Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL.

- SH4skD1kS Il 1oOG
CONGRESSIONAL.
SHNArE.-Yesterday afternoon
AT the conclusion OF Mr Drske's remar4s in
advocacy OF his resolution condsmning the
tone and language Of the Presidents mes
Mr. johnson desired to speak on the resolu-
uOn but said II II was agreeable % the Senate
ne Wouio prefer 70 have Il postponed; and az
the suggestion OF Mr.. sherman, the further
con onsiasrs,ion was postponed to Thursday at
After a short executive session the Serate
adjourned.
HousE.-At the close OF Mr.. Chanler's speech
yesterday afternoon in opposition 10 the confis.
! Mr.. EIdridge followed on the same side.
He commenced by declaring that il was time
were snoysS, wa eors1 and - snas the people
Why, he asked, had not the Union been re-
storedi The faithful and impartial historian
wonid, IN answering that question. prefer a
most fearful Indictment against the party
which bad control OF the q overument
The bill was postponed tiii the eist Of Janu-
Mr. Scbenck offered concurrent resolution
for an adjournment over the holidays from
Friday. the 2oth, ,ill Monday, the 9th OF
January next. .1.Hs
AIR. Farnsworth moved 70 Law IL on the
table. NegatIyed, only sixteen members yos-
ing for the motion.
Mr. Lawrence tOhio,) called for the yeas
and nays, and for tellers on the Yeas and nays.
Both were refused, and the concurrent reso-
lufion was adopted
MI IngersolI asked leave TO offer a resoiu-
ton directing the Committee OF Ways and
Means TO invent the WAYS and m cans necessary
TO unlock and put in circulation the enormous
amount OF s13-, ,l67,S20. now locked no in the
may not be required to pay interest on the
pnblic debi; hat
MI. Garfield objected.
Mr.. Ashley (Ohio.) made some remarks In
support OF his proposed constitutional amend
ment and then the House, at i.10, adJourned.
WEDNESDAY,, Dec II.
SBEATF.-The Chair presented a memorial
of eight hundred citizens OF Michigan asking
mat alleged defects IN the homestead law be
remedied. Referred TO Committee on Public
Lands.
Also, a memorial signed by an mmens Sc num-
Der of naturaiZed citzeDs, setting forth at
great length their grieyan ces, and asking that
the rights OF naturanzed citizens be defined by
lations ,E-.
Mr. johnson presented the petition of NJ.
Mortara. citizen of Pennsylvania, who was
awarded q claim against the United STATES by
the mixed commission sitting for the two gov
ernments, and who states that the Secretary Of
Stale refn ses to pay but IN the deprecated eur
rency OF the United States, and asking that he
he paid IN coin. Referred TO COMMITTEE ON
Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Anthony introduced bill declaring null
and VOID all acts Of confiscation and torfsiture
passed by the rebel authorities. Referred 10
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Wiley introduced a bill authorizing the
sale OF ihe lands. tebemenrs and water power
belonging 10 the United States Harper's
Ferry Referred 20 Committee on Military
Affairs.
MIR. Fessanden offered concurrent resoiu.
uon providing fer joint committee TO revise
ana nx me pay OF officers OF the two Houses.
Adopted.
MIR. Howard introd need bill amen ding the
act granting land TO AID i'm the con struction OF
a railway from Lake Superior TO Puget's
Sound.
Mr.. sherman called up the bill providing
that al1 balances remaining from the sale OF
captured and abandoned property In the hands
OF Mr.. Spinner, as special agent, be coverec by
MS warrant, a. Treasurer, and be no. there
AFTER drawn frem the Treasury unless by au-
thority Of law.
MIR Sherman, in explaining the bill, said
that the sum from the sources named reached
several IN illions, and il was in the power of
ne secretary to apply 1t towards paying
claims from the former owners OF said prem.
erty, and the object OF the ball was to prevent
any use OF this money unless by authority OF
Mr Edmunds said this bill did no. cover the
necessities of the case Ii was understood
mat there was now several hundred thousand
of this fund in the hands OF parties Ia New
York. He had an amendment providing for
the recovery into the Treasury OF all these
,ums, ana prescribing penalties for any un-
Mr.. Trumbull objected to the resolution as
recognizing the right up TO this time Of the
money. The Secretary never had any right to
nse this money. The Secretary had applied to
me Attorney General tor his opinion, and thar
oncer gave as his opinion that the proceeds Of
this property must be paid into the Treasury,
and there await the action OF the Board Of
Claims. This opinion was given two wears
ago, and yet. IN the face of thar opinion, the
Secretary had since paid out, on his own
authority, several hundred thousand dollars
Mr. Edmunds agreed with the Senator (Mr
1rumbnll) as to his construction of the law.
but tneught he was rather unjust to the Secre.
tary.l Preceding Secretaries had also. under
the advice Of the Solicitors of the Department
assumed 10 decide what was captured and
abandoned property, and the opinion OF the
Attorney General had NOT touched upon th.s
point. lie Mr.. E.) thought this ACTON of the
Secretary was entirely wrong; but stated this
innch IN justice to him. rrt
MIR. Fe.seBden expressed his desire 70 say
something on this subject. and asked that the
Dill lay over until tomorrow; which was
agreed to. =
Mr.. Cragin called up the resolution to paw
ule salaries of clerks of Committees now due,
ana OF special Messengers and Pages during
The bill changing the name of sam ueI Chase
Barney, jr. TO Samuel Chase de Kraft, was
iaken up IS returned to the House, with
amendments, providing that all persons
IN the Distriet OF Columbia who desire 10
change their names shall file bill ia the Su.
preme Court OF the District. stating their rea.
sons. 4-. t..
Ihe amendments were agreed 10. and the
bill now goes 10 the President
The House concurrent resolution providing
for an adjournment from December a0 to jan
uary b, was read.
Mr. Sumner objected to its present con sider.
atIou, and II went over under the rules
Mr. Sumner presented a memorial from Gen
eral ID =. Brisbin and 10000 colored mep of
kentucky, asking Congress 10 bestow upon
hem the right of suffrage, aud stating thai, IL
this is done, they believe that the murder ar
son. and rape now so prevalent in kentucky
will be put an end TO.
Mr. Davis.-Mr President, pronounce that
a foul and malicious libel upon The State of
kentucky. -
The petition was then referred
Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont, called mp his bill
10 Increase the yalne OF legal tender noies to
par. MIR. Morrill then took the n oor and read
an elaborate argument In f,iy or of the adoption
OF his bill It's passage would establish such
confidence that from the day or its passage.
the inequality between coin and legal tenders
would begin to diminish, and by the time
specified for the redemption of legal tenders
Ia COIN, (July 4, 1897 the legal tenders
would be ut par and equal TO coin.
Ii Is the apprehension that we have become
demoralized by our paper currency that causes |
our securities 10 be ~ such discount abroad. |
but II the holders satisfied that our efforts