Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-12-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
XLIInd CONGRESS, End SESSION.


SENATE Monday, Dec 4th Mr.. Blair Of
fered resolution OF enquiry respecting the ex-
ecuti9n Of the Ku Klux law, which went over
under objections. ~
The message was read and the Senate ad-
ijourned
House. The various committees were ap-
pointed.
The calling of the roll showed that POI mem
bers were present.
Mr.. Beck offered resolution asking the
President certain questions regarding the exc
cution of the Ku Klux law, which meeting
with storm oe objections, was referred to the
Committee on Insurrectionary States.
Messrs Conner aud Hancock, of Texas, were
sworn iu, and the other Texas credentials were
referred.
The Presidents message was read, after
which the House adjourned.
SENATE.-Tuesday, Dec 5th.-Mr. Blair's
resolution of enquiry, covering detailed report
of the Executive action under the ku kluz
bill, was defeated The vote was strict party
one, except Mr.. Upton.
Mr. Kellogg Introduced bill to reorganize
the District courts in Louisiana; also, a bill
providing for mail service between New Orleans
and several Mexican ports s8
A resolution calling for the Catacazy cores
pondence was adopted, Mr.. Cameron opposing
it. F1 a
HOUSE There was sharp discussion be-
tween Messrs. Wood and Davis regarding the
continuance of the Committee on Insurrection-
airy States, which Mr.. Wood maintained was a
trick TO continue the Reconstruction Commit
tee.
The Administration sustained it's first defeat
Of the session On the subject of the postal tele-
graph. a1
Mr. Dawes moved to refer to a select commit
tee SO much of the Presidents message as re-
commended the absorption of the telegraph
system In the postal service of the country
This was opposed by Messrs Randall, Farms
worth, Niblack, Beck and Burks, who contend
ed that the subject should not be ia ken from a
standing committee and referred to select one,
which would necessarily, under the parliament
tary rule, have majority in favor of the pro-
ject. 8tIH s.
After an animated discussion, In which the
scheme was denounced as one that would bleed
the Treasury to the amount of $40, 900, 900, and
add 25 600 employees to the civil service Of the
government, the motion for select committee
was defeated, and the whole subject referred to
the Committee on Appropriations, which is
considered tantamount to rejection of the pro-
ject H5tI<s A8
SENATE w Wednesday, Dec. 6th.-In the
Senate to-day. concurrent resolutions calling
Messrs Camp and Gist, of South Carolina, to the
bar OF the Senate for contempt, went over un-
der the rules.
The House resolutions calling for information
regarding Cuba, and the paper in General
BuelPs military commission, were adopted.
Mr.. Anthony introduced bill amending the
election act. making it criminal to use any .wri-
ting. device, token, word or gesture with intent
to intimIdate voters, or counseling or indirectly
procuring the use of such means of intimida-
ton. efa s4#s
Mr.. Robertson endeavored to introduce an
amnesty bill, but was declared out of order
A caucus of the Senate appointed commit
tee of five to nominate committees Ii seems
probable that Mr.. Morton will succeed Mr.
Cameron as chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
HoUsE.-Phe House considered the appcr-
tionmeut bill, but reached no conclusion.
Mr.. Stevenson, from the ku kiux Commit
tee, offered resolution for the removal of po-
lltical disabilities; extending the time within
which the writ of hdbeos corpus may be sus-
nended and making every member of the ku
Klux and other reasonable conspiracies respon-
sible. civiy and criminaIly, for the acts Of their
fellow members
SENATE. Thursday, Dec. 7th.-Mr. Sumner
presented memorial asking the abolition of the
uuty On cOdi. do tuUuSut tuat HIS Suppicutc1-
tary civil rights bill should be taken up and
passed as Christmas gift to the colored people
of the country. He also gave notice Of bill
to reduce taxation and abolish the Office of COM
missioner of internal revenue. Bills we're intro
dueed Increasing the pay Of the principal de-
partment officials and of commanding officers
in the navy. Also an inn ortant bill incorporat-
ing The Postal Telegraph Company" design
ed to do government and private business, and
for the latter to charge not exceeding 25 cents
for the first twenty words over each circuit of
$50 miles. The Senate elected its standing
committees, with Mr Sumner as chairman of
the committee on privileges and elections-Mr.
Cameron remaining at the bead Of the commit
tee on foreign relations the other commit
tees composed substantially as at the last ses-
sion. the chairmen being the same throughout
the list. After an executive session the Senate
adjourned over to Monday. the llth.
HoUsE.-In the House resolution was a.
dopted calling upon the Interior Department
for the necessary information ascertained, from
the census, upon which to base the apportion-
ment of congressional representation among the
States. The House adjourned until Monday, the
18th.