Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-17
FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.

TUESDAY, Jan. Q.
Congress was very dull, The Senate again at
tempted to patch the Civil Rights bill Very Sc
we're charges were preIerrei against Senator Clay
ton Of Arkansas. In the House a minister Of the
Portuguese Synagogue delivered the prayer The
charges implicnting Senator Clayton and Mr. Ed
wards, Of Arkansas, were referred in the case Of
the latter to the Elections Committee. The new
Coinage bill was reported.
WEDNESDAY, January 10.
In the Senate, the following bills were introduced
10 secure homesteads to actual settlers on public
lands to establish system Of saving deposits
with paymasters to prevent desertion. and elevate
the condition Of the rank and file OF the navy; to
incorporate q Grand international Division of
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
Ths following bills were passed T. prevent re-
tenton Of discharged soldiers pay by claim agents
and attorneys 10 authorize the diScontinuance
Of certain grades in the military service, viz
Company Artifcer and Wagner and Quarter
master Scrgeants also extra LieutenantS, as fst
as vacancies occur in the grade House bill
donating condemned cannon for soldiers monu-
ment at Pittsheld, Massachusetts Adjourned.
Mr.. Sargent was sworn in as Senator from Cali
tornia
HousE.-Aiter long debate, the coinage bill
was recommitted, without instructions On the
contested election case in the Third District Of
Texas, the majority report hyoring Clark aud the
minority ayoring Giddings, were considered
Finally, the resolution for the admission Of Clark
was adopted, and Clark was sworn in Yeas,
l02 nays, 70.
THURSDAY, January H.
Very little was done in Congress In the Sen
ate some petitions were received asking reduc-
ton of the tariff, especially on iron, coal, and
salt. The sum OF SCI, s45 was appropriated to
pay the additional expenses of the Ku .Klux Com.
mittee, and the one term amendment to the Con.
stitution was debated.
In the House there was spicy debate between
the members from Rhode Island and Massachu.
sets on the early history of their respective
States.
FRIDAY, January 70
The House of Representatives instructed the
Postofhce Committee to investigate the system Of
postal contracts, whereby the government is said
TO be annually swindled out of several million
dollars. The remainder Of the day was oecupied
with private bills, The Senate was not in session.
MONDAY, Jan. Is.
In the Senate several petitions were presented
asking Tor reductions in the duty on coal. iron,
and salt. Chinese residents OF San Francisco
send a petition for reduction Of the duty on rice
MIR. Blair moved that the Ku-Klux Committee
should inquire into the condition Of affairs in
Louisiana, but on objection it went over. Dir.
Sumner made long speech, claiming equal
rights for our colored citizens.
In the House several important bills were in
troduced, including one to allow respondents in
criminal cases in the United States courts to tes
tiy in their own behalf, one 10 remove all pnliti.
cal disabilities, to amend the tenure-oEoliee acts
to abolish the Office of Superinten lent of Indian
Affairs, and to allow American registration Of
ioreign-built vessels, Mr.. llalc's motion to re
init the duty on all articles used in the construc-
ton of American-built ships was discussed for !
short time. A resolution to inquire into th,
state of affairs in Louisiana was offered BY Mr.,
Dawes. The same gentleman offered an amnest,
Oil, but the House refused to suspend the rules
yeas l3l nays, 70-less than two thirds. III,
proposed bill removes all disabilities imposed b,
the third section Of the fourteenth amendment.