Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-25
XLVIITH CONGRESS.
Resolutions OF Inquiry Introduced in
the House and Senate in Re-
gard TO Alleged
South American Contracts, Wherein
United States Ministers Are Said
to be Implicated.

WASHINGTON, February 24.-ISeH7e-Sen,
| ator Davis w. Va. offered and advocated
a resolution requesting the Committee on
Military Affsirs to inquire into the ex
pedieDcy of giving more aid than is now
provided to the various States and Ter
ritories, in order TO promote and encour-
age the organic alton OF the militia forces of
the country and strengthen their efficiency.
Adopted.
Senator Bayard offered the following:
WHEREAS, Publication has been widely
made by the public press Of the United
States Of certain alleged commercial con-
tracts between certain companies and CO.
partnerships of individuals relative to the
exports Of guano and nitrates from Peru, in
which mediation by the government of the
United States between the governments of
Peru. Bolivia and Chill is declared 10 be
condition for the effectuation and coniinu-
ance of said contracts; therefore,
ResOtUef, That the Committee on Foreign
Relations be, and hereby is instructed to in
quire whether any promise or stipulation by
which the Intervention of the United States
in the controversies existing between Chill
and Peru, Or Chill and Bolivia, has been ex-
pressly or implicitly given by any person, or
persons, officially connected with the govern
uent of the United States; or whether the
Influence Of the government of the United
States has in any way been exerted, promised
or iotim ated in connection with, or in rela--
ton to said contracts, by any one officially
connected with the government of the United
States, and whether any one officially con-
nectedwith the government of the United
States is interested directly or indirectly,
with any such alleged contracts in which the
mediation, as aforesaid, OF the United States
j. recited to be condition. Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
There was considerable discussion On the
bill TO restore Mark Walker, who was dis
missed from a lieutenantcy in the army for
drunkenness. The general subject OF the
prOpriety of restoring men SO expelled was
traversed in the debate, and the bill recon-
mitted.
Alter the morning hour Senator Allison, a
member OF the Appropriation Committee, in
charge of the immediate deficiency bill, was
awarded the floor, but yielded temporarily
20 SenatorzVsn Wyek, who addressed the
Senate upon the necessity for an investiga-
ton of the alleged frauds in the townships
survey system. He said that the surveyor
general and other government land officers
had combined to make surveys of worthless
ands, and then to use the scrip they would
get 10 re turn for deposit for surveys to pun
chase the most valuable government lands of
the West. The deposits amounted last year
to about S2,000,000, but most of the surveys
were valueless TO the government because of
Senator Teller replied that Senator Van
Wyck's complaint did not apply to Colorado,
although large extent of its territory had
been surveyed. Settlers and parties inter
ested in having the public lands surveyed
mad taken advantage of the statute because
he appropriations had been utterly below
what they ought to have been.
The matter was referred to the Public
Lands Committee for investigation.
deficiency bill. The Senate committee
were agreed to, including the
items for the subsistence and education of
the Indians, and $4,000 for the necessary
expenses of the Garfield and Burnside
funerals.
Senator Eeck objected to the $4,000 item
tor mileage of army officers, and claimed
that certain trips by army officers had been
taken for purely personal reasons, and some
times for purposes not entirely proper. He
protested against the payment of mileage to
the numerous officers now en- route to the
capital to attend the Garfield memorial on
Senator Allison replied that if the SEN
a,or's arraignment had any force, it had ap-
plication only to the manner of spending the
money, not to the propriety of voting IT. He
advised Senator Beck TO be sure of his facts
before making allegations.
The amendment then prevailed, as also the
que increasing the item for additional clerk
nire in postofises from SIS 900 to $50, O00 |
The bill was finally passed without OBJ |
lection.
After some contention between Senators |
Bayard and Miller upon the claims of the |
priority of the tar fl commission and the |
Chinese bills (the latter being supported by |
MS colleague, Senator Farley motion by |
Senator Miller to take up the Chinese bill |
SIS, nays 16-and the measure |
was laid over as unfinished business.
After an executive session the Senate ad- |
burned until Monday.