The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-02-10
Congressional.
Washington, Feb. 8.
SENATE.

Mr.. Martin presented a resolution
from the Georgia Legislature accept
ing the conditions recently imposed
by Congress by changing the State
Constitution and ratifying the -Four.
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments,
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Committee
on Pensions, reported adversely on q
petition of the soldiers OF 1912 for
pensions.
The Senate took up the bill to re-
lieve from Importantly, and to pre-.
serve the independence Of the several
departments Of the Government. Mr..
Trumbull explained that tho Judic.
iary Committee had amended the
bill as first reported, by prescribing
recomm endatiens by members Of
Congress for office-seekcrs altogeth-
or.
Messrs. Pomeroy, Schurz and How
ard considered this too sweeping, as
the President would have to rely up
on somebody on making the appoint
ments, and Members of Congress are
perhaps best fitted to act as his ad-
visers!
Mr.. Williams moved to amend by
prohibiting judicial, military ard ma:
val officers, as well as Members OF
Congress from recommending appli-
cants.
A message from the House amour
cod the death of Representative
Hoag, and after short addresses by
Thurman and Sherman, and the
adoption of appropriate resolutions,
the Senate adjourned at II o'clock.
HOUSE.
A number of bills were introduced
and referred, including tho following:
To allow the free circulation Of
weekly newspapers in the county
where printed; to allow all newspa-
pers and periodicals published in the
United States to be transmitted to
regular subscribers free; to require a
uniform railroad guage in the Uni
ted States; to discontinue the freed
mems bureau to give female employ
ces Of the Government the same com.
pensation, as men in like positions.
Mr.. Hawley introduced a bill,
which passed, authorizing the Secrc-
tary Of War to have the Rock Island
bridge constructed tor a single track
only, the wagon road to DO placed
below the railroad track, and the
cost not to exceed one million.
Mr.. Bingham introduced q bill
amending the Postage law, making
letter postage two cents, and one
cent for every additional half ounce
and newspaper or periodical postage
daily, weekly or monthly, one cent
for four ounces and one cent for every
additional ounce. Papers in the State
or Territory whore published o,
within one hundred miles of the place
Of publication to be exempt from
postage, and newspapers exchanges
also to be free; the Postmaster Gen
eral to establish a uniform and mod
crate box rental.
Mr.. Orth offered resolution ask
ing the President for the correspond
ence between Sickles and the Spanish
Government on the Cuban question
and othor information as to the strug
gle for independence in that island
Adopted.
Mr.. Sergeant reported the Indian
appropriation bill. 1t appropriatei
s3.0S8,93O against s6,227,7Sl las,
year, being 81, 1853, 404 less than tho
amount asked Tor by the Indian Blu
reau. The bill was made the specia
order for Friday.
Mr.. Morgan announced the death
of his colleague, Mr.. Hoag, from the
Toledo district. After usual remarks
in honor of the deceased, and the
customary resolutions of respect, &
Committee being appointed to con
vey the remains to Ohio, the House
adjourned.