The National tribune., 1885-12-31

martial promulgated Jan. 81, 1863, and to place
him on the retired list of the Army as of that
grade, provided that said Porter shall receive no
pay, compensation, or allowance whatsoever
prior to his appointment under this act.
REBELLION RECORDS.
Mr.. Wheeler tAla.) and Mr.. Frederick 0owa),
introduced bills for the printing OF additional
copies of the Records of the Rebellion, and the
revision of the first FIVE volumes.
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE.
Mr.. Peel Ark. (H. r. 117), donating 800 acres
of public land to each of the survivors OF the
Utah Mountain Meadow Massacre and each OF
the legal heirs of any one killed in such
massacre.
SENATORS AND POsTMASTERS.
Mr.. Ma:son (Ind.) introduced joint resolu-
tioD proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States so as to provide
for the election of PostmasterS by the people.
Mr.. TOwnshend Ull. introduced a joint resolu-
tion proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
tion providing for the election of United States
Senators by the votes of the people of the States.
CONVICT LABOR
Bills prohibiting the employment of convict
labor on the public buildings. or in the prepa-
ration or manufacture of materials therefor, or
of supplies for the Departments, were intro
duced by Mr. Worthington (1ll.l (H. H. 36o)
and Mr.. Murphy UOwa) H Z. 609).
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
Twenty or more bills were introduced de-
claring forfeited lands granted to aid in the
construction of railways
TO SUPPRESS GAMBLING IN THE ARMY.
Senator Plumb (Kan) introduced bill
IS. 1866 to make an additional article of war.
Section l of the bill is as follows:
Any officer serving with troops, or any SOL
dier not on furiOugh who ganibles, bets. or plays
hi
at any game of cards or otherwise shall be brought
to trial by ycourmartial, and upon conviction, pun
nished follows: Han officer by dismissal from the
military service, such other punishment of less
grade may be inflicted by the sentence OF the
courtmartal; if soldier. at the discretion OF the
court: Procided, howerer, That any officer OF the
Army, whether or not serving with troops, who, by
gambling, betting or playing at cards. or other
wise, shall win money from Junior or inferior
officer shall upon conviction by court martial be
punished as herenbefore provided in the case OF an
officer serving with troops.
POSTAL MoNEY-ORDER SYSTEM.
Mr. Rogers ARK. introduced bill (H. r. 8O)
to provide for the deposit in the Treasury of the
receipts of the money order system. and for the
payment of its expenses out of appropriations.
1t provides that from and after June 30, 1885,
the money order system shall be merged into
and treated as part of the postal service, and
Postmaster5 shall account to the United States
for all fees received and earnings of every char
acter accruing in the transactions of the money
order and postal-note business; and at the close
of each quarter total amount of such fees and
earnings shall be paid into the Treasury of the
United States for the service of the POst-Ofiice
Departments; and the costs and expenses of the
money order system shall be paid out of the gen.
erai appropriations. The bill seems to be most
meritorious one. based on business principles,
and would greatly simplify the present method
of keeping the money order business as sepa-
rate branch of the service.