Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-06
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE. Monday, March 29th.-Vice Pres
ldent Colfax having returned to Washington
presided. Several bills and resolutions were In
troduced and disposed of temporarily. Among
them was bill removing the political d!sablll-
ties Of Judge Alexander Rives, OF Virginia
Joint resolutions were passed dropping from
the rolls of the army certain officers absent with
out leave and continuing the present pay al
lowances Of enlisted men of the army until JuDe
both, 1870. A message was received from the
House announcing its on-concurrence In the
Senate amendments to the bill repeating the
Tenure Of Office act. A motion was made to
ask committee Of conference, and also mo-
ton to recede from the Senate amendments
A long discussion ensued. A vote was taken
on the motion to recede, and it was rejected
yeas 90 nays 81. The motion to refer the bill
to a conference committee was then adopted,
and Messrs. Trumbull, Edmunds and Grimes
were elected on the part of the Senate. The
Senate then went into executive session, and at
its close adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, "A number OF
bills and resolutions were introduced and refer
red to appropriate committees. A resolution
lnstructing the Committee On Ways and Means
to report bill relieving Coffee sugar, salt and
tobacco from all taxes, and imposing tax of
two and half per cent on United States bonds,
was laid ON the table by a vote of 1O4 to 49,
The bill to amend the judicial system Of the
United States was taken up. After a long dis
cussion, substitute for the Senate bill, repor-
| ted by the judiciary Committee, was adopted
yeas SO to nays so. The bill was then passed
| by vote of yeas 80 to nays SO. The House
then adjourned.
SENATE.-Tuesday March Both "A number
of bills were introduced and referred to commit
tees The Committee On Public Buildings was
instructed to inquire whether there is any build
ing in the District available as summer resi-
dence for the President The Committee on
Military Affairs reported joint resolution that
hereafter no bounties due soldiers or their heirs
shall be paid to any claim agent or any other
person whatsoever other than the parties them
selves The bill to amend the judicial system
of the United States was received from the
House with amendments, and referred to the
Judiciary Committee. The Supplementary
Currency bill was taken up and an amendment
adopted providing that in the redistribution of
the currency the mptroller shall first make
| acquisitions upon those banks having circula-
ton exceeding one million dollarsin States hay
ing excess Of circulation, withdrawing one-third
of their circulation In excess of one million dol
lars, and then proceeding pro rata with banks
having circulation exceeding one hundred
thousand dollars Mr.. Pool offered an amend
ment imposing tax Of three per cent. on all
|
by national banks A long discussion ensued.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Pool was re-
jected. The bill was finally passed. The Senate
then went into executive session, and at its close
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, bill was
passed providing for bridge across the Ohio
river at Paducah Also, bill for the coinage
of five cent pieces and other coins. The bill to
establish Provisional Government in Missis-
sippi was taken up and laid aside until after the
morning hour. The House agreed to the re-
quest of the Senate for committee Of con.
ference on the Tenure-of- Office bill, and Messrs
Butler, Bingham and Washburn of Wisconsin
were appointed on the part of the House. The
Committee on Elections reported that Mr.. Reed
a contestant from South Carolina, was ineligi
BILE. A minority report was also submitted ask
ing the removal of his political disabilities. A
motion to reconsider the vote referring the bill
in relation to the tax Oh tobacco and distilled
spirits to the Committee of Ways and Mean
was agreed to, and the House proceeded to thu
consideration Of the bill. It was finally passed
A concurrent resolution was adopted providing
for the adjournment Of Congress on the 9th O
April The House then adjourned.