National Republican., 1883-01-24
TIE HOUSE.

tor.
Passed Assist Engineer Albert W. Morley, to be
chief engineer.
THE HOUSE.
Mr. Buttcrworth, of Ohio, introduced bill
to provide for a commission to investigate the
subject of railway transportation. Referred
to the committee on Pacific railways. The
bill provides for the appointment by tho Pres
ident of,seven commissioners (three of whom
shall be experts upon the subject of railway
transportation, who shall receive n compen-
sation at the rate of so a day when actually
employed, together with their travelling ex-
penses, and whose duty it shall be to investi-
gate thoroughly all the questions relating to
tho establishment and maintenance of reason
able and just interstate transportation tariff
for passengers and freights by railways or
other modes of transportation within the
United States. The commission is empOw-
cred to visit such portions of the country as
ii may deem advisable, and is directed to ro-
port its conclusions to the next session of con-
gress.
Mr.. Hiscoclz, of New York, offered q rcsolu-
tion providing that tho daily sessions of tho
house shall extend until p. M, but tho
speaker may entertain, in his discretion, one
motion TO adjourn previous to that hour
Mr.. McMillin, of Tennessee, objected to it's
present condition, and it was referred to the
committee on rules.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, offered q resolution
calling on the secretary of state for informa-
tion as to what duties are levied on exports
by the different countries having commercial
relations with the United States. Referred
to the committee on ways and means.
Mr.. Young, of Ohio, introduced the follow
ing bills which were appropriately referred e:
To retire Brev. Maj. Gen, Rufus ingalls,,
with the rank of major general.
Authorizing the President to extent the
patent granted for methods to increase the
capacity of oil wells
Mr.. Dezcndorf, or Virginia, from the COM
mittee ON naval affairs, reported n bill to
place Robert Smals on the retired list of the
navy with the rank of captain. Printed and
recommitted.
Mr.. Valentine, of Nebraska, chairman of
the committee on agriculture, reported back
the bill to create commission of nino mem
bers to investigate and report upon the
TRANSPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PROD
UCTs.
Referred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Ranney, of Massachusetts,, from tho
committee on elections, reported resolution
in the Jones-Shelley Alabama contested elec-
tion case directing n special committee, COM
posed of three members of the committee on
elections, to proceed to the fourth congress
sional district of Alabama, and there take evi-
dcnce in the matter of the pending contest.
The resolution was ordered printed and went
over as unfinished business
Mr.. Athcrton, of Ohio obtained leave to file
q minority report,
Mr.. Robcson, of New Jersey, moved that
the house 20 into committee of the whole on
the
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The house then (at 11;30) went into COM
mittee of the whole (Mr. Page, of California,
in the chair ON the naval appropriation bill,
the pending amendments being those for the
gradual abolition of thepay corps of the navy,
After fifteen minutes discussion the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Calllins was adopted and
is as follows:
Popided. That when vacancies occur hereafter
In the pnymaster's corps there shall be original
appointments to fill such vacancies, but promo
tions may Q made according TO existing regula.
tiOns from those remaining III said corps Officers
in the line shall be detailed to perform the duties
Of paymaters under the same rules ana rogua-
tons rs 9re now required of paymasters but such
officers shall not be entitled to increased cOmpon-
sation in consequence of performing such duties,
Mr.. Knott of kentucky, offered an amend
ment providing that the active list of tho
engineer corps of the navy shall consist of five
chief engineers with the relative rank of cap.
tain; ten chief engineers with the relative
rank of commander; thirty chief engineers
with tho relative rank of lieutenant COM
mander or lieutenant; sixty past assistant
engineers and forty assistant engineers with
the relative rank for each as now fixed by
law. Lost, 36 to 80.
Mr.. Calllns of Indiana, offered an amend
ment gradually reducing the number of med
ical directors TO one, and of medical inspectors
to six, Lost
The committee then passed from the first
paragraph of the bill, and the clerk read the
second paragraph, which provides for sea SER
vice and for compulsory retirement Imme-
diately half dozen members were on their
feet with points of order, Mr.. McAIillin, of
Tennessee, being first recognized. lie con-
fined his point of order to the retirement
clause, and argued that it was a change of eX-
isting law and was not in the interest of
economy.
Mr.. Robson contended that the clause,
while it changed existing law, reduced eX-
penditures, because il retired the officers Mt an
earlier age and gave them less pay than if
they remained on the active list until they
were siXty-two years OF age,
After discussion the chair overruled the
point of order, on the ground that on the face
of the clause there was decrease of eXpend-
iture.
Mr.. Talbot, of Maryland appealed from the
decision, which decision was, however, sus-
tanned by the committee by vote of So
to GA.
DIR, Blount, of Georgia, raised point of or
der against the clause making sea service
u prerequisite of promotion,
The chair sustained the point of order and
the clause was ruled out.
Mr.. Robeson offered an amendment to the
retirement clause, providing that IL shall be
in effect only until the limit OF the reduction