Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-14
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The japanese Indemnity Bill
Through the Senate-Mr. Browns
SenatOrA' Clerks Proposal RFjecI-
ed-Tillman TO Follow D1bble-
Testimony Began In the STAR
Route Trials.


ed-Tillman 10 Follow Dibble-
Testimony Began In the STAR
Route Trials.
WASHINGTON, June 19-The House re-
sumed consideration of the bill to in
crease the water supply Of the District of
Columbia.
The bill was amended to provide for the
erection of fshways in the Potomac river,
at Great Falls, appropriating $4,000 for
that purpose, and providing that one-half Of
the cost Of the proposed improvement be
paid by the taxable property of the District,
the interest to be included in the tax levy,
and the principal to be paid from a sinking
fund, to be created from surplus water rev.
enue. The bill then passed
The House then went into committee OF
the whole on the legislative, execu I've and
judicial appropriation bill. Several efforts
were made TO eDgraft on the bill amend
ments looking TO the abolition OF the custom
of levyiDg political assessments on govern
ment employees, but all were ruled out on
points of order.
Pending a long discussion on the last sec
iion Of the bill, directing the Secretary Of
War to transfer all pension claims on record
in the Surgeon Generals office to the Office
Of the Adiutant General, the committee
rose, and the House adj burned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, a communication was re-
ceived from the Secretary of War, transmit
ting additional information In regard to the
Invention and improvements of heavy ordi-
nance. Il was accompanied by papers so
volumiuous that they filled a box four feet
by eighteen inches. Referred.
Several bills authotizing the loan OF tents,
camp Cqulpage, etc, to veteran associa-
tions in various parts OF the country were
passed.
Mr.. Maxey. on behalf of the Military Com
mittee, announced that in justice to the
War Department all applications for donL-
tions of tents, guns, camp equpage, etc,
would be refused after the close of the
prasentsessiOn Of Congress.
Mr.. Browns resolution, supplying each
Senator with 81 200 clerk, was considered
and reiec' ed-Veas 20, nays %.
Upon concluding the morning business
the Senate at 2:l0 laid aside the japanese
bill and listened to a speech by Mr.. Blair on
illiteracy in the States and the urgent need
for an adequate appropriation In aid OF
common schools.
Mr.. Blair held the lloor nearly two hours.
The Senate then non cODcurred in the
House amendments to the District water
supply bill, and ordered a conference.
Mr.. Hoar called up the Senate bill refer
ring the cotton claims of the estate of Stir
ling T. Austin to the Court OF Claims, and
It was passed.
Mr.. Allison reported back from the FL
nance Committee, with amendments, the
House bank charters extension bill. Or
dered printed and recommitted.
At four o'clock the japanese indemnity
bill, and Mr.. Morril's amendment ordering
the destruction OF bonds in which the fund
was invested, prevailed-Yeas %, nays %.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill,, the prize
money claim was reduced mpre than $780,
600 by deducting the accumulated interest
An amendment, offered by Mr.. Hawley,
allowing per cent. on the fund to be paid
to Japan, after being rejected in committee
of the whole by a vote Of % TO "a, was voted
down in the Senate by % to %.
The conclusion Of the committee not to
pay to Japan the accumulated interest,
which the indemnity had earned was reit-
Grated in the Sena by a vote Of 25 10 %.
Upon the passage of the bill several of its
original advocates, among them Messrs
CoDger, Butler and George, stated their op-
position to it in view Of the changes made
by the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman said he would vote against
f., because he believed it to be a sensational
bill, and thought that the money was not
due TO japan.
Mr.. Maxey believed the money belonged
to the United ates by virtue of a solemn
trea'y
Mr.. Morgan, while yielding his Judgment
to that of the Senate upon the question of
proprietY, would support the measure as the
best means Of settlement obtainable.
Mr.. Brown said he would vote now to paw
the principal TO Japan, with the conviction
that the interest would be paid hereafter.
The hill passed-yeas 35, nays 13.
The bill as passed authorizes and directs
the President to pay to the Government of
japan S7S5, 900 81 in legal coin, through The
United States Minister to Japan, aud directs
that all bonds row owned or controlled by
the State Department and designated In the
department reports as the japanese indem-
nity fund shall be cancelled and destroyed.
Section 2 directs the Secretary Of the
Treasury to pay from the Treasury $4,000
as prize money to the officers and crews of
the United States ship Wyoming and steam
er TaconY, or their legal representatives,, for
services in the Straits Of Simouoscky, in
1868 and 1864, no payment to be made to
any assignee of any mariner, but to the
mariner himself, his legal representative,
or HIS or their duly authorized attorney.
After a struggle for precedence in behalf
OF the bonded spirits bill, and the Dakota
bill, a struggle which was not terminated,
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
In the Criminal Court this morning Mr..
Merrick opened the proceedings with an ex-
PLANTATION OF the course he intended to pur-
sue in the presentation Of evidence. He
said he proposed to take up the routes
seratim, completely disOosing OF one route
before taking up another.
Mr. Merrick offered in evidence various
certificates and other papers from the office
| Of the Auditor of the Post Office Depart
ment. Objections were made and ov -rruled,
and exceptions noted by the defense 10
the introduction OF all papers. Judge
Wylie disposed of the objections summa
| rily and direc. ed Mr.. Merrick to proceed,
expressing the hope that more work would
be accomplished TO day than yesterday.
Senator Saunders, of Nebraska, was then
| called to the stand and sworn. He recOg
niZsd the petitions for Increased service
bearing his Endorsement, but could not tell
after such lapse of time, about three years,
whether the interlineations, which were
sps c'ficstiOns OF complaint, were in the
papers when they passed through his hand.
H remarked, however, that they were in
different hand and were written with differ
ent ink from the body OF the p lper.
French, the sub-contractor OF the route
under investigation, from Kearney to Kent,
Nebraska, took the stand AMI testified that
the interlined words ("thirteen hours')
were not 10 the petition when he circulated
It or when he sent it to Washington. This
witness was cross-eXamined at great length
upon the details of carrying the mails on
such route as the one in question, and he
occupied the time till adjournment.
sMALLs vs.. TILLMAN.
The subcommittee of the House Com
mittee on Elections, in charge of the con
tested election of Smalls, Republican,
against Tillman, Democrat, from the Fifth
district of South Carolina, to-day adopted
resolution declaring that Smalls was duly
cleo ed and is entitled to the stat. The sub
committee will report this case to the full
committee next Tuesday.
weather Indications.
OPPICR CHIEF SIGNAL OBSERVER, WASH
ruarOr n q June IL -Indications fOl