Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-02-10
COHGREssIoEAL.

SENATE, Thursday, Feb. 3.-Mr.
Sherman reported bill authorizing the
funding and consolidation of the national
debt, to extend banking facilities. and
establish specie payments. 1t provides
for the issue of three classes of bonds,
S4OO, ,OO0, 900 each; first, 10 and 80 years, 5
per cent; second, Is and 20 years, Al per
cent; third. 20 and 60 years, pei cent.
1t also provides for setting aside yearly
$50, 600 900 of custom receipts to pay the
interest on the public debt and for a
sinking fund to reduce the debt. The
bonds are nOn-taxable, principal and
interest payable in coin. They can be
in London, Paris, Frankfort and Am
sterdam, as we'll as in the United States.
If the Secretary of the Treasury deems
it advisable he may issue more than
S4OO, 600, 600 of the 4 per cents, provided
the debt be not increased. National
Banks must deposit these bonds in the
Treasury as security for their notes in
place of those now deposited. A mem
orial of the indianapolis bar for an in
crease in the pay of the District Judges
of that State was referred. Resolutions
of inquiry were passed relative to the
violation of the public peace in some
parts of the South, and also as to abOl-
ishing one port of delivery. The bill to
transfer appropriations from one bureau
to another in the Navy Department,
was taken up and discussed. 1t was
amended by adding "the wages paid tine
employees shall be at no higherrate than
that paid by private citizens in the re-
spective localities" The bill was laid
aside to permit Mr.. Carpenter to address
the Senate on neutrality of the United
States; and after some little talk on this
point the Senate went into executive
session, and then adjourned.
HoUSE.-Bills were introduced amend
ing the Homestead act, and to bring
into general use the metre system of
weights and measures. The Utah bill
was reported and recommitted. 1t pro-
vides that no Mormon shall hold office
of any kind, or serve as juror, and
polygamy is to be punished by fine and
Imprisonment, while consanguineous
marriages are void, and punishable with
twenty years imprisonment. A resolu-
tion for a pei. capita. tax on dogs of two
dollars was referred A bill was passed
granting pensions to widows and chill
dren of soldiers enlisting for less than
one year, and were killed or died in the
service. The Tax bill WAS made the
special order for March 1st. Bills were
introduced granting aid to railroad
from Mobile to Louisiana, and to the
Minnesota & Missouri River Railroad.
The resolution OfinQuiry as to American
citizens in British prisons was discussed
and laid over. A bill to admit Missis-
sippi on the same terms as Virginia was
passed. a substitute for unconditional
admission having been rejected. The
bill to supply deficiencies in the Navy
Department was passed, after being so
amended that the $3,G00.000 was cut
down to 81 100000. This bill gave rise
to considerable discussion, in which the
Navy Department was rather roughly
handled. Adjourned.
SENATE, Friday, Feb. 4.-The Senate
passed the bill authorizing the Secretary
of the Treasury to withhold moneys due
to any States that may be in default for
interest on bonds held in trust by the
United States. The bill abOlishing the
franking privilege was called up and de-
bated until the expiration Ofthe morning
hour, when it was laid aside. After the
introduction of numaer of bills, and
the transaction of miscellaneous busi-
ness of no general Importance, the SEN
etc adjourned till Monday.
HoUsE.-A resolution was adopted in
the House directing inquiry into the
charges that members were in the habit
of selling their influence to procure ap-
pointmeI is to cadetships. A number OF
private bills were passed. The House
took up and passed the bill for the tenn
perary relief of the poor of Washington.
A number of bills were introduced and
reported, and the House adjourned.
Saturday, Feb. 5.-The Senate not in
session.
HoUsE.-The House met for general
discussion Loughride in the chair.
About thirty members were present.
Sargent made a speech in vindication oil
a remark of his in a recent discussion OH
the general disloyalty of the Democratic
party. Packard, of Indiana, in support
of the policy of the Republican party
Sheldon, ofLouisiana, on finance; Tyner
on the abolition of the franking privi-
Iege; Biggs on general politics, and Law
renee on the mode of paying pensions.
Adjourned.
SENATE, Monday, Feb. 7.-Mr. Nor
ton presented the resolutions of the
Georgia Legislature, accepting the con-
ditions of readmission imposed by
Congress; also, ratifying the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments. Mr.
Edmunds, from the Committee on Pen
sions, reported adversely to the petitions
A number OF bills and resolutions were
introduced. The bill to relieve Sena-
tors and members from the importuni-
ties of:office- seekers, was taken up and
debated till the expiration of the NOR
ming hour, when it gave way to inc
Census Bill. Debate on the latter Was
interrupted by the receipt of comrnu-
nication from the House announcing
the death of Representative Hoag. AT
ter addresses by Senators Sherman and
Thurman, and the adoption of resolu-
tions of respect for the memory OF the
deceased, the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-A large number of bills and
resolutions were introduced IN the
House. The resolutions introduced last
week by Mr.. Marshal, declaring that the
authority does not exist in Congress to
levy taxes or duties for any other pur-
pose than the collection of a revenue.
was tabled, on motion of Mr.. Kelsey, on
a call of the yeas and nays, by So to a..
A motion to reconsider was lost by 81 TO
so. Mr.. Morgan announced the death
of Mr. Hoag, and moved the customary
resolutions. Addresses were made by
Messrs. Morgan, Bingham and Wood
ward, and the House adjourned.
Webster on Byron.
The following extract from a letter
from Daniel Webster addressed to Mr..
George Ticnor, dated Washington,
April s, 1880, Possesses interest in con-
,aotiop with q raeant poptrOypray