The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-30
summary OF Congressional Proceedings,

and the British North American provinces an
territories, the operation Of all laws and regu
lations whereby the right of bonded trans
portstion is allowed foreign transportation
companies, also suspending the laws whereof,
Canadian vessels are permitted to ente
American waters; to aid certain ocean navi
CATION companies; to protect the lives anC
property Of crews and passengers on sea-goinf
vessels--Ssysral resolutions were introduced
among which was one, BY Schurz, declaring
that due regard for the fundamental princi
piles of the government as well as sound
craftsmanship, demand the removal Of the
disabilities imposed upon the late rebels; and
another, by Morton, providing for the appoint
ment of q commission to proceed to San Do
mingo and report upon the condition and re-
sources Of the island and the wishes Of the
people with respect to the United States
Some routine business was performed, after
which an executive session OF an hour was
held, when the Senate adjourned.
HoUsx.-James Il. Rainey, the coIored mer-
Der from South Carolina. was sworn in.-Near-
" twenty bills were introduced, among which
the more important were these: To repeal the
income tax: to establish ocean steamship CON-
panies between tire United States and Europe;
to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
ncresse the compensation of assistant mar
shGls for taking the census; to extend tho pro-
visions Of the 25th section Of the army appro-
priation bin Of the 5th of July, 1870, TO rela-
tiyes Of deceased officers and soldiers.-The
bill for the repeal of the civil tenure act was
passed, by q vote Of ayes 157, nays 25.-Banks
presented Q resolution authorizing the Presi-
dent to appoint committee, consisting Of five
persons, to inquire into the e1Pediency Of ne
gotiating treaty with the authorities of San
Domingo for its acquisition-refeued.- Joint
resolution was adopted for an adjournment
from December 22d to January 4th.-After 3
bitter discussion the bill abolishing the office
Of Admiral and Vice Admiral of the navy was
pessed--A resolution, offered by Kelly, de-
claring that the system Of internal revenue
should be abolished as soon as the revenues of
the government can be otherwise provided for,
was adopted by 164 to 6.-After some further
business of minor importance the House ad-
journed.
SENATE, Dec. 1Sth--Among the bills intro
duced was one by Carpenter, granting lands to
the State of Wisconsin to aid in the construc-
ton of railroad from Milwaukee to Lake
Superior, via Green Bay, Wisconsin McCreery
asked leave to introduce resolution proposing
an investigation with the view to the restora-
ton Of the Arlington estate to the widow Of
Gen. r. E Lee, the removal Of the grave
yard on the premises, and general restitution
for any encumbrance placed there in the inter
est of the Government. A sharp debate en-
sued, at the close of which McCreery's request
for leave to introduce the resolution was re-
fused; yeas 4, nays a.-The House resolutions
of respect for the memory Of Hon. Robert
Ridgsway, late Representative from Virginia,
after eulogistic remarks by several Senators,
were adopted.-Resolutions calling for infor-
nation IN regard to the arrest Of one Hoyt
and the censure Of Byron Sprague and Wm- II.
Reynolds for trading with the rebels during the
war were offered by Sprsgue and adopted.
Adjourned
HoUsE.-The consideration Of the bill to
consolidate the postal laws was resumed, the
question being on the amendment offered to
repeal the franking privilege, which, after be-
ing so modified as to permit weekly and semi
weekly papers to be sent free to actual sub
scribers within the counties where published,
and the free exchange Of papers and maga-
zines between publishers Of the same, was
adopted and the bill passed.-Bills were passed
removing political disabilities from several
persons, and also amending the 25th section Of
the act Of the 18th of July, 1870, providing
homesteads for officers, soldiers and mariners
who served during the rebelIion--fhe consid-
Grafton of the motion to reconsider the vote
whereby the bill extending the time to con-
struct the railroad from the st. Croix river or
lake TO the west end Of Lake Superior was
postponed until the second Tuesday in jan
uary.-Somc other business Of minor import
ance was transacted, when the House ad-
journed-
SENATE, Dec. 14th--Memorials were pre-
sented representing that many veterans Of the
war Of 1872 are now inmates of the poor
houses and objects of charity, and praying for
pensions in their behalf.-The House resolu-
ton for a recess over the holidays, from the
22d of December to January 4th, was con-
Cured in.-A resolution was adopted ordering
an investigation into the cost of collecting the
customs revenues at the principal sea ports Of
the country, and what sums have been received
at the various ports from fines, seizures, &c.
Some time was spent IN discussing a bill
providing relief for the employees of the ex-
ecutive Department. bill to provide for tho
payment Of s25,000 to j. NJ. Bestof, Of Pa
ducah, KY, Union surgeon, for the destrue-
ton Of his dwelling house in 1864, by order Of
the Union commander, during the rebel attack
upon the place, was discussed during the re-
mAinder Of the session without being disposed
of.-After an executive session, the Senate ad-
jouTned.
HoUsE.-Morrell, Of Pennsylvania, from the
Committee on Manufactures, reported bill
to provide for celebrating the Tooth anniyer-
sary Of American Independence by holding an
International exhibition Of arts, manufactures
and products of the soil and mines, in the city
of Philadelphia, in the year 1876. It was dis
cussed at some length, but went over without
final action--Most Of the remainder Of the
session was occupied IN discussing q general
amnesty bill, covering all acts of rebels except
those Of the principal officers of the Confed-
eracy, the members of the Confederate Con-
gress, governors of seeded states, members
Of secession conventions, and the graduates
Of the military and naval academies who Joined
the rebellion. The bill went over without final
action Adjourned
SENATE, Dec. 15th.-A bill was passed al
lowing supernumerary army officers to be de-
tailed as Instructors in colleges.-Another bill
=. he
the army by substituting the LIST Of July, 1871,
instead Of the LIST January, as the time for
mastering out supernumerary oficers-Several
bills were introduced and referred, when Sem
ator Schurz, of Missouri, proceeded to ad-
dress the Senate at length IN favor Of his res
olution, declaring that political dsqualifca-
tons should cease, as the necessity which die
tated them no longer exists. At the conclu-
sion of the speech the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Several bills were introduced and
appropriately referred, after which the House
resumed consideration of the amnesty bill.
Barry, Morgan, Mckenzie, Farnsworth, and
Winans argued In favor of amnesty, Sypher,
Lawrence, and Maynard were opposed to the
bill and opposed to general and unlimited am
nesty. The bill finally went over to Tuesday.
Bills were reported appropnahng $50, ,000, 900
for pensions and amending the internal reve-
nue. bill where it relates to sugars, 80 that all
grades Of sugar viii be elassed according to
color. Adjourned.
SENATE. Dec. Ex-senator brakes resigns
ton Of his seat was announced, to take effect
on the 18th inst.-Sumner presented q memo
rial from Boston merchants against the an
nexation Of San Domingo.-Sherman, from
the Finance Committee, reported back ad
versely various bills for the abolition Of the
income tax.-A bill Incorporating the Southern
Express Company, was passed. resolution
was adopted calling upon the President for
information in regard to the North Carolina
general amnesty resolu-
tion was taken up, and Drake replied at length
TO the speech Of Schurz Of yesterday. His
concluding remarks embraced formal fare
we'll to the Senate. Schurz briefly responded,
himself from the charge that he had
gone over to the Democratic party, or that he
Intended to do so.-After an executive session
the Senate adjourned
HoUsE--Several bills were introduced, and
two passed, one bill removing political disa-
bilities from number of persons IN Tennes-
see, and the bill relating to the duties on su-
gar, which was under consideration yesterday.
to Monday.
SENATE, Dec. ia resolution reported
from the Printing Committee, was passed af-
ter a lengthy discussion, providing for print
ing condensed weekly reports OF the Patent
Once, and sending one hundred copies 10 each
state capital and the clerks Office Of each ju-
iicial district.-Among the bills introduced
was one providing for the admission Of Neva-
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