Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-03-31

commission to examine and report upon
said claims. Mr. Wilson's bill for the
reduction of the army, making several
important changes in the present Or
ganization, wasj referred to the Com
mittee OF Military Affairs After a
short Executive session, the Senate
adjourned.
| HoUsE.-In the House bill to secure
prize money to the officers and crew of
the United States steamer Kearsage was
referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs. The Committee OF the Judic-
iary was directed to inquire into the
expediency of reporting bill allowing
writs of error to the Court of the United
States in criminal cases, allowing per-
emptory challenges to persons accused,
aud allowing defendants to testify i'll
their own behalf Mr.. Kelley, in a
personal explanation in reference TO
the cadetship traffic, charged that bis
| predecessor in the House had sold an
appointment for 81, 900. The Tariff bill
was debated until adjournment.
SENATE, Saturday, March 26.-The
Senate was not in session.
HeUsE.-The House met in Commit
tee of the Whole for debate exclusively
on the Tariff bill. Speeches were made
by Mr.. Hay against the protective sys-
tenn and in favor of large reduction of
import duties aud internal taxations; by
Mr.. Strickland i'll advocacy of the pro-
lection of lumber and copper; by Mr..
Bird in favor of advancing the farming
interests as the best means of insuring
the prosperity of the whole community;
by Mr.. Hill in favor of protecting Amer
lean products, especially pig iron; by
Messrs. Burdett, Witchec and Donley
in behalf of the protective system.
SENATE. Monday, March 2S.-Resolu-
tions of the Iowa Legislature in favor of
Cuban belligerency were presented and
referred. Bills were introduced grant
ing lands to aid in the construction of
railroad from the Central Pacific Rail-
road in Nevada to the Colorado river; to
aid the construction of the New Orleans
and Northeastern Railroad; for the re-
lief of pre-emption settlers on the West
Point District, in Nebraska. The Sem
ate went int Executive session, and
spent the balance of the day in discuss
ing the San Domingo treaty.
HOUSE-Bills were introduced and re-
ferred: Incorporating the Southern
Trans Continental Railroad Company;
and granting lands and the right of way
thereto; authorizing the construction of
a bridge across the Mississippi river at
st. Louis; providing for the payment of
pensions in gold; also, resolutions of the
Wisconsin Legislature asking further
appropriations for harUors OF Lake Su-
perior. A resolution was introduced,
objected to, and it went over, declaring
Christian religion is part of the COM
mon law of the land, and that therefore
the use of the Bible in the public schools
in the country is eminently wise and
proper, as tending to encourage and fos-
ter virtue and morality. A resolution
was passed authorizing a.. supply of
arms, for instruction and practice, to
certain colleges and universities. The
majority and minority Foreign Commit
tee reports on the Cuban question were
ordered printed, and made the order for
April 9th, eighteen petitions of citizens
of Ohio asking Congress to abolish Ma
tional Banks, to issue five hundred mil
lions in greenbacks, to make them re-
ceivable and payable OH all dues, i'm
ports and taxes, and to pay off $34O, ,OO0,-
900 of the $40 bonds; of citizens of
Newton Falls, Ohio, against any change
in the tariff laws, as suggested by the
Free Trade League; for reduction of
the duty on tea, coffee, &C., and for re-
adjustment of the duty on manufactures.
The House then went into the Commit
tee of the Whole on the Tariff bill, and
speD the afternoon and evening in the
discussion.