Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

The Senate on the 9Th adopted an Or.
der instructing the judiciary committee to
ascertain whether the Legislature of Geor
6 a, as at present constituted. is a legal
b'dy. The funding bill was made the Or
der of the day for Tuesday next. The
bill to admit Mississippi was reported from
the judiciary committee with substitute
which proposes to admit the State with
out conditions.
The House resumed the consideration
Of the Covodc-Foster contested election
case, from the twenty first district of
Pennsy Hania, and decided that Mr. Coyode
was entitled to the seat-yeas 11S, nays As.
The Legislative appropriation bill was de-
bated at length, and amended so as to fix
the salaries of sergeant alarms and door
keeper at 81. $40 each, prohibiting fees or
other emouments. A resolution was
agreed to asking information from the
President in relation to the recent attack
upon American citizens in Havana.
In the Senate, On the 10th the bill ap-
propriating $4,000. coo to supply deicien
cies for the naval service was amended and
passed After the transaction of other bu-
siness the House bill for the admission Of
Mississippi was called up. The question
pending was the amendment proposed by
the judiciary committee of the Senate to
strike out the proviso imposing conditions
of admission. A long debate ensued,
which continued up to the hour of ad-
journment
In the House, the bill in relation to the
imprisonment Of American citizens in
Great Britain was discussed. The bill
for the relief Of the poor of the District of
Columbia was amended so as to allow tie
Secretary of War to contract for supplies.
where it may be done at less cost than by
issuing rations, and agreed to. The con-
sidcration of the legislative appropriation
bill was then resumed. Quite an exciting
debate ensued.
In the Senate on the 11th, joint reso-
luton was introduced recognizing state
of war between Spain and Cuba, and de-
claring that the United States, although
sympathiziug with those struggling for
liberty, will maintain strict position of
neutrality. The resolution was referred to
the committee on foreign relations. The
bill from the House to abolish the Thanking
privilege was taken up and considered un-
til the expiration of the morning hour,
after which the bill to admit Mississippi
was considered, but no result was arrived
at. The Senate then adjourned until
Monday.
The House was engaged chiefly on the
Legislative appropriation bill. and after
some amendment, further business was
suspended, and eulogies were delivered
upon the late Hon. B. r. Hopkins. Rep
resentative from Wisconsin The House
adjourned until to day.
CHEAP PosTAGE.-Many papers through
cut the country are advocating the re-
suction of the rate of letter. postage from
three to two cents per half ounce. Mr..
Bingham's bill, introduced into the House
of Representatives on Monday, provides
for reduction of two cents per half
ounce, and one cent for each additional
Ealf ounce or fraction thereof. The bill
also reduces newspaper postage from two
cents to one cent per four ounces, and the
postage on drop and unsealed circular LETT
tiers from two cents TO one cent. At these
it is believed that there would be no con-
siderable, if any, decrease in the annual
revenues Of the Postofice Department.
The Senate was not in session on Sat
urday. Tn the House a bill was reported
to relieve provision dealers generally
from the payment of manufacturers taxes
imposed by the act of March 4th, 1868.
II vas referred. A bill was also introdu-
ced and referrad to pay a pension to Mr..
John Kits, revolutionary soldier, re-
siding in Baltimore. The House then,
in committee of the whole, took up the
legislative appropriation bill. It was
discussed at considerable length, and
several amendments proposed, but no final
vote taken.