Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-04
FORTY..FIRST CONGRESS-.


rate Of taxation on distilled spirits Mr. VIII
son, from the Military Committee, reported a sub
stitute for the House Army bill. Mr. Pomeroy's
Joint resolution in relation to the conduct Of the
Spanish government in its treatment of captured
Cuban insurgents was indefinitely postponed.
In the House MIR Nback, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported the Fertilization
Appropriation bill, and Mr. Jenckes from the
Betrenchment Committee, reported bill 10 os-
tablsh Department Of Justice Of which the
Attorney General shall be the head The House
in committee took up the Tariff bill at the para
graph relating to iron bars, and various amend
ments were made Mr. Brook amendment of
Monday, 10 reduce the duty on bars to Sis 80
per ton, was rejected by vote Of 6s to 60.
"WEDNESDAY, April 81
In the Senate Mr, Mcdonald, from The Com
mittoe on Territories, reported, with amendments,
the bill organizing the Territory of Oklahoma
and consolidating the Indian tribes under a new
Senate in a long speech in favor Of paying the
claims Of Union men for property taken by the
government during the war. Little Of importance
was transacted in either House
The House was in committee on the Tariff bill
and considered the paragraphs on sheet and hoop
iron.
rmmp,r, April %.
In the Senate, bills were introduced hy MIR
Robertson for q general amnesty for political Of
fences, by Mr.. Wilson 10 incorporate a national
academy Of letters and arts, and by Mr. Fent0n 10
Incorporate o company 10 lay an ocean cable from
the United States to Belgium, 10 be called the
Washington Transatlantic Company The Flor
ida contested seat case was disposed of by confirm
ing Mr.. Gilbert as Senator. The Senate passed
the bills 10 provide for a board of three naval Off
GERS to examine the cases of such officers as may
deem themselves unusty passed over boy promo
tons and to provide for the better security Of
life on steam vessels.
In the House, Mr.. Jenckes bill for the estab-
lishmcnt ola Department OF Justice, after a short
debate was passed II the bill gets through the
Senate and becomes a law, the President will be
required to renominate Mr. lloar for Attorney
General, or send in some other name A colo
guy took place on a proposition t0 appropriate
50 600 20 experiment for improved ventilation in
the Representatives Hall Finally the Joint reso-
luton was passed. The election case from the
Fifth Louisiana District was called up, and the re-
port Of the committee declaring that none Of the
candidates were elected was adopted by party
vote Mr. McCmnie (Dem.) it may be remarked,
had ,6g- majority over both opposing Republic
cans. The House went into Committee on the
Tariff bill The paragraph on railroad iron was
under consideration An amendment by Mr.
/ Benjamin fixing the duty Mt go cents per 100
pounds was carried By a vote of 3 10 60 In the
course Of the debate Mr. Logan, OF Illinois, liken-
ed the Tariff bill in its effects upon the country
to the bl00d-sucking system Of mosquitoes and
SATURDAY, April 30
The Senate made some progress with the regu-
lar calendar, passing a score OF pension and pri-
yate bills Mr. Wilson introduced a bill proyid-
ing for the selection Of cadets for the military and
naval academies by competitive examination
The bill, if passed will open the cadetshps to all
the smart boys in the country.
In the House Mr. Logan, of H., from the Mill
tary Committee reported adversely to petition
from citizens of New York for the relief Of Major
General Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame
and adversely to the bill permitting retired army
and navy officers To hold civil offices. 4 spirited
struggle arose over bill 20 grant $40 900 acres Of
the public lands to an Oregon railroad company
Mr. Holman Of Indiana, made an effective speech
against the atr0cOus land grabbing system. lie
said that the bills now pending in Congress gave
away over $50 900 acres OF the peoples do
main 10 spectators and monopoists. The rail
road lobby representatives, headed by Fitch, OF
Nevada, and Sargent. of California made des-
perate fight for the bill, and it was finally pass
ed by a vote of % to 3d. Parties were divided
Democrats and Republicans voting On both sides
At the evening session the iron wire paragraph
Of the Tariff bill was discussed.
MONDAY, May ,.
In the Senate Mr. Morrill, offered resolution
Of inquiry into the expedency Of amending the
patent laws, 50 that the free use of every patent
shall be retained for the United States in all the
public departments. The bills granting more
land to the Central Pacific Railroad in California
and TO a railroad from the Mississippi to the Ar
kansas rivers along the Both parallel of North
latitude, were passed Mr. Pool introduced "a bill
to enforce the fourteenth amendment. which wa.
referred 70 the Judiciary Committee The bill
provides that any person who shall directly or in
directly coerce, intmdate, refuse to employ, OIL
discharge from employment any citizen witt
intent to influence his vote shall be punished by
fine not exceeding $4,000 and imprisonment moi
exceeding ten years The Senate passed the bill
to grant twelve months pay TO the widows anC
orphans Of the Oneida sufferers.
In the House, Mr.. Cox, Of New York, and Mr.
Rogers, of Arkansas, presented bills to remoy,
all legal and political disabilities from partici
pants in the rebellion. 4 bill introduced by Mr.
Dickey, lRep), granting pension Of 5000 pc
annum to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, was passed un
der the operation Of the previous question by
vote OF - to 81 Mr.. Calkins of New York OF
ered resolution declaring it to be the sentimen
of the American people that immediate repara
ton be made by Great Britain for the ruyages O
the priyateer Alabama. The House vote
down the motion for the previous question, an
the resolution went to the Committee on Foreg
Affairs. \ joint resolution by Mr. Schenck de
claring the 30th of May, the day for the decOm
ton OF the graves Of Union soldiers, to be oreye
"a public holiday, was passed without division
The House in Committee considered the Tart
bill