Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.
In the Senate on Saturday, the bill to au-
thorize the construction of lateral branch |
OF the Potemac railroad into the District of
Columbia was taken up and passed. The |
joint resolution in relation to the tax on |
alcohol, which has already passed the House,
was agreed to by the Senate, and now goes
to the President. Mr.. Lane introduced a
bill amending the act restricting the juris
dcition of the Court of Claims which was
referred to the Committee on Military Af
fairs. Mr.. Wilson introduced an import
ant bill to increase and equalze the pay of
army officers, but it went over. The Senate
then resumed the consideration of the tariff
bill, which occupied its attention up to the
hour of adjournment. tt|r
The House on Saturday instructed the
Committee on the Post Office Department to
inquire into the expediency of establishing
package post for the conveyance of parcels,
money, merchandise, &C.. at such rates of
compensation and under such regulations as
| may be established by law. Mr.. Stevens re-
construction bill was then taken up, and
another dsreputable scene occurred in the
House, Mr.. Winfield, of New York, pro-
nouncing words used by Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio,
as untrue and slanderous, and Mr. Hunter, of
New York, still more emphatic, declared
| that what Mr.. Ashley said was "base lie :"
| whercupon Mr.. Hill, of Indiana, offered
resolution that Mr.. Hunter be censured by
the Speaker for using the words quoted above
which was agreed to by vote Of yeas "a,
nays 81, and the Speaker at once performed
the unpleasant duty. The House then ad-
journcd.
SENATE-A petition was received in the
Senate on Monday from citizens of Ohio set
ting forth reasons why the Capital should
be removed from Washington to the West.
1t was referred to the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia. The bill to prohibit
peonage in the United States was passed, as
was also the bill amendatory of the several
acts relating to copyrights. The latter bill
provides that every proprietor of copy
right, whether book, photograph, map or
chart, shall send a copy of the same to the
Congressional Library. resolution was
adopted to prevent Governors, Judges and
Secretaries of Territories from being absent
from their posts of duty. Mr. Poland gave
notice that when the joint resolution making
the President ineligible for q second term
came up, he should move to extend the term
to six years. The bill amending the act
establishing judicial courts was so amended
that United States Courts shall have autho.
rity only to issue writs of habeas corpus
within their respective Jurisdictions, was
passed, as was also the bill providing severe
penalties for counterfeiting the public Sc
curities, currency or postage stamps. The
tariff bill was then taken up and considered
until the body adjourned.
HoUsE.-In the House on Monday the i'm.
peacbment resolution offered sometime age
BY Mr.. Kelso was taken up, and long dis
! Puseipn ancupl no IN 1ybnthpr it ehOul1 hf
,, referred 70 the Judiciary Committee or to o
special committee of five. Several members
took occasion to ventiate their views in re
I gard TO the impeachment question, some
, tavoring and Others disappearing of the
movement. The resolution finally wen'
over without action. Mr.. Stevens recon
7 struction bill was then taken up, and after
some discussion was referred to the Com
mittee on Reconstruction, where it will pro
8 badly rest for the present. The House ther
adjourned.
SENATE.-On Tuesday the President sen
Q in q response to the resolution of the Senat,
, calling for information with regard to til,
: resignation of Mr.. Motley. The message
vetoing the Colorado bill was taken up, but
=, was finally laid over and ordered to be prin
: ted The tariff bill was then taken up, anC
was debated until the adjournment.
HoUsE.-On Tuesday the Committee o
= Elections were discharged from the conside
ration of the resolution for an investigation
into the recent Maryland election, the mat
= ter being investigated by another committee
. The bill to equalize the hounties of soldiers
sailors, and marines was reported and or
U dered to be printed. The bill to reguat
the civil service was reported from the Con,
I mttee on Rctrenchment. A bill was report
:, ed restricting the Agricultural Department
d to the purchase for distribution only of sue
l seeds, plants, anc flowers as are not commO
: in the United States, which was laid on tn
l table. The Secretary of the Interior wa
G rec uested to furnish information relative I
e the late massacre of United States troops n
G Fort Phil Kearney and the causes that pre-
e duced the same, and what has led to tn
It present condition of our relations with til
d Indian tribes. The Senate bill providin
r, for an annual inspestion into Indian affair
d was taken up and debated until the close {
!. the morning hour, when it Was laid owe
Communications were received from the Set
retary of State in reference to the attempte
compromise of certain lawsuits institute
against the agents of the rebel gbvernmer
in at Liverpool, England, and another sayin
~ that no official information had been recei,
81 eu III reSaru 10 the action Oh tue fapal uO'
So ernment prohibiting the meeting Of Prote
~ 40 tants for religious purposes in Rome. TIL
" President transmitted additional intormatio
'e in regard to the New Orleans riot. Tf
u committee of conference reported that the
had agreed on the pension bill. The bi
making appropriations for invalid pension
IS &C., was considered and passed. The amour
a u is S33, $50, ,000 The consular and diplomat
~ appropriation bill was discussed. A provis
SO for the payment of the minister to Portug
81 provoked considerable debate. An ament
81 q ment was adopted prohibiting the paymer
S of money for the support of the America
81 legation at Rome. Adjourned
NJ