Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-16
FORTIETH CONGRESS,
This Afternoons Proceedings.
WEDNESDAY, December 16.

communication from the Secretary of the Iute-
nor, lnclosing the report OF Mr.. Williams,
Government Director, on the condition of the
Union Pacific railroad. Referred TO Commit.
tee on Pacific Railroad.
Also, communication from the Universal
Peace Society, relative to Indian affairs. Re-
ferred TO Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Finance Committee
repoIteu the House bill relative - duties on
copper and imported ores.
Also from The same committee, a resolution
that the Senate do not regard IL as sound D ,licy
that lie 5-2u bonds shall be paid, until the Uni-
ted States reGeems its notes IN coin, g..
Mr.. Williams offered a resolution Instructiug
the COMMITTEE OF the judiciary to enquire IN
TO the expediehcy and practica0llity OF report
ing such legislation as will prevent the dis
cnaree of persons convicted of crime under the
extraordinary decisions Of the United States
District Judge for Virginia.
Mr.. Terry had no Objection to the enquiry,
but he thought no imputation should be cast
upon the Judge, and therefore moved to strike
cut the word .extraordinary."
Mr.. Williams had no objection to altering
the phraseology, but be certainly thought these
decisions We're extraordinary. 1t was the first
time IN his experience that he had heard of 4
de tdctO Judge being set aside.
Mr.. Ferry had no particular information in
regard to these decisions and In the absence of
that Information he could not vote for a reso-
luton, which by implication might be con-
strued to c-nsure the Judge in question.
MIR. Howard also suggested to strike out sex
traordinary," which was accordingly done,
and the resolution was then passed.
MIR. Morton offered a resolution directing the
secretary OF the Senate to pay 10 the
Southern Senators compensation from the be-
ginning Of the l0th Congress- the present COR
sideration Of which was objected to by Mr..
Terry.
Mr. Wilson called up House bill dona ing
condemned cannon for the monument to the
memory Of Gen. kearney. Passed.
Mr.. Osborn introduced a bill to relieve cer-
tam citizens OF Florida of civil and political
disabilities. Referred to judiciary Commit
tee.
Mr.. Cole introduced bill to provide a tenn
porary government for the Territory of Alas
ka. Referred TO Committee on Territories.
Mr.. NIckers from the Committee on District
OF Columb ba, reported a Joint resolution appro-
priating S}1,,OJ for the relief of the destitute
poor of the District OF Columbia. Passed.
Mr. Harlan reported bill regulating the
probate OF rules IN the District of Colum oia.
Passed.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Committee on Jn.
dietary, reported, with amendments, bill to re-
move political disabilities from citizens of
South Carolina. Also, adversely on certain
bills to remove political disabilities.
Mr.. Conness asked TO take up his bill pro.
yIGing that all persons in the employ Of the
United States shall receive the same wages for
eight hours work as was formerly paid for ten
hours.
Mr. Sherman opposed the taking up the bill
reducing dag work to eight hours, which
was so maniiestly Injurious TO the interests OF
the Government ana of its employer that n =
(Mr. ) would feel i'm PEELED to d bate this bill
Mr.. GOnness could not help u. if the b Ii was
deba ed. This matter M ght not be OF auy in =
terest 20 the bonohoiders, but It was OF great
NONE mt to the laboring classes, who had been
uDJustly deprived of their wages under a
forced construction of the law. He called for
the ayes and noes on his motion 10 take up
The ayes and noes being or,.ered, the IN Jtion
to take up was disagreed to by ayes, -:
Mr.. Corbett offered a resolution requesting
the Secretary OF the Treasury 10 furnish An ac.
count of the cost to the Government for the
issue of the fractional currency
MIR. Edmunds said this information would
soon De forthcoming In n report from the r.
renchment COMMITTEES, and for the Secretary
TO answer this inquiry, would only involve
additional cost
On motion of Mr. Morton. his bill to provide
for the resumption of specie payments, was
taken up, and he proceeded to address the Sen
ate IN favor Of its pessage.
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES, Poland
(Vt.) from the Committee on the Revision O
the Laws. offered a resolution providing tor
Passed.
MIR. Robinson IN. " offered preamble and
resolution relative to the Imprisonment o
Warren and Costello in Great Britain, and
calling for the appointment of a select com
mittee of seven 10 investigate the matter and
report what action should be taken.
Mr.. Bingham (Ohio) said he would object
except the resolution was referred 10 the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Robinson N. - withdrew the resolu-
tion, as he did not want it buried in the For
Mr. Eliot Mass introduced a bill prohibit.
ing passenger vessels from carrying as freight
nitro. gly cerine, petroleum. and other combus-
tlble articles. Referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
Mr.. Paine, (WIs.,) from the Committee on
Reconstruction. reported a bill removing Do
litcal disabilities from Andrew Ramsey, W. l..
Elliott, W. A. Dar iels, j. A. Wood dward, W. j
Nixon, J w. Bingham, =. X. Palmer, and
George Lewis. citizens Of South Carolina Mr.
Paine sent 10 the Clerks desk a statement rela.
tive to these men, signed by the South Carolina
Mr.. Brooks IN. Y.) suggested that all the
documents had better be produced, 90 as 10
have them on hand. He hoped that as uni.
hshed i'll the South, universal white male suf.
TRACE would soon be established also
MIR. Farnsworth (Ill.) moved TO amend the
bill by inserting therein the name OF th- Lieu
tenant Governor Of Tennessee. This was
agreed to, and The bill as amended passed.
Mr.. Paine wis, from the Reconstruct
Committee also, reported q bill to repeal GER
tain part Of section six Of the act max ing ap.
propriations for the army, approved March :,
1867. He explained that the object Of the b,li
was to repeal that portion OF the act prohibit
ing the Southern States from having militia
and to allow them to organize militia like the
other States OF the Union. [Georgia is not in.
cluded in the bill.
The bill passed.
MIR. Schenck (Ohlo), from the Committee of
Ways and Means, reported a bill extending
the time for the payment of the tax on tobacco
VI lIOlu ISL VI 10 tne l0tn
February. Passed.
Mr.. Lawrence (Ohio) offered a resolution
calling upon the heads of the Executive DE.
partments OF the Government for the number
of their employees, their salaries, etc., and
what reduction can be made in the force with.
out detriment to the public service. Agreed To-
Mr.. Washburne (Iii) offered a resolution
calling upon the Secretary Of the Interior for
the report of the Special Commission appointed
to examine the Union Pacific Railroad.
Adopted.
Mr.. Ross (IlI.) offered a resolution providing
tor new drawing of seats foI the present ses-
sion.
MIR. Van Trump (Ohio) moved to lay the
resolution on the table. Carried-yeas, -:
nays, 80.
Mr. Dawes, (Mass.) from the COMMITTEE on
Elections, reported a bill to amend an act en-
in contested election cases. Passed.
Mr.. Jones (Ky) offered the following:
Resolred, That all females in the emplov Of
the Government be allowed the same nav
when they perform like services with the
males Laughter all over rhs HOuse,1
Mr. " ood IN. W moved to lay the resolu.
tiOn on the table.
Mr. Jones (Ky.) demanned the yeas and navs
The vote stood yeas "a, nays l26; SO the reso
luton was not tabled.
Mr. Washburne (In.) demanded the yeas and
nays ON the passage OF the resolution.
The vote stood yeas 123, nays q; so the reso
luton was passed.
n1The girl Barber, WHO was said to have
stamped upon and roasted in the fire hahv
near Corning, N. Y, has been held for culna.
BILE ne glience in causing the child's DEATH and
she WAS admitted TO $1,000 bail