Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-25
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE BLOODY SHIRT In THE
HOUSE.
Noisy and Windy OIscussIOn-An.
other Batch OfNeW BilIs-The Mis-
stBpI Improve Debate-The
Columbus Post once.

before the House for immediate considera-
tion, but finally consented to let the matter
go over until tomorrow.
The House passed the bill appropriating
$4,000, to be Immediately available, to con-
iinue the work OF removing distractions in
He'll Gate, New York hsrbOr.
Bills were introduced and referred as fol-
lows:
By Mr.. Oates, of Alabama-To permit
farmers to furnish tobacco to farm laborers
and employees without the payment OF any
tax.
By Mr. Darrell. of Louisiana-Fixiug the
salary OF the Assistant Treasurer at New
By Mr.. Cox, of New York-A resolution
approving the Presidents circular Of invita-
tiOn to all Independent countries in North
and South America TO participate 10 peace
Congress in Washington on November 22d,
and recommending that said invitation be
extended to the Dominion OF Canada.
By Mr.. Atkins, of Tennessee-Abolish
tax alton on manufactured and leaf tobacco.
By Mr.. DPzendorf-Appropriat one
million dollars for the erection of Presi-
Dental mansion In Washington.
Bv Mr.. Robinson, OF New York-For a
final adjournment Of Congress on the 22d
of May.
By Mr.. Ford, o. Missouri (by reques,) y
For the improvement of the Mississippi,
Missouri and Ohio rivers and their tributa-
Ties. 1t authorizes the appointment of a
Mississippi River Commission" to consist
of seven members, who shall devise the
means and manner of the improvement,
and directs the Secretary OF the Treasury to
issue SIS 600 COO in Treasury notes to be Px-
pended by the Commission as follows: $50, =
OO0,0 to be used for the Improvement of
the Mississippi river between Cairo ard the
,zFk1 II, g. Al
improvement of the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, rivers above Cairo. and the Ohio river
between Cairo and Pittsburg.
Mr.. Humphrey of Wisconsin, from the
| Committee on the judiciary, reported a bill
| to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy.
Ordered printed and recommitted.
The House then proceeded to the consid-
GRAFTON of business relating to the District
of Columbia.
A bill increasing by one hundred
members the police force OF the District
| of Columbia gave rise to discussion upon the
provision authorizing the District Commits
sioners in the appointment OF policemen to
give preference TO men honorsbly discharged
from the volunteer force of the army.
Mr.. Robeson opposed the bill on the
ground that it virtually repealed the statute,
which required that all policemen should
have been hOnorablY discharged from the
army or navy.
Mr. Cox, of New York, advocating the
bill, accused Mr.. RO' esOn Of again raising
the "bloody shirt" either to accomplish
some purpose at home or to irritate the
Democratic side, or to unite the Republican
| side, and he ssked "Was Congress for yer
and forever to resurrect the ghost whenever
some men. whose record needed strength
ening, came here and invoked the bloody
shiri2'" He protested against malcOntents
| io Congress bringing up this question or
such an Insignificant matter as a Washing
ton police bill.
In further course OF the debate Mr. Robe
son, while stating that he would accord TO
every soldier who had served 10 the Con
fedsrate army his full rights under the Con
stitutioD, declared that when It came TO a
question of favor he wanted to discrimina' e
in favor IF the man who had fought for the
preservation of the Union. incidentally, he
inquired Of Mr.. Cook, of Georgia, who had
entered into the debate, whether, If he had
been wounded IN the Confederate army, he
would have applied to the United States
Government for pensions
Mr. Cook replied somewhat Indignantly
that he would not, and then proceeded to
call attention to the fact that those men,
hers OF Congress who had served in the
Confederate army were never insulted by
men who had fought against them. Insult
always came from those whose want of
courage udN ktpb iublll III Tue rear duu WHO
had never seen a rebel. When this matter
Of the bloody shirt was removed from poll
| tics, some people would have nothing to
bank up on-certainly not on services rem
dered the country during the war.
Finally the provision in the original bill
touching this question was stricken out, the
substitute recommended by the committee
was rejected, and the bill passed, leaving
the appointments to be made under the ex-
istng law.
The discussion took political turn and
involved Messrs. Robson, Cox of New
York, McLane, Miller. Curtin and Randall
of Pennsylvania, and others, and con-
tinued for over an hour amid great
noise and confusion, although without
the exhibition OF any Ill feeling. For
the most part IL was confined to a
discussion of the manner In which the
Democratic party bad acted during the war,
and it was prtcipitsted upon the House,
when, iu reply to sarcastic remarks from
the Republican side, Mr.. McLane asserted
that in every Northern State as many Dem
Ocrats as Republicans marched under the
Union flag.
"Oh l'' exclaimed Mr.. Miller, of Penn
sylvsBis, whereupOn Mr.. McLsne challeng-
Ell bim TO assert that there were more Re
publicans than Democrats in the army from
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Miller-I do assert that Hithout fear
OF contradic ion, and | know that when
they voted on the field they were Republi-
cans ten TO one. know the fact that when
the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Cur
TIM ran for Governor in 1868 as a Republi-
can, the soldiers voted for him twenty to
one.
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvanis-In 1868 the
soldiers Of Pennsylvania in the field did not
have the right to vote, and did not get one
vote fro m them.
The political status of the soldiers from
Pennsylvania was then made the subject OF
long discussion, when Mr.. Townshend. of
Illinois, suddenly broke in with an Inquiry
as to the cause of a Union Postmaster at
Lynchburg, Va, being turned out and
Confederate put in his place.
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, replied
that the Postmaster had resigned his COM
mission.
Mr.. Wise, of Virginia-How about the
Norfolk post office?
At this point Mr.. McLane yielded to Mr..
Curtin, who asserted that no people had
ever been more thoroughly united than the
people of Pennsylvania in support OF the
government, without regard to religion,
politics or place Of birth.
Mr.. Randall. of Pennsylvania, declared
that there had net been any act OF
the Legislature of Pennsylvania pro-
viding for the support of the government
tuob Hdu uOb IcCclFFu Tue
support OF both political parties He differed
with his colleague (Mr Miller) when he
stated that there was any want OF alacritY
on the part of the Democratic party in re-
spending to the call for aid. He feared that
but for the Democrats In the army there
might have been different result than that
which, thank God, had been reached.
The vote on the passage OF the bill was
yeas lii, nays Go, the negative vote being
cast by Democrats.
The following bills were introduced and
referred:
By Mr.. King, OF Louisiana-Appropriat
500, 900 for the payment Of the cost of the
surveys aud expenses of the Mississippi
River Commission. Also appropriating
the National Board of Health.
Adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate Mr. Harris presented the
protest of citizens of Tennessee against
the passage of the bill to transfer what
are known as "war claims" to the Court
of Claims. Referred.
The Committee on Public Buildings re-
ported favorably on the bill for a public
building at Lynchburg, Va.
Bills were introduced and referred as fol-
lows:
By Mr.. George Tin accordance with a
memorial from the Mississippi Legislature)-
To refuBd and distribute among the cotton
producing States, for the support of common
schools, the proceeds of the cotton tax col
lected from those States and kept in the
Treasury.
Rv Mr. Coclrell-To appoint a special