Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-14
FORTY SECOND CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THURSDAY. December n, III.

SENATE.-hr. Frelinghuysen presented o
mt mortal Of the Venezuela Steam Navigation
Company. This company, he said, was com
posed Of citizens of New York and New Jersey.
They bad built four steamers, To navigate the
waters OF Venezuela. Two Of these steamers
had been seized by that republic. and some of
the ofhcer imprisoned. One of the vessels Vas
still detained, and the memorialists asked that
national vessel be sent to demand Indemnity and
the release of their vessel. The President had
referred to this matter in his message but he
did not deem himself justified i'm dispatching a
national vessel without the authority Of Con-
MIR. Sumner said there we're two sides 10 this
question He had examined il most carefully
that our citizens in this case were in the wrong.
The memorial was then referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Conkling presented a memorial, numer-
ousiy signed by citizens Of New York, asking
some recognition, by pension or otherwise, OF
the heroic services and sacrifices made by
women during the war of the rebellion. in the
capacity Of nurses in hospitals and i'm the field
Referred TO the Com on Pensions
Messrs: Hamlin, Kellogg. and Others presented
memorials asking the abolition OF the duty on
salt. Referred TO Committee on Finance.
Mr. TTumbnll inquired OF Mr.. Sherman when
report would be made from the Finance Com
mittee Of the House bills
RErKALINe THE DUTY on COAL AND SALT,
passed at the last session.
MT; Sherman said the committee were pre-
pared 10 report these hills at any time with
amendments He intimated that the amend
me nts would cover the whole subject of the
ariff. lie thought, however, il Was best sor the
senate TO delay any action i'm this matter until
he House had the opportunity 10 express its
Judgment on any tariff measure reported from
the Committee ON Ways and Means.
MI, f. irnmsnil then fave notice that to-mor-
row ne would move to discharge the committee
from the further consideration Of these bills i'm
order 10 proceed at once with their consid-
Grafton.
Mir. Wilson called up the House bill declaring
The construction Of
TBK EIGHT HOUR LAW.
lThe bill has been pending from the last ses-
sion. 1t provides that there shall be no deduc-
ton from the usual days pay account of the
time for a days work being reduced from ten to
Mr.. NORTH (yt) said the eight-hour law was
degradation to the workingmen Of the country
He deprecated any legislation on this subject,
and regarded any attempt to regulate the loure
Of labor as preposterous.
Mr.. Trumbull said the effectof this eight hour
government employees and the employees OF pri-
yate workshops.
Mr.. Ferry said this bill was to give. in his
opinion, an erroneous construction 10 the eight
hour law. and a construction which was not put
upon IL here at the time of Its passage. The
question had been directly asked of the Senator
who had this bill in charge whether, in reducing
days labor to eight hours, il was intended %
continue the same pay given for the labor OF ten
and the answer had been emphaticaly no.
Mr. sherman alluded to the fact that in con-
placed upon the law at different government
works, and twenty per cent having been de-
Quoted In paying the men at some OF the shops,
the bill provides that the men from whose paw
such deduction was made shall now receive il,
and he moved that the bal be referred 50 that
the amount required may be ascertained.
Ihe bill was then referred to the Committee
on Finance. ....
The unfinished business-being the resolution
of Mr.. Anthony to provide for the organi cation
Of standing committee TO investigate all
t. ~
which may be referred to twas then taken up.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Burchard CIn.) introduced q resolution calling
upon the Secretary Of the Treasury for informa-
ton as to the number Of persons employed in
the collection Of customs, and the amounts paid
the same for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1871; also, the amounts paid a. extra compenss-
ton: the number Of revenue cutters, and the
expenses Of the same; the number Of buildings
rented for the Customs Bureau, and the amount
paid for the same, SC. Adopted.
Inc house then, on motion OF M Farms
on
THE APPoRTIoNMKxr BILL;
the pending question being upon the motion of
Mr.. Butler (Mass.) to amend BY fixing uniform
day for holding the elections.
Mr.. Stevenson (Ohio) moved to amend the
Rs by s that s saa mot Apply
year 1876 ADOPTED.
Mr.. Randall (Pa.) moved to further amend by
inserting "ano In The states OF Pennsylvania
ana ONO, unless their constitutions are pre-
viously changed"
Mr.. Farnsworth urged that the bin be not en-
numbered with amendments of this character,
which could be made the subject Of subSeguen
egisiation.
Mr. hsndaiis amendment WAS adopted.
Mr. Kellogg Conn., moved to insert Connec-
ucuI anu Vermont, anu, az tne suggestion OF
hr; MSSisIy iowa, lnserted Iowa Adopted
MI nrlgnt Ienh.J onereu
~ hSIlLuTh ZOE The fkkDiNe BILL,
prosiaing that aiter the total number OF repre-
se.su , shAii De ZfS, apporuoheo among the
I'LL. ,oss.,'s s.,,,.is ~ .ne Ie.aIn VI sne
;aht ~, sI,9,o, w W,;l1s az uePlee Oh .ne
- Of ,orsnns n,;,i "a -, o.o o 90 es nu
&c Tp,io,,n IN 49,. - sv -. -, 10, visIeSaIu
ns iIae.ons, ou. anoM,ng 10 each state ~ ieaN
,E , $, re .a,a anu ai'e1 suen aoSance %
,,;, ~ 'me s.aes hag e ene largest irac.ioh
uIi , .ile Mnole h1msef Is dS-sates admitted
uoss iu.h. 10 sueh apporuonmeht being allowed
.ei ,os,,.i' u. Tue sae pIoporuon, sueh
I.,nar " oe aodeu W tne sriginai
The s,hst,,ute mas r,,ea nm, n, oras, .. e..
,, ., os va IN eo , ou. ot o,dei al tie
h,a.1. ,.,,, ~ 'he o1ii' ohe substitute oeihg
s1oss ,,sSnrs ;,;s.,,ss;o,, ~ .,,o,,.,,,,,. =.
,ered py MI. butier, as amended, was rejected
M DI Brort Tenn AGAIN orarad ,,s sn,st,-
ute. which. he said. was the law of Is5o so AZ