Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-02-01
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS,
FORTY-FIRsT CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION.

y
SENATE-Tuesday, JAN 18th Memorials
asking the abolition Of the franking privilege
were presented and referred. The Committee
on Finance reported substitute for the House
bill relating to the income tax The substitute
continues the tax during the year 1870, and no
longer, and provides that unpaid taxes shall be
colectedin 1871. The bill relating to the seizure
of distilled spirits in California was discussed
until the expiration of the morning hour, when
it was laid aside, and the bill providing for an
| increase of the national currency and banking
circulation was taken up Speeches we're made
on the bill by Messrs. Fenton, Morton and
others. Pending discussion, the Senate adjourn
ed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Several bills
of no general interest were introduced and dis
| posed of. Communications were received from
the Secretary Of War in relation to DEFICIENCIES
and appropriations for the War Department for
1871. The Secretary of the Navy states, in an
swer to House resolution, that the expenses
Of the Darien Canal expedition will be paid out
OF special appropriation of forty Thousand dol
lars, made IN 1866. The League Island bill
was discussed, but no action taken. The con-
tested ELECTION Ct case Of Wallace vs.: Simpson
from the Fourth South Carolina District was
taken up. The majority report declares Wal
lace elected, but, after some discussion, the
House adopted a minority report, as an amt nd
| ment declaring neither party elected. Pend
ing final vote the whole matter was laid on
| the table The House then took recess until
| 7:30 o'clock P NJ.
Ereniag Session. The evening session was
devoted to general debate
SENATE-W ednesday, Jan 26th-Mr Jas
B. Howell, elected by the Iowa Legislature to
| ill the unex pired term of Hon j. W. Grimes,
appeared and took his seat Several memorials
and bills were introduced and disposed of tenn
porarily. resolution was passed ordering all
| memorials for the abolition of the franking
privilege to be handed to the Secretary of the
Senate and referred to the Committee ON Post
Offices. The Currency bill was taken up. A
number Of speeches were made and several
amendments were offered, but no action was
taken on the bill. Pending discussion, the SEN
ate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The Com
mittee on Mines was directed to inquire into
the causes of the Ayondae disaster The Secre-
tary of the Treasury was requested to COM
munlcate to the House what amount ofinterest
the Government has paid to the Pacific Rail-
| roads, and the amount paid by said roads The
League Island bill was taken up, and, after con-
siderable discussion, was laid on the table by a
vote of 81 to 81. A number of petitions from
citizens of Maryland asking the abolition of the
ranking privilege were presented, and referred
to the Committee on Postoficcs. The Legisla
tive, Executive and judicial Appropriation bill
was taken up Mr. Butler succeeded in getting
hearing, and delivered his speech in oppcs-
ton to that recently made by Mr.. Dawes on the
extravaganza Of the present Administration,
which, he maintained. was incorrect in its state
ments, and misrepresentation of the Executive
Departments. In it he virtually read Mr.. Dawes
out Of the Republican party Mr. Dawes re-
piled briefly. He defended the position already
taken by him, and said that if his company was
not wanted in the Republican ranks, he could
leave now as well as any other time, but he pre-
ferred to have more reliable authority on that
point than Mr. Butler, and would submit to be
judged by his constituents The House then
adjourned.
SENATE Thursday, JAM 9th. Several me-
MORALS and bills were introduced and disposed
OF. The joint resolutions relating to rheseizure
of distilled spirits in California were postponed
indefinitely. A bill was passed making ON aha,
Nebraska, port of delivery. Mr. John f
Lewis, Senator elect from Virginia, appeared
and took the oath of Office. The discussion of
the National Currency bill was resumed, and
| severed speeches were made upon it. Pending
debate, the Senate adjourned
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A bill to es-
tablsh steamship lines were introduced by Mr..
Washburn, and referred to a special committee
| on American shipping The Postmaster GEN
eral was directed to inform the House whether
there Is any information in his possession rela-
tive to the abstraction Of Postoffiee stamps from
the PoStofice at Havre de-Grace, Maryland, in
June, 1859. Several petitions Of citizens of
Mary land, asking the abolition of the franking
privilege, were introduced and referred. A bill
was passed to amend the Virginia Admission
bill SO as to provide that members of the Vir-
glnla State Government may take an affirmation
10 cases where scruples Of conscience prevent
them from taking the usual oath. The Com.
mlttee on Elections made report on the case
of the Representatives elect from the State of
Virginia The committee recommended that
r S. Aver, of the FIRST district; j. FL Platt,
Jr, Second; Charles H. Porter, Third: Robert
Ridgeway, Fifth; William Mines, Jr, Sixth,
and James K Gibson. Eighth, be sworn in
The cases of Booker, Mckenzie and Segar still
remain with the committee. Messrs Platt.
Ridgeway and Mines being present, advanced
and were sworn in. Objection was made to the
admission Of Mr.. Porter, but. after discussion,
it was overruled and he took the oath of Office
A bill was passed abolishing the ranking priv
ilege, to take effect on the first Of July The
consideration of the Legislative Appropriation
bill was resumed in Committee of the Whole,
and Mr.. Dawes made speech, in reply to MIR.
| Butler. At the close of Mr.. Dawes remarks.
| he committee rose. The Committee on Flee
llOI1S fepOfteU Ill laFOT VI OOFOue, III the con-
tested election case of Foster VS.. Covode. A
minority report, dissenting from the above, was
also made Bills for reduction of the army.
to amend the Eight-hour law, and to abolish
mileage, were introduced and disposed of tenn
porarily. The House then adjourned.
| SENATE-Friday, Jan. 2Sth.-Mr. J. W.
Johnson, Senator elect from Virginia, appeared
| and took his seat The House amendment to
the Virginia bill was agreed to, allowing persons
who object to taking oaths from religious
scruples to make affirmation under it. The
House bill abolishing the ranking privilege was
read twice, and referred to the Committee on
Postofices The West Point Appropriation bill
was reported from the Committee on Appropria-
| tons. The bill extending the time for the COM
| pletion of the lateral branch of the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad was reported from the
Committee on the District Of Columbia The
judiciary Committee was instructed to inquire
whether any additional legislation is necessary
in reference to the organization of the Provi-
| White Pistol Patent bill, with the President s
veto thereto, was taken up. Pending its dis
cassion the morning hour expired. and the bill
appropratipg thirty thousand dollars for the
relief of the poor of the District was taken up
ments were adopted. Without taking a vote
sion, and at its close adj ,urned until Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. 1t was order
ed that the session of the House tomorrow be
for debate only. Mr. James K Gibson Re
preventative elect from Virginia, appeared and
took his seat. A number of bills of no general
interest were introduced and referred to com
| p,ittens A hill was DasSad makino tho alootior