Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-01-13
COngressiOnal.

In the Senate, a memorial, signed by citi-
zens Of Baltimore, protesting against the in
justice OF nppropriating money for sectqrian
purposes, and asking the passage of an amend
ment to the Constitution prohibiting the APP
preparation Of money raised by taxation for
any religious object, was presented and re-
ferred TO the Committee on the Judiciary. The
Committee on the Judiciary reported adversely
on the bill providing that elections for Presi-
Dental electors and members of Congress shall
be by ballot The bill providing for the pay
ment of advances by "loyal' States during
the war was fixed for Thursday last A mes
sage from the president enclosing the cores
pondence between Minister Motley and the
State Department was laid on the table and
ordered to be printed. The bill revising the
laws relating to minis and coinage of the
United States was taken up, and an effort was
made to abolish the present coinage charges.
After debate resolution was adopted fixing
the rate at $40 Of l per cent, instead of per
cent. as at present.
In the House, a resolution was adopted di-.
recting the Committee on Ways and Means TO
inquire into the expediency Of abolishng the
income tax, and also a joint resolution pro-
viding for the creation of special committee
of five Senators and eight Representatives,
to whom shall be referred all matters relative
TO ocean telegraphy. A bill was introduced
reviving the project of an air line railroad be-
tween Washington and New York. The San
Domingo annexation scheme was then consid-
cred, and Mr.. orth moved TO take from the
Speaker table the Senate resolution in rela-
ton 10 San Domingo, and to pass it by one
vote After some discussion the motion was
rejected--yeas l2l, nays 62-the requisite two
thirds not voting in the affirmative. The mo-
ton was renewed again and again, the Demo-
cratic members opposing it and resorting to
fillibustering to gain time for discussion An
arrangement was finally agreed to, allowing a
vote TO be taken, and Mr.. Orths motion was
dressed the House in opposition to the resou-
ton. At the close of his speech several bills
| and resolutions were introduced and disposed
of temporarily. A message was received from
the President enclosing papers in relation to
San Domingo, and their reading was demand
| ed, but on the announcement that it would
take two days to comply, the documents were
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Senate resolutions, authorizing the
President TO appoint commission TO 60 10
San Domingo for the purpose of investigating
the condition of that country and its people,
resources, &c, occupied large share of the
attention of both houses of Congress, on Tues
day last In the House, after an interesting
debate, in hich nearly all the prominent OPP
ponents of annexation made speeches, accord
ing to previous arrangement, the resolutions
were passed, with proviso, that "nothing in
the resolutions shall be held, understood or
construed as committing Congress to the poll
cy of annexing the territory of said republic of
Dominica. The amendment was passed by
q vote of los to 76, and the resolutions as
amended were adopted by a vote of 1913 to g.