The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-21

preparation Commlttee TINS morning agreed
to report the House resolution appropriat-
ing $465,ooo for deficiency in the office OF
the public printer.
The Naval Committee reported favorably
| the bill for the sale of the Charlestown
navy yard, the land now being worth &c.
O00, 900, and the treasury win be saved an
nually $3.50, 900, now expended in repairs.
besides $240, 900 per year interest a sum
every four years. Boston win gain by the
sale 81 ,oeo. 900 of taxable property.
The Committee ON Agriculture adversely
reported the bill authorizing the distribu-
ton of seeds to destitute farmers of flooded
sections.
The House Committee on Private Land
Claims to-day agreed to ask a suspen-
sion of the rules for the purpose of passing
the bill for the relief of William McGara-
han.
The Committee on Pensions, Bounty and
Back Pay, reported a bill granting pen
sions for injuries incurred in the life saw
ing, railway mail and internal revenue ser
vices The same committee made a favor
able report on Pounds bill to establish 9
Board of Review for pensions and bounty
land warrant claims rejected under exist
| ing laws, and to prevent fraud or Injustice
in granting pensions. The bill, as amend
ed by the committee, provides for the ap
pointment by the President of two com
missioners at $4,000 a year each-one
to be a lawyer and the other physi-
| clan, who will constitute the Board
with the Commissioner of Pensions as Pres
ident.
The President has nominated Alphonsc
Taft Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States tc
Austria; VIM. Z. Dayton, of New Jersey
Minister Resident of the United States te
the Netherlands; Nicholas Fish, of New
York, Minister resident to Belgium: Johr
1 R. M. Francis, of New York, to be Chargt
1 d Affairs to Portugal; ]. FL. Wickersham
of Pennsylvania, Charge d Affairs to Den.
/ mark; Adam Badeau, of New York, Con
sui General at Havan; Harry L. Straight
of New York, United States Consul at Pres
colt.
The President has transmitted to Con
gress letter addressed by the Minister
Plenipotentiary of Mexico to the Secretar,
of State, proposing convention between
the two countries for defining the boundar,
/ between the United States and Mexict
from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean
by the erection of durable monuments
He also lays before Congress letter OF
the same subject, with its accompaniment
for the Secretary of War, for an express
ion of his views thereon. The Presiden
states he deems it important that th'
boundary line betw cen the two countries
as defined by existing treaties and alread.
once surveyed, should be renewed and de
fined by suitable permanent monuments
and says that, 4'By so doing uncertaint.
win be prevented as to the jurisdiction il
criminal or municipal affairs. and the ques
tons viii be averted which may ut an.
time in the near future arse with th'
| growth of population on the border
Moreover consider the willingness AM
speedy assent of the Government of tn
United States to the proposal thus to dc
, termine the existing stipulated boundar
with pernanence and precision, viii b
! in some sense an assurance to Mexico tina
r the unauthorized suspicion which of lat
I years seems to have gained some credenc
: in that Republic, that the United State
. covets and seeks to annex neighborin
D territory, is without foundation; tina
: which the United States seeks, and whic
definite settlement of the boundary j
' the proposed manner win promote, is
confiding and friendly feeling between th
two nations. leading to advantageous CON
merce and closer commercial relation.
: have to suggest that in accepting tn
! proposal suitable provision be made for q
. adequate military force on the frontier,
$ protect surveying parties from hostile Ii
I dians. The troops will at the same tim
protect the settlers ON the border and hel
prevent marauding on both sides BY nomat
! ic Indians.
il Testimony was taken to-day in Il