The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-21
Congressional Synopsis.

SENATE.-Mr. sherman called up th0 OH 10
repeal the cotton tax. Mr.. Morrill, could see no
occasion for hurry-it should come up with the
whole subject of taxation. The bill was post
poned.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the Senate took up
and passed the bill giving the bounties Of deceas-
ed soldiers to their families.
Mr.. Corbitt read a long speech in opposition to
Mr. Morrill's legal tender bill, after which the
Senate adjourned to Monday.
HoUsE-The House spent the day in speech
making Van Trump, Lawrence, Garfield, Mr..
Kerr and Judge Woodward, made speeches, the
general subject being impeachment. Judge
Woodward is the new member from Pennsyl-
vania, and this was his maiden speech in Con-
gress. He argeud that the President could be
impeached for msdemeanors which were not in
dictable at common law. but did not believe the
President had done anything to justify impeach-
ment. The House adjourned to Monday.
Monday, Dec. 10.
SENATE.-Mr. Davis introduced bill to es-
tablsh a tribunal to which constitutional ques-
tons shall be referred for decision. Tabled.
Mr. Van Wrinkle introduced bill to apportion
the national bank capital among the states ac-
cording to population.
Mr. Edmunds introduced bill to provide a
mode for taxing the national banks by thestates.
The bill to repeal the cotton tax was taken up,
and debated until adjournment Morrill, and
Fessenden warmly opposed the repeal, and Will
liams, johnson, Sherman and Wilson advocated
it.
HoUsE.-A large number of new bills intro
duced; among them
elections Of representatives and delegates to Con-
gress. as
By Mr.. Hooper: Bill to make legal tender
notes in part payable for customs duties.
Mr. Benjamin offered resolution, which was
adopted declaring in response to the recommen-
dation OF the President in his message that the
reconstruction acts should be repealed, that the
house twill meier consent" to such repeal
The House then took up in committee Of the
whole the deficiency bill It appropriates two
millions, to make up deficiencies of former ap-
preparations An amendment granting 20 per
cent. additional pay to the clerks in Washington
WINS agreed to in committee but voted down in
the House. The bill was passed.
Tuesday, Dec. H.
SENATE.-Mr. Sherman, from the Finance
Committee, made lengthy report accompanied
by bill, which the report explains and defends.
The report assertsthe injurious effect the PROPOSE
ton to redeem the SEQ bonds in greenbacks has
upon the credit of the government, and ~hile il
virtually admits that by the law under which
those bonds were issued they are made redeem
able in greenbaoks, it argues against the policy
Of doing 90. The bill therefore provides for tax.
ing up all the present evidences Of indebtedness
of the government, and issuing new consolidate
ed bond, to be redeemable in gold IN 10-40 years
bearing six per cent interest, and exempt from
all state or national taxation except that
in consideration Of such exemption, the secretary
of the treasury shall withhold per cent. of the
interest-one-half of this one per cent to be paid
to the states in lieu of taxation, and the other
half to form sinking fund for the ultimate re.
demption of the bonds. The bill also contains
other important provisional The bill was laid
over and ordered to be printed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to repeal the tax on cotton, and debated il
until adjournment without coming to a vote
HOUsE.-Mr. Stevens desired unanimous con.
sent to make report from the reconstruction
committee. They had agreed on a bill making
a majority of votes cast instead majority of all
the registered votes, sufficient to adopt consti.
tuition in the southern states also apportioning
the representatives in Congress from those states
There being numerous objections, the report was
not received.
The House went into committee Of the whole
on the Presidents message, and speeches on
general subjects were made by various members
until the House adjourned.