Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-19
CONGR ESSIONAL.
Conclusion Of Yesterday. Pr.ceedi.s.


S1HArK.-After our report closed
Inc Indian Appropriation bill was taken ap.
large number OF amendments were agreedtb,
and the Senate, at O'Clock p. m, went into
Executive eession, and then took recess.
At the evening session, the Chair presented
the credentials Of his successor, the Hon. Alien
g. Thurman, Of Ohio, which was read and
Mr. Ramsey called up House bill to restrict
and regulate the Thanking privilege, and after
discussion the bill was passed.
Mr. Ramsey then called up the Senate bill to
abolish the frauking privilege absolutely, on
and after the lst of July, 1869.
MIR. Copkling moved as substitute for the
bill the following, which was adopted "That
ali acts and parts OF acts comforting the frank.
ing privilege on members Of sthe Senate and
House Of Represen tativ be and the same are
heveby repealed" .f
Mr.. Nye made a long and humorous speech
in opposition to the bill, and declared there
would be no economy in abolishiLg the frank
ing privilege, but really great loss 70 the pub.
cost. There was not petition on the table
asking for the abolition Of the privilege. They
paid the cost, and If they old not object to 1t no
one else had a right to.
Mr.. Upton said there was more gas about this
Than hat which illuminated this chamber to.
night; he gave his services to the government
ana be meant that the government should pay
his postage
Finally the bill was rejected, as follows
Ayes-Messrs. Anthony, COnkling, Corbett,
Ferry, Howe. McCreery, Morgan, Morrill, of
.
Tr1mbull, Wade, Whyte, Wiley, and Wilson
-l6.
Nays-Messrs Cole, Fessenden, Fowler, Har
ris, Howard, kellogg, Mcdonald, Nye, Osborn,
Rice, Robertson. Sawyer, Spencer, Stewart,
Sumner, Upton, welcn and WiIIisms-ls
Messrs. Grimes, Hendricks aud Patterson OF
the affirmative, paired of with Messrs. Gamer
ON. Sprague, and Patterson of Tennessee, who
would have voted In the negative.
After some other unimportant business, the
Senate, at IL p. m. adjourned.
HogsR--Afrer our report closed
The bill amendatory OF the National Banking
act was passed by vote OF 1O6 yeas TO II nays.
Tine yeas and nays were ordered on the me-
ton to lay ON the table and reconsider, and the
vote resuited-yeas 90, nays 20.
Mr.. Pettis (Pa.) called up the New Mexico
contested election case, and pending its consid-
GRAFTON the House took recess.
At tie evening session, the House met in
Committee of the Whole-Mr. Ferry IN the
chair-on the army appropriation bill.
A vote was then taken upon the amendment
of Mr.. Dodge Of Iowa, and it was adopted II
is as follows: That the President OF the United
States is authorized to make the following re-
auctions and consultations in the army, as the
benefit OF the service may require: The consoli-
dation OF the regiments of infantry to thirty the
consolidation of the artillery CORPS and lord
nance department; the consolidation Of the
quartermasters, subsistence and pay depart
ments, and such reduction in the other staff de.
partments as the reduced strength OF the army
NAV require. No appointment shall be made
GERS required by the consolidation and reduc-
ton herein authorized is reached.
Mr.. Butler Mass moved to amend by
adding his amendment, which was agreed to by
one majority.
The amendment to the bill as amended was
then adopted by vote of So TO so.
After some formal amendments had been pro-
posed and agreed to, the COMMITTEES rose and
reported the bill to the House.
Mr. Blaine Me- offered the following amend
ment TO the bill:
'And be IL further enacted, That the military
force be reduced To twenty regiments OF infan-
try, five regiments of cavalry, aud FIVE regi-
ments of artillery. No new commission shall
be issued in any regiment, and the Secretary of
War is hereby directed to consolidate regiments
as rapidly as the req uIrements of the service
and the reduction in the number OF Off GERS will
permit, until the aforesaid minimum is
reached
''Bed further eRGe ted, That until Otherwise di-
recte d by law, there shall be no new appoint
ments in the departments of the Paymaster
General, Adjutant General, Inspector General,
Quartermaster's department Commissary,
Engineer, and Medical Departments"
MIR. Blaine said he did not intend TO have a
vote Knight, but he would move the previous
question on the bill and pending amendments
The previous question was seconded after
which the House adjourned.