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THE NATIONAL TBIBUNE: WASHINGTON, JD. C, JANUARY 28, 1882,
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Thursday, January 19th
SENATE. The President pro tempore submitted
the response of the Secretary of the Interior to the
'resolution of the 12th instant, inquiring as to the
lapsing of the land grant to the Northern Pacific
Railroad, and in connection therewith as to the ac
tion of ex-Secretary Schurz, &c. The communica
tion -was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Davis, of Illinois, called up the bill to retire
Judge Hunt, of the Supreme Bench.
Mr. Bayard said he would vote for the bill un
willingly, because he regretted that an obstruction
to the proper discharge of business by the court had
to be removed by an act of Congress. Mr. Bayard's
criticism was, in effect, that Justice Hunt should
have resigned. He said the business of the court
is in arrears, and an infusion of new blood is nec
essary. Mr. Davis thought there was no call for any
stricture upon Hunt. He said this bill was for the
public good, not Hunt's; that Hunt had a right to
remain on the bench as long as he lived, and the
bill was to get him out of the way and make room
for the appointment of a judge able to perform his
duties.
Mr. Hoar protested against the doctrine that the
position belonged to a judge any longer than he
was capable of dischaniins: the duties, and indorsed
what Mr. Bayard had said. Mr. Hoar said lie
would saw wood all his life before he would per
mit his father to remain on the bench after he be
came unable to perform the duties of that position.
The bill was passed yeas, -11 : nays. 14.
At 1:35 the Sherman funding bill was taken up,
and Mr. Saulsbury took the iloor, followed by
Messrs. Windoni. Hill, and others.
Pending a motion for an executive session, the
bill was laid aside informally.
Mr. Kellogg introduced a bill to increase the
compensation of the local appraisers at the port of
New York to 7.000 per annum, and that of the
local appraisers at Philadelphia, New Orleans, and
Chicago to $5,000 per annum.
The bill introduced by Mr. Williams for a public
building at Louisville proposes an appropriation of
$750,000 for a building to accommodate a post-office,
custom-house, pension agency. United States courts,
and other Government offices.
The Senate, at four o'clock, went into executive
session, and (at 4:20) by a vote of 30 to 2G, adjourned
until Monday.
HOUSE. Mr. Bayne, from the Committee on Na
val Affairs, reported a bill for the establishment of
a home for indigent soldiers and sailors at Erie, Pa.
Eeferred to the Committee of the Whele.
Bills were reported from the Committee on
Claims to refund to the State of Georgia certain
moneys contributed by that State for the common
defense in 1777, and to reimburse the State of Mas
sachusetts for certain expenditures for coast de
fenses. House calendar.
Mr. Haskell moved to discharge the Committee
on Claims from the consideration of Indian depre
dation claims and to refer them to the Committee
of Indian Affairs. Agreed to.
Mr. Burrows, of Michigan, rising to a personal
question, corrected an error in the Detroit Post and
Tribune attributing to him the introduction of a bill
last. Monday to retire national bank notes. He
would probably have enough of his own sins to be
responsible for, without being responsible for the
sins of others.
Mr. Burrows, of Missouri, said that he would take
all the honor on himself of having introduced that
bill.
The House then resumed consideration of the re
port of the Committee on Bules, increasing the
membership of several committees.
After a long debate, Mr. Bobeson, of New Jersey,
rose to move the previous question, which he did
amid great confusion and with several members
addressing the Chair at the same time.
The previous question was seconded.
Mr. Joyce then moved to recommit the report
and all pending amendments to the Committee on
Bules.
Mr. Springer moved to recommit, with instruc
tions to report a rule whereby committees would
be organized as nearly as possible in proportion to
the political parties in the House, and that the
minority should have the right to designate the
minority members of the committees.
Mr. Calkins made a point of order on Mr. Spring
ers motion, and it was ruled out of order by the
bpeaker.
The House then proceeded to vote by yeas and
nays on Mr. Joyce's motion to recommit the repoit;
and the motion was agreed to yeas, 359; nays, 00.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union (Mr. Haskell in
the chair), and took up the bill to appropriate
$5,000 for packing, transporting, and arranging
certain agricultural and mineral specimens re
ceived by the Agricultural Bureau from the At
lanta Exposition.
After a short explanation by Mr. Valentine the
bill was passed.
Mr. Hiscock offered a resolution instructing the
Committee on Printing to consider the propriety of
publishing copies of the proceedings in the Guiteau
trial for the use of the House and the Senate. Re
ferred. Mr. Wilson presented joint resolution of the West
Virginia Legislature in favor of protection to pro
ducers of leaf tobacco.
The Speaker presented several messages from the
President in connection with Indian and army
matters. Eeferred.
Mr. Spooner regretted that one of the earliest du
ties devolved upon him was the announcement of the
death of the late Senator Buraside, and, on his mo
tion, 3Ionday next, at three o'clock, was assigned
for the eulogies to his memory.
The House then (at 4.20) adjourned.
Friday.
HOUSE. The House went into Committee of
the Whole on the private calendar Qlr. Camp in
the chair.)
The first bill on the calendar was one to relieve
from the charge of desertion two soldiers who had
been unjustly tried on that charge during the war,
convicted and imprisoned, and to restore their right
to bounty, but not to pay.
A motion was made by Mr. Holman to recommit
the bill, with instructions to report a general law
covering all similar cases, but it was ruled out of
order.
Mr. Randall expressed the hope that the Com
mittee on Military Affairs would mature and report
a bill giving to the War Department some power to
grant such clemency, and thus relieve Congress of
that large class of cases.
After an hours discussion the bill was laid aside
to be reported to the House.
There were in all six private bills considered in
committee and ordered to be reported to the House.
Then (at half-past three) the committee rose and
the Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Kelley moved to adjourn over until Monday,
and on that motion the yeas and nays were ordered.
The motion was rejected 93 to 114. The motion
was subsequently renewed and agreed to.
The bills reported from the Committee of the
Whole were then passed, including one for the relief
of Theophilus B. Chandler, formerly Assistant
Treasurer of the United States at Boston.
Mr. Candler, from the Committee on Accounts,
made a report designating the committees which
shall be entitled to clerks, the additional ones being
the Committee on the Payment of Pensions, Bounty,
and Back Pay, on Enrolled Bills, and on Manu
factures. No "action was taken.
The fortification appropriation bill (appropriating
!7o,000)was reported by Mr. Forney, who gave
$3'
notice that he would call it un next Tuesday.
1 The House ten (at 4:45) adjourned till Monday.
Monday.
SENATE. Immediately after the reading of the
journal Mr. Anthony submitted resolutions of re
spect for the memory of his late colleague, Senator
Burnside, as follows :
Resolved, That from an earnest desire to show
every mark of respect to the memory of the Hon.
Ambrose L. Burnside, late a Senator of the United
States from the State of Ehode Island, and to
manifest the high estimate entertained of his
eminent public services and his distinguished
patriotism, the business of the Senate be now sus
pended, that his friends and associates may pav
fitting tribute to his public and private virtues.
Resolved, That a widespread and public sorrow
on the announcement of his death attested the
profound sense of the loss which the whole country
has sustained.
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate com
municate these resolutions to the House of Eepre
sentatives. Resolved, That as an additional mark of respect
for the memory of the Senator the Senate do now
adjourn.
Mr. Anthony rccouuted the public services of the
deceased as Governor, general, and Senator, and,
after an culogium upon his brilliant military
achievements descriptive of many of the stirring
scenes of the war in which General Burnside was
prominent, referred to incidents characteristic of
his virtues and personal worth.
Mr. Edmunds, in alluding to the enthusiasm
with which Senator Burnside espoused every cause
lie advocated in legislation, commended the no
bility of character el one who dm not hesitate,
despite invective and ridicule, to discard the force
of precedent and the mandates of authority for
the sake of what he believed to be right. He then
added his testimony to the charming qualities of
the deceased's private character.
Mr. Hawley spoke briefly but eloquently of the
personal qualities of the dead Senator as pre-eminently
those of a true soldier and gentleman.
Messrs. Harrisou, Hale, and Aldrich followed in
similar eulogiums, when, on motion of Mr. Aldrich,
the resolutions were adopted by a unanimous vote,
and (at 2:25), as an additional mark of respect for
the meinoiy of the deceased, the Senate adjourned
until Tuesday.
HOUSE. On motion of Mr. Anderson Thursday
evening next was set apart for general debate
only.
On motion of Mr. Taylor, a resolution was refer
red authorizing the Committee on Expenditures in
the War Department to ascertain whether any
measures can be employed to facilitate the obtain
ing copies of hospital records in the Surgeon-General's
Office for the use of the Pension Bureau, and
to lessen expenses in the Surgeon-General's Office.
On motion of Mr. Orth, a bill was passed that
five of the trustees of the Lincoln Monument As
sociation shall constitute a quorum to transact bus
iness. The Speaker, as the regular order, proceeded to
call the States, under which call a large number of
bills, &c, were introduced and referred.
At three o'clock public business was suspended
and eulogies upon the life and memory of the late
Senator Burnside were delivered by Messrs. Chace,
Spooner, Brown, Eice of Massachusetts, and Hen
derson, and then (at 4:15), out of respect to the
memory of the deceased, the House adjourned.
Under the call of States there were 355 bills in
troduced and referred.
Tuesday.
SENATE. Mr. Allison presented the credentials
of Hon. James W. McDill as Senator from Iowa,
and he was sworn in.
Mr. Allison also presented the credentials of Hon.
James F. Wilson, as a Senator from Iowa, for the six
years' term, beginning on the 4th of March, 1833,
and they were read and placed on file.
Mr. Blair, from the Committee on Pensions, re
ported a bill for the relief of Mary Lincoln, widow
of Abraham Lincoln, and asked its present consid
eration. The bill was passed. It appropriates
$15,000 for her immediate relief, and increases her
present pension to $5,000 per annum from and after
the bill's enactment.
Mr. Edmunds, from the Committee on the Ju
diciary, reported a bill to amend the Eevised
Statutes for the punishment of bigamy and for
other purposes, and gave notice that he would ask
the Senate to give it early consideration.
A large number of bills were introduced and
referred.
After a liberal extension of the morning hour to
cover an unusually large volume of routine busi
ness, the Senate resumed consideration of the
Sherman 3 per cent, bond bill.
Later on, a message from the President was re
ceived, transmitting a draft of a bill to provide for
the cession of ceitain lands of the Creek Indians
in the Indian Territory to the L:nited States for
the use of the Seminoles.
The Senate (at 4 o'clock) without action on the
bill, went into executive session, and (at 4.20) ad
journed until Wednesday.
HOUSE. Mr. Belmont, from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, reported back the resolution call
ing on the President for copies of all correspond
ence, &c, relative to the efforts of this Govern
ment to bring about peace between Chili, Peru,
and Bolivia. Adopted.
Mr. McLane, from the Committee on Commerce,
reported back the resolution calling on the Secre
tory of the Navy for all reports, communications,
&c. relating to the subject of the Chiriqui coal
ing stations. Adopted.
Mr. Carpenter, from the same committee, re
ported back a resolution directing the Committee
on Commerce to inquire wherein existing laws
can be amended so as to afford relief to the mer
chant marine engaged in the foreign carrying
trade, and what measures can lie adopted to pro
mote our ship building and other commercial in
terests. Adopted.
Bills were reported from the Committee on
Commerce to establish marine hospitals at New
Orleans, La., and Galveston, Texas, and a quaran
tine station on the coast of Texas, and were re
ferred to the Committee on Appropriations.
At the conclusion of the morning hour the House
(at 1.40) went into Committtee of the Whole (Mr.
Eobinson, of Massachusetts, in the chair) on the
fortification appropriation bill.
The total amount appropriated is $375,000.
The bill was read for amendments.
Mr. McCook moved to increase to $500,000 the ap
propriation for the protection, &c, of fortifications.
Eejected.
Mr. Eeagan offered an amendment appropriating
$50,000 for the improvement of Galveston harbor.
Ruled out on a point of order.
The committee then rose and reported the bill to
the House, when it was passed.
Mr. Candler called up the report of the Commit
tee on Accounts designating the committees of the
House which are entitled to clerks.
Amendments were adopted granting the Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions three and the Commit
tee on elections one additional clerk.
Mr. Holman offered an amendment striking from
the list of committees entitled to clerks the Com
mittees on Expenditures in the Various Depart
ments, on Public Expenditures, on Militia, on Li
brary, and on Mileage.
Pending action the House (at 4:40) adjourned.
Wednesday.
SENATE. Immediately after the reading of the
journal in the Senate Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin,
submitted resolutions " that the Senate has heard
with profound sorrow of the death of the Hon. Mat
thew H. Carpenter, late a Senator from the State of
Wisconsin, and extends to his afflicted family sin
cere sympathy and condolence in their bereave
ment ; that, as an additional mark of respect for the
memory of Mr. Carpenter, the regular business of
the Senate be now suspended, in order that his for
mer associates in this body may pay fitting tribute
to his memory."
Mr. Cameron, Mr. Garland, Mr. Logan, and Mr.
Kellogg added their tribute to the memory of the
deceased, and were followed by Messrs. Bayard and
Edmunds.
At 1.45 upon the adoption of the resolutions com
memorative of the late Senator Carpenter, the Sen
ate, as further testimonial of respect for the de
ceased, adjourned until to-morrow.
HOUSE. On motion of Mr. Eeed, of Maine, the
Senate bill permitting Associate Justice Ward Hunt,
of the United States Supreme Court, to retire, was
taken from the Speaker's table for present consider
ation. After a lengthy debate, the bill passed the House
by yeas 137, nays 89. The majority of the Eepub
licans voted in the affirmative and the body of the
Democrats in the negative.
At two o'clock all business was suspended, and
the House proceeded to pay its last tribute of re
spect to the memory of the late Senator Matthew
II. Carpenter, of Wisconsin.
There are said to be 63,000 insane patients in
the country, one to every 777 of population. Of
these 24.000 are not in asylums.
GRAND ARMY MATTERS.
The first public installation of officers elect of
Henry Williams Post, No. 150, Department of New
York, G. A. E., was had at the Post headquarters in
Harpersville, last week.
Comrade John Eobb, of Vauderburg Post, which
was represented by about 50 visiting members, offi
ciated, and installed the following-named officers :
Commander, Charles McCracken ; S. V. C, S. F.
Estus, J. V. C, George Hurlburt; Adj't, Jonas
Coons ; Q. M., S. Eow ; O. D., E. Lo'vejoy ; Surgeon,
Miran Casson ; O. G., A. Dickinson ; Chaplain, S. G.
Doolittle ; S. M., Charles Gibbs ; Q. S. Nelson Spen
cer. After the ceremonies a collation was served which
was enjoyed by all.
The Onaquaga Cornet Band furnished several
choice selections of music, which, together with the
songs, jokes, and addresses of the comrades, made
the affair a pleasant one throughout.
Canby Post, No. Ill, Department of Illinois, G.
A. E., was recently organized at Strasburg. Com
mander, J. T. Endicott: J. V. C, John Euff; S. V.
C, W. A. Eife.
At a meeting of Post Eoberts, No. 4, G. A. E., held
at Eutland, Vermont, Tuesday evening, January
10th, the following officers were installed by Past
Commander Henry Webb: Commander, A. T.
Woodward; S. V. C, D. L. Morgan: .1. V. C, E. H.
Webster; Adj't, C. C. Kinsman; Q. M., H. O. Ed
son ; Chaplain, J. K. Eichardson ; Surgeon, D. Fos
burg ; O. D., O. P. Murdick ; O. G., George A. Lee :
Serg't Maj., T. B. Kelley; Q. M. Serg't,
Blossom.
ueorge
Meade Post, No. 14, Department of Kansas, G.
A. E., of Sterling, has appointed a committee to
draft a memorial to the Senators and Members of
Congress from this State praying them to vote and
use their influence against the repeal of the arrears
of pension act. Weekly Bulletin.
At the recent meeting of the annual State En
campment of the G. A. E., Department of Kansas,
in Topeka, the following officers were elected:
Dept. Commander, J. C. Walkinshaw ; S. V. C, H.
L. Millard; J. V. C, W. W. Tond. Dr. Sheldon, of
Topeka, and Henry Booth, of Larned, Avere elected
delegates to the National Encampment.
The Department of Ohio, G. A. E., met in annual
session at Cincinnati last week with a large attend
ance of delegates. A great amount of business was
transacted, and the interest shown in the welfare
and progress ef the organization was very encour
aging. The report of Department Commander
Kountz showed a remarkable growth during his
administration, the membership having increased
from 2,237 to 8,000 during the year. Ohio ranks
second among the States in the number of members,
Pennsylvania alone outnumbering her. The next
meeting of the Department Encampment will be
held at Youngstown in January, 1SS3. The follow
ing officers were elected for the ensuing year:
Commander, T. C. Clark, of Columbus ; S. V. C, J.
O. McGowan, of Youngston ; J. V. C, F. W. Young,
of Weston; Chaplain, A. M. Byers, of Columbus;
Historian, S. S. Peters, of Columbus ; A. A. G.,
David Lanning, of Columbus.
The officers-elect of W. H. Sargent Post, No. 20,
G. A. E., of Janesville, Wisconsin, were mustered
in by Captain N. P. Fisher, of Milwaukee, as mus
tering officer of the Grand Army of the Republic,
Friday evening of last week. He complimented
the Post by saying that he was very much pleased
to find it so flourishing and well appearing. He
said that its general condition was the best of any
he had inspected this season. The officers mustered
in were : Post Commander, S. C. Cobb ; S. V. C., T.
T. Croft; J. V. C, B. E. Hilt; Q. M., J. C. Metealf;
Surgeon, Henry Palmer; Chaplain, S. J. M. Put
nam ; O. D., W. L. Brayton ; O. G., Charles N. Bi
ker; Adj't, E. G. Harlow; Serg't Maj., D. Conger;
Q. M. Serg't, B. M. Buckling; Trustee for three
years, J. H. Bliss; Representatives to the State
Encampment, W. J. Britton and H. A. Smith ; Al
ternates, T. T. Croft and Jerome Howland.
The Camp-fire recently giveji by Butler Post, No.
42, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was a most delightful
affair as any one who was there is redy to testify.
In addition to Louis Bell Post, of Manchester, and
Post 7, of Nashua, New Hampshire, mentioned else
where, Post No. 39, of Lawrence, was present, be
sides many comrades from various portions of the
State. Col. Wm. Olin of Governor Long's staff and
adjutant-general of the National Department, G.
A. E., was in attendance and made an interesting
speech in which he gave some data showing the
growth of the organization. Inspector General
Thomas W. Hill, of Woburn, also made a few re
marks, as did others, including Commander Page,
of Manchester, and Stevens, of Nashua, and Hogan,
of Lawrence. It was time for ' Grand rounds " be
fore the boys adjourned, which they finally did in
the best of spirits without regret, except the hours
were too short, they should each have been con
structed one hundred and twenty minutes lon-.
Louis Bell Post, G. A. E., David A. Page, Com
mander, of Manchester, N. H., recently made a
fraternal visit to Butler Post, No. 42, of Lowell
Mass. The company, with invited guests, num
bered about two hundred. At Nashua they were
joined by John G. Foster Post, No. 7, Charles W.
Stevens, Commander, and fifty men. Arriving at
Lowell they were warmly welcomed by Butler
Post, the members of which were already gettiii"
a Camp-firo under way, and for several hours en
joyment ruled the hearts of all. Songs, addresses,
recitations, and of course plenty to eat and drink
left no room for dissatisfaction on the part of any
who were present. The visiting comrades reached
home before sunrise.
New Posts of the G. A. E., have been recently
organized in Ohio, as follows : Colonel E. M. Moore
Post, No. 119, of Cincinnati ; Channel Post, No.
188, of Utica ; Kilpatrick Post, No. 1S9, of Goshen.
James E. Moore Post, G. A. E., of Danbury, Con
necticut, will attend a clam bake given by Douglass
Fowler Post, on January 31st.
At the regular meeting of Gustin Post, No. 151,
G. A. E., Department of Pennsylvania, January 12,
the following officers were installed, to serve for
the ensuing year, by Past Commander J. B. Butler,
assisted by Past Commander B. L. Wright of
Ingham Post, No. 91, of Canton : Commander, Wm.
E. Sims ; S. V. C, M. O. Loomis ; J. V. C, John F.
Hunt; Adjutant, G. H. Mason; Q. M., Wm. E.
Chilson; Surgeon, J. C. Strait; Chaplain, Eev. J.
Barton French ; O. D., D. C. Lampman ; O. G., D.
W. Case; S. M., J. P. Sucese ; Q. M. S., J. A. Ball.
A new Post of the G. A. E. has just been organ
ized at Newark Valley, New York.
Given Post, No. 133, G. A. E., of Wooster, Wayne
county, Ohio, installed the following officers,
Thursday, January 12th, for the ensuing year:
Commander, Captain J. N. Clark ; S. V. C, D. C.
Curry; J. V. C, L. Q. Jeffries; Surgeon, J. D.
Eobison; Chaplain, G. W. Brenizer; Q. M., Enos
Pierson; O. D., C. H. Hosier; O. G., A. A. Carr;
Adjutant, J. E. Wood worth ; S. M., J. E. McKinney ;
Q. M. S., L. Jeffries ; P. P. C, J. P. Van Nest. This
Post is in a flourishing condition, already number
ing about fifty members, fully equipped. It ha?
fair prospects of a steady and prosperous growth
until the last of the old soldiers in its vicinity shall
have been gathered into the G. A. E.
Parker Post, No. 123, G. A. E., Department of
Massachusetts, located at Athol, is reported in a
flourishing condition ; so says Dr. L. F. Tolman, a
prominent member ef the organization.
A NEW HOME FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS.
The House Committee on Military Affairs rec
ommends the Government to accept the title to
the lands known as " Garrison Hill," from E. J.
Hill, of Erie, Pa., for establishing thereon a home
for indigent soldiers and sailors.
GENERAL SILAS CASEY,
General Silas Casey died in Brooklyn on Sun
day, nis military service extended through
three wars. He was born at East Greenwich, R.
I., in 1807; was graduated from the military
academy in 1826, and served on the Southwest
ern and Northern frontier till 1863. He was dis
tinguished in the Florida war (1836-1841) and
in the war with Mexico ; was brevetted a major
for gallant and meritorious conduct at Contreras
and Churubusco, and volunteered to lead the
stormers of the right division at Chapultepec.
In this last service he was severely wounded,
and for gallantry in it he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel.
Upon the organization of the Ninth
infantry, in 1855, he was appointed its lieutenant-colonel,
and went to the Northwestern fron
tier, where he served until 1861, commanding
the United States forces on San Juan Island dur
ing the most critical period of the controversy
with the British authorities as to the occupation
of that Island. He was appointed as brigadier
general of volunteers in August, 1861. and was
charged with the equipment and organization of
new troops till the Army of the Potomac took
the field. He commanded a division in the Pe
ninsular campaign, and was brevetted a brigadier
general in the Regular army for gallant and
meritorious conduct in command of that division
at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, and
made a major-general of volunteers from that
date. Upon his return from the Peninsula he
was again assigned to the duty of organizing and
equipping new troops, and was thus employed
till the termination of hostilities. Over two hun
dred thousand men having thus passed under his
command. In 1865 he was brevetted a major
general in the Regular army for gallant and mer
itorious service during the war. He had become
colonel of the Fourth infantry in 1S61, and in
1863 he was placed upon the retired list at his
own request, and after forty-two years of active
service.
THE SOLDIERS' HOME INVESTIGATION,
The sub-committee of the Senate Military
Committee on the investigation of the Sgldiers'
Hhome met on Wednesday morning. Generals
Drum and McFeely, adjutant general and com
missary general, two of the board of managers,
were before the committee. They explained at
length the laws, rules and regulations govern
ing the institution, and gave an account of the
expenditures. They both agreed with Surgeon
General Barnes, the third member of the board,
in the opinion that the existing method of dis
cipline, or rather authority to enforce discipline,
is defective, and that there should be legislation
to remedy this. All the labor performed at the
home and about the grounds is hired. The sol
diers are not required to do any work, nor is
there any authority, at present, that can require
it of them. The managers think this should
be corrected ; that the inmates should not be
permitted to spend their time in idleness altogeth
er. The managers also agree that the pension
money belonging to inmates of the home should
not be paid to them. They say that the soldiers
as a rule spend this money in dissipation or that
they are cheated out of it, and that, in fact, the
money proves to be a source of trouble to the
management and of dissipation and insubordi
nation on the part of the inmates. The mana
gers recommend either that these pensions be,
by act of Congress, turned into the fund of the
home or that it be placed in trust in some re
sponsible hands for the benefit of the pensioners
or their families. The sub-committee will take
under consideration the propriety of recom
mending the legislation advised by the mana
gers. GLEANINGS,
Intelligence from Yakutsk via St. Petersburg
states that nine Americans, under Lieutenant
Danenhower, had left that place on the eighth.
They are expected at Irkutsk at the end of the
month. The search made by Engineer Mellville
for Lieutenant De Long and his comrades in an
easterly direction from the mouth of the Lena, has
been fruitless, although some of De Long's letters
have been found in abandoned camps, as well as
the ship's log and various instruments. The
places on which these were found have been in
dicated by the erection of cairns.
A confidential report of Dr. Pazzi, of the
French Red Cross Society, asserts that notwith
standing M. Gambetta's statement that the
deaths among the troops in Tunis only amount
to 10,000, they are nearer 30,000, but that the
fact is concealed by the removal of invalids.
The Standard's correspondent at Paris says:
" The panic has ruined thousands of families,
but it is hoped that a powerful syndicate of finan
ciers, which has been formed to facilitate settle
ment, will restore confidence."
In the German Reichstag Prince Bismark de
clared that the imperial rescript remained un
shaken by the attacks upon it. It was to the
sovereign, and not to Parliament, that Germany
owed the position she enjoyed.
A large number of prominent railway officials
have arrived in the city. A private meeting
was held at "Willard's. Among those present
were A. J. Cassatt and Stephen Vail, vice-presidents
of the Pennsylvania Railroad; and ex
Governor Joel Parker, of New Jersey. Those
present were reticent as to the objects of the
meeting and of their visit to the city at this
time, but it is probable that they will have some
thing to say in regard to legislation now pend
ing before Congress.
The House Committee on Invalid Pensions
has decided not to consider any cases which the
Commissioner 'of Pensions has not first con
sidered and rejected because of insufficiency of
evidence or on account of not coming under
existing pension laws.
The straw bond mail cases are dragging along
in the Police Court. No one can tell when the
end will be reached. Thus far no material point
has been made by the Government.
The present leader of the band of the Second
Artillery at the Washington Arsenal Signor
Terrara, wasbrought from Europe to Mexico by
the Emperor Maximilian when that ill-fated
victim of Napoleon assumed the Mexiean throne,
and was the leader of the Imperial bnad.
NEWS ITEMS,
y
The President has recognized Edward Philipp
Le Prohon as consular agent of France at Port
land, Me.
Representative Bliss, of New York, introduced
a bill proposing that all pensioners now on the
pension rolls or who may hereafter be placed
thereon by reason of the amputation of either
arm, or by reason of having been totally and per
manently disabled by exsection or otherwise in
either arm, shall receive a pension at the rate of
$37.50 per month from the date of the approval
of the act.
The Ilsuse Committee on Pensions have ap
pointed the following sub-committees : On sub
jects relating to the Mexican and Indian wars,
Messrs. Hepburn, Stone, Steele, Hewitt of Ala
bama, and Burrows; on subjects relating to the
war of 1812, Messrs. Rice, Weber, aud Robinson ;
on subjects relating to the life-saving service,
Messrs. Marsh, Fulkerson, and Cox.
The secretary of the Navy has awarded medals
of honor to John Laverty and Edward Barrett,
fireman of the Alaska, for gallant and meritori
ous conduct at the time of the explosion on board
that ship last fall.
Senator Williams, of Kentucky, wants 750,000
to erect a public building at Louisville.
Postmaster-General Howe intends to ask Con
gress for authority to delegate some persons to
sign the warrants issued by the Post-Oflice De
partment. This is a strictly routine duty, and
consumes much valuable time, owing to the
large number of the warrants. A similar power
is conferred by law upon the Secretary of the
Treasury.
A report is in circulation that Secretary Lin
coln will retire from the Cabinet of his own accord
some time in the coming spring, but the rumor
cannot be traced to any trustworthy source.
The House Committee on Claims has agreed
to recommend the passage of the bill introduced
by Representative Bowman to reimburse the
State of Massachusetts in the sum of $230,000,
being the amount expended by that State for
coast defences during the war.
General John A. Wilder, postmaster at Chatta
nooga, Tenn., not only rendered gallant services
at the head of the famous Wilder's Brigade, but
the Union owes to him the organization known
as mounted infantry, which was so e cctive in
the later campaigns of the war. He first advo
cated the formation of this class of troops to Gov
ernor Morton, who appreciated it and persuaded
the Government to put it into effect.
It is reported on what seems to be good author
ity that General W. J. Clarke, chief clerk of the
Internal Revenue Department, will be promoted
chief clerk of the Treasury Department, vice Mr.
Powers. General Clarke was adjutant-general
of the Army of the Tennessee, is well known
throughout the country, and has qualities that
peculiarly fit him for the position.
There are forty-seven employees of the Depart
ment of Justice, twelve of whom only were in
the Union army or navy during the rebellion.
Of the 442 employees of the General Post-Of-fice
Department but 138 were in the Union armyv
or navy during the rebellion.
A dispatch of the 23d from Dublin, says:"
Cleere's magazine at Limerick was broken into
last night and 620 pounds of dynamite were
stolen from it by unknown persons. The intel
ligence causes consternation in Ireland. There
is no clue to the robbers.
There has been no treaty of peace entered into
between Bolivia and Chili as has been stated.
The relatives of General Carr, of Galesburg, HI.,
who was placed under arrest at Tucson, Ariz., by
order of the President, have received a telegram
from him stating that he is rsady for any kind
of trial or investigation. General Carr further
telegraphs that the charges against him are dis
respect, misstatements in complaints to a higher
authority, disobedience of orders, and misconduct
of the Indian campaign.
The House Military Committee has recom
mended the passage of the bill to amend the
statutes which provide against the election of
any person of the army or navy to any civil of
fice in any of the Territories. The statute was
passed before there was a retired list of the army
or navy, and the amendment is to allow retired
officers (many of whom have settled in the Ter
ritories) to be eligible for election to civil offices.
Over three hundred excursionists from New
England reached this city last Saturday.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' National League of
this city have adopted resolutions approving the
course of Senators Ingalls and Voorhees in ref
erence to the arrears of pension law.
The executive committee of the National
Board of Health has declared small-pox to be
epidemic in the United States.
A boat's crew from the United States flagship
Pensacola recently pulled a race with a boat
from the Chilian iron-clad Admiral Cochran for
$800. The Americans won by 500 yards. Time,
47 minutes, 6 seconds.
The condition of President Gonzales of Mexico,
who underwent a surgical operation recently, is
improving, and further trouble from his old
wound is obviated. He will resume his official
duties within a week's time.
Henry Dillion, the famous captain of the Sixth
"Wisconsin Battery of Light artillery during the
war, died of small-pox at his home near Lone
Rock, Monday morning. Captain Dillion was
General Logan's Chief of Artillery during the
Atlanta campaign, and was one of the heroes of
the war of the rebellion.
Lord Lieutenant Cowper refuses to release the
imprisoned Irish members of Parliament.
The Herzegovinian insurgents have been in
formed that Montenegro will not aid them.
Austria is forwarding more troops. The situa-
tion is more serious than is generally supposed.
Prince Nikita has refused Austria's demand for
the extradition of certain refugee insurgents, and
declared that the Ilerzegovinians are not Aus
trian subjects. War is imminent; and unless
the other powers interfere, it will soon break
forth.
Clarkson N. Potter, formerly Member of Con- .
gress from New York, died January 23.
