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Show CONGRESSIONAL. ELK ATE. Washington, 29. Conkling presented pre-sented petitions from soldiers of the late war, stating that they are entitled en-titled to 160 acres oi land, and asking ask-ing the appointment of a special commissioner to investigate as to the working of the existing laws touching the subject. The morning hour expired, ex-pired, and Bayard addressed the Senate on the resolution from the finance committee. Gen. Bayard argued against the further issue of paper currency, and against continuing to do business on a legal tender basis, declaring the belief be-lief that the path of duty, honesty and wisdom, w;is that which led to the resumption of specie payment at the earliest possible day, and that the people of the country would cheerfully cheer-fully make the necessary sacrifice to do this. He did not propose any specific plan for resumption. Cameron introduced a bill to amend the diplomatic and consular systems acts of August, 'oO. It proposes pro-poses to revive the salaries of many Tniled Suites consuls. The more prominent are the Consuls General at London and Paris, eacli $7,000;' Calcutta Cal-cutta and Kanagawa, j.UOO; Mon-Itreal, Mon-Itreal, Cairo and Vienna, $4,00U; Havana, Rio Janeiro and Slianghai, $ti,t00; Berlin, Frankfort, Rome and Constantinople, 3,000 ; Consul at Liverpool, 80,000; Hong KongJ?4,0t)0; Manchester and Havre, $3,000; all others, smaller amounts. Referred. Morrill, of Vt., replied to the speech of Boutwell a few days since, criticising criticis-ing severely the position and statements state-ments of that gentleman. Pending the discussion, the Senate went into 'executive session, and soon after adjourned. ad-journed. HOUeE. Garfield reported a bill to revise, consolidate and amend the statutes in relation to estimates, appropriations and public accounts; also a bill to reduce re-duce the expenditures on public buildings. Piatt moved the reference of the latter bill to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds; agreed to. Hale reported a bill establishing life saving stations, and appropriating 11,000 for the purpose; and an amendment appropriating $l,u'00 for medals to be presented to the rescuers of the survivors of the wreck of the steamer JAjj: passed. The House wont into Committee of the Whole on the army appropriations appropria-tions bill. Wheeler explained tho reduction made in comparison with past years. La it seMion Congress appropriated a little over s;;t,0u0,0O0. The original estimates for tho army department fur this year were nearly $:i5,UOO,000, but the committee had reduced it to ?2S,-1 19,916, which amount he hoped would be still further reduced. The reduction was framed on the hypothesis hypo-thesis that only one-half of the natural natu-ral department of the army should tie supplied this year. Annther section of the bill transfers to the Southern Claim Commissioners all claims tor stores or supplies taken for the use of the army during the rebellion. Albright opposed the reduction of the army, winch, in eflcct, this bill would do, about live thousand, while the entire effective form was now only Jl,l)00. lie thought if Congress would ! letup building now post olliccs and custom houses, and discontinue work on public buildings hi Washington, there would be no necessity for reducing reduc-ing the army. Garfield expressed his discouragement discourage-ment of his hope for retrenchment by the action of the House. Reck replied sharply to Garfield's criticism of the action of the House. He gave notice that he would oiler an amendment to the Appmpriation Bill, that no mileage shall be paid to any officer in excess of actual traveling expenses. Wheeler said he would cheerfully Coburn endorsed tho views of : Wheeler. At the conclusion of Coburu's remarks re-marks the committee rose, and Cox of lured a substitute fur the bill intro- ' duced by the Committee on Ways and Means, concerning the over issue of United States currency, referred, t declares that the United States notes issued from the $14,000,000 reserve re-serve were illegally issued and are not legal tenders. The House took a recess till seven p. m., the evening session to he for the consideration of the bill revising the statutes. |