Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-28
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
7oRTY- FIRST CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION.

FORTY FIRST CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION.
SENATE Monday, Dec. 10th. The report
Of Special Commissioner David A. Wells, upon
the Internal Revenue, was read to the Senate.
A bill was passed to annul the leasing of the
land on which the Custom House stands in San
Francisco. The Committee on Finance report
ed favorably on the bill to exempt canned fish
from duties. The Judiciary Committee report
ed joint resolution declaring that the State of
Virginia IS entitled to representation in Con-
gress A bill was introduced regulating the
civil service of the United States. Petitions of
certain citizens OF Erie county and of Buffalo,
New York, were presented requesting tho
abolition Of duties on coal A bill to charter
an American and Holland Ocean Gable Com
pany was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations. A short executive session was held.
The Census bill was read and referred to the
Committee on Revision of the Laws. The Sen
ate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, number
of bills and resolutions for reference only were
introduced and disposed of temporarily. Among
them was one to establish post route in Calvert
county, Maryland, which was referred to the
Committee on Postofices and Postroads. Mr..
Cox's bill, to regulate the United States cur
rency, was discussed until the expiration of the
morning hour A bill to regulate the franking
privilege was introduced by Mr. Getz and re-
ferred to the Committee on Postofices and
Postroads. A number of new bills and resolu-
tions were introduced and appropriately referr-
ed. A resolution for the admission of Virginia
was not allowed to be introduced, as the Recon
struction Committee had postponed the con-
sideration Of that subject until after the holi-
days. The Georgia Reconstruction bill, as
passed by the Senate, was called up, and Mr.
Butler made characteristic bullying PROPOSE
ton that the vote on it should be taken at
o'clock ?. NJ, but after some clustering modi-
fed his resolution so as to provide that vote
shall be taken at 3 o'clock P M. tomorrow
The bill was then discussed in Committee of the
Whole until 4;40 P. NJ, when a recess until
7:3O p. M. was taken.
Euening Session.-The House met at 7:3O P
NJ. The consideration of the Georgia Recon
struction bill In Committee of the Whole was
resumed, and several speeches were made for
and against it, after which the House adjourn
ed.
SENATE. Tuesday, Dec. 2lst Several bills
of no general interest were disposed of tenporari-
ly. The Census bill, as passed by the House.
was reported from the Committee on Revision
of the Rules and after considerable discussion
was recommitted, and resolution suspendi0g
all laws relating to the taking of the census un-
til February 1st, 1870, was adopted. A bill to
provide for the more equal distribution of the
National banking capital, was referred to the
Finance Committee. An unsuccessful effort was
made to get the bill for the admission of Vir-
ginia before the Senate. The bill relating to
tclegraphic communication between the United
States and foreign countries was after long
debate, recommitted, with the pending amend
A bill was passed to reimburse loyal owners
of steamboats, taken for Government USE The
Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPR A deficiency
appropriation bill was reported and passed =
The discussion of the Georgia Reconstruction
bill was resumed, and number of members
made speeches in opposition to it, denouncing
the measure as an Infamous attempt to force
the State to adopt the Fifteenth Amendment
Mr.. Butler closed the debate with one of his
characteristic speeches in favor of the BILL The
vote was then taken and the bill passed-yeas
III, nays 81. A joint resolution was passed ex-
tending the recess Of Congress until the 10th of
January. The resolutions providing for ap-
proprlate honors to the remains of Mr.. Pea
body, on their arrival in this country, was
taken up and passed after some opposition from
Mr. Sehenck, who objected on the score CT
economy. A bill was passed donating cannon
for statue Of General Grant. A bill allowing
officers of the army and navy on the retired list
to hold civil Offices was referred to the Commit
tee on Military Affairs The Housa then ad-
journed
SENATE. ednesday, Dec. 22-Mr Sum-
ner introduced q bill to carry out the Recon-
struction acts in the State of Virginia, and to
secure equality before the law, and said he
should, at he proper time, move it as a sub
stitute for the bill reported by the judiciary
Committee A bill to partially supply de-
fn,4 ho JQTO .,aC-a1 A
solution was adopted instructing the Commit
tee on Military Affairs to inquire into the ex-
pediency of reporting bill to increase the num-
Der Of Lieutenant Generals to three, and reduce
the number of Major Generals to three A
was passed demanding that the AT
torney General inform the Senate whether he
has given any opinion that it is necessary to
consult the wishes of the late ''rebellious State
Legislatures; whether the National cemeteries,
In which loyal soldiers are buried, shall be un.
disturbed. A bill regulating emigration to the
United States was referred to the Committee
on Commerce. The House resolution extend
ing the recess OF Congress of January 10th,
1870, was agree to. The House resolutions
providing for appropriate honors to the late
George Peabody were adopted The cores
pondence relating to the Alabama claims was
laid before the Senate. The bill providing for
a National Industrial Exhibition at Washing.
ton in 1871 was discussed and several amend
ments were adopted. Pending discussion, the
Senate went into executive session, and at its
close adjourned until the 10th of January next.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.-S bills
of no general interest were introduced and re-
ferred to committees. The House then went
into Committee OF the Whole for general de-
bate, and a number of speeches were made on
various subjects The House then adjourned
until the 10th of January, 1870