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Show FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. SENATE. Washington, 25. On motion of Sherman tho senate considered the bill reported by the finance committee commit-tee on Wednesday to amend the acts of July 14th, 1S70, and -January 20th, to authorize the refunding of the national na-tional debt. Sherman explained the bill and said it was recommendtd by the secretary of the treasury. It provides pro-vides that the 4 per cent, bonds should run thirty years instead of fifteen yare, and increases their amount ironi $300,000,000 to $500,-000,000. $500,-000,000. Edmunds enquired if any of these -U per cent, bonds had been issued. After debate the bill was passed yeas 51, nays 5. Those voting no were Cockrell, Eaton, McCreery, McDonald Mc-Donald and Robertson, Kelly of Oregon introduced a bill for the restoration to market of certain cer-tain lands in the territory of Utah. Referred to the committee on public lands. The chair laid before the senate the resolutions of the legislative assembly of Montana territory, asking an appropriation ap-propriation of $15,000 to remove the obstructions in Columbia river in order that salmon may ascend that river. Referred to the committee on territories. Merrill, Yt., from the committee on revolutionary war claims, reported adversely on the bill to provide for the settlement ot the claims of the officers of the revolutionary army and widows and children of those who died in service, and it was indefinitely postponed. Allison called up the house bill making an appropriation for the support of the military academy for the fiscal year ending June o0, 1877. The first amendment reported by the committee on appropriations was for additional pay of t;ie professors for length of service, fG.SOO. Logan said that sometimes men, in their desire to retrench and economize, econo-mize, did to in matters they knew nothing about. He referred to the action of the house of representatives in cutting out the provision for pay of professors according to the length of service, and said it was a report of an appropriation bill to repeal exioLiug statutes. The pay of professors was fixed by law and the clause in an appropriation , bill reducing their pay without any repeal of the existing law showed an astounding ignorance of law. Saulsbury said there were very few professors in colleges throughout the country who received pay equal to that received by professors at West Point. He thought it commendable in the house of representatives to exhibit ex-hibit some degree of economy, and if nad been heretofore too large it suould be cut down. ; West said the law fixed the rank and pay of professors, and said if their pay should be reduced the pay of everyifticer of the army must be reduced. Davis argued that congress should reduce the expenses of the military academy, as it was too much of u burden upon the people of the country. coun-try. He would vote for a reduction of the army; lor such a reduction as would be felt by the people. Weet said ttie records of the war department evidenced the fact that from 1840 to l&OO, when the democrats demo-crats had charge of the country the expemes of the army per man was mure than it had been under the republican administrations since 1800. 1 Allison said the question of reducing reduc-ing the army was a distinct one, and ought not to be considered by the eommiiipft on appropriation. The committee on military alfairs was the proper one to consider that subject. As to army officers, they could be promoted, but the rank of the professors pro-fessors at the military academy is limited to that of colonel, and they should have extra pay for length of Saulsbury said the committeo on appropriations should report in favor of reducing all salaries possible, and other committees of the senate could examine into the question oi changing existing laws so w to'enforce it. The professors at the military academy wore net engaged in tho hazards of fighting Indiana, but bad comfortable quarters at West Point. Logan asked where were all the major generals and prominent officer? They wcro not fighting Indians- Stevenson favored a reduction of the salaries of these professors. Morrell.ot Me., said tho committee on appropriations did not ihink it proper to select this clas ol officers and reduce their pay when the question ques-tion of reducing the pay of the army wai not befuro the committee. Stevenson said it would be easy enough fur tho senato to authorizo a reduction of tho Balary for the professors pro-fessors and then repeal ull laws inconsistent in-consistent with the bill. Saulsbury said tho salary of tho president had been increased by an appropriation bill, as well aa the s;ihiry of tho judges of the supreme court, aud it was not wiuo to argue that salaries could not be changed in an appropriation bill. Alter further debate, Kellcy gave police- tf im amendment winch he would tubinit at liio proper tiim., providing that alter June wiith, lt7o, tfcii of the professors at West Point whose term of service exceeds ten j years shall have the rank, pay and I allowance of a colonel, tuoie vhoe term of eerviee exceeds five yenrs and i k-ds than ten Bhall have tii-j rank. I pay and allowance of a lieutenant 1 colonel, and others the rank, pay aud allowance of a major. Pending tiie discussion the senate went into executive session, and soon adjourned until Monday. HOLME. Buckner, from the conference committee com-mittee on the bill to pay interest on the 3-05 bonds of the District of Columbia, made a report, and proceeded pro-ceeded to explain it. Hereford opposed the report, and after a discission tuo bill was postponed post-poned for one week. Swana, from the committee on foreign affairs, reported buck the correspondence cor-respondence furnished that committee commit-tee by the stato department in leier-ence leier-ence to the connection of General cicheuck, the American minister to EiiL'land, with the Emma mine. Ho staled that the action of the executive department of the government appears ap-pears to have been limited to a recommendation re-commendation in a telegraphic dispatch dis-patch to General Sehenck, dated the 1 '26th of November, 1S71, tuat he should retire from the directory of tho Emma mine company, which recommendation recom-mendation General Sehenck appears r to have acted upon after the lapse of , a week, although the fact did not , appear to have been communicated to the press until the loth of January ' following. 'he correspondence was , referred back to the committee on , foreign affairs for further considera tion. The speaker then called on the committees for reports. The house went into committee of the whole on the private calendar, and after raising a number of bills the committee rose and the house adjourned. There will be a session to-morrow for general debate only. |