The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-10
House Sessions.

TwENTy-FoURrH DAY.-The House was
the scene Of an exciting political debate. 1t
all grew out of the resolution introduced by
Mr.. Boutel!e, Of Maine, calling on the secre-
tary Of the navy for information relative to
the alleged erasures of Inscriptions on trophies
Of war and the dismissal Of Union soldiers
at the Norfolk navy yard This resolu-
tion was reported back from the committee Oh
naval affairs to-day by Mr.. Herbert
with an amendment extending the H.
quiry to dismissals made at the navy yard
and lighthouse district of Norfolk during the
terms of the immediate predecessors Of the
present secretary Of the navy. Mr.. Boutelle
began the debate by charging that an officer
of the government had ordered the oblitera-
ton of honorable Inscriptions on cannon cap
tured by the Union army, and further that
since the 4th Of last March there had been
''repeated and systematic lem walls of
wounded and disabled veterans of the repub-
lie to make place for the men who had sought
to destroy it. He deemed that fitting mat
ter TO call to the attention Of the House and
country. Mr.. Wise, of Virginia, replied, de-
clarng that no cannon with such inscrip-
ton had ever been in the Portsmouth
as were alleged by Mr.. Boutelle had been
made, and that during previous administra-
tions prominent Confe lclate officers had been
appointed t. Office After further debate the
resolution as amended by the committee on
naval affairs was then adopted, and the
House took recess until 7:30, the evening
session to be for the consideration Of pension
bills
TwESTY-F1rTu DAY.-Mr. Bragg, of Wis
Mr. Rankin, and offered the customary reso-
lusionS of coincidence and respect which were
adopted, and the House adjourned. The
Speaker appointed MessrS. Bragg, Van
Schaick, Stevenson, Guenther, Carleton, Hen
derson, of Illinois, and Johnson, of New York,
as a committee Oh the part OF the House to
take orders for experimenting the funeral,
and to accompany the remains Of Mr.. Rankin
to his home in Wisconsin.
TwENTY-sIXTH DAY.-BillS introduced:
By Mr.. Swinburne, of New York, declaring the
silver dollar Il legal tender. BY MI Merrl-
man, of New York, to enforce the eight-hour
law and to exempt certain raw ma
terials from duty .... 4 resolution
was introduced By Mr. A1rAdoo, of New
Jersey, asking information from the post
master-general rs to whether the eight-hour
law applies to letter carriers, and whether
it is enforced in their behalf, and if not,
for what reason. -. Mr. Thomas OF Illinois,
Oh behalf of the committee Oh naval affairs,
called up the bill authorizing the voluntary
retirement of certain officers OF the navy who
have rendered conspicuous service in battle
or served thirty years in the navy. The bill
was opposed by Mr.. Reagan, OF Texas. Pend
ing action, the House adjourned.
TWENTY-sEvENTH DAY.-The Senate reso-
lutions touching the death of Vice-President
Hendricks were presented, and, on motion Of
Mr.. Holman, they were tabled for the pres
ent Mr.. Holman gave notice that on the
following Tuesday next he would ask the
House to consider similar resolutions. -.
Mr.. Boutelle rising to question
of privilege quoted from the remarks made
some DAYS ago by Mr.. Wise, denying that
the dry dock at Norfolk had ever been de-
stroyed. These remarks had been telegraphed
all over the country, and his lMr. Boutelle's)
statement to the contrary had been widely
aninladverted upon. In vindication of
his veracity he desired to have
printed in the record some brief cita-
tions setting forth the fact of the destruction
of the Norfolk navy yard on the 10th and llth
of May, 1862. The Speaker held that Mr..
Boutele was not entitled to proceed, as moth
ing that had been said by Mr. Wise attributed
any improper motive to him. The bill for
the retirement of certain naval officers was
further discussed without action.