Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-13
Congressional News.
Washington, April Z, 1869.

A Joint resolution was reported provid-
ing for commission to select site ior
new building for the State Department,
and to provide accommodations Tor Ihe
War Department.
Notice was given of a joint resolution
for a commission to examine into the prac-
ticability of establishing a ship canal across
the isthmus of Darien.
Mr.. Trumbull called up the bill to amend
the judicial system of the United States,
as returned amended by the House from
the committee ON judiciary. He reported
an amendment allowing the phraseology of
the House amendment providing that any
Justice of the Supreme Court who, on at
tanning the age of seventy years, shall re-
tire, and shall thereafter receive his salary
during the remainder of his natural life.
He explained the object of the amend
ment: Fear had been expressed, he said,
that, under the House proposition the pro-
vision for the payment of retired judges
might, at any time, be rejected by Con-
gress, and the judges who had retired, re-
lying on this promise, would be deprived
of their salaries. He did not believe there
was any danger that Congress would ever
repeal the provision, but the committee
on the judiciary had thought it wise to OBJ
viate the difficulty as far as possible by
this amendment.
Several other amendments of detail, re-
ported by the judiciary committee, were
made to the bill, which now goes back to
the House for concurrence.
Mr.. Williams called up the bill to aid
in the construction of a branch of the Pa
cifc railroad to Portland, Oregon, which
was amended and passed
The expiration of the morning hour
brought up the joint resolution to protect
the interests of the United States in the
Pacific railroad.
On motion of Mr. Fessenden it was post
poned.
Mr.. Sprague here rose and said: Iprom-
ised myself, yesterday, Mr.. President, that
should beg the indulgence of the Senate
to-day for the consideration of an impor-
tant subject. Ny position has been select
ed, my wings are well covered, my infant
~ in line of battle and my artillery have
been assigned to position, but my shells,
canister and grape are behind hand in con-
sequence of the untavOrable state of the
roads. | shall be ready tomorrow to 60
| to battle. Mr.. Sprague then took his hat
and coat and left the Senate chamber amid
general laughter, in which he participated.
The Senate then proceeded to consider
the deficiency appropriation bill and GER
tain amendments reported by the commit
tee on appropriations were agreed to.
Mr.. Fessenden reported an amendment
creating an Office of superintendent of the
department of the interior and making an
appropriation for salary.
| Mr. Drake offered an amendment making
appropriation for the salary of the solicitor
and Judge advocate general. Agreed to.
| Mr.. Wiley, by unanimous consent, of
fered an amendment to pay the salaries Of
fourteen first-class clerks in the patent of
fee at S1400 each, and twenty-one second
class clerks $1,000 each. Agreed to.
Messrs. Fessenden, Harlan and Cole
were appointed a committee of conference
on the part of the Senate on the Indian
appropriation bill.
The Vice President laid before the Sen.
ate message from the President. recon-
mendingt that before adjournment, Congress:
shall provide for submission of the Virgin
ia and Mississippi constitution to the PEG
pie.
At P. NJ. the Senate went into execu
tive session.
After the executive session the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Maynard of Tennessee, from tn,
committee on ways and means, reported
back adversely the bill to refund the dutie
on bequest to the Presbyterian church o
BardstOwn, Kentucky.
Mr.. Schenck of Ohio, from the sam
committee, reported bill to repeal tn
first section of the act of March %. 1868
amendatory of the judiciary act of 1899.
| He explained the object of the BILL
Ever since 17S9," he said, there ha
been no suits entertained by revision il
any form in the Supreme Court as between
; parties involving a less amount than $1,000
Last year that law had been changed S
!, far as revenue cases were concerned, ant
the effect of the change had been to Upper
ate as a denial of Justice. Where Their
had been a reclamation of duties overpait
all parties were driven to the Suprem
Court. The purpose of this bill was t
put the law back where it had stood from
1889 to last year" The bill was passe
= without a division.
; Mr. Julian of Indiana, from the commit
tee on public lands, reported back tn
Senate bill to renew certain grants of land
made for railroad purposes in Alabama
Passed with amendments.
J A resolution was adopted that the sub
, committee take evidence, during the re
cess, in Louisiana relative to the cleo
tions there.
: The Indiana appropriation bill was tax
en- up, An additional section, providin
that this act be not construed as ratifyin
any Indian treaty made since July q
1867, was agreed to.
: An amendment placing g, 000,0 at tn
disposal of the President to preserve peac
with the Indians was agreed to.
The action of the committee of thewhOl
| on all amendments was cOrcurred in.
, The bill reported from the RECONSTRUCTED
committee to enforce forthwith and restQr
to Georgia the republican form of govern
| ment elected under its new constitution
: was taken up.
p Mr.. Butler proceeded to explain and &C
vOcate the bill, and read some paragraph
from Georgia newspaper (the La Grang
: RepOrter) to show that hostility still exist
I ed there against the reconstruction meas
ures. He remarked that the subject ha
been discussed thoroughly, and he hope
the House would come to a vote Nj
:, Butler, to test the sense of the House, NOV
ed the previous question, which was nc
, seconded-61 to 81. Mr.. Butler then pre-
1 ceeded with his argument in support O
the bill, basing it principally upon the e1
pulsion of colored members from the Geol
gia Legislature. He said that unless thi
1 bill passed, the 10th constitutional amend
Y ment would be lost in Georgia, and ther
a could be no hope of having it adopted.
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky made an argl
L ment against the bill, taking the groun
r that, even under the reconstruction law,
a Georgia was as fully and completely
state in the Union as New York or Mas
sachusetts was
The Georgia bill was laid aside tempo
C rarily and Mr.. Lynch of Maine, chairma
= of the select committee on American na1
o igation interests, reported a resolution al
thorizing the committee to sit during V;
: cation at such time and place as may |
/, deemed advisable for the purpose of exam
!. lining witnesses and taking testimony, I
be reported to the House on the secon
Monday in January next. Adopted.
e Mr.. Washburn of Wisconsin, from til
O committee ON appropriations, reported th
' bill appropriating 100000 for the repai
extension, preservation and completion @
e works for the improvement of rivers an
harbors, to be expended under the dire,
!, ton of the secretary of war Passed.
Mr.. Banks of Massachusetts,, chairma
5 of the committee ON foreign affairs, offere
l Int, H.. Al.