The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-03-23
At HOME AND ABROAD.
roriy.seveo,h congress,

for Information about the proposed bridge
ofthe New Orleans u Northeastern railway
company, across Lake Ponchartrain from
Point Aux lIerbes, Louisiana. whether the
same will interfere with navigation, etc.
Mr.. Hampton reported from the miitory
committee q bill to empower the secretary
OF war to audit the claim Of the state oil
South Carolina for rent alleged due for tie
occupation of the Citadel academy, Charles
ton. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on claims,
reported adversely bill for the relief Of
the Mechanics and Traders bank of New
Orleans. Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Malone Introduced aon urr ent res
olution, which was read first time, as fol-
lows: "That in the event of any reduction
of the tax OH tobacco manufactured in the
United States, il is hereby declared that a
rebate, of 40 per cent. of such reduction
shall be granted on all stamps, or taxes paid
for tobacco manufactured in the United
States after the adoption of this resolution,
and between such date and the time when
}any law making such reduction shall go
I vi
licensed dealers or other than manufactur-
ers."
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Brown APP
propriating 100000 for the improvement of
the harbor of Brunswick, Georgia.
At 1:30 the tariff commission bill, the
unfinished business, came up and was in
formally laid aside to allow Mr.. Garland to
speak upon the importance of the main
tenance of an efficient levee system on the
Mississippi river, the bill on the subject re-
Gently introduced by him being temporari-
ly taken up.
In concluding, after long speech in
which he earnestly pressed the claims of
Grafton of congress, Mr.. Garland said if
the committee in charge of the bill did not
give 1t early consideration, he would resort
to some parliamentary jackscrews to get it
back. On his motion the bill was sent to
the committee on the Mississippi river and
its tributaries.
Consideration of the post-office appropria-
ton bill was resumed. The pending
amendment to make the Holman
provision relating to sub-contracts APP
plicable only to contracts hereafter made
was agreed to-ayes 81; nays, II.
The increase in the item Tor compensation
ofpost-office clerks of 5000 prevailed.
The next amendment reported to the
senate was an item on contracts, and de-
clares that a carrier, employed by contrac-
tor or sub-contractor, who shall file his
agre cement and evidence that he
has done the work shall have
lien ON the money of his employer
tor his pay, and if the contractor
or sub-contractor. shall fail to pay the car
rier within two months of the end of the
quarter, the department shall pay the debt
and charge it to the contractor. When a
person or firm holding several contracts
fails to perform the service on any one of
them, pay for others shall be withheld until
the service has been restored and all penal
ties satisfied. This amendment gave rise to
somewhat protracted discussion, devoid of
general interest, upon the probable differ
ences arising under it in the post-office de-
partment.
In the course of the de-
bate Messrs. Dawes and Hawley
became involved in a personal contro-
iversy upon what the latter construed to be
an unwarranted criticism on the part of
Mr.. Dawes upon himself.
After some change in the phraseology of
the amendment in the direction of greater
clearness, without altering its effect, the
amendment was adopted.
The bill was then laid over as unfinished
business.
The tariff commission bill was again
taken up as the regular order.
Mr.. Allison submitted report of the
committee on appropriations with the testi-
mony taken in what is known as the treas
ury contingent fund investigation. The
report and testimony were tabled tempo
rarily and ordered printed.
After an executive session the senate adj
.iourned.
Houk, OF Tennessee, chairman of the
committee on war claims, reported bill
for the allowance of certain claims reported
allowed by the accounting officers of the
treasury department.
Springer commented on the fact that of
lis pages Of the bill seyenty-five were de-
voted to the payment of claims to citizens of
Tennessee. This was explained by Houk
and Mcmillan by the statement that more
property of Union citizens had been taken
by the United States in Tennessee than
in any other state.
Updegraif, member of the committee,
stated that he did not know what to do
with regard to this bill. The committee
- received ten huge patches of
Isniins which bad been adjudicated by the
<feasury officials, and it had been a physi-
ca impossibility for members Of the COM
mittee TO examine them. IL appropriates
$29l 600 for the payment OF ! 300 claims.
Miller, of Pennsylvania, said that 1t struck
him that congress ought TO know what it
was doing when 1t appropriated sol 900.
White, OF Kentucky, Holman, Of Indiana,
Atkins, of Tennessee, and Blount, OF Geor-
gia, advocated the passage OF the bill, con-
tending that TO do otherwise would be un-
Just to claimants. and, would be virtual
repeal of the law under which the claims
were authorized to be adjudicated. The
bill was passed without division.
Rice, of Ohio, offered a resolution
directing the committee on the judiciary TO
inquire whether the conviction Of Sergeant
Mason by the military court and the pro-
.ceediugs Hereunder are not in violation Of
laws and the constitution Of the United
States, and report tiiv,r determination to
this house, and giving the committee
power to send for persons and papers. Re-
ierred.
Hiscock, Of New York, charm an Of the
committee on appropriations, reported
back senate b:lf making further
appropriation TO relieve the sufferers by the
overflow OF the Mississippi river. The com
mittee recommended the adoption OF
amendments increasing the amount APP
propriated from $4,000 10 $1,000, and
authorizing the secretary OF war 20 expend
such part thereof as Is proper for labor in
STRENGTHENING the levecs Of the Mississippi
river, but providing that be shall only en-
ploy persons 10 whom be Is issuing rations.
The clause in the amendment referring TO
the repairing Of the leyees gave rise 20 a
warm debate, some members seeing
in 1t the beginning OF
movement upon the United ssates treasury
for general system OF levte building at the
erpense of the country at lnrge. In the
eb1ze, the acti>u1oi the cover
nois md Kentucky, IN ASKING 20
overflow su1erersin Their states,
zed, as Il was held fhat~ those
abundantly able t0care for their
.ssed citizens.
Hiscock modified the amend
TO read as follows And tbe
Of war Is hereby
ii 70 expend such part
be may deem advisable for use
strengthening the levees Of the
ri. where there Il danger Of an inn