Litchfield enquirer., 1867-03-21
CongreaS.

In the Senate Mar. 13, number of bills were re- ported from the Committees and passed. One of these directs survey to be made for ship canal to connect Lakes Erie and Ontario. 4 substitute was reported for the House bill supplementary to. the Military Reconstruction Bill. The bill provides for the registration, by the military commanders of the rebel States, of ell voters under the Military Bill, for the holding of conventions and for the election of delegates thareto-
 In the House, the Senate joint resolution for the relief of the destitute in the Southern and South western States, directing the Secretary of War to issue supplies of food sufficient to prevent starva- ton and extreme want among the people of all classes, and appropriating s10O0 900 for that pur- pose, next taken up, and gave rise to consit- erabe debate Fernando Wood and Gem Bntler opposed the measure. rr~
 In the Senate, Mar 14, Mr. TrumbunA called up the Supplementary Reconstruction Bill. gMr. .Conk- ling read from the Supreme Court decisions to show that any condition of admission of 8 State, ceased to be binding when that State became sove- reign. Considerable debate ensued, pending which the Senate went into Executive session and soon af ter adjourned. -- '.-5- ;.lt -- ~
 The House, after the transaction of some un- important business, adjourned In the Senate, Mar. 15, A concurrent resolution amending of the joint rules prohibiting the sale of liquor in the Capitol was adopted. The supple mentary Reconstruction Bill was taken up. The question was upon Mr. Drakes amendment requr- ing the Constitutions Of the reconstructed States to provide for voting at future elections by closed ballots. This amendment was modified so as to require the voting to be done by ballot simply, and | was then adopted. v u.E
 ! In the House Mr. Hurlburt offered resolution calling up the report ofa committee of the XXXIXt ! Congress relative to frauds in the N. Y Custom House. He declares that it ''was reekng with cor ruption" under Mir. Smythe's administration. In ferring to the denial of Senators Doottle and Pat | terson that they had never received money from Mr. smythe, Mir. Hurlburd said that the committed never made such a charge, but simply reported the testimony of Mir. Smythe. He also said that Mrs. Perry WAS myth, but that il was proved that she had had interviews with, the President, and that she was to have one-third of the profits of the general order business, an ar engagement to which the President was privy. The resolution was adopted, and the House adjourned until Monday. ..''
 In the Senate, Mar. l6 the Supplementary Re. construction bill came up and various amendments were proposed and debated. An amendment offer. ed by MT. Edmunds requiring that one half of all the registered voters in each rebel State shall vote on tho question of the ratification of the new State Constitution was agreed to. Mir. Drake offered ar amendment, which was agreed to, providing tha after the voters shall have been registered the, shall dacida at aia uhofb not a no,, stitutionai Convention shall be held. Other amend ments were considered and acted upon, and tn 1 bill was passed -,..-
 The House was not in session.
 In the Senate, Mar. IS, the credentials of Phl r. Thomas were prsented. The credentials havn bren read, MT. Howard moved their reference t. the Judiciary Committee. After much debate
 motion to postpone luther discussion prevailed The Supplementary Reconstruction Bill came up The House amendment which requires majorit of the registered voters to vote on the question ratification of the new Constitutions was disagreed to-yeas 21, nays, 2. The other amendment were agreed to. Y .',.,sl ..,,~~
 In the House, the Senate substitute for th House Supplementary Reconstruction Bill came LID Mir. Wilson, of Iowa offered an amendment strikin, out the clause which requires that one-haH of al the registered voters shall vote upon the ratification of the new Constitutions; which was agreed to- The Senate bill as amended was then passed. The aA,.. ate bill providing for the survey for ship canal to coneect Lakes Ontario and Erie was passed. Y
 In Congress, March 19., the supplementary bill bill passed both Houses substantially as it passed the Senate before aCommittee of Conference was appointed. "~