The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-06 00:00:00

CONGRESS.

Dec. 14.—1 n the Senate, a memorial from the
Union League of New York, in reference to election
frauds, was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Morton, of Indiana, introduced a bill providing
for the redemption of United States notes, and re-
quiring the National banks to redeem their notes in
coin. Messrs. Williams and Ferry presented bills
amendatory of the Naturalization Laws. Mr.
Stewart introduced a bill to punish the holding of
office in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Bills were introduced by Mr. Pomeroy, creating a
Department of Indian Affairs ; by Mr. Conkling,
repealing the Act fixing the time for meetings of
Congress ; and by Mr. Wilson, reorganizing the
Supreme Court. On the motion of Mr. Henderson,
the Secretary of the Interior was requested to com-
municate information in reference to the Indian
battle on the Washita ricer. After a brief Execu-
tive session, Messrs. Cattell and Willey offered re-
solutions censuring the financial portions of the
President's Message. The resolutions were referred;
and the resolution for holding the recess was con-
curred in.

Dec. 15.—Mr. Sumner, from the Foreign Com-
mittee, reported two resolutions of sympathy with
Spain. Mr. Willey's resolution censuring the Pre-
sident's propositions relative to the public debt
was reported from the Finance Committee by Mr.
Cattell, but its consideration was objected to by
Mr. M'Creery. Mr. Edmunds introduced a bill,
which was referred, prohibiting army officers from
holding civil offices, and the holding of two offices
at the same time. On the motion of Mr. Sumner,
the President was asked for information as to the
Venezuela Claims Commission. Mr. Stewart's bill,
to punish the holding of office in violation of the
Fourteenth Amendment, was referred. Mr. Wil-
son's bill repealing the prohibition of militia orga-
nizations in the South, was then taken up, and Mr.
Edmunds moved an amendment continuing the
prohibition in Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia.
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill as
amended passed.
Dec. 16.—Mr. Sherman. from the Finance Com-
mittee, reported back the Copper Tariff Bill, and
the resolution introduced by Mr. Edmunds last
year, pledging the payment of the public debt in
coin or its equivalent. He also reported a resolu-
tion against the policy of paying the Five-twenties
until United States notes are made equivalent to
coin, and declaring for a speedy resumption of
specie payments, which was tabled. Mr. Williams
offered a resolution, which was adopted, directing the
Judiciary Committee to consider the expediency of
legislation to prevent the discharge of criminals by
decisions of United States district judges in Virginia.
Mr. Cole introduced a bill providing a territorial
Government for Alaska. Mr. Conness moved to
take up his bill providing that the eight-hour sys-
tem shall make no reduction of the pay of Govern-
ment employes, but the motion was lost—yeas, 22 ;
nays, 38. On motion of Mr. Corbett, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury was directed to communicate
the cost of the total issue of United States frac-
tional currency-. Mr. Morton's bill for resumption
of specie payments was taken up, and he spoke in
support of it, after which it was referred to the
Finance Committee. The resolution censuring the
financial views of the President's Message was dis-
cussed, but the Senate adjourned without voting
upon it.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Dec. 14.—A number of bills were introduced,
and Messrs. Ashley, of Ohio, and Loughbridge, of
lowa, presented each a Constitutional amendment.
Mr. Garfield introduced a bill legalizing gold con-
tracts, which was referred. Mr. Paine offered a
bill permitting the organization of the militia in
certain Southern States. On the motion of Mr.
Arnell, of Tennessee, the Reconstruction Commit-
tee were directed to investigate " Ku-Klux" out-
rages. Mr. Stokes presented a bill granting twenty
per cent. additional compensation to Government
employes, which was laid on the table. Mr.Broom-
all, of Pennsylvania, offered a preamble and resolu-
tion, denunciatory of the financial proposition in
the President's Message, and declaring against " all
forms of repudiation," and they were adopted, only
six members voting no. The names were Adams,
Grover, and Jones, of Kentucky ; Archer, of Mary-
; Trimble, of Tennessee; and Mungen, of Ohio.
Mr. Lawrence, of Ohio, presented a memorial of
the New York Union League, alleging frauds in
the election in New York, and he moved the ap-
pointment of a special committee to investigate the
matter. The motion was adopted by a party vote.
A. message was received from the Secretary of State
saying that it would be incompatible with the public
interest to communicate the correspondence in rela-
tion to the Alabama claims. Mr. Butler, of Mas-
sachusetts, introduced a bill " toenforce the United
States laws in Georgia." Mr. Lynch's bill for the
resumption of specie payments was made the
special order for the first Wednesday in January.
On the motion of Mr. Wood, the Committee on Ex-
penditures were directed to inquire into the alleged
improper use of $2,000,000, of the Alaska pur-
chase money. On the motion of Mr. Hunter, the
Secretary of State was asked for information rela-
tive to the sending of a Commissioner to Spain.
On the motion of Mr. Lynch, the Foreign Commit-
tee were directed to consider what action should
be taken regarding unjust discriminations against
United States merchant vessels in Spanish Blest
Indian ports. On the motion of Mr. Sypher, of
Louisiana, the Military Committee were directed to
inquire into the expediency of allowing military
organizations in the Southern States.

Dec. 15.—Mr. Clark, of Kansas, introduced a
bill in reference to the Indians, which was referred.
On the motion of Mr. Ilolliday, the Commerce
Committee were directed to consider the expediency
of prohibiting the carriage of petroleum by pas-
senger steam vessels. Mr. Whittemore offered a
resolution vacating all civil offices in the South
filled by disqualified persons, but objection was
made by Mr. Chanler. The Select Committee on
the New York Election Frauds was announced, Mr.
Lawrence, of Ohio, being Chairman. Mr. Schenck
gave notice that he would move to go into Committee
of the Whole on Jan. 6 to consider the Tariff Bill,
whereupon Mr. Moorehead asked him to yield for
a motion to go into committee on the Tariff at once.
Mr. Schenck consenting, the motion was put and
carried—yeas 108, nays 69 ; and the House went
into committee. Mr. Brooks, of New York, spoke
against the bill, and the tactics by which its passage
was sought. Mr. Pike, of Mobile, moved a redac-
tion of the proposed duty on copper plates for the
benefit of the shipbuilding interest, but his amend-
ment was rejected. Mr. Twichell moved an amend-
ment to exempt from duty, copper used for ship-
building, which was also rejected. Messrs. Phelps
and Spalding offered amendments, allowing draw-
backs on copper, but the House adjourned without
disposing of them.
Dec. 16.—Mr. Robinson, of New York, offered
a resolution for the appointment of a select com-
mittee to inquire whether American citizens have
been tried and convicted in Great Britain for
speeches or actions in the United States, and to re-
comxnd vindicating measures, &c. M. r. Bingham
said he would object unless the resolutions were re-
ferred to the Foreign Committee, whereupon it
was withdrawn by Mr. Robinson. Mr. Eliot
introduced a bill forbidding the carriage of ex-
plosive oils, &c., on passenger vessels. A bill
relieving the political disabilities of certain ex-
rebels in South Carolina and Tennessee was
passed ; also a bill repealing the prohibition
of militia organizations in the States of North
and South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Louisi-
ana. Mr. Schenck, from the Ways and Means Com-
mittee, reported a bill, which was passed, extending
the time of the operation of the tobacco tax of the
Act of July last from the Ist of January to the 15th
of February, 1869. On the motion of Mr. Wash-
burne, the President was asked for information re-
lative to the Union Pacific Railroad. A bill making
Bankruptcy Registers competent to take testimony
in election cases was reported and passed. On the
motion of Mr. Price, the Banking Committee were
directed to consider the expediency of inflicting a
penalty for the certification by national banks of
checks when the makers have not funds on deposit
to meet those checks. Mr. Van Dyck introduced a
bill, which was referred, subjecting compounders of
liquors to the same provisions as rectifiers. Mr.
Mungen offered a resolution of inquiry as to the
arrest of Americans in Paraguay, which was refer-
red. A message was received from the Secretary
of State saying that no communication had recently
been sent to Spain by the Executive. A copy of a
bill for a new nickel coinage was presented and re-
ferred. A resolution offered by Mr. Jones, of Ken-
tucky, giving females in Government employ the
same wages as males for similar services, was
adopted—yeas 123, nays 27.