Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-01-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
JOurned.

MONDAY, JAM 6.-The Fortieth Congress
reassembled after the holiday recess yesterday.
In the Senate, Senator Saulsburg appeared
in his seat forthe first time during the session.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill to make the
| United States five dollar places agree with the
French twenty five france, with view to the
unfcation of the world coinage. The case OF
Senator Thomas, Of Maryland, came up, but
| after some debate was laid aside. Mr. Sumner 8
bill for the repeal Of the cotton tax was laid over
| until to-day, and the Senate adjourned.
In the House, under the Monday call, the
usual number of bills and joint resolutions were
introduced and referred. A resolution was
adopted inquiring into the eXpediency of au-
thorizing the Southern conventions to appoint
all civil officers in the respective States; form
ing the FIVE districts into one, under command
of the General Of the armies, and other matters
relating to reconstruction. A resolution Of
thanks to General Hancock was laid on the
table. Resolutions censuring the conduct of the
President in removing Sheridan, and thanking
Grant for his famous private letter, were
adopted. The bill fixing eight hours as day s
labor for government laborers was passed The
bill relative to soldiers bounties was under con-
sderation when the House adjourned.
TUESDAY, Jan. In the Senate Mr.. Wilson,
Of Mass, introduced a bill to remove the Gov
ernor and other State officers of Georgia and
empowering the Reconstruction Convention to
fill the vacancies. Mr. Summers bill, which
was passed before the recess, but has not been
returned by the President, for securing equal
rights in the District was referred to the Judi
ciary Committee, on question whether it had
fallen through or become law by the failure to
return it on the part of the President. The bill
to repeal the internal revenue tax on cotton was
taken up and passed, with an amendment
providing for the resumption Of the tax after
1868. A synopsis of the report. OF Senator
Howard on the removal Of Secretary Stanton,
which was completed on Monday night will be
found elsewhere in our columns this morning.
In the House joint resolution authorizing
the sale OF all the ron-clad vessels no longer re-
quired by the service caused considerable discus
sion, and was finally passed. A bill to prevent
frauds in the collection of taxes on distilled
whiskey was reported from the Committee on
Ways and Means and passed. The report of
Commissioner Wells, of the Internal Revenue
Bureau, was pr scented and referred.
In Committee of the Whole Mr. Cary, re-
publican of Ohio, made a lengthy speech in.
favor Of paying the national debt in legal tender.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. Sin the Senate resolu-
ton was adopted of inquiry into the expediency
of afixing penalty to any officer who may
authorize an expenditure ofthe public money for
any purpose not previously authorized by law.
Debate ensued upon the House bill to cover the
| proceeds of captured and abandoned rebel pro-
perty by warrants on the Treasury, but no action
was taken upon it. A resolution lnstructlng the
Judiciary Committee to report bill providing
provisional governments for the Southern States
was laid over. The bill to prevent the further
contraction of the currency was made special
order for to-day and the Senate adjourned.
In the House joint resolution was reported
from the Committee on Foreign Affairs request
ing the President to intercede for the release of
Father Mcmahon, who is confined in Kingston,
Canada, as Fenian The morning hour eXplr-
ed during debate upon it and it went over
Considerable other business of minor importance
was transacted and the House adjourned
THURSDAY, Jan. 9.-In the Senate, the
House bill suspending the contraction OF the
currency came up. An amendment that no.
thing in this or any existing act shall be constru-
ed to increase the United States currency except
$50, O00, 900 revenue notes already authorized,
was defeated-ayes, II nays, 80.
The bill was discussed till adjournment
House.-The bill creating new commission
of FIVE per cent on whiskey metres was passed
The Kentucky election cases came up, and
after three hours discussion Judge Trlmbe was
sworn in. Adjourned.
No PAY FOR IDLENEss. -The New York
Tribune is sharp upon the members of the New
York Convention. 1t demands that no mem
Der shall be paid for single Gay during which
the Convention is In session and he not pre-
sent" We take it for granted that Mr. Gree
ley, being member of the Convention, will de-
cline to take pay for the days which he is alb
sent. But let US say to those members who
want to frolic at the expense of the State, that
if Mr.. Greeley sharp and virtuous economy
and honesty become the law of New York they
may be gratifed by coming to Virginia Such
hayward morality as Greeley S is not tolerated
by the ''loyalists' here. Let the New York
absentees get into our Convention, and they
| will be all right!-Dispatch.