South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-12-15

----~s S
CONCREsS In the Senate, on the | lth,
Mr.. SUMNER was excused from serving on
the COMMITTEES on privileges and elections
He introduced bill to reduce taxation aud
abolish the internal revenue department..
in which the whisky tay is fixed at so
cents per gallon. The ball opened between
the administration Senators and their op-
ponents upon a motion by Mr.. TRUMBULL,
Of Illinois, to revive the special committee
on rctreuchment and civil service reform.
Mr. CHANDLER thought the Senate had
committees enough. Mr.. EDMUNDs found
the subject Of civil service reform one of
''grcat difficulty" The resolution was
supported by Senator'S SUMNER aud THUR
MAN, and pending discussion the Senate
went into executive session. In the House
a joint resolution was introduced providing
for $40, 900 statue of Admiral Farragut.
to be erected in Forragut Square, Wash
ington city. Among the bills introduced
were the following Proposing an amend
ment to the constitution which shall pro-
hibit Congress from laying tariff or inter.
nal revenue lmposts, but substituting direct
taxation bill proposing an amendment
to the constitution making naturalized cit
liens eligible to the presidency also a
joint resolution proposing an amendmen t
to the constitution to prohibit intermar-
rlage of whites and colorcd, and declaring
that the fourteenth amendment is not to be
understood as prohibiting the separate cd
ucation of black and white children. A
resolution was adopted directing the com
mit'ee on expenditures to give the Treasu-
~ Department and its operations thorough
overhaulng; also that when the House ad-
journ on the list of December il be until
the Sth of January. In committee of the
whole the aPportionment bill VA further
debated, without action. A bill was pass
ed appropriating $3.50 600, on account of
the late census, to cover deficiency.
The AMNESTY MATTER The political
disability committee of the Senate, at thor
meeting on the same day, decided to report
by one majority, and subsequently did re.
port, the House bill of last session, which
grants amnesty to all persons except those
who were in the army or navy aud Con-
gress Of the United States, and left the
same TO join the Coufcderacy. If this bill
should pass the Senate in this shane an ef
fort Will be made IN the House TO subsri-
tute universal amnesty and enact it into
law before the holiday recess. The feeling
in the House in favor Of amnesty is Ger.
tainly much stronger than it was when it
passed the bill last spring.
The House Appropriation Committee
have discussed the postal Telegraph scheme
at oueot their sessions. None Of the Com
mi''ee favored it squlroly, one or two wan.
ted to look into it further, and one mem
Der, who Is pretty well i,formod on the
telegraph question, made n furious on
slaught on the project, and denounced it as
a stock obbiug swindle gotup to dcplete the
Treasury. The Committee may take j. up
again aud may not. but as it now stands it is
a pretty hopeless case All tho TELEGRAPH
companies, sc believe, arc opposed to the
assumption by the United States Govern.
meut Of tho telegraph lines Of The country.
s9-Gov WALKER, in bi. Message 10
the Legislature Of Virginia, io that portion
IT 10 relating 20 naiionol afflirs. rec4rifu