Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-14
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE GRANT BILL PASSES THE SENATE
MISSING ELECTORAL RETURNS.
FRENCH SPOLIATlONS BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.
MISSING ELECTORAL RETURNS.


MISSING ELECTORAL RETURNS
Mr.. Allison. from the committee On appropria-
| tons, pursuant to the recommendation OF the
| President, reported blu, which was read three
times and passed, providing for compensation and
expenses OF special electoral messengers to be sent
Iowa and oregon for the returns Of the late pres
idential elections in those states
| Mr.. Cockrell asked why such bill was neceS-
sary.
Mr.. Allison said the returns were not here, and
should be sent
sent 10 Iowa and oregon, instead OF messengers at
great expense.
MI: Dolph explained that the snow blockade on
the Northern Pacific was partially responsible for
the failure TO receive the oregon returns The copy
sent Dy messenger had been received.
THE BILL TO RETIRE GEN. GRANT.
Mr EdmundS calling Mr. Frye to the chair took
the door and called up the bill yesterday offered by
| him providing that the President may appoint to
the retired list one person who has occupied the po-
sitlon OF general commanding any OF tie armies OF
the United States or general-nchief OF the United
| States army He moved to amend it by adding,
with the rank and full pay Of such general or gen.
eral-ln-ch1ef, as the case may be-"
The amendment was agreed to.
MI COckrell desired to record his vote against
| the bill, not knowing whether the yeas and nays
would be called on ii. The retired list was not the
place for private citizens 1t had been created for
rendered unfit for duty. There was neither justice
nor prOprety In placing private citizens on such
list Gen. Grant was now enjoying the receipt OF
$1,000 year. which was enough for the support OF
any American citizen.
Mir Edmunds agreed with that as q general
| principle, but he thought Gen. Grant ought to bs
made an exception.
Mr.. MAxEY RULoGIzEs GEN. GRANT.
Mr. Maxey favored the bill He reviewed the
! misfortunes that had overtaken Gen. Grant. AS a
| southern man and southern soldier he recognized
and admitted the fact that when the supreme hour
| - Moro I'M. pfnf1
with more magnanimity towards the defeated than
| Old Gen. Grant. Mr. MaXey held Gen. Grant blame
Grant, as he usually did, put too much faith in
| others. He would vote for the bill
Mr. Gibson expressed a high opinion of Gen.
Grant ana MS military character: He believed 1t
to be his duty as Senator from Louisiana to vote
1or the bill He would in that way reflect the SEN
| t1ment OF his state.
Mr. George declared himself in favor of the bill
He believed the people OF this country wanted to
bestoW this testimonial upon Gen. Grant, and he
MIR. Jonas said that two years ago he voted
ag alnst blu for the same purpose, but he said
aid he would vote TO give 1t TO him.
MI. Jones (Fla.) called attention to the fact that
he was one Of several democratic Senators who
voted for the Grant retirement bill two years ago.
He thought he did right then, and he would do
| right to vote again for the bill
MIR. voorhees, referred to Gen Grants pecuniary
losses and expressed himself as pleased to vote for
the BILL He spoke OF Gen. Grants courage in time
OF war and in time or peace. When Secretary STAN
der a: Appomatlox Gen. Grant said Lee was his
paroled prisoner, and not hair OF his head should
be touched.
THE BILL PASSED.
The bill was passed after very short debate
yeas 49, nays9.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke strongly and feelingly in
favor OF the bill Among the democrats Messrs
Maxey, voorhees,, George. Gibson and Jonas spoke
The Senators who voted nay were Messrs Beck,
Cockrel. Coke Harris, Pendleton, Salisbury, Sla-
ter, Vance and Walker.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED.
The Senate, upon motion Of Mr.. Hale, took up
the naval appropriation bill. The Senate appro-
priatiOn committees amendments were concurred
in. and the bill was passed.
The Senate then took up the Interstate COM
merce bill.
House OF Representatives.
MISSING ELECTORAL CERTIFICATES.
Mr.. Randall {Pa) sent to the clerks desk and had
read letter received from the Secretary OF State
informing the House that OF the certificates of
the electoral vote of Oregon and OF the certif-
Gates or the electoral vote OF Iowa, not having
been received by the President pro tenn OF the Sen.
ate. IL became incumbent on him to send special
messenger to each OF those states, as required by
law. The Secretary requests that an appropriation
De mace 70 pay the expenses and comperse lions of
these messengers.
The Speaker laid before the House q message
from the President on the same subject.
Mr. Randall then introduced bill, which was
Immediately passed, appropriating 81, 500 for the
(Note.-The missing certificates are the Duplicates
required to be sent by mail Their non-receipt win
o1 anes ne cognng OF the electoral vote as
and Iowa by messenger, but the law under which
the Secretary % @ Of State has acted is mandatory
revenue commission. Referred
This Is similar TO the blil introduced In the Sen
ate by Mr.. Beck on the 5th instant]
BILL TO REFUND TIE BONDED DEBT.
Mr.. Wells Q0wa) introduced q bill to refund the
bonded debt OF the United States at 2k per cent
interest, to reduce taxation on circulating bank
note currency, and to secure such currency against
unnecessary disturbance and fiuctuation by apply
ment OF the public debt Referred.
THE FRENCH sPoLIArIoN CLAIM BILL
Under the special order the House proceeded to
the consideration Of business reported from the
committee on foreign affairs
The first bill considered was the Senate French
Mr.. Cox N. c. sketched the history OF the origin
OF these Claims, and maintained that the I'm
portance OF the case and justice to the claimants
tribunal competent to secure settlement of The
vexed questions. In years gone by 43 favorable
tees uphOiding the validity Of these claims, and
these reports had been submitted after careful
study by such men as Daniel Webster, Caleb Cush-
ing and Charles Sumner.
The District in Congress.
PROVISIONS OF THR POLICE 20 PER CENT BILL
The bill g. 1,439) ''for the relief of the Metropo-
tan Police force OF the District OF Columbia" which
passed the House yesterday, as stated in The
STAR, and only requires the Presidents signature
to become law, reads as follows:
'That the proper accounting officers Of the Treas
ury department are hereby directed to allow and
pay out OF any money In the Treasury not other
wise appropriated to each of such persons or their
legal representatives who were officers. clerks and
employees OF the Metropolitan police force Of the
sum equal to 90 per cent on the salary OF such
persons as fixed by law, for the time stated in said
resolution OF the 2Sth February, 1857"
1t viii be remembered that the Joint resolution
OF 1857 provided for the payment OF an additional
compensation OF 90 per cent on their respective
fixed by law upon their pay respectively, for one
year from and after the 3Oth day OF June, 1885, to
(among others) "all employees, male ana female In
thp ExpcufiVe mansion and IN Of ha fOlloyunu