Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
PrOceedings I'm the Senate.

.. WAsHIEGToN, Feb. 19-Mr. Stewar
from Pacific Railroad Committee, sui
a. mitted majority report in opposition [
~ the views Of the minority, on the omn
u bus railroad bill.
- Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to repe.
:, the act fixing the headquarters of tn
10 General of the army at Washington
requiring all orders Of the President an
= Secretary of War to be issued by him
: and in case Of his inability by sickness
!, the next in rank, and providing that h
!, shall not be released from command O
" assigned to duty elsewhere, except at hi
Q request, without the approval Of the Sen
n ate, and that all contrary orders shall b.
= null and void.
Mr.. Pomeroy from the Committee OIL
Public Lands, reported with an amend,
ment, bill amendatory of the act of uly
: II, 1865, relating to the issuing of agri-
r cultural scrip. As amended, the bill pro-
: vides simply that all such scrip shall be
|, received from actual settlers in payment
of presumption claims in the same manner
as is now authorized by law in the case
Of military bounty land warrants. Also
adversely to House bill to declare for
feited to the United States certain lands,
which had been granted to aid in the
construction Of railroads in Mississippi.
Louisiana and Florida.
Mr.. Pomeroy also introduced bill TO
to abolish and for ever prohibit peonage'
in New Mexico.
| Mr.. Williams, from the Committee on
Public Lands reported bill for the sale
of the Hot Springs Reservation in
Arkansas.
MIR. Grimes called up the bill in rela-
ton to the captures made by Admiral
Farragut's feet in the Mississippi river
in 1862, which passed.
| MIR. Grimes called up the bill to COM
pensate the officers and crew of the
Kearsage for the destruction of the Ala.
bama 1t gives to Com. Winslow and
his crew $4,000.
Mr.. Trumbull called up the bill to re-
organize the judicial system of the
United States. 1t fixes the number of
Judges Of the United States Supreme
Court at nine, and provides for the an.
pointment of Circuit Judges to perform
circuit duties, now performed by Judges
Of the Supreme Court, but requires that
each Of the latter shall do circuit duty for
at least one term every two years. Went
over by expiration of the morning hour.
The Indian appropriation bill was
taken up and passed.
An amendment transferring the Indian
bureau to the War Department was re-
jected.
The Committee on Pacific railroad were
relieved from the further consideration
of number of railroad bills, including |
the Memphis, Ell paso and Pacific.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill contin- |
uing the education and collection depart
ments of the Freedmen's Bureau until |
otherwise ordered by Congress; and |
also continuing the freedmen's hospital at |
Washington, Richmond and other points |
until next July. Referred to Committee
on Military affairs.
Proceedings in the HOuse.
The army appropriation bill was taken
up. All the amendments reducing ordi-
nary appropriations were agreed on.
Mr.. Kelley made speech, expressing
his faith in Grant.
Mr.. Blaine appealed to the house not
to agree to the amendment striking ont
the sum of $4,000 for military surveys
or to the amendment offered by Mr. But
Ter for the reduction of the army.
Several petitions praying that God Al
mighty be recognized by the constitution
were received.
After considerable discussion the army
appropriation bill was passed, with Mr.
la. l. =
Mr.. Blair, of Michigan, from the special
committee on the New York election
frauds, offered resolution directing the
Sergeant~at>arms 70 arrest and bring be-
fore the House two recreant witnesses,
John II. Bell and David W. Reeves, OF
Orange county, New York. Agreed to.
A resolution was adopted inquiring into
the incarceration of Emilio Cubada, a
United States citizen, by the Captain
General Of Cuba.
A resolution passed paying the ex-
penses for the removal of Thad Stevens
remains from Washington out of the
House contingent funds.
The Judiciary Committee reported
bill to define felOnies and misdemeanors.
and to regulate peremptors challenges.
Passed.
The bill provides that all offenses
against the United States punishable by
death or by imprisonment for not less
than five years, unless otherwise ex-
pressly provided, be taken and deemed
to be felonies; all others to be taken as
misdemeanors, unless otherwise ex-
preSsly provided. At q trial, the punish
ment whereof is death, the United States |
and defendant are each to be entitled to |
two peremptory challenges. Where the |
punishment is Imprisonment for not less
than five years, to ten peremtory chal~
lenges. When two or more persons are
on trial together, they shall join in their
peremptory challenges.
The House then went into Committee
Of the Whole, Mr. Pollard in the chair, ,
and up took the Postofice Appropriation
Bill. The total sum OF the appropria-
ton is S302l7, SOB, of which sum So.
1852, SOB is to be betrayed by the revenue
Of the PostOffice Department.
Mr.. FarnswOrth moved to decrease the
item for PostOflice clerks from two mil
lions to S250,O00 Rejected.
Mr.. Beaman moved to amend the
item for letter carriers by reducing it
from one million to three hundred thOu>
sand dollars, with proviso that letter
carries shall not be employed in any city
the population Of which is less than 10
600, and that no greater sum shall be
expended for the free delivery in the :
next fiscal year.
After quiet a long discussion of the :
question came to a vote but was no quo>
rum. The voting roll was called and
only 81 members answered to their
names.
The committee rose, and Mr.. Boutwell,
having taken the chair as Speaker pro
tenn, names Of absentees were reported
A motion to adjourn was rejected.
The Sergoant-at~Arms was directed to
bring absentees before the bar of the
House. Some hours were consumed :
thereon and it was after midnight when
the House adjourned.
NEW ORLEANS.
ErOubIe-The Legislature
and the Equality Bill.