered In Commit
tee of the Whole the legislative, executive, and
judicial appropriation bill. The leading episode
was when Senator Morgan criticised the action Of
the Appropriation Committee upon an amend
ment increasing the salaries Of certain clerks in
the Land ONCE. Senator Beck in replying, of
fered TO resign from the committee in favor of the
Senator from Alabama, who replied, al accept"
Mr. Beck then pressed his resignation, but 1t was
ruled out Of order, as the Senate was engaged in
other business, The bill was reported to the Senate
and passed.
on motion of Mr.. Morrill,, bill was passed to
further regulate the investments OF the Pacific
Railroads. sinking fund. re permits the Secretary
of the Treasury to invest the sinking fund in first
mortgage thirty-year bonds of the Union Pacific
| and Central Pacific Railroads.
The Senate then went into Committee of the
Whole on the general deficiency appropriation
bill, at dl0 into executive session, and at 450 ad-
journed
House OF Representatives.
The House pnssed Mr. Kelleys resolution pro-
vding for the issue of s2OO0O00O0 funding certi.
flcatcs bearing per cent. interest, and went into
Committee of the Whole ON the naval appropria-
tion bill. The pending amendment was that Of
Mr.. Calkins to strike out the provision in regard
| to promotions to the grade of rear r-ndmiral The
| amendment offered by Mr.. Blount to strike out
| the clause providing Tor board to fill vaca ncy
| in the grade of rear admiral, was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Briggs, ofNew Hampshire, the
| following clause was inserted: That whenever on
| mn inquiry had, pursuant to law. concerning the
fitness of an officer of the Navy for promotion, it
shall appear that such officer is unfit TO perform
Mt sea the duties of the place to Which II is pro-
| posed to promote him by reason of drunkenness
| or from any cause arising from his own miscon-
duct or want of capacity not caused by or in con
sequence of the performances of his duty, he shall
not be placed on the retr red list of the Navy and
he shall be discharged
| On motion Of Mr. Talbot the following was also
| inserted: That no officer shall be promoted ex-
cept his mental moral, and professional fitness has
been established according to the provisions oI
| section 1l36 of the Revised Statutes
| On motion of Mr.. Knott, the words after July
| l, 1888 were added to the proviso that no more
promotions TO the grade OF commodore shall be
made. On motion of Mr.. Hi>cock, the remainder
of the provision was also struck out. 1T provided
| for allowing commodores over whom juniors In
| rank are promoted to go on the retired list with
the rank of rear admiral; also making the laws
for retiring other naval officers apply to the ad-
miral and vice. admiral; also allowing officers
| who have received the thanks of Congress full
pay until they shall have been fiflyfive years in
| the service. All this is stricken out.
| Mr.. Blount moved to strike out the words "by
| selection" in this clause; " Provided that here.
after all promotions to the grade of rear admiral
| the grades of commodore and captain" After dis
cusston, this was agreed to. The question was
then taken on the amendment offered last Thurs.
day by Mr.. Calkins, and it was reicctcd-2S to 70
So the provision was retained 1t now reads: " Pro
vded that hereafter all promotions TO the grade o
rear-admral on the active list shall be made from
| the grades of commodore and captain; and NJ
more promotions to the grade of commodore shal
| be made after July l, 1883; provided, however
that no commodore now in the service shall b,
reason of this act" Mr.. Robeson offered al
amendment contining the active list of Lieutenant
in the Navy to 200. Adopted Shortly aiterwar,
| the House adjourned.