The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-10 00:00:00

CONGRESS.

SENATE.—Jan. 14—Mr. Willey introduced a bill
to abolish franking, and to establish the letter
carrier system in cities of 5,000 inhabitants. Mr.
Cole spoke in explanation of a joint resolution in
regard to the seizure of 4,000 barrels of whisky in
San Francisco last August by -the San Francisco
authorities, and the probability of their release by
the Internal Revenue authorities at Washington.
The resolution directs that the whisky be held sub-
ject to determination by the United States Courts.
After a defence of the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, by M, ssrs. Hamlin, Sherman, and Morrill,
the Virginia bill was taken up. Various amend-
ments were offered, when the House bill was pre-
sented, and moved by Mr. Trumbull as a substitute.
After a night session, lasting until half-past ten
o'clock, the Senate adjourned until Monday, with
an understanding that the bill would be voted upon
that day. Jan. 17.—Mr. Sumner, from the Foreign
Committee, reported a bill for the adjustment of
the old French spoliation claims. Mr. Ramsey in-
troduced a Lid providing that where full pestrge
is not paid upon letters, the balance shall be col-
lected on delivery. The bill prohibiting retired
officers being assigned to duty which would entitle
them to full pay was passed. Mr. Sumner, from
the Foreign Committee, reported a substitute for
the bill relating to foreign telegraph cointnunica-
on. It!e Virginia qtn was taken up, and
tat, t) of Air. SLtwart, was
fhe 11,juse

babied by -a vote of 25 to 23,

' taken up. on motion the
and read a second time. Pending its consideration,
the Senate went into Executive session, and soon
after adjourned. Jan. 18—Mr. Drake introduced
a bill to provide for transportation of imports in
bond to interior ports of entry. Mr. Abbott intro-
duced a bill. to promote the efficiency of the army.
'The Virginia Bill w.ts discussed until adjourninont.
Jan. 19—The consid,ration of the Virginia Bill was
resumed, and Mr. Edmunds' Amendment, requir-
ing officers to swear that they are eligible under the
Fourteenth Amendment, was agreed to, by a vote
of 45 to 15. The Republicans voting no, were Ferry,
Fowler, Kellogg, Ross, Stewart, and Trumbull.
Mr. Nye voted in the affirmative, but afterwards
changed his vote, making the negatives 16. Jan.
20—The House Census Bill was reported, with a
substitute. Bills were introduced to preserve the
harbours of the United. States against encroach-
ment, to prcmote the distribution of public lands
in California, and to establish a postal telegraph
system, incorporating the United States Postal
Telegraph Company. The Virginia Bill was con-
sidered, and the House adjourned with the under-
standing that it will be voted on to-day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. --Jan. 14—They ir-
ginia Bill was taken up, and, after discussion, Mr.
Bingham's substitute was adopted—yeas 98, nays
95, and the bill as amended was passed by a vote of
142 to 49. It admits Virginia without imposing
any further conditions. Mr. Myers voted for the
bill as amended, and Messrs. Kelley and O'Neill
against it. The House adjourned until Monday.
Jan. 17—Bills were introduced to repeal the ton.
nage tax ; to adjourn Congress on April 12 ; to
annul all Acts of Legislative, Executive, or Judicial
officers labouring under political disability ; to abo-
lish franking and establish a postal telegraph sys-
tem. Mr. Lawrence offered a resolution giving the
hall of the House for the delivery of an address on
he principles of the Na tional L tb:,ur Union, the
iamb, r, of In Ilott,e to Ou present, ant moved :he
pi,Lvions qu,stion. Thi- House refuse:i to second
tne arid the re-uluiion went over.
On ,notion of Mr. Beck, the Cnurniss•o;,er of Liter-
Thvenue was asked for information as to the
increase or decreasa in the manufacture of distilled
spirits other than high wines during the present
season. Mr. Oi•th offered a res,lutiou, which was
adopted, declaring against increasing salaries of
public officers. Mr. Holman, of Indiana, offered a
resoluton looking to the withdrawal of the National
Bank notes, and substitution of legal tenders, to be
used in liquidating the public debt, also disapprov-
ing the Treasury purchases of Five-Twenties at a
premium, &c. The previous question was moved,
but not seconded, the yeas being 39, and the nays
76, so the resolution went over. A resolution by
Mr. Cox, making eight hours a d.,y's labour for
Nvorki.-14 men in (I)verunwnt. Wa3 referred.
Mr. 11 I ‘:Coely offered a rt so:utiou looking to the
substitution of greenbacks for national bank cur-
rency, but the House—yeas SG, nays 113—refused
to ruspend the rules for is consideration. Mr.
Judi's bill to apportion Representatives iu the
Fo; ty-second Congress was cousi lered. After some
further business, the Hons.) adjourned. Jan 18—
Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, made a speech against
the biii to remove the Philadelphia Navy Yard to
League Island. Mr. Judd's Appointment Bill was
referred to the Committee of the Whole, and after
some further business the House adjourned. Jan.
19.—0 n a motion of Mr. Brooks, of New York, the
General of the Army was directed to state by what
authority military officers are acting in the Georgia
Legislature as a committee to adjudicate the quali
fications of members. Mr. Peters introduced a bill
to exempt from the provisions of the Bankrupt Act
certain laws relating to life insurance policies. On
motion of Mr. Ferry, the Pension Committee were
instructed to consider the propriety of providing
that nvalid pensioners shall be paid pension
for such time as they may have been in the civil
service between March 3, 1865, and January 6,
1868. The League Island Bill was taken up, and
Mr. Randall offered an amendment that the pro-
ceeds of all sales in transferring the Navy-yard
shall be conveyed into the Treasury. Mr. Kelley
also made a speech replying to the statements of
Mr. Dawes. The bill went over at the expiration
of the morning hour. Mr. Schenck, from the Ways
and Means Committee, reported a joint resolution
declaring that tax should be paid upon the incomes
of 1870, to be collected in 1871. The Pension Bill,
appropriating $30,000,000 was passed, and the
House soon after adjourned. Jan. 20—Mr. Bing-
ham asked leave to introduce a bill making it
punishable by fine and imprisonment for any per-
son to propose the repeal of the action of any State
Legislature ratifying a proposed constitutional
amendment. Objection was made by Mr. Eldridge.
Resolutions were offered declaring the power of the
House in regard to concurrence. in treaties where
appropriations are required. A bill regulating the
appraisement and inspection of imports was reported
and recommitted. The League Inland Bill was
considered. The Printing Committee reported a
resolution fur the printing of eighteen thousand
extra copies of the report of Special Revenue Com-
missioner Wells, which was adopted after some dis-
cussion, and the House then adjourned.

MR. DA WEBS' ATT ACK ON THE
EXECUTI VE.

Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, Chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, startled the House
on the 18th January by a speech on the Bill for the
transfer of the Philadelphia Navy Yard to League
Island. Mr. Dawes did not object to the transfer
itself, believing that ultimately it must be made,
but be took the opportunity to Criticise severely
what he considered the reckless expenditure going
on at the other side of the Avenue. As Mr. Dawes
frequently alluded to the other side of the Avenue
and the other side of the Capitol, we may inform
our Engli-li readers that he meant the Pennsylva-
nian Avenue, at one end of the occupied portion of
which is the Executive Mansion and many of the
Government offices, and the Capitol at the other.
When Mr. Dawes then:fore spoke of the )thee end
of the Avenue he meant the Executive, ::nd when
he spoke of Ihe other si:le of the Capitol. he meant
the Senate. The bill brou -ht him directly in con-
tact with the Navy Department, and the Chairman
set to work to bela&mr it unmercifully-. He thus
prefaced his remarks : As peace prevailett there was
no necessity to enlarge navy yards ; that 90 per
cent. of the British Navy work was done in private
yards ; that Admiral Porter recently tated that
$485,000,000 had been expended on the Navy
during the war, there being nothing now to
show, America having no Navy, and :he sug-
gested the purchase of mail screw sten iers as
a substitute. It appears that Mr. Dawes