Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-06-01
Congressional.

Mr.. Edmunds has reported in the Senate
the bill to regulate the transportation of nj
tro-glycerine, already passed by the House
with an amendment changing the punish
ment for secretly shipping this compound
on a vessel, and thereby causing death
by its explosion, from death by hanging to
Imprisonment for not less than ten years.
The penalty for carrying nitro-glycerine in
any steamship, vessel, car or wagon used for
the conveyance of passengers within the
limits of the United States, is $500.
A letter from Gen. Grant to Sec. Stanton
was read in the House few days since, and
ought to have some effect. General Grant
points out very clearly the importance of an
immediate reorganization of the army, and
warmly advocates the bill for that purpose
already passed by the Senate. He doubts
the expediency of Withdrawing the Federal
troops from the South for some time to come,
and enforces the propriety and duty of the
protection of emigrants crossing the plains
or settling in the new territories.
The bill amendatory of the postal laws,
which passed the Senate last week, having
previously passed the House, provides that
after June i, 1856, prepaid and free letters
shall be forwarded, at the request of the
party addressed, from one post-ofiice to an
other without additional postage charge and
returned dead letters shall be restored TO
the writers thereof free of charge, as shall
also letters Endorsed with request to be re-
turned to their writers; that money orders
may hereafter be issued as high as $50; that
money orders shall be valid and payable
when presented within one year after its date,
but for no longer period; and in case of the
loss of money order, a duplicate thereof
shall be issued without charge; and, finally,
that persons wilfully and maliciously injur-
ing, or defacing, or destroying mail matter,
shall be fined not more than $500, or i'm
prisoned not more than three years.
The Tax bill, as it passed the House bore
OIL amendments made since it was reported
from the ways and means committee, most
of which were brought forward by that COM
mittee from time to time. The thorough
ness with which the committee did its work
is shown by the fact that il was beaten by
the House on only some half dozen points,
none of which were of essential Importance
Ii deserves to be said for Mr.. Morrill,, chair
man OF the committee, that he has managed
his very difficult task with discretion and
courtesy. The amount of revenue which
will accrue under the bill, as passed, is some
thing less than would have been received
under the bill as il came from fine commit
tee. The clause levying special tax Oslo
on miners, struck out in committee of the
whole, was restored to-day in the House
The proposition to allow gas companies to
add their tax to their bills was rejected by
about two to one. The amendment putting
reapers, mowers, threshing machines, corn
shelters and wooden ware on the free list
was agreed to by 81 to 3d. That exempting
cordage and rigging was rejected by 81 TO
~. Bunting and United States flags made
Of American bunting were added TO the free
list by general consent. General Schenck's
amendment In regard TO the cigar duties was