The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
F0RTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Passage of h Army appropriation
Bill by the Senate.
The Provision for Abolishing the Pay Corps
Struck Out-Consideration of the Sundry
Civil Bill in the House.
THE SENATE.
Passage of the Army Appropriation and
Qualifications Bills.

resolution for the appointment of a committee
OF seven senators TO examine into the work
now In progress for the Improvement of the
Mississippi river below Cairo, the methods OF
making contracts, the application of the appro-
priatious, ETC.; also, into all matters pertaining
to the feasibility of the outlet system and TO i'm
provement of the mouth of the river; the system
OF jetties, their permanency, etc., and into all
matters touching such improvements. The
committee is to hold sessions during the recess
of Congress, at places on the river or elsewhere.
to examine persons and papers, and to report at
the next session. the resolution went over
until tomorrow.
Mr.. Van WICK offered a resolution calling on
the President for Information touching the al
legged joint agreement between the ministers of
the United States. Great Britain, France and
Italy, at Lima, Peru, to make a joint effort to
bring about peace between Chill and Peru; and
whether the minister of the United States has
been instructed to invite or accept the media
ton OF European powers in the settlement OF a
purely American question. Laid on the table.
A bill was passed appropriating $4,000 for
the erection of a monument at Washington's
headquarters at Newburg, n. Y, and the Senate
went into executive session.
When the doors we're reopened the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration OF the army appro-
priatiOn bill.
The first important amendment reported by
the committee on military affairs was the iDser-
ton OF a paragraph apprOpriating S143,0O0 for
civilian clerks for the Adjutant Generals depart
nenJ and for headquarters OF the military di-
visions and departments, which was adopted
The next amendment was to increase the num-
Der OF aldeS-de-camp for generals from twenty
to thirty-seven, to strike ont the provision limit
ing the number and making provision as to their
rank and pay, ana to insert the following: "Pro-
vlded, thai no officer sh~all.remain absen: from
his regiment or duty at Washington City for a
longer period than three years at any one time,
but this provision shall not apply TO officers on
the staff of the commanding general of the army.
nor to the officer in charge OF the publication of
the records of the war of the rebellion, or to Off
GERS dstafied-f for work on the Washington monus
ment."
The fact that the exception did not apply to
officers of the Signal Service corps gave rise to
a discussion, Mr.. Maxey and others arguing that
these officers should not be removed from Wash
ington after three years service, and Mr.. Logan,
who has charge CT the bill, denying that he was
military duties performed by IL should be learned
by all army officers. He wished all army Off
GERS to have an opportunity of learning these
duties, and he proposed to offer an amendment
that of the twelve Signal Service officers now in
Washington, four shall be sent back to their reg
iments in 1888, four in 1884, and four in 1885
other officers to be detailed in their places. He
alluded to the fact that he had been attacked IN
editorial articles all over the country as being
hostile to the Signal Service corps, and said
these editorials had been inclOsed to him in let
ters, with the Information that they had been
written in the signal Service Office and paid for
out of government money. He could demon
strate the truth of that statement.
The amendment was excluded on a point of
order. The question was then taken on striking
out the clause limiting the number Of aides-de-
camp, and providing that they shall not have
any additional rank or pay, and 1t was struck
ont.
The next amendment was to the clause for
fifty contract surgeons-to strike out "ffty" and
insert "not exceeding eighty" Agreed to.
The next ameRdment was to strike out of the
bill the provision requiring disbursing officers to
give bond. with sufficient %sureties, and forbid
ding the filling of future vacancies in the pay
corps, and providing for final transfer of the
duties OF that corps to the Quartermaster's De-
partmenf- and to insert in lien OF It's provision
that vacancies in the pay corps of the grades of
colonel, lieutenant-colonel and major shall not
be filed by original appointment until the pay
corps be reduced to forty paymasters, and then
establishing the number of the pay corps at
forty. The present number is ffty-four.
After considerable discussion. the provision
proposed to be inserted was excluded on a point
of order and the provision in the bill was struck
out.
The next amendment was to strike out of the
bill the provision limiting pay for transportation
of troops and government property on subsidized
railroads TO so per cent. of the usual charges.
The provision was struck out without discussion.
On motion of Mr.. Plumb, an amendment was
adopted limiting the amounts to be expended for
compensation for civilian employees in the sew
eral departments of the army.
The bIl was then reported to the Senate, the
amendments made in committee agreed to, and
the bill passed.
The Notifications appropriation bill was called
up by Mr.. Hale and explained by Mr.. Dawes.
The amendments reported by the committee were
agreed to and the bill passed.
The report of the committee of conference on
the bill granting the right of way TO the + ikhorn
Railroad Company through the Niobrara military
reservation. in Nebraska, was agreed to.
Mr.. Edmunds called up the Joint resolution to
provide for the termination of the articles of the
treaty of Washington relating to fisheries.
MIR. Window asked Mr.. Edmunds whether the
section of the joint resolution repeating the act
to carry into effect the provision of the treaty
relating TO fisheries would repeal the law under
which goods are permitted to be transported in
bond through America.
Mr.. Edmun1s said that to avoid all possible
misconstructiOn on this point he would move to
limit the application of this section OF the resO-
luton by inserting the words: 80 far as it re-
lates to articles of said treaty SO to be termi-
mated"
This amendment was agreed to, and the joint
resolution was then passed.
THE UTAH BILL.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to take up the Utah bill,
and Mr.. Call opposed the motion.
The Senate, by a vote of % yeas to IL nays,
decided to take up the bill.
Mr.. Hoar moved to strike out the seventh sec
ton, which provides that 1t shall not be lawful
for any female to vote at any election hereafter
held in the Territory of Utah for any public pur-
pose whatever.
Mr.. Edmunds defended the provision. The
votes of Mormon women were controlled by the
OF the polygamous Mormon church. He thought
the Importance of breaking up the Mormon sys-
tenn would fully Justify a suspension OF female
voting in Utah without any reference at all to a
general question OF woman suffrage.
Mr.. Hoar said Mr.. Edmunds proposed to de-
prive all the women of Utah of the right of suf-
frage because he believed II certain class of them
would not vote as he thought they ought to
vote.
Mr.. Edmunds said the question Of suffrage was
q political question within the control of the po-
lttlcal powers, and that what Mr. H0ar had said
about the opinions of Mormon women was en-
tlrely apart from This bill. IL the real opinions
of those women could find expression, he would
wish to have thefl vote, because the very nature
OF 9V0rYf VlTtu0IA woman reVolfa1 nnainaf