Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-05-17
STAUNTON,55 VA, TUESDAY, MAY II. 1870.
CONGRESSIONAL pRocEEDINes.
FoRTY-FIRsr CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION
/ SENATE-M Monday, May End. d.-Several mil
tary bills were postponed indefinitely. Th
Committee on Patents was directed to inquir
into the propriety of amending the patent laws
so as to secure to the United States the .fre
1 use OF every patent. A bill was introduced al
lowing citizens Of the Southern States, whethe
loyal or not, to prosecute claims against tn
Government, which have arisen since the war
in the Court of Claims Another bill to enforc
the Fifteenth Amendment was introduced b.
Mr.. Pool. A large number of calendar bill
were disposed of: Among those passed owe
were the following: Bill to pay ''loyaP' citi
zens in the Southern States for services 10 tax
ing the census of 1861 bill amendatory of tn
act granting lands to aid in the construction o
a railroad and telegraph line from the Centra
Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland
Oregon bill to authorize the proper account
ing officers of the Treasury to settle and close
the accounts of Hinton Rowan Helper; bill re
| gulating credits to prisoners for good behavior
and bill for relief of families of officers and sea
| men lost on the Oneida. A number of private
bills and bills relating to affairs in the District
OF Columbia were also passed The Omnibus
Political disability bill was reported and recon-
initted. The Senate at 4:5O P. M. adjourned
HOUSE. "A bill was passed directing the
Secretary OF the Interior to place the name oil
| of Mary Lincoln, widow of Abraham Lincoln,
on the pension roll, at $4,000, from che passage
of the bill. A resolution was agreed to declar-
ing the thirtieth of May. the designated time
tor the decoration Of the graves of the soldiers
who fell in putting down the lion,'' a ma
tlonal holiday forever. zea it sr4 saasa
SENATE-Tuesday, May 3rd-The House re-
solution making the 30th day of May national
holiday forever was taken up, and after a short
discussion referred to the Committee on Mill
tary Afairs-yeas 81, nays 12r The House bill
granting pension of Mrs. Lincoln was placed
on the calendar. The Senate proceeded to the
consideration of bills on the calendar, and the
following, among others, were passed !: Joint
resolution ordering survey for railroad from
Georgetownto to Harpers Ferry, along the west
bank of the Potomac river; bill relating to
fraudulent trade marks upon foreign watches
bill granting lands to aid in the construction oil
railroad between the Mississippi and Arkan
sas rivers, and bill limiting the appointment of
special agents in the Treasury Department The
committee of conference on the Census bill
made report, which was agreed to.
HoUsE.-A joint resolution was adopted
yeas IS, nays 65-directing the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House to declare
their respective houses adjourned at II o'clock
noon on Monday, the Fourth day of July The
bill to reorganize the civil service was discussed
until the expiration OF the morning hour. The
consideration of the Tariff bill was resumed in
Committee of the Whole The debate on the
paragraphs relating to duties on iron was con-
cluded, and several sections relating to steel
were taken up, to which various amendments
were proposed. Pending discussion the COM
mittee rose. A resolution providing for an ad-
tournament tomorrow on account of the recent
calamity in Richmond was objected to-
SENATE-W Wednesday, May 4th.-The House
concurrent resolution, providing for the final
adjournment of Congress on the Fourth of July,
was taken up and discussed, without action,
until the expiration of the morning hour. The
consideration of bills on the calendar was con-
cluded, and large number we're passed. A
mong them were the following: Bill to aid in
the construction of the Oregon Branch Pacific
Railroad joint resolution for the relief of the
widow of the Secretary Rawlins bill providing
for the settlement OF accounts OF dlsbursing
officers of the army and navy, and House bill
to amend the Bankrupt act. The bill provid-
ing for the sale of Usage Indian lands was made
the first special order. The Senate then vent
into executive session, and at its close adjourn
ed
HoUsE-Alr Beck, Of Kentucky, was re-
fused unanimous leave to introduce resoln-
tion relating to arrests OF citizens OF Georgia by
the military authorities, whereupon he demand
ed the regular order and declared that he will
continue to do so daily until Congress adjourns.
The House conourred in the report of the Com
mittee of Conference on the Census bill. The
Civil Service bill was taken up and discussed
uutil the expiration of the morning hour, when
the consideration of the Tariff bill was resumed
in Committee of the Whole. The duty on
Bessemer steel rails was fixed at $50 per ton.
The paragraph relating to duties on steel wire
was also passed with amendment Pending
the discussion of the duty on steel car wheels
the committee rose and the House, at 5 o'clock
P. NJ, adjourned.
SENATE Thursday, May 5th.-The Com
mittee on Pensions made report on the bill
granting pension of five thousand dollars a
year to Mrs. Lincoln. and recommended its in
definite postponement. aa-e
The concurrent resolution providing for the
final adjournment of Congress on the Fourth
of July was discussed until the expiration of
the morning hour. The Committee on Finance
reported bill to reduce internal taxation. The
proposed reduction amounts to $43, ,6O7, ,O0O.-
The Committee on Commerce was discharged
from the additional consideration of the reso-
luton providing for survey of route for a
canal connecting the James and Ohio rivers.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, When the
first bill for reference was offered, Mr.. Beck
promptly interposed his objection and de-
manded the regular order, but after short
discussion he vas mollihed aud withdrew the
motion. rf
Several new bills were then introduced and
disposed of The bill providing for repairs of
the National Cemetery at Harper's Ferry was
passed The Civil Service bill was, after dis
cussion, recommitted with amendments. The
Committee on Foreign Affairs made report
approving the action Of the President in ter
minating diplomatic relations with Paraguay.
A minority report was submitted censuring the
conduct of Minister Washburne.
SENATE Friday, May, 6th.-After dispos-
ing of some routine business the Senate resum-
ed the discussion of the concurrent resolution
providing for the adjournment Of Congress on
the Fourth of July, and after some debate the
consideration of the resolution was postponed
until the 10th instant. The Legislative Ap-
preparation bill was taken up and an amendment
was adopted to discontinue the publication o
the laws of the United States in the newspapers
Pending debate the Senate adjourned unit
Monday
HOUSE OF REpREsENTTATIvEs,-Th House
was not in session to-day.
THE CHRISTIANS TRIUMPH. thu
many incidents connected with the terrible dis
aster at Richmond, we read of one that is pc
culiary touching, and which deserves to bt
rememb bered. showing as it does the Christian
| triumph in the hour of death. A member O
the Legislature, in describing his fail, says tina