Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-22

show that new and very extended ex-
animation, which the secretary of wal
vas compelled to make, because of
his wish to give satisfactory answers
to the inquiries Of the house, has not
resulted In such answers as can be
satisfactory to the house, but are of a
character to confuse and mislesd both
the house and the country"
CONGRESSIONAL
Special Dispatch to The Bss.
sENAEE PROCEEDINGS.
WARRINGTON, February 2l.-Sena-
tor Van Wyck offered a resolution
calling on the president for informa-
tion touching the alleged joint agree
ment between the ministers of the
United States, Great Britain, France
and Italy, at Lima, Peru, to make q
joint effort to bring about a peace be-
tween Chill and Peru, and whether
the minister Of the United States has
been instructed to invite or accept the
mediation of the European powers in
a purely American question. Laid on
the table.
The senate then went into execu
tive session.
When the doors reopened tho
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 q paragraph ap
propriating $143, 900 for civilian clerks
for adjrtant generals department and
for headquarters OF military divisions
and departments, Adopted. The next
amendment was to increase the mum.
Der of aids de camp for generals from
twenty to thirty. seven, striking out
the provision limiting the number and
making provision as to the rank and pay
and TO Insert the following: provided
that no officer shall remain absent
from his regiment on duty at Wash
ington City for a longer period than
three years st any n time, but this
provision shall not apply to officers on
the staff of the commanding general
of the army nor to officers in charge of
the publication of records Of the war
of the rebellion or detailed to work on
the Washington monument.
The fact that the exception did not
apply to officers of the signal service
corps gave rise to discussion. Senator
Maxey and Others argued that those
o~fioers should not DO removed from
Washington after three yesrs' n%ervice.
Senator Logan, who has charge Of
the bill, denied that he was hostile to
that corps, and commended that the
military duties performed by 1t should
be learned by all army officers. He
wished all army officers to have an op
portunity Of learning these duties.
He proposed to offer an amend
ment that of the twelve signal
service eff GERS now In Washington
four shall be sent back to the regi.
ments In 1883, four In 1884 and four
in 1885. 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. &c
said these editorials had been inolosed
to him In a letter, with the iuforma'
ton that they had been written In the
signal service office, and paid for on
of government money. He coult
demonstrate the truth of that state
ment,
The amendment was excluded on
point of order.
The question was then taken or
striking out the clause limiting tbs
number Of aids de camp, providing
that they shall not have any additions
rank or pay, and it was stricken out
The next amendment was to the clause
fer 80 contract surgeons, to strike ou'
30 and insert ''not exceeding So
Other amendment, to strike out pro
visions requiring disbursing off cerI
to give bonds and forbidding the fill
ing of future vacancies In the pay
corps, were ruled out of order. The
amendment to strike out the provision
limiting pay tor the transportation oil
troops to 80 per cent of the usua
charges was also ruled out of o rider.
On motion of Senator Plumb, az
amendment was adopted limiting tn
amounts to be expended for compensa
ton ef civilian employees of the sew
eral departments of the army. Tn
bill was then reported to the senat
and the amendments made In tn
committee of the whole agreed to
and the bill passed.
The fortifcation appropriation bill
was called up by Senator Hale and ex
planned by Senate Dawes. TIL
amendments reported by the com
mittee were agreed to and the bil
passed.
The report of the committee of con
ference on the bill granted the right G
way to the Elkhorn railroad compan
! through the Niobrara military reser
walton, Nebraska, was agreed to.
; Senator Edmunds called up tn
joint resolution to provide for tn
termination of the articles OF tn
treaty of Washingt on to fisheries.
Senator Window asked Edmund
whether the section of the joint reSc
|, luton repeating the act to carry int
!, effect the provision of the treaty re
lating to fisheries would repeal the la,
under which goods are permitted t
= be transported In bond through Amer
: lean territory.
Senator Edmunds said to avoid a
Q possible misoonstruction on this poir
he would move to limit the applicatio
It Of this section of the resolution by In
sorting the words, $50 far as 1t relate
n to articles of said treaty 80 to be to-
Is minated" This amendment wa
agreed to. The joint resolution the
passed.
Senator Edmunds moved to take U
n the Utah bill.
Senator Call opposed the motion.
l. Senate by avote of 20 to IL decide
70 to take up the bill.
IA Senator Hoar moved to strike o.
at the seventh section, which provides