National Republican., 1884-03-04
THE HOUSE.

| THE HOUSE.
| Mr.. Randall, under instructions from the com
mittee on appropriations, reported back a letter
from the secretary Of the treasury relative to the
rebate on tobacco.
MIR. Randall said that the secrotary's letter set
tied two points-frst, that no additional force is
necessary in tho payment OF the claims: and,
second, that instead of taking three years TO pay
| them, they could be paid In three months. An
intimation had crept into public notice that per.
sons having claims, by the employment of agents
at per cent commission, conld get pct pre- =
cedence in the consideration OF their claims. He
| wanted to say to the house Hnd the claimants
that there was no occasion whatever for claimants
| to 90 to any expense to secure the payment of
| their money. If they employed agentS after
this statement they would do So OF their own
The secreterys letter was ordered to be printed
| in the Record.
Mr.. Washburn offerd preamble and resolution
reciting that petition has been presented to tie
speaker representing the condition fthe Jeannete
Arctic expedition and the conduct of the Burviv-
| lug members, and the manner OF investigation of
| the naval court of inquiry that the facts pre-
sented involve the honor and humanity Of tho
| officers OF the United States service, as well as
proper respect to those who perished in the ex-
pedition, and that 1t Is alleged that the court of
| inquiry refused TO admit valuable testimony to DO
given TO bring out the facts Of the case and di-
recting the committee on naval affairs TO invest-
gate the facts connected with said expedition and
| alleged unohlceriike and unseamanlike conduct
| therein. and to send for persons aud papers,
Adopted.
buL9 II sasGtpn Ioy wItRl h IkS
ton e. Dr. panis Collins, SrosnsE oi settnS
forth that aiter the month of September Jerome
j. Collins together with other members of the ex-
petition, was treated to every indignity and out
rage even TO being deprived OF all the scientific
instruments and appliances OF his position as me-
tcorologst of the eNpedilion that on or about the
end of the year 1879, while the Jeannette was hold
in the ice, Jerome j. Collins was placed under sus-
pension or arrest by the officer OF the expedition.
and remained so until lie died OF Starvation ana
cold on tho banks OF tho river Lena in northern
| Siberia.
The petition recites the attempt of tho officers
and crew in three parties to save their lives aier
the destruction of the Jeaunete and the loss OF
two OF the parties, while the third (under Chief
| Engineer Melville) found place of safety. The
petitioner thereupOn charges that Melville made
| no effort to obtain information as to the oondi-
| ton or location of the two missing parties, ana
that he refused permission to any OF his party to
| Dr. Collins further alleges that tho evidence
offered to tue naval court, and that which Wall be
further given by the survivors, goes to show be-
| yond any reasonable doubt that had Melville per-
| formed the duty deyolying upon him us he com.
mundor OF the party, and 9beyed the directions
| given him by Lieut. De Long to Immediately
| communicate with the Russian authorities. and
| gone TO the rescue and conducted search for the
| captains rnrty, each and every member OF that
| party, with the exception of Erickson, would
| have been rescued and alive to-day.
| The petitioner further charges that the naval
court of inquiry into the loss OF the Jeanntte re-
fused TO admit allow tu pe given valuable tcst.
| mOny and that the court ruled out nearly every
question that would bring ont tne true history Of
| the expedition; TINT many of the witnesses were.
| 1t Is alleged hy competent authority, dependent
upon, under the jurisdiction ot, and AFRAID ol the
| persecution of the naval department. thnt the
Official stenogralher of the cou tpuOiicly declared
in writing thH. Important ana valuable testimony
was suppressed. md that the proceedings OF the
court were calculated TO cover up Ill matters re-
lAtiug 10 the expedition
| Mr. Collins offered II preamble and resolution,
rcciting that II memorial has been presented BY
| ahurehuluarS ui the Pacific National bank. OF
| Boston, charging frauds and misconduct on The
part OF certain United states officials In combina-
ion with the directors Ut The bank, and directing
| the committee ON banking and currency 10 con
slider the eXpeuiency of making al immediate
| Investigation OF SAID charges, ana OF so amepu /,
ing the banking laws as to event SUCH raud
and IN iscOnduCt In the future. Adopted:
Under the call of states the following bills were
introduced and relerred
By MIR. Mitchell: For the enlargement of the
custom house at New Haven, Conn.
BY Mr.. Payson: To prevent the unlawful occu'
By Mr. Ho!ton TO provide for preliminary
survey and location oi the Potomac and Chesa.
pBS Mr., Morse: For the construction Of add
tional steel vessels. This is similar 10 the senate
bill
Al o, providing retired list OF officers for the
By Mir. Tiand: A resolution amending tho rules
so as TO make II out of order to ask unanimous
consent for the adoption OF a res luton affecting
the relations Of the UniIed States with foreign
|
to and reported back from committee,
by Mr.. Morgan 10y requesD: To restrict the
issue of license to retail liquor dealers irst EN-
powered under state and municipal law to engage
in that business,
by Mr.. Laird: Directing the secretary of the In
terior to inquire all land grant railroads to file
release of lands covered by the terms or theil
grants before taking other lands IN lieu thereof.
BY Mr.. Hurdy; For the establishment OF aI
assay oitce in New York city.
BY Mr.. wilkins: For tue erection of public
building at Zanesyllo Ohio.
by Mr.. HHrmer: A petition of the Germantown
branch fthe Indian Rights association of PhIla
delphia, asking for appropriations for Indian edu
cation.
Also, protest of iron and steel manufacturer
and iron ore producers against the enactment o
the Morrison tariff bill.
BY MIR. Evans (by request): To promote peace
among nations by tho establishment OF interna
tiOnal tribunals
by Mr., o'Neill, of Pennsylvania; To establish
court OF appeals.
by Mr.. Caldwell To prohibit the importation
into tue United States OF pauper labores, lazza
rOni, and bcggars.
by Mr.. Poland: Amending the rules so rs to pro
vide that eulOgies on deceased members snail bC
published in the Record without being delivered
BY Mr., Wellborn; For the erection Of q public
building at Fort Worth, Tex.
| by Mr. Willis (by requeS): To prevent the desc
Grafton OF graves in the District of Columbia
By Mr.. Hancock (by requesD: 10 llquidate the
national war debt In gold and silver bullion, Il
increase tho circulation Of national Curren
money, to discontinue the collection of nlerna
| revenue, and to establish u mert haut marine
[lhe means by whcn these results are 10 be OBJ
taiued IL the issue of 81 200 600 in greenbacks
| Mr. TOwnShend moved to suspend the rules ant
| pa .s the hill pcnsiOning the survivors Of tht
| Mexican war. lIhc bill does not apply, like tina
Hawk and other Indian waTsl
Mr. TOwnshend explained the bill, stating tha