The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-28
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
THE WORK BEFORE CONGRESS.

Every day increases the work, and decreases
the duration OF the Fortieth Congress. The
amount of legislation of last week is comprised
in two bills. each quite unmportant, tho first
being to allow registrars in bankruptcy 10
take testimony in the case of contested elec-
ton; the other authorizing the appropriation
of condemned ordnance to be reconstructed
into bronze monument of the late MIR. Lin
coin, to which complexion have the dollar sub
scriptions come at last. The Senate has
been debating tho railroad question in three
phases, the Airline bill, the Anti-Mo-
nopoly bill, the bill giving subsidies to
the central branch Of the Union Pacifi: Rail-
road. The mention Of these bills tells too what
lies before the Senate for the present week. The
prospect of any OF them passing into law is les'
sened when tho special orders, the Currency
bill and the new suffrage amendment, for
Monday and Thursday respectively, are taken
into consideration. The Senate, however, dis
plays very arbitrary temper, and has post
poned special orders and unfinished business
in g most querulous manner during the week
past Any certainty of consderins; any bill
cannot be counted upon, aud the last days OF
the session are relied upon to heap up and
rush through vast variety of bills.
PENSION TO MRS. LINCOLN.
The Committee on Pensions are understood
To be in favor of the bill of Senator Morton as
signing pension to Mrs. Mary Lincoln. widow
of the President. The amount has been fixed
OF $4,000 year. The President pro tenn OF the
Senate laid before that body on Monday the
tQrittpn
upon note paper with heavy mourning bor-
der:
To the Honorable Htce-Prestlent of the
Un,ked ToleS-SIR herewith most respect
fully present to the honorable Senate OF the
United States an application for pension.
am widow of President of the United States,
whose life was sacrificed in his country's SER
vice. THAI sad calamity has very greatly i'm
pared my health, and by the advice OF my
physicians have come over to Germany to try
the mineral waters, and daring tho winter to
90 to Italy. But my financial means do not
permit me to take advantage OF the urgent
advice given me, nor caI 1--we in style becom-
ing the widow OF the Chief Magistrate Of great
nation, although l live as economically as
can. In consideration OF the great services my
deeply lamented husband has rendered TO the
United States, and of the fearful loss have
sustained by his untimely death-his martyr
dom, may say-l respectfully submit to your
honorable body this petition. Hoping that
yearly pension may be granted me, so that
may have less pccuniary care, remain most
respectfully, MRS. a. LINCOLN,
Frankfort Germany.
The petition was referred to the Committee
on Pensions.
THE DANISH WEST INDIA PURCHASE.
Secretary Seward has submitted 10 the Sen
ate the correspondence in the negotiations for
the purchase by the United States or the
Danish West India Islands. Mr. Seward shows
that he made the proposition to purchase
those islands with the approval and authority
of President Lincoln. The first sum named
by the Danish Minister as an equivalent for
the islands was S25 900, but subsequently
his government recedcd considerably in their
demands, aud agreed to receive the amount
stipulated in the treaty.
NEW PosTAL-TELEGRAPH SCHEME.
An entirely new scheme for uniting he post
Office and telegraph has been introduced INTO
CONGRESS-, and referred to the proper COM
mlttee of the House. The bill empowers
company 10 construct and equip lines of tele-
graph between the Cities Of Boston, New York,
Phiiadelphia. Baltimore and Washington. 1t
provides that the charges shall not exceed one
cent per word between given points on these
lines. no matter what the distance may be;
That tue government shall have the exclusive
use of the lines when required for government
purposes, and may, through the Postofice
Department, purchase the lines after three
years cr successful operation. Tht Post
maeter-General is empowered to appoint di-
rector whose duties are defined in the bill. The
company is authorized to make an additional
charge of onc-half cent per word for the trans
mission of messages a. points one-aalf mile
from each central office, aud it is required
that to each message a three ccnt postage
stamp shall be affixed. 1t Is further p;oylded
that all general news sent over these lines by
authority oil the government Shall be !nime-
dialoy posted ON bulletin boards for thc bone-
fit OF the public.