National Republican., 1883-02-22
Senator Logan and Mr.. BclzhOOver Give the
Signal Service Lively Turning Over.
The Army and Fotfications Bills Both
Pass the Upper House.
Termination Of the Fisheries Articles Of the Treaty cl
Washington--The Utah Bill.
The House Dovotos the Entire Day to the
sundry Civil Bill.
1IIIs SENATE.


all matters pertaining to the feasibility of the
outlet system, aud to tho improvement at the
mouth of the river, tho system of ietties,
their permanency, &C., and into all matters
touching such improvements, the committee
TO hold sessions during the recess of congress
at places Oh the river or elsewhere, to exam
inc persons and papers, and to report at the
next session. After remarks on tho subject
the resolution went over till to-day.
Mcssrs. Scwell and Mcpherson presented
resolutions of the New Jersey legislature
asking relief and protection against the
present mode of menhaden fishing along tho
coast Referred to the committee on foreign
relations.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution calling
on the President for information touching an
alleged joint agreement between tho minis
ters of the United States, Great Britain,
France, and Italy, at Lima, Peru, TO make q
joint effort to bring about peace between
Chill and Peru, and whether the minister of
the United States has been instructed to in
vite or accept the mediation of European
powers in the settlement of purely American
question. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Hawlcy from the committee on mill
tary affairs reported bill amending the act
of July !, 1882, as to monument at Washing
tons headquarters at Nowburg, N. Y. The
bill appropriates $4,000 to be expended under
the direction Of the secretary of war in the
erection of a suitable monument or column,
with such inscriptions and emblems as may
properly commemorate the historical events
which occurred in that neighborhood during
the war Of the revolution. Passed.
Mr. Miller, tCal.), from the committee on
naval affairs reportcda bill requiring an oath
from parents or guardians as to the age of
minors offered as recruits for tho navy.
Passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Morrill,, one thousand
copies of the tariff bill as passed by the senate
were ordered printed.
The senate then went into executive session.
When the doors were reopencd the senate
proceeded to the consideration of
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The first important amendment reported by
the committee on military affairs, was the
insertion of n paragraph appropriating
$143, 400 for civilian clerks for the adjutant
generals department and for headquarters
of military divisions and departments
Adopted.
The next amendment was to increase the
number of aids-dc-camp for the generals from
twenty to thirty-seven (the present number) ;
strike out the provision limiting the number
and making provision as TO their rank and
pay, and to insert the following: PrOridcd
That no officer shall remain absent from his
regiment on duty at Washington City for a
longer period than three years at any one time;
but this provision shall not apply to the
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 detailed to work on the Wash
tngton monument.
The fact that the exception did not apply
TO the officers of the signal service corps gave
rise to discussion, Mr.. Maxey and Others
arguing that those officers should not be re-
moved from Washington after three years
service, and Mr.. Logan (who has charge of
the billl denying that he was las he was rep
resented) hostile to chat corps, and contend
ing that the military duties performed by it
should be learned by all the army officers
He wished all army officers to have an oppor-
tunity of learning these duties, and he pro-
posed TO offer an amendment that of tho
twelve signal service officers now in Washing
ton, four shall be sent back to their regi-
ments in 1888, four in 1884, and four in 1885,
and other officers 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 that these editorials had been inclosed to
him in n letter with information that they
had bcon written in the signal service Office
and paid for out of government money. He
could demonstrate the truth Of that statement
Mr.. Beck expressed the desire that all gem
eral legislation be kept out of appropriation
bills.
Mr.. Plumb suggested that the signal SER
vice ought to be assigned to the bureau Of
agriculture.
Mr.. Mcpherson alluded to the scandals con-
nected with the signal service, and favored
Mr. Logan's amendment ON the ground that
1t would introduce new blood into the corps.
Mr.. Hawley opposed any interference with
the signal corps In this appropriation bill,
nNNH n... H..
nent Of general legislation in appropriation
bills
Mr.. Bayard also opposed the amendment as
new legislation, and made point of order
against ii being Objectionable under rule 29
The point of order was sustained by the
presiding office and the amendment was ex-
cluded.
The question was then taken on striking
out the clause limiting the number of aids
de-camp, and providing that they shall not
have any additional rank or pay, and it was
struck out.
The next amendment was to the clause for
fifty contract surgeons-to strike out fifty and
insert mot exceeding eighty" and it was
agreed to.
The next amendment was to insert u pro.
viso abolshing the Office of assistant surgeon
general of the army. Excluded on point of
order made by Mr.. Bayard.
The next amendment was to strike out of
the bill the provision requiring disbursing
officers to give bond, with sufficient sureties,
and forbidding the filling of future vacancies
in the pay corps aud providing for the final
transfer of the duties of that corps to the quar-
termaster's department, aud TO insert in lieu
of IL a provision that vacancies in the pay
corps of the grades of colonel, lieutenant coll
onel, and major shall not be filed by original
appointment until the pay corps DO reduced
to forty paymasters, and then establishing the
number Of the pay corps at forty, the present
number being lifty-four.
After considerable discussion the provision
proposed TO be inserted was excluded on
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 the pay for
transportation of troops and government
property on subsidized railways to 80 per
cent, OF the usual charges Theproyision was
struck out without any discussion.
On motion Of Mr.. Plumb, amendments were
adopted limiting the amounts to be expended
for the compensation of civilian employees in
the several departments of the army. The
bill was then reported to the senate, the
amendments made in committee of the whole
were agreed to and the bill was passed.
Mr. Plumb, from the conference committee
on
THE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL,
reported that the senate and the house con-
frerees had failed to agree, and a new commit
tee of conference on the part Of the senate