The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-12-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.


WASHINGTON. Dec 22-Mr Kelly,
under instructions from the ways and
means committee, moved that the house
adjourn TO- morrow to Wednesday next.
| No ataoruuf was obtained and the melton
| was withdrawn.
| Mr.. Hiseock offered a resolution that
after recess the house meet daily at IL
/ o'clock Adopted.
Mr.. Kelly again moved to adjourn to-
morrow till Wednesday. Carried
| The house then went into committee ON
| the army bill, Mr.. Townsend, of Ohio, in
| the chair The provisions of the bill pro-
viding that hereafter all officers now on
the retired list, or who may hereafter be
retired from active service. except in the
case of the general of the army, shall e
borne on the rolls of the army and shall
| receive pay as now provided by law as of
| the rank they actually held in the army at
| the date of their retirement, gave rise to
some debate and finally passed over in
formally
Mr. Thomas, of Illinois, offered and
advocated an amendment providing
that aids de camp Except those of the
general of the army shall net receive
any additional rank or pay by reason of
being detailed to staff duty. He didn't
think that low grade officer was en-
selected for the staff duty, and instanced
the case of Lieut.. Grant. who has suddenly
become Lieut. Col. Grant The amendment
was agreed to. to 80, and Mr.. Butter
worth gave notice that he would ask vote
upon it in the house.
Mr.. Brown, of Indiana, offered as an
amendment the following provisions:
That whenever vacancy occurs in the
Office of the paymaster general, assistant
paymaster general, deputy paymaster
general, paymaster in the army, by death,
dismissal. resignation, retirement or other
cause, the same shall not be filled by ap-
pointment or otherwise, and whenever the
force in the pay department shall not
be sufficient for the due payment of the
troops the secretary of war is authorized
and required to detail, under such regula-
tons as he may prescribe, an officer or
officers in the guartermaster's department
to supply the deficiency, and when the pay
masters have all died or been dismissed,
or been retired as hereinbefore
stated, the payment of the army shall be
wholly transferred to the quartermaster's
under such regulations as the |
secretary of war may prescribe. When |
ever, however, a vacancy occurs in the |
office of the paymaster. general the |
duties of that Office shall devolve upon. the |
next officer in rank in the pay department. |
He advocated his amendment, stating that |
for an army of II. 1926 men there were fifty |
five paymasters and ffty-four paymasters |
clerks. It was well known that during the |
war there was scarcely volunteer post |
master who didn't pay as many |
men as now were in tn e whole army.
Pending action on the amendment Mr.. |
Hewett gave notice of an amendment
which he would offer to the clause regulat
ng the compensation of Pacific railway |
for army transportation, pro
riding if any company shall deem that the
allowed is not fair and reas
Enable it may bring suit In the court of
claims against the United States to recover
uch further sum as shall be required to
provide fair and reasonable compensa-
ion and have a right to appeal to the
United States supreme court and both
courts shall give the cause precedence over
Ill other business.
Mr.. Dunn, of Arkansas, gave notice of
N amendment directing the secretary of
var TO fix the rates which shall be allowed,
lot to exceed, however, the rates paid to
ther companies.
The question recurring on Mr.. Browns
mendnent the vote stood 81 to 4.
Mr.. Upton raised the point of mo quo |
um" The roll was called and disclosed |
ne presence Oh only 12J mcIilDeFS. ne ,
ommittee rose and reported the absentees
D the house.
The speaker announced the appointment t
t HIT of Illinois, on the committee on !
Oreign affairs, and Mr.. Mclean, of His
ouri, on the committee on pensions, 8
ouaty and back pay.
Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas, obtained leave
, have printed his proposed amendment
} the army appropriation of the Pacific
lilroads for army transportations be two 7
ants per mile for passengers and one cent
er ton per mile for freight. I
There were twenty-eight leaves of alb
,nce granted, making IA total of 131 mem
ers absent on leave.
Adjourned.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The following was received to-day:
PIERRE. OAK, Dec. 21.-The Indians
the Cheyenne river agency have :
gned the agreement to-day. We are :