The National tribune., 1885-02-19

alton Bill was taken up, and number of the
Senate Committees amendments having been
agreed to, some DISCUSSION arose as to a pro-
posed amendment of the Committee which
wonld strike out clauses of the House bill in
volving general legislation. The special clause
on which the point was raised was one author
zing the Secretary Of the Interior, with the
consent of the Indians to extend the time of
| payment for lands forming part of the Omaha
Reservation, authorized by the act of August,
1882, to be sold. AT the close of the discussion
Mr.. Dawes succeeded in getting the Senate to
agree to the Committee amendment striking
out the legislative item indicated. The read
ing of the bill then proceeded, and on reaching
the section providing for the Assiniboines, Mr..
Vest moved to increase their appropriation
from $4,000 to $4,000. Without action on
Mr.. Vests motion the Senate, at $50, went into
executive session, and 10 minutes later adj
iourned till Monday.
In the House, the bill granting pension of
$1,000 per annum to the widow of Gen. Geo.
II. Thomas was taken up and passed-yeas 143,
nays 81.
The Post Office Appropriation Bill was then
passed-the amendment increasing from 81,
100000 to 81, 535, 900 the appropriation for the
letter carrier service being agreed to- and the
amendment striking out the clause granting
additional compensation to American steam
ships for carrying the mails was also agreed to.
MONDAY, Feb. 16.-1n the Senate the Indian
Appropriation Bill was passed.
In the House Mr.. Slocum, under instructions
from the Military Committee, moved to sls-
pend the rules and pass the Senate bill for the
retirement of Gen. Grant. This is the first
bill passed by the Senate and specifically names
the officer to be retired This BILL he said,
proposed to place Gen. Grant in the same po-
sition which he would have occupied had he
not lin accordance with the will of the people
of the country accepted the Office of Chief
Magistrate In form and in language this bill
was precisely like all bills passed for purposes
of this kind. 1t had often been said that much
had been done for Gen. Grant, but nothing
had been done for him by the United States
Government beyond paying him the salaries to
which he was entitled by law. Gen. Grant
had not been free from mistakes in his career
either as u soldier or civilian. but in a few
years his late campaign in Wall street would
be forgotten. He Mr. SlOcum) believed that
to-day it was the wish of the people of the
South, as well rs of the North that the Gov
eminent should take care of Gen. Grant and
provide for him literally The honor of the
Government was at stake, and he trusted that
the bill would pass the House with the same
unanimity that it had the Senate.
Mr.. Rosecrans regarded the bill as plain
proposition to reward Gen. Grant for dstn-
guished military services, and it was his duty
to say that he could not vote for it. 1t was not
reasons why he thought that Gen. Grants rep
utation had been exaggerated and msrepre-
sented, and when history came to be written it
would be pared down to very different dimen-
siOns. Gen. ROsecrans also said in the course
of his remarks that Congress, by solemn act was
asked to arrest-what? Why, the progress of
public opinion for an investigation i'll that con-
tidence mill called Grant & Ward. If gentle
men could afford to put lgature around that
investigation, and to deceive the public mind,
he could not.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, in minutes speech,
eulogized the services of Gen. Grant and sup
ported the bill, and Mr.. Randall also spoke in
favor of the measure.
The motion to suspend the rules and pass
the bill was lost-yeas 49, nays 1O3, not the
necessary two-thirds voting in the affirmative.
The negative vote was cast by Democrats who
were opposed to Gen. Grants retirement, re-
enforced by number of Republicans,
who. though in favor of the purport of
the bill, were opposed to its form, believing
that it would place the President under the
necessity of vetoing measure of which he
strongly approved.
Mr.. Money, from the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads, moved to suspend the
rules and pass bill to regulate the letting of
mail contracts. It,provides that in case of
bidder failing to perform the service according
to his contract, he and his sureties shall be liza
BILE for the amount Of his bond as liquidated
damages, to be recovered in an action of debt
on the bond. 1t also provides that no SUBJ
letting or transfer of any mail contracts shall
be permitted unless the annual compensation
under the contract for the service shall exceed
500, and in no without the consent in
writing of the Postmaster General.
The bill was passed.