Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-12-30
Summary of Congressional Proceedings

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SENATE 16th.-Wilson offered
resolution, which was adopted. looking TO the pro
rection OF public meetings in the District of Co um
bia; Thurman, resolution of iHquiry as to th,
designs of the United States In the Yerger case
which went over; Cooper introduced a Joint reso
Secretary of the Senate which was adopted aftel
exp anatlon by Cameron. in which he said the ac
counts of Forney had been fairly adjusted The
Georgia reconstruction bill was taken up, and dis
cussed at length, without coming to any definite
action.-Sherman introduced bill TO establish 2
Bureau OF Customs and Revenue; Sumner, a b,l
providir that the acts OF the several departments
shall not be called in question by the other depart
meuts, and fixing the limits of the judicial power
Rice bull to encourage the carrying of United
states mails to foreign countries in Amero steam
ships, and for the encouragement Of emigration
from Europe to the United Stat6s.
HOUSEHOLDS were introduced, to appor-
ton the represention of the several sttes for the
42d Congress; TO amend existing revenue laws; 70
banks -scofeld presented letters from Secretary
Of Navy asking authority to enlist 150O more me
for the Navy. Some father amendments 70 the
Census bill were disposed of and the bill passed
Allison Introduced bill to fx the number of mem
bers in the House of Representatives Brooks re-
ported bill to furnish, at government expense, ar
uhctal limbs and other supports. to honoraby dis
charged soldiers during lire. Ordered printed "A
message was received from the President decli n
ing to furnish correspondence on Cuban
affairs as asked BY resolution
OF the House. House went into Committee Of the
Whole on the Presidents message MUNGER, (dem
OF Ohio, made speech crtici>ing the financial pol
Icy OF the government. snd advocating repudistio
Of the debt. He was followed by Brooks o. New
York. Ksrr. of Indiana, Siocum of New york, RAN
dali OF nsylvania and others-al democrat
in sharp rebske. declaring that the National debt
never can be, and never will be, repudiated. Gar
Held then offered resolution declaring that a pro-
position for reputation, direct ind rect was dis
honorable, and that the House acts is seal of con.
demnation upon it, withouJ distin ron ofpartv-
The resolution was passed by only one dissenting
vote-A message was received from the President,
announcing the ratification of the 18th amendment
by Alabama.
SENATE Dec. I7th-The bill relative to
telegraphic communication with foreign countries
was taken up. Il prescribes the terms on which
trans oceanic cables shall be permitted to land in
the United States. Some discuss on took place as
to the constitutional right of the general govern
ment 10 supervise the question, i'll which Sumner
and Sherman were the chiei dispuiants. Bills were
introduced. TO abolish the frankinR privilege, and
TO provide for reduc ION OF army oficers-The
Georgia reconstruction bill was taken up which oc-
cupied the remainder of the afternoon and even
Ing session, the discussion turning chiefly on
Morton's amendment requiring the raiiA cation of
the 18th amendment before senator's and Repre-
sentatives are admitted At late hour q vote was
reached, and the amendment agreed to-yeas ss,
nays 10. An amendment, by Howard, was agreed
to. by which persons who aided he rebellion woulG
be excluded from seats In the Legislature of Geor-
gia, except such as were forced into the service
- II
ed till Monday.
House not in session.
SENATE Dec. 20th.-Schurz introduced
bill to reform the civil service, providing for a
board to examine all applicants tor Office. aud for
year of probation. Referred -Trumbull in fro.
duced Joint resolution declaring virginia entitled
to representation in Congress; Pomeroy to charter
sn American and Holland cable company: Sumner
resolution asking the President for Cuban cor
respondence; also bill to provide for the adjust
ment of claims of American citizens for spolations
committed by the French prior to ls6l.-Morton
reported favorably the bill repeating the duties
ON canned and preserved fish.
House Bills and resolutions were intro.
duced by Bingh am granting pensions TO surviving
soldiers and widows of the war Of 1872; by vii
hams relative to the power of Congress to regulate
tariffs by rail on roads extending through two or
more states; by Hay to distribute the number and
rank OF government employees among The several
districts AMI territories also to require sgricutu
raj societies to take out fair censes by Burdett to
regulate labor contracts with immigran 8; by
Loughridge t. provide for payment of bounties to
soldiers who we're discharged for sickness
contracted in line of duty; BY Cobb to grant GER
tain islands to Wisconsin as swamp lands; by Cox,
resolution setting forth the necessity of inme-
dat return TO specie paymen s; by Moore, 10
further legi>lation to suppress pol gsmy in Utah;
adopted; by Qetz. instruc;ing P. o. Committee to
incorporate In bill for aboishing the franking
privilege provision allowing newspapers TO be
sent TO actual subscribers free Of postage by Wood
ard sskin2 the President If any citizens were in
military custody. and asking information concern
ing them; Washburn of Wis, from Committee On
Appropriations reported bill spDropriating no..
900 for Improving Des Moines Rapids on the Mis-
stssippi River. ed--The House refused by
vote Of iOe t. 63. to suspend the rules to acmit
joint resolution declaring Virginia entitled to repre-
sentaton.-rhe Georgia bill was taken up, aud q
lengthy debate followed. but no vote was reached,
when, at ii 80 the House adjourned.
SENATE-Dec. 21st.-Cragin reported an
amendment TO the bill for enfor, ing the law against
equal distribution of national banking capitalize
census bill was taken up, and, after discussion,
joint resolution suspending all existing laws relative
TO taking the censns until February LIST, 1870,
passed. After considerable discussion on the ocean
telegraph bill, ii was committed the Commit
tee On Foreign Relations.-A joint reso oution
taken up and passed, reimbursing Of steani-
boats and other vessels Ia loyal states taken by the
government during the war. The amount spilled
for under the bill was s37s. coo.
HoUsR-Consideration OF the Georgia
bill was continued, and after a sharp debate In
which Bingham of Ohio. frtp) spoke against, and
Butler In its favcr, the bill psssea-yeas 12i, rays
81. 6l.-Bingham and Farnsworth (reps voting IN the
recess OF Congress from the 5th TO 10th OF January
was agreed to--A resolution was passed after some
opposition authorizing the President &C Ike such
preparations for the reception OF the req aims Of
George Pesbody as his deeds meried, and com
mensurate with the justice and mzgnanimity OF Q
great nation.-Logsn offered joint resolution do
nafing cannon for the erection of an equestrian
statue Of bronze OF Gen. Grant, to be placed the
south terrace of the Treasury. Passed-Mungen
introduced Ct olution allowing retired army and
navy officers TO hold civil Offices.