The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
.xxxrxrn coNeREss-FIRsT sHssIoN
FnIDAr, Arm 81, 1896.
SENATE.

| e. SENATE.
| HOSPITAL STEWARDS ASK MORE PAT.
| Mr.. Wilson presented a petition from hospital
stewards asking an increase Of pay which was re-
feusd to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The bill to encourage and facilitate telegraphc
communication between the United States and the
West Indies, with the House amendments thereto,
Mr. Chandler moved that the Senate concur in
| the amendments Of the House.
Mr.. Connsss hoped the amendments would not be
concurrsd I'M the rates Of charges were entirely too
high.
The discussion was continued by Messrs. Morrill,,
| Sprague and Sherman.
| MI. Sherman said he hoped the day would come
whom there would be an entire revolution In the
telegraph system. As 1t stood now, IL was luxury
only to be enjoyed by the rich. In his memory Il
had cost twenty five cents to send letter from New
York TO Ohio; now Il costs but three cents and the
snme to California Telegraphing should be
dnced In the same ratio, There was less capital in
vested and more monopoly existing In this business
than any other. This company was to bo allowed to
charge 50 so for ten words TO be sent by submarine
telegraph only hundred miles. He had objected
TO the bill in the first instance because It created
such monopoly. lie would suggest that the bill
| lay over, and a committee Of conference be APP
pointed. Tho committee to whom this subject Of
telegnphing had been referred was now engaged In
considering tho best means to take
| Mr.. Morrill, said he did not know when this good
time was coming when the Government was to take
possession Of the entire telegraph and railroad sys.
| TEN Of the country. The Millerism would come
some time, but until 1t did come, all private
| enterprise to be stopped
| Mr.. Chandler then withdrew his motion, and
moved that the Senate non-concur In the umend-
| ments Of the House, and ask for committee of
conferences which was agreed to--the committee
the part Of the Senate to be appointed by the
Chair. add.
| .. PACIFIC RAILROAD BRANCHES.
| Mr.. Harris, from the Committee on the Pacific
Railroad, asked to be discharged from the further
consideration Of various memorials and petitions In
relation to branches Of the Pacific railroads which
| was granted. .
JAMES Z MURDOCH TO LECTURE IN THE SENATE
| Mr. Wilson offered resolution granting the use
Of the Senate Chamber, on the Sd Of May, to James
L. Murdoch Esq, for the purpose Of delivering q
lecture for the benefit Of the fair for the Soldiers
and Sailors Orphan Home.
Mr. Riddle objscting, the resolution was laid
over.
APPROPRIATIONS.
| On motion Of Mr.. Wade tho bill to authorize the
New York and Montana Mining and Manufacturing
Company to purchase certsiu public lands reserved
from sale was taken up, and after being amended
| was laid over
Mr. Sherman gave notice that he would call up
| on Monday next the Post Office appropriation bill
and on Tuesday the Army bill.
| RELIEP or IROs.cLAD CONTRACTORS
The special order being the bill to reimburse the
contractors Of certain iron cads for losses incurred
In fulfilling their contracts was taken up, the ques
| ton being on the amendment of Mr. Henderson to
postpone the further consideration of tho bill until
the first Monday in December next.
| Mr. Hendricks entered into explanation Of the
merits Of the bill, and argued against any postpone
mont,
Mr.: Clark followed in opposition to tho bill
Mr. Hendricks replied briefly to the objections Of
| Mr.. Clark.
The discussion was further continued by Messrs
Clark, Nye, McDougal, and Riddle.
| The question was then taken on the motion to
postpone till December next which was disagreed
to by q vote of rs to IL. .....'
| Mr. Henderson moved to commit the bill, with
amendments, to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
| Mr. Wiley moved to amond by referring 1t to
| the Committee on Claims.
The question was then taken on the motion to
rec0mmit and decided in tho negative.
| The bill was then passed.
| NEW CONSTITUTIONAL ANEEDMEE'.
| Mr.. Wilson proposed the following joint resolu.
| tion a amendment to the Constitution, to be
submitted to the Legislatures Of the several States
| ARTICLE -. No payment shall be made by the
United States or any State on account of the eman
cipaton Of my slaves, or for or on account Of any
debt incurred In aid Of the instruction against the
| United States.
Representatives shall be apportionod among the
several States which may be included within the
Union, according to their respective numbers
counting the whole number Of persons In each s. ate
but whenever, in any State, the elective franchise
shall be denied to any Of its inhabitants being male
citizens Of the United States above tho age Of q
years, for any cause except inSurrection or rebel
lion against the United States the basis Of repre-
sntation in such State shpl he reduced In the pro-
ton which the number Of male citizens so excluded
| shall bear to the whole number Of male citizens
| over 81 years Of age and wherever any OF the
i States which were declared to be in instruction
by the proclamation of the President Of the United
States, dated April 2, 1858, shall ratiy the fire.
| going article. Senators and Representatives from
the States so ratifyng shall DO admitted into the
Senate and House of Representatives respectively
In the same manner as If elected from States which
have not been declared to be in insurrection.
Ordered to be printed and referred to the commit.
tee Of fifteen.
| BREyEr APPOINTMENTS.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a joint resolution relative
| to breyet appointments in the regular army. Re-
ferred to the Military Committee.
The Senate then adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Kasson, Of Iowa, by unanimous consent In
troduced n resolution requesting the President Of
thed Jnited States to cause to BIO communicated to
the House all provisions in reference to freedmen
contained in the amended constitutions of tho
Southern States so far such provisions known
to the Executive Department. The resolution was
agreed to,
The remainder of the morning hour was con.
sumed, as Is usual on Fridays, in the consideration
Of bills of private character, reported chiefly from
the Committee on Claims and the Committee on
Invalid Pensions.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL FINISHED.
The House then resumed the consideration Of the
unfinished business Of yesterday, namely, the bill
to amend an act entitled can act to secure the
speedy construction of the Northern Pacific rail.
road, and TO secure to the United States tho use
of the same for postal, military and other pur.
poses"
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, gave notice that the
bill to amend the present internal revenue law,
which had been made the special order for Thurs.
day next, would not be called up until next Mon
day week.
: Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, offered an amend
ment to the Pacific railroad BILL in the nature Of
! substitute.
The amendment having been reported,
Mr.. Bingham, Of Ohio, addressed the House in
support Of the same.
Mr.. Rogers Of New Jersey, was In favor of the
bill. He hurled back upon its opponents the
charges of the existence Of corruption and undue
influences which had been made upon this floor
1 Mr.. briggs, Of Michigan, made few remarks Ia
favor Of the bill, oontsnding that the proposed
. railroad was work of national Importance, and
: not one of local interest merely.
u Mr.. Grinnell, of Iowa, said that he should yot
for the bill. As q military project, as business
D project, he believed 1t to BIO safe one for thu
country.
Mr.. Wright, Of New Jersey, said that he sup
v | pOsed that there was not a single member of th