The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-16
WASHINGTON.
Facts and RulnOrv.
TWO OFFICES AT ONCE

TWO OFFICES AT ONCE.
The senate had before it ON the 9th q bill in.
troduced by Mr.. Edmunds, which excited a
pretty lively discussion, its object being to pre-
vent persons from holding two Offices at once. or
holding civil Office and military commission
at tho same time. Mr.. Fsssendea and othsrs
discovered that the bill contained cat in tho
meal tub-rhat, in short, its object was to pre-.
vent Grant from placing Sherman, Scefeld or
Porter in his cabinet. and SO opposed the bill
No vote was taken, bat the bill has not been
heard of since
FINANCE.
There has been considerable oaucusirr during
the week among republican members ON the
finance and resumption Of specie payment ques.
tion-whether some pledge to pay the 5-2O's in
gold ought not to be passed, and SEINE measure
looking to resumption of specie payment. 1t
has been virtually agreed that tho matter is not
to be pressed until tho appropriation bills are
passed; yet bill for the resumption of specie
payment was made the order in the house for
Saturday.
Butler introduced his financial scheme ON
Tuesday, and made an hours speech in its favor.
His plan is, in brief, to issue gre.nbacks in lieu
of the national bank notes, and to make this pa-
per convertible into bonds or the bonds int
grecnbacks at the pleasure of the holder His
bill was referred to the Ways and Means con-
mittee.
OFFICr TENURE LAW.
bill to repeal the office tenure act was sprung
upon the house on the 18th, by Mr.. Washburns,
of Ind, and forced to vote, without allowing
the least debate. The bill passed BY 119 to AZ,
all the democrats voting for it, while in addition
to the Al republicans who voted against it, some
40 lodged it. The bill went to the senate on the
18th and was referred to the Retrenchment com.
mittee.
PRoTECToRATE OvRR HAYTI AND ST. DOMINGO
Mr.. Banks on Tuesday in Introduced in tho house
novel resolution, and insisted On its passage,
providing for protectorate by the U. S. over ST.
Domingo and Hayti. The proposition, he said
was in accordance with the desire of those islands,
and contemplated sending vessel of war there
charged with the duty of kceping the peace in
case of revolutionary outbreaks. The resolution
caused an animated discussion. and Was finally
voted down by 1873 against 35.
NIAGARA SHIP CANAL.
The Niagara Ship Canal bill had been set for
consideration in the house on the 18th. but on
coming up, vas laid over to next day.
APPROPRIATION BILL.
The only appropriation bills passed thus far
are the Military Academy, the Deficiency, and
the Consular and Diplomatic.
INAUGURATION BALL
Great preparations were about to be commence
ed for grand Inauguration ball on the 4th of
March, and application was made to Congress for
the use Of the old rotunda and house Of repre-
ssntatives for the purpose. The house gave its
consent but the senate churlishly refused. In
consequence, it is said, tho ball must be aban-
doaed.
The Moorhesd tariff got bad SGT back in the
house on tho 18th. Mr.. n. desired TO call it up,
and Washbur,e insisted on taking up instead a,
appropriation BILL A direct vote was forced,
and the tariff bill went over. or rather under, by
a voke NJ ~ suaiuat 70