Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1869-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January 26.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. WILSON prest nted the credentials
of Charles Sumner, Senator elect from
Massachusetts, which were read.
Mr.. SHERMAN said the committee on
Finance had considered carefully the bill
to reorganize the Treasury Department,
and fearing that they could not report a
bill which would meet the views of Con-
gress, had directed him to report a resolu-
ton providing for the appointment, at the
beginning of the next session, of joint
committee, to consist of three Senators and
five Representatives, with leave to sit dur
ing the recess OF the Forty-first Congress,
to examine and report upon the expedien-
cy of reorganizing the civil service in the
several departments of Government, the
examination extending to the clerical force
necessary in each Department, the rates of
compensation, and such rules and regula-
tions as may be required to increase the
efficiency of the service. The resolution
was adopted.
Mr.. MORRILL,, of Me-, from the COM
mittee on Appropriations, reported back
the pension appropriation bill, with amend
ments, reducing the amount appropriated
for invalid pensions from ten millions to
nine millions, and the appropriation for
other army pensions from thirteen mil
lions to ten millions; also, the Military
Academy appropriation bill, with a slight
amendment.
hlSE luITOuuCcu d Dlll W lHCOTpO-
rerate Southern Express Company. Re-
terred to committee on Commerce.
The Senate took up the bill in relation to
the Central Branch OF the Union Pacific
railroad: During the discussion which
Mr.. CORBETT said the debate had sat-
isfed him that the passage of the bill was
not required by any equitable obligations
of the Government TO the Central Branch
Company, and he withdrew his amend
ment, offered yesterday.
Mr.. CONKLIN then offered an amend
ment, in the nature OF substitute, pro-
Viding that nothing contained in the act of
July Sd, 1885, relating to the Eastern Di-
vision of the Union Pacific railroad shall
deprive the Central Branch from continu-
ing its road and telegraph lines from the
termination of the one hundred miles mem
toned in the act incorporating the com
pany, to connect with the Union Pacific
railroad, Eastern division, as branch of
that road, but requiring the con-
tinuation of the Central Bran CHI
road to be made to a point a
or near Fort Riley, in Kansas, upon the
same terms in all respects as are now pro-
vided by law for the construction of the
Eastern Division OF the Union Pacific rail-
road; ana providing further, that no sub
sidy shall be allowed to said Central Branch
Company for any greater length of road
than forty miles from the termination OF
the one hundred miles on which bonds are
already authorized to be issued.
Mr.. MORTON opposed the amendment,
and affirmed the equality of the bill.
After further discussion by Messrs. Ed
munds and Conkling, without acting on the
amendment, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The SPEAKER presented the petition
of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln for a pension,
which was referred to the Pension COM
mittee.
Mr.HEATON introduced bill to amend
the Sth section of the act of August 8, 1861,
to provide for increased revenue from inn
ports, &C., by suspending and abating the
collection of the uncollected portion of the
direct taxes made by that section upon the
States OF North Carolina, South Carolina,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and
Arkansas. Referred to committee on Ways
and Means.
Mr.. PEKHAM, from the committee on
Invalid Pensions, reported bill relating
to the operations of the pension law. The
first section provides that no pension, pay
or bounty, shall be paid to a widow, nom
resident in the United States, when she
has been living separate and apart from
her husband for five consecutive years
Immediately preceding his death without
receiving from him any support. The
second section deprives OF her pension the
woman who leads life of prostitution or
concubinage.
Mr.. INGERSOLL characterized it as an
insult to the widows of American soldiers.
The remaining fourteen sections relate to
the details of applications and proofs. etc.
After disposing of various amendments,
chiefly verbal, reported from commit'ee,
MIR. NIBI4ACK suggested that the bill
should be recommitted with instructions
to make the second section apply to male
pensioners as well as female pensioners.
Mr.. PERHAM declined to yield tor that
| motion.
Mr.. INGERSOLL desired to know the
pusport OF the second section.
The SPEAKER remarked that the Sec
ond section was not before the House, the
question being on the last amendment, re-
ported by Mr.. Perham.
Without disposing of the last amend
ment the morning hour expired and the
| bill went over till Tomorrow.
Mr.. LYNCH, of Maine, made speech in
favor OF his bill to provide for a general
resumption of specie payment. g.ls-
Mr.. BARNES, of New York, spoke on
| the same subject.
| Speeches were also made on the same
subject by MIR. SMITH, aud on the subject
Of the treaty power by MIR. LAWRENCE,
OF Ohio.
Adjourned.