Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-05-04

Congress.
In the Senate, Wednesday, April 9th, Mr.
Mcdonald from the Committee on Terrific
ries reported, with amendments, the bill
organizing the Territory of Oklahoma, and
consolidating the Indian tribes under new
territorial government. Mr.. Pratt addressed
the Senate in long speech, in favor of pay
ing the claims of Union men for pro perty
taken by the government during the war.
The House of Representatives was in COM
mittee on the tariff bill, and considered the
paragraphs on sheet and hoop iron.
The business in either House was Of but
slight Importance to the general public
In the Senate, Thursday, April 2S, Senator
Robertson introduced his General Amnesty
bill; the Florida contested seat was given TO
Mr.. Gilbert; the bill providing for the better
security of travellers on steamers was passed.
In the House, the bill establishing a De
partment of Justice was passed the subject
of ventilation was discussed the Tariff bill
was considered, the duty on railroad iron be-
ing reduced to sixty cents per one hundred
pounds.
The Senate, Friday April Goth. made some
progress with the regular calendar. passing
a score of pension and private bills. MIR.
Wilson introduced bill providing for the
selection of cadets for the military and naval
academies by competitive examination. The
bill, if passed, will open the cadetstips to
all the smart boys in the country.
In the House Mr.. Logan of Illinois, from
the Military Committee, reported adversely
10 a petition from citizens of New York for
the relief of Major General Robert Anderson
Of Fort Sumter fame, and adversely to the
bill permitting retired army and navy officers
TO hold civil offices. A spirited struggle
arose over bill to grant $40, 600 acres Of
the public lands to an Oregon railroad CON-
pany. Mr.. Holman of Indiana, made a
speech against the land-grabbing Estem.
He said that the bills now pending 10 Con-
gress gave away over $50, 900, 600 acres OF
/ the peoples domain TO spectators and mo
nopolists The railroad lobby representa-
| tiyes, headed by Fitch of Nevada, ani Sar.
gent of California, made a desperate fght
1 tor the bill, and it was finally passed b. vote
of % TO 90. Parties were divided :. Repub-
licans and Democrats voting on beA sides
At the evening session the iron-xirs para
graph Of the tariff bill was diIscqsss ~,-.-
not in session. v
/ In the House several bills Of mtnor i'm
pOrtance were taken up and displsed of
I Various Senate bills were also referred L
I n Resolution
adjourn over from Thursday of this week L
| Monday of next was adopted Mr. Judd o.
/ Illinois introduced resolution to postpone
all special orders until after consideration o.
| the general calendar. This resolut.on wai
designed to give the tariff bill the 90 by
and quite lively discussion at once spraDs
up. The House finally by a vote of % to 3.
seconded the demand for the previous ques
/ ton, and the resolution of Mr. Judd vas re
lected without division
In the Senate, Monday, May ., Senator
Sawyer introduced a bill amending the law
to establish claims. His bill enables partie,
/ having claims against the United States but
not IN any way connected with the re5elli n
/ to go into court without such proof Bill
referred to the Committee on the judiciary
The bill for the relief of the widows and
orphans of officers, seamen and marines o.
the Oneida, giving them twelve months pay
was amended 50 as to authorize the oommis
siOns and general increase of pay to the Off
/ GERS /; and the bill was passed
! After some miscellaneous discussion tn,
Senate adjourned
/ In the House, Mr.. Dickey introduced
/ bill directing the Secretary of the Interio
TO place the name of Mary Lincoln, widow
Of Abraham Lincoln, on the pension roll
and to allow her pension at the rate o
! $4,000 per annum from and after the passag
OF the act Under the operation OF the pre-
vious question the bill was passed. yeas -
nays 81.
MIR. Bird offered resolution requesting
the President to intercede with the British
or Canadian authorities for the pardon o
John Gallagher, of New Jersey, captured
with the Fenians, and sentenced to 20 years
/ imprisonment. Adopted.
/ H. lyall,1e oNr,.o1 n
it the sentiment of the American people tina
an immediate reparation should be made b.
Great Britain for the destruction of vessel
belonging to citizens of the United States b.
the piratical steamer Alabama and othe
steamers OF like character, and requestin;
the President to press the Alabama claim
to an immediate settlement, 50 that the citi
zens may be promptly renumerated for thei
losses, and national honor maintained
The House refused to second the previou
question, 40 to rs, and on motion of Mr.
Banks, the resolution was referred 70 tn
committee on foreign affairs.
Mr.. Schenck introduced Joint resolution
declaring that the Both May. being the da,,
appointed and accustomed to be used for thu
decoration of the graves of soldiers who dice
in the war in defense of the Union, be A publ
holiday and forever observed as such by tn
| people of the United States. Passed with
out division.
Mr.. Schenek offered a resolution giving tn
committee Of the whole authority 10 stop de
bate on any portion of the tariff bill adopt
ed, ll3 to 10.
The House in committee considered tn
paragraphs of the tariff bill concerning tele
graph cables, iron hair-pins, horse-shoes
iron screws, &c. The two last paragraph
were stricken out, leaving the present dut,
on the articles untouched. The COMMITTEE
have now gone through eighteen PAGES of tn
bill, there being thirty-two more vet to b.
examined.
In the Senate, Tuesday, Nav 2 various
bills were passed. The Omaha and North
western land grant bill, after various amend
ments, was passed. The bill limiting tn,
number of special agents of the Trcasur,
Department to fifty three, and fixing theil
comp ensation, gave rise to discussion. il
which Senators Hamlin, Patterson Cragin
Fowler, Morton and Others participated.
After amendment by Senator Patterson
the bill passed.
4 At o'clock the Senate adjourned
! In the House, Mr.. Jenckes called nm hi,
bill for the reform of the civil service The
bill provides that all appointments Of civil
officers of the government, except rostmas-
tiers, and such other officers as ,ra reouired
to be appointed by the President with the
consent OF the Senate, shall be made from
persons found the best qualified for the posi-
ton after open and competitive exap;nations
and after terms of probation. 1t provides