The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-02-21

FEB. 13.-The senate passed several pri-
.,.to hill, opd a5iourDed

bills, ana pdSSeu q pension Aoi -
spy in 1912. The House also refused to re-
new Haywood's India rubber patent, which
will shortly expire.
FEB. 1.-The senate passed the House
bill providing for wagon road from fort
Laramie via the South Pass to California
The Minnesota Land bill, introduced lew
DAYS ago by Mr.. Toombs was next taken up
and also passed. Itdonates about l,ooo,ooo
acres for railroad purposes. The senate
then took up Stewards tariff bill ana as
cusscd it until adjournment.
The House, after spendinga few hours on
private bills, went into committee on Tue
tariff bill and debated it until adjournment
FEB. 1G-In the senate the credentials OF
Wynn and Broderick, newly elected sena-
tors from California, were presented. Inc
proceedings were unimportant.
In the House about 80 senate bills were
reported from the committee on commerce
for the Improvement of rivers and harbors
in all parts OF the country, but no iihpor-
tant action was had
Fb. 1.-THE senate ordered 2',ooO ex-
ira copies of the mechanical part OF the
Patent Office report. Mr.. Stewards blii to
amend the tariff bill was temporarily LAID on
the table. Mr.. Bells bill, to secure to all
the states equality in the distribution oil the
puOIlC JANUS, WAS ItlcT!CuS ana IhC 'N''o'S
then took up and debated, without coming
to a vote the bill to increase the pay OF otti-
GERS in the army.
In the House, the submarine telegraph
bill was discussed several hours, and then
referred to the committee of the whole
The House then passed, by vote of 80
against 70, repeating all the laws passed by
the first legislature, and fixing pains and
penalties for illegal voting Adjourned.
Feb. 1S.-Among new bills introduced in
the senate, was one by Mr.. Seward provi-
ding for an exploration of the river Niger,
in Africa. A bill WAS passed to prevent
countcrfeiting L. S. coin. Other business
unimportant.
The House was all day engaged on the
submarine telegraph bill which was finally
passed. with an amendment, that citizens Of
the L. ). shall have the right to use the line
for all time inside of 80 years, recognizing
the equality of their rights to its use and OF
lines which at any time connect with its ter
minns at Newfoundland, providing it shall
be in the pGser Of Congress after ten years,
to terminate the contract on one years no.
tice. The amendments must be concurrcd
in by the Senate.
FEB. 19.-in the Senate, the House bill
repeating the laws of Kansas was taken up,
and motion TO lay the bill on the table was
lost-17 to 81. The bill Was then referred
TO the Judiciary committee Mr.. Green, in
moving the reference, said lac had personal
information that all the obnoxious laws in
Kansas had been repealed The Senate then
took up and debated until adjournment the
House amendments TO the submarine ,rle-
graph bill.
In the House, the proceedings of to-day
were tunultuous and exciting. Mr.. Davis
of Nd, by direction of the corruption in
eestigating committee, said he was directed
to make special report in the case of VIM.
\. Gilbert, member from New York, and
moved the report be printed Mr. Grow,
/ (much excited denied the committees right
/ to make a special report except on first OBJ
tanning leave, especially if the report impli-
Gates members of the House Other mem
bers loudly demanded the reading Of report.
Grow resumed his speech with much
earnCstnesS.
He was called TO order by several members.
The Speaker said report could not be read
because il was in nature of debate
/ Amid Confusion, Bennett, of y. Y, moved
report be rccommitted.
1 He was opposed, thus proposing to cxpel
a member by resolution without due notice.
FlorenS-We don't know what is pro-
( posed until we hear the report read.
/ IIalfa-dozen members struggled for tie
floor.
Houston insisted on reading report after
: further proceedings. Bennett said report
was of grave import and affected one Of his
! colleagues. No man IN the land could be at
cused, tried and condemned withou, near
iur, much less judgment against u member
being brought in here and put through I'M
der pressure of previous question. The
committee were appointed in consequence
of en- article in the New York Times, clarg-
ing corrupt combinations of members.
Mr.. Harris called Mr. Bennett 10 order.
/ The Speaker ruled Mr.. Bennett out OF
order, but Mr.. Harris continued speaking
amid cries of order, during which the Speak
er said he would direct the Scrgeant-at-Arn
TO arrest him Or any other person violating
the rules.
Mr.. Harris reply was not heard
4 conversation ensucd as to the duties OF
the committee under the authority resou-
ton by which they were appointed.
Finally Mr. Davis, Of Nd. read the report
in the case of Gilbert The special report
concludes with a resolution for the expulsion
of Gilbert
/ \ warm debate followed
! The report sets forth the evidence in the
Gilbert case, saying that the House can
judge for themselves of the business Of the
conclusions of the committee
Sweeney and Triplet were witnesses
against Gilbert, both having been examined
separately and given their testimony reluc-
family.
Allowance is made in summoning witness
es to discredit the testimony of Sweeney,
and by letter to sustain his character.
/ The Committee gave their evidence IN IA
/ vnr nf tho frut n FIJI Of AZ -
/ statement made under oath, and offer the
following resolutions:
That VIM. \. Gilbert, member of this
House from New y ork, dill agree with F. F.
c. Triplett to procure the passage of the
resolution or bill through present Congress
for the purchase by Congress of certain cop
les Of the book of sail Triplett in pension
and bounty land laws, in consideration said
Triplett should allow him to receive q GER
tain sum of money out of the appropriation
for that purpose
That, Gilbert did cast his vote on the To-
wa Land Bill, pending heretofore before this
Congress, for corrupt consideration, con-
sisting of seven square miles Of Land and
some stock given or to be given to him.
That, Gilbert be forthwith expelled from
this House
The report is signed by Davis, of Mary
land, Orr, Warren, Richie and Kelsey the
Chairman dissenting.
Here an exciting debate followed, in which
Grow Bennett, and others denied the right
of the committee to give judgment on
case, contending they could only collect evil
dence, &c
Finally, the various reports were read,
recommending in addition to Gilbert, the ex-
pulson of Edwards, Welch and Matteson.
Kelsey dissents from the reports in the
case of the above members. They are Sign
ed by all the committee but him.
All matters were ordered printed Fur
Their considerations was postponed to We'd
nesday. Adjourned.