The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-21
coNGREssIoNAL..
1Llh CONagEsg = TnIRb sEssI0y.
sENATE.-...w .wAsHrEoros. January %

Petitions favorlng woman snhragt
were referred TO the Committee on the
Judiciary.
A remonstranee against tile pro.
posed amendment to the Bankrupt
Law was referred to the judiciary
Committee. - roc
Howe presented the remonstrarics
of the Cham ber Of Commerce Of Md
waukee against the further extension
of certain parts of the bankrupt law,
and the resolutions Of some body
asking the appointment of Com
missioner to locate the canal above
the Falls OF Niagara. Referred.
Yhayer introduced a bill granting
land IN aid of the construction of a
railroad from Sioux City, Iowa, to
Columbus, Nebraska. Referred 70
Committee on Public Lands. 1t
grants ten alternate, sections per mile
on each side of the line. ear
Robertson introduced bill to ex-
tend the jurisdiction of the Court of
Claims to the claims of citizens against
the United States for an appropria-
ton for the destruction of their pro-
perty by the army engaged in the sup
preston Of the rebellion. Referred
to the Committee on Judiciary.
Wilson introduced a bill TO provide
for the reduction of the military
force of The. United States and for
other purposes. Referred to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. 1t pro-
yides for the mastering out of some
officers of minor grade. for the abOli
ton of drills and parades, and other
unnecessary work on the Sabbath,
and gives tho privates tho benefitLOf
the provision as to the time of trial
which now applies to. oticerss geg
Wilson also introduced a bin which
had some reference to recognizing
the General officers. of the army. +, Il
retains the Gen raj at the same pag,
aud provides for Lieut.. General, at
reduced pay, abolishes the grade of
Brigadier General. except where held
by chiefs of stats of staff depart.
ments, aad the chielssof staff Of the
General of the army, and provides
that in time Ofawar brIgades shall be
commanded by Colonels selecteds =
After discussion as to the order OF
business the Senate refused, by vote
of 32 nays TO % yeas, to take up Mr.
Edmunds' resolution relative to- the
public debt, and bys25 nays and 70
yeas took up Sherman's Air Line
Railroad bill.
Mr., Nhyte spoke at length in oppo-
sition to it. : ha
Mr.. Pomeroy moved to 60 into exc
cutIve session. f--- .s .-ssT efs = wes
Messrs. Sumner and Sherman op
posed the motion. ar
The yeas and nays were ordered and
the motion clrried. So the Senate at
3 o'clock went into executive session.
Adjourned at 4:4O P. NJ.
HOUSE. " AsH H1NoToN. Jan. 90
Mr.. Judd introduced bill 10 ena-I
Bile the City of Chicago ta enlarge its
harboT Referred to the Committee
on Commerce.
Mr.. Cuilom introduced a bin for the
relief of the States entitled to swamp
land indemnity. Referred to the Com
mittee on Public Lands.
On motion OF Mr. Washburne, of
Illinois, the Secretary of the Treas
ury was directed to communicate all
the facts, estimates, Sc. connected
with the building of tho Marine Hos
pital at Ch:cagb.
Sehenek introduced bill to
strengthen the public credit, aud re-
lating to contracts FOR the payment of
coin. Referred 10 the Committee on
Ways and Means
The bill reads as follows:
SECTION l. BE u eRactett dc That
the purpose OF the Government to
discharge all just obligations to pub
lie creditors, and 10 settle conflicting
questions and interpretation of laws
by which such obligations have been
contracted, 1t Is hereby provided and
declared that the faith of the United
States is soIemnly pledged to the pay
ment In coiu, or its equivalent, of all
Understanding Obligations of the
United States, except In cases where
the law authorizing the issue Of such
obligations has expressly provided
that the same may be paid In lawful
money or. other currency than gold or
silver: PfoUiied, bolceDer, that before
any of the said interest bearing debts
not already due shall mature, or be
paid before maturity, the obligations
not bearing interest, known as United
States notes, shall be made convert
ibIe into coin at the option of the
holder. Ess "a .ss
SEC 2 ARd be az further enacted,
That any contract hereafter made
specially papable in coin, aud the
consideration of which may be loan
of coin or n sale of property or the
rendering oil labor or service OF any
kind, the price of which, as carried
L. al I,oa,1 4
justed on the basis of the coin value
thereof atthe time Of such sale or OF
the rendering of such service or labor,
shall be legal and valid, and may be
enforced according to its tenure, and
on the trial of suit brought for the
enforcement of any such contract,
proof of the real Consideration may
be given.
Farnsworth, Chairman of the. Post
Office Committee, reported bill te
restrict the ffanking privilege as fol-
lows:
Be 10 enacted, dc. That it shall moi
be lawful for any officer of the Gov
ernment, member Of Congress or other
persons entitled by law to the frankine
privilege, to exercise said privilege
otherwise than by his or her written
autograph signed npon the matter
| franked: and all letters or other mail
matter not TINS franked by the writ
ten signature of person entitled by
law to exercise such privilege, shall
be charged with she rates Of postage
which arc now. or may be, established
by law.
SEC. 2. Aad be 1t further enacted
That from and after the first day oil
April next. no officer Of the Govern.
Lment, Member Of Congress, or other
person entitled by law to the frankins
privilege. shall by reason of such