The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-13
CONGRESSIONAL.

ana passengers over the Union Paclflc
Railroad, and to compel the Company to
act justly to the branch roads. In the
House of Representatives the bill provid-
ing for the appointment of Shipping Com
missioners at the principal seaports of the
United States was passed, and now goes to
the Senate for its action. 1t is intended to
protect sailors in the merchant service at
sea and on shore. The Commissioners are
to be appointed by the Judges of the Unit
ed States Circuit courts. All sailors on
vessels sailing to foreign ports and to Cali
fornia, must be shipped and discharged
before these Commissioners. There are
very full provisions specifying the manners
and forms of agreements, providing facili
ties for complaint Of seamen, regulating
discipline, prohibiting kidnapping, provid-
ing for proper care of the sick, for the set
Element OF accounts, &c. AS the Senate
passed the bill last session. and as it only
failed in the House for want of time, the
chances are now that it will become law.
The bill to pay $3.50, 900 to the officers and
crew of the Kearsarge for the destruction
of the Alabama was adopted, Mr.. Butler
remarking that the amount ought to be
included in the American claims before the
Geneva Conference and recovered from
Great Britain. The Army Appropriation
bill was amended and passed. The River
and Harbor Appropriation bill was report
ed from the committee. Among its items
are 100000 for the Patapsco River and
Chesapeake Bay Channel, $4,000 for the
Rappahannock River $1,000 for James
River and $4,000 for Wicomico River. A
communication embracing report from
General Craighill upon the feasibility of
constructing ship canal between the Ches-
apeake and Delaware Bays was sent by the
Secretary of the Treasury to the House of
Representatives.. General Craighill reports
favorably upon the scheme, speaks Of its
advantage to commerce, estimates that the
canal would be from thirty to fifty-tive
miles in length, that the preliminary sur
veys would cost 100000, and recommends
that they be made. The papers were re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce.
In the Senate on Monday, the report of
a Committee of the Kansas Legislature
charging Messrs. Pomeroy and Caldwell
with fraud and bribery in procuring their
elections to the Senate was presented and
referred to the Committee on Elections.
MIR. Casserly presented the resolution of
the California Legislature calling attention
to the sufferings of the people of Arizona
from the depredations of the Apaches, and
expressed the opinion that there would be
no relief until the Indians are made to feel
the strong hand of the Government. The
bill to punish straw bidding for mail con-
tracts was passed with amendments, and
| went back to the House. The Deficiency
Appropriation bill was reported from the
committee amended SO as to largely reduce
the amounts named in many of the items.
Private claims were taken up. and amongst
them was that of Best, of Kentucky, for
payment for property destroyed by Federal
soldiers during the war. Mr.. Sumner and
Mr.. Trumbull opposed the bill on the
ground that it would afford an opening for
paying IA host of such claims, but the SEN
ate passed it. A number of other bills in
satisfaction of claims against the Govern
ment were passed. Whilst the Indian ap-
preparation bill was up motion was made
to reduce the appropriation for the Teton
Sioux from 100000 to $500, 1000. Mr..
Blair thought it was hardly worth while to
continue feeding these Indians during the
winter that they might fight the whites in
the summer, which they never failed to do.
The motion, however, was rejected, and
the Senate adjourned without final action
on the bill In the House of Representa-
tives among the bills introduced was one
for the establishment of 4 signal vessel in
the Atlantic three handred miles from Nan
tucket to give warning OF approaching
storms. An amendment to the Constitu-
ton was offered providing for the election
of United States Senators by the people Of
the States. The Supplementary Civil
Rights bill was ordered to be engrossed for
third reading, and will come up again on
Monday next. Mr.. Negley raised breeze
by Offering "a resolution for the ppoint-
ment of a committee to examine the tinan-
cia affairs of the Union Pacific Railroad,
and ascertain if it can pay its indebtedness
to the United States. Mr.. Brooks COM
planned that this was a Wall Street scheme,
and the resolution was withdrawn The
Committee on Banking and Currency was
instructed to investigate any National Bank
| suspected of being in conspiracy to lock
up currency and produce money panic.
A petition of citizens of Havre de Grace
was presented asking an appropriation to
improve navigation in the Susquehanna
river. A resolution proposing Constitu-
tioual Amendment forbidding any disposal
of the public lands except to actual settlers
was rejected. Mr.. Randall offered reso-
luton declaring that the President should
demand the immediate release OF DR.. How
ard and the restoration OF his property by
the Spanish authorities, which was referr-
ed to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, the House
bill granting site for depot in Wash
ington to the Baltimore and Potomac Rail-
road was productive of considerable debate,
and was not finally decided upon, but was
referred to the Committee on the District
of Columbia, the vote indicating that the
Senate is favorably to its passage. Business
from the Military Committee was then
taken up and number of bills passed.
The House bill for the payment of $3.50,
600 to the officers and crew ofthe kearsarge
for the destruction Of the Alabama was
adopted. In the House Of Representatives
Mr. Schofeld introduced bill to prevent
railroad companies from making discrimi-
nations as to freight and passengers, which
was referred to the Committee on Railways.
The bill to authorize the Postmaster Cen
eral to issue penny postal cards was passed.
The House took up the bill revising the
laws in relation to the mint and assay
offices, and pending it's consideration ad-
journed.
In the Senate on Wednesday, the ques-
ton of the right of the Senate to frame a
Tariff BILL which is disputed by the Hous-
es. came up. Mr.. Sherman reported from
the Committee of Finance that the Senate
had not transcribed its powers in making
up the bill which it recently sent to the
House, and which the latter returned, and
the matter was then referred to the Com
mittee on privileges. \ bill was introduce
ed for the construction of lines of telegraph
between the American and Asiatic coasts.
The Indian Appropriation bill was amend
ed and passed. In the House of Representa-
tives Mr.. Hill submitted bill to abolish
the ranking privilege, which drew out
strong opposition on the part of members
who don't want to pay their postage, and
was sent back to the Postal Committee.
The Legislative Appropriation bill was
taken up, and long discussion followed
on the Senate amendment approprating
$50, 600 to execute the plans Of the Civil
Service Commission. As usual, Mr.. Beck
| logged in by the ears something in connec-
ton with Department expenditures, and
Mr.. Sargent in reply spoke of the exonera-
ton of Secretary Robson from the charges
made against him. The House adjourned
without coming to vote.
In the Senate on Thursday, Mr.. Davis
presented the resolutions of the West Eir-
ginia Convention asking the removal of
political disabilities from all citizens of
that State. The Committee on Pensions
reported against granting II pension to the
widow of Admiral Farragut. Mr.. Sher-