Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-04-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
FoRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION.


FoRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION.
SENATE-Friday. April IA petition was
presented from 0. B. Hart, of Florida. setting
forth that the election of Senator Gilbert, OF
that State, was illegal and void; that he Hart)
had subsequently, been elected in compliance
with the terms of the act of Congress regulating
the time and manner of holding elections for
Senators in Congress, which law was disregard
ed in the election of Mr.. Gilbert and asking to
| be admitted to the seat now occupied by that
| gentleman. 1t was referred to the judiciary
Committee. Mr.. Morton introduced, as sub
stitute for the former bill on the same subject,
bill to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States, which
| provides for the punishment of persons in any
State denying or obstructing the negroes in the
exercise of the privilege ofvoting The discus
| sion OF the resolution of the J judiciary Commit
| tee, declaring General Ames not eligible to a
seat in the Senate from Mississippi was resum-
| ed. Several speeches were made, after which
a vote was taken, and the word mot" was
stricken out from the resolution by a vote of
40 to IL. The resolution was afterwards adopt
ed, as amended, without division, and Gen
eral Ames was sworn in and took his seat. The
Senate then went into executive session, and,
at its close, adjourned until Monday next.
HOUSE.-The consideration of the Tariff bill
Mr.. Garfield made the final speech In general
debate on the bill. The bill was then consider
ed by sections The first section was amended
to provide that the bill shall take effect on
the first day of October, 1870 Pending dis
cussion on the section fixing the duty on teas,
the committee rose.~Bills were passed to pay
James Fowler Kirkland sixty thousand dollars for
losses incurred by the stoppage of work upon
the dome OF the Capitol; authorizing the Lii
barlan OF Congress to return to the executors
of Thomas Jefferson certain papers now In tho
possession OF the Librarian, and giving the con-
sent OF Congress to the construction of bridge
across the Delaware river, between Camden,
~ D., and Philadelphia. At 4:30 ?. NJ. re-
cess was taken until $50 2. NJ.
EUening Session. The evening session was
devoted entirely to general debate.
SENATE, Saturday, April 2nd.-The Senate
was not In session on Saturday.
HOUsE-A number of private bills were ta-
ken up and disposed Of A bill was passed pro-
vldlng for the establishment of parks in Wash
ington city. The discussion of the tariff bill by
sections In Committee Of the Whole was re-
sumed The sections relating to tea and coffee
were discussed, but no amendments were made,
and they remain as reported in the bill TWEEN
ty cents per pound on tea and five cents per
pound ON coffee. Pending discussion of the
duty on sugar the committee rose and the
House adjourned.
SENATE Monday, April A number of
bills and memorials were introduced and referr-
ed to committees. The order of arrangements
agreed upon by the presiding officers Of the two
Houses for the memorial services of General
George Ii. Thomas in the Hall of the House
Of Representatives day, was submitted to the
Senate, and committee was appointed to at
tend the funeral in Troy, New York. The
Georgia bill was taken up, the question being
on the motion to strike out the provso known
as the Bingham proviso, and an amendment
was offered, to be inserted instead Of the pro-
viso, declaring that the term of service Of the
General Assembly shall date from January 26,
1870. and shall continue until the persons to be
chosen on the Tuesday after the first Monday
in November, 1872, as members OF the General
Assembly OF said State. are qualified. A dis
cussion ensued and several speeches were made |
Mr. ilrake withdrew his amendment providing !
for sending troops into the Southern States and
ouartering them on the inhabitants The de- |
bate continued until at 4:30 ?. NJ, when the |
Senate went into executive session, and at it's |
close adjourned.
HoUsE-The usual number Of bills and re-
solutions for reference only were introduced and
referred. A bill was passed fixing the time for
holding elections for Representatives and Dele
gates Ia the Congress of the United States. 1t
provides tnat elections snail De nelQ IN all the
States on the second Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, 1872 for the election of
Representatives to the Forty-third Congress,
and the elections shall be held ON the same day
in every second year thereafter, for members of
Congress- to take their seats on the succeeding
4th of March In case of failure to select, the
vacancy shall be filed by special election, to
be held under the authority of the several
States A resolution providing for the final
adjournment Of Congress on the 10th of May
was offered, but, on calling the previous ques-
ton on it, only twentythree IN embers voted in
favor of it. A resolution was offered by Mr..
Porter directing the Committee on Reconstruc-
tion to inquire what legislation is necessary to
put an end to the municipal difficulties in Rich
mond, Virginia, but objection was made, aud
after little fllibustering the resolution went
over temporarily. A committee was appointed
to attend the funeral of General Thomas in Troy,
New York, and the arrangements for the SER
vices to be held by Congress in honor of his me-
mory was communicated to the House. The
consideration Of the Tariff bill was resumed in
Committee of the Whole. The clause relating
to sugar was discussed and amended. Pending
additional debate the committee rose, and the
House, at 4:5O P. NJ, adjourned.