The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-01-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January


bate ensued, in which Messrs. Vickers
and White, Of Maryland, took an ac-
tive part The bill was amended and
then passed.
The House passed the bill to preserve
the purity Of elections in the several
Territories.
WASHINGTON, January 20.
In the Senate, bills were introduced
to reorganize the grade of general
officers in the army, and for the reduc-
ton of the military force. The bin to
reorganize the general officers Of the
army retains the general at the same
pay; makes three lieutenant generals,
at reduced pay; nine major generals,
at reduced pay; abolishes the briga-
diers, and provides that in time of war
brigades shall be commanded by col
0nels. selected for merit. The bill Of
Mr.. sherman, i'm favor Of the proposed
charter by Congress of a railroad
through to New York, was taken up,
and led to an interesting debate. Sen
ator Whyte, of Maryland, made an
able speech in opposition to the bill,
and on the general subject Of the pow
er Of Congress to charter railroads in
States. He read a letter from Gov
Bowie, president Of the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad, confirming the fact
that the road is to be completed to
Washington by the lst Of January, 18-
TO- The last annual report Of the COM
pauy, made in September, 1868. states
that the contract called for the c0nstruc-
tion of the road to Upper Marlboro
by the time above stated.
The House passed q bill to restrict
andregulate the franSiDg privilege, and
also bill removing political disabili-
ties from several citizens of Virginia
and other Southern States.
WASHINGTON, January q.
In the Senate, Mr.. sherman, from
the finance committee, reported a sub
stitute for the bill amending the
national currency act. The "air-line"
railroad bin was taken up, amended,
and discussed at considerable length.
Mr.. Nickers of Maryland, made an
able speech in opposition to the power
Of Congress to charter. The section
providing for railroads to Cleveland
and Cincinnati was stricken out, so that
the bill only provides for a road from
/ Washington to New York. An a.
/ meudment, however, was also adopt
ed that the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad should form part Of the air
/ line road to New York. Other amend
ments were pending at the hour of adj
journment.
In the House, bill was passed pro-
viding for the appointment Of midship-
men in the Naval Academy from the
Southern States. 1t provides that
members Of the present Congress may
make nominations for their respective
States prior to May, 1869, in cases
where congressional elections do not
take place until later than that period.
The contested election from Missouri
was debated at length, and resulted in
declaring that Mr.. Anderson, the sit
ting member, and not Mr.. Switzler,
the contestant, was entitled to his seat,
WAsHINGTON, Jan. -.
The Senate to-day was prolific Of inn
/ portant and able speeches, bat barren
/ Of a single act of legislation. The
moring hour was extended to 2o'clocll
in order to allow Mcssrs Freliughuy-
I sen and Morton respectfully to assaii
and defend the latter's bin prohibiting
/ States from taxing railroads per capita
/ on passengers. This disposed Of, the
1 Airline Railroad bill cameup and Sen
/ ator Doolittle delivered a long, c0-
/ qucnt, and very powerful speech a.
/ gainst it. Not 50 much against the
/ bill itself as agaist the whole system Of
/ constitutional legislation, Of
/ which the measure is q specimen
/ Then, speaking to the bill, he so
/ thoroughly reviewed the speeches Of
I Messrs. Sherman and Morton that he
had them continually on their feet in
attempted reply. Mr.. DooIittIe's
/ speech, in its whole scope, is esteemed
/ the abIest Of the session, if not in his
lifetime. The galleries were crowded
and attentive to the last degree while
4 he spoke. The Senate then inconciu-
sively debated whether to agree to the
conference committees report relating
to Registers in Bankruptcy taking
testimony i'll cases of contested cleo
tions, and then adjourned, in order to
/ stave off an executive session, which
+ several Senators were anxious should
be held.
The House to-day took up the bill
granting additional subsidies to the
/ Kansas Pacific Railway, bat came to
no vote The lobby says they will
carry the day when the time comes.
Mr.. Barnes, of New York, attempted to
report bill to prevent the banks from
locking up greenbaCks, but a single Oh
lection raled it out, and it remains in
the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency. The days proceedings We're
1 closed with the Congressional funeral,
in heavy manuscript, Of the late Mr.
/ Kinds, NJ. c. from Arkansas.
WASHINGTON, January %.
In the Senate, to-day, resolutions Of
the New York Chamber of Commerce
were presented protesting against any
further extension of the bankrupt law.
Mr.. Hendricks submitted an amend
ment to be acted on when the joint
resolution proposing an amendment