Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL.

rily. Mr.. Sherman stated that the Committee
on Finance had carefully considered the subject
of re organizing the Treasury Department and
had come to the conclusion that no bill could be
matured this session which would meet the
views Of all, and therefore reported resolution
providing for the appointment Of Joint CONS
mittee- OF the two Houses at the next Congress
to take the whole subject of re organizing the
civil service into consideration The resolution
was adopted. The Central Pacific Railroad bill
was taken up. A long discussion ensued. in
the course of which Mr.. Conkling offered an
amendment to the bill, upon which some add
tional debate took place. Without acting on
the amendment, the Senate, at 4 20 2. M. ad.
journed. m 9a 943 81 500
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, bill in re-
lation to the operations of the Pension laws was
reported from the Committee on Pensions and
discussed until the expiration of the morning
hour. Mr. Lynch bill for gradual resump-
ton of specie payments was then taken up and
he delivered long speech in favor oft. Several
other members delivered addresses upon the
bill, after which the House adjourned.
SENATE Wednesday, JAN 27th.-A nuns
Der of memorials asking female suffrage, &C.,
&C., were presented. The Judiciary Commit.
tee reported adversely On the resolution to paw
the Southern Senators from the commence
ment of the Fortieth Congress The same
Committee reported bill to punish the crime
amendment. Bills were also introduced to al
low civilized Indians to become citizens of the
United States, and to prevent the collection of
illegal imposts under color of State authority.
The Funding bill reported some days ago by
the Committee on Finance was taken up and
Mr.. Sherman delivered speech in favor of it.
which will be found in full in another column
Mr.. McCreery also addressed the House on the
BILL 1t was then laid aside and the Central
Pacific Railroad bill was taken up After a.
short discussion vote was taken on the BILL
and it was rejectcd-yeas %, nays 81. The
Senate then adjourned. a ew
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Mr. Lynch S
bill for a gradual resumption of specie pay
ments was taken up, after some discussion, was
laid aside to be discussed during evening ses-
sions Of the House. A number of pension bills
were disposed Of after which the Joint resolu-
ton proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
ton to provide for universal suffrage was taken
up, and MIR. Eldridge made speech against
the bill. 1t was then postponed until this
evening. The Legislative, Executive and Ju-
dicial appropriation bill was taken up by the
House, in Committee Of the Whole, and a
number of amendments were adopted The
committee then rose, and the House took re-
cess until seven o'clock P NJ
Etening Session The evening session in the
House was devoted to general debate
SENATE Thursday, Jan. 2Sth.-A number
of bills, memo. ials and communications we're
introduced and disposed of. Among them was
a bill offered by Mr.. Rice to construct a nation
al line of telegraph under control of the Post
Office Department between Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. A
motion was entered to reconsider the vote by
which the Central Branch Union Pacific Rail
road bill was rejected. 1t was determined af.
ter considerable discussion that the McGharra-
gan bill should be taken up in the Senate, and
a message was adopted asking the return ofthe
papers from the House. TIE amendment to
the Constitution providing for universal suf-
frage was taken up. A long discussion ensued,
during which several amendments were offered
and afterwards Withdrawn. The Senate final
ly went into executive session without acting
on the bill, and at its close adjourned
House OF REPREsENTATIvE Els Mr. Paine,
Of Wisconsin, from Committee on Reconstruc-
ton, reported preamble and resolution declar-
ing that Georgia had not fully complied with
the terms of the reconstruction act had exclu
ded colored members of Legislature, &C., and
directing the Committee on Reconstruction to
inquire whether any further legislation is nee
essary by the Fortieth Congress ip relation to
the right of members from Georgia TO seats in
the House; The resolution was adopted yeas
l27, nays 81. Mr.. Dawes, Chairman of the
Committee on Election, called up tbs contested
election case from Georgia The committee re-
ported that Mr. Chrystie received the highest
number Of votes in the sixty districts, but that
he is not entitled to take the oath in conse-
quence of disloyaty. They also report that
Mr. Whitby, contestant, is not entitled, be
cause he did not receive the highest humber of
votes. After considerable discussion the whole
subject was postponed until the third Tuesday
in February. The discussion of the Pension
bill was resumed and continued until the expi
ration of the morning hour. The Indian APP
preparation bill was considered in Committee of
the Whole but no action of Importance taken.
The House then took recess until 7. 80 p. NJ.
Erening .Sessaoa.-Ihe evening session was
devoted to debate ON the amendment offered by
Mr.. BoutweN to the constitutional amendment
providing for universal suffrage.
SFNATE.-F Friday, Jan. 29th-A memorial
other Professors Of Princeton College, asking
an appropriation for the purpQse of taking OBJ
servations cf the total eclipse Of the sun, which
will occur on the Fth Of next August The Nc
Garrahan bill was taken up, and after a brief
discussion was referred to the Committee on
Private Land Claims. A petition was presents
ed by Mr.. Vickers. asking the location of a
lighthouse at Love Point, at the mouth OF the
Chester river, in Maryland, and to deepen the
harbor of Queenstown. 1t was referred to the
Committee on Commerce. The Committee on
Appropriations reported fayorably on the joint
resolution granting pension to Mrs Lincoln.
The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation
bill was reported from the Committee on APP
preparations with the provision for the conso-
ldatlon OF Central and South American Mis-
ment providing for universal suffrage was taken
up, and after considerable discussion was laid
aside informally. The bill to reduce the mills
tary forces was Ia ken up, amended and passed.
A select committee, was ordered to consider
what Legislation is necessary liz reference to ia
king the next census The Senate then ad
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. The POST
office Appropriation bill vas made the special
order for Tuesday next The Committee on
Appropriations reported bill appropriatng
$54, 766 tor payment of salaries OF officers OF the
Patent Office, and for the contingent fund of
the same. A bill was passed established Po-
lice Court In the district of Columbia 4 res
olution was passed ordering the arrest of Henry
johnson, who refused to appear before the COM
mittec investigating the election frauds in New
York. The vote by which the constitutional
amendment providing for universal suffrage
had been referred to the Committee on the Ju
dietary vas reeonsidered aftera long discussion,
and the amendment was again before the
House. Mr. Boutwell, offered ap amendment
that no property Or educational qualification
shall ever be required of any voter, which was
rejected. Other amendments we're offered and
pending their consideration the House adjourn
ed.
The Etov Law