The Cecil Whig., 1872-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL,

proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
ton which will give the people the right to
vote for President direct without the in
tervention of electors Mr.. Townsend in
troduced a bill permitting the transporta-
ton of seeds, bulbs, &C., by mail at the
rate of four ounces for two cents Mr..
Merriam introduced bill providing for
the chartering of national Banks without
circulation; also repeating the usury clause
of the present banking law. An effort was
made to take up the Supplementary Civil
Rights bill. and motion to lay the same
on the table was defeated by vote of rs
ayes to 112 noes. The Democratic men,
bers of Congress took the earliest oppor-
tunity of showing their contempt for the
Cincinnati platform. The bill was finally
referred to the Committee on Revision of
Laws, and it will take something more
than Mr.. Summers influence with the
Democratic side of the House to rcsurrect
it again. Mr.. Hooper introduced a bill
appropriating 100000 to the families of
the firemen who lost their lives in the late
congregation at Boston. Mr.. Garfield and
Mr.. Kerr opposed the bill as setting dan
gerous precedent. Mr.. Butler favored 1t,
and took the ground that the firemen had
saved to the Government thirteen millions
of dollars worth of property, and that this
gratuity would be in the nature of salvage
or prize money. The bill was referred to
the Committee on Appropriations, with
leave to report at any time. Mr.. Archer
introduced a bill removing the political
disabilities from all citizens of the United
States, and comforting absolute amnesty.
The House, by vote of 101 to SO, refused
to suspend the rules for its immediate con-
sideration "a two-thirds majority being re-
quired, and the bill went over. A joint
resolution was passed providing for the
adjournment af Congress from December
Goth to January 9th
In the Senate on Monday, Mr.. Sumner
introduced a resolution proposing the ''One
term" amendment to the Constitution,
making the reelection of a President i'm
possible. The resolution was referred to
the Committee on Judiciary. Mr.. Vickers
presented memorial from the Friends
Library and Literary Association of Balti-
more city praying for the enactment Of a
law prohibiting the manufacturing and
sale of spiritueus liquors in the District of
Columbia and in the Territories.
In Senate on Tuesday, Mr. Sherman,
from the Committee on Finance, reported
the bill introduced few days ago by Mr..
Pomeroy, to prohibit the manufacture,
importation, or sale of Intoxicating liquors
in the District of Columbia and the other
Territories, and moved to refer it and the
petitions on the subject to the Committee
on the Judiciary The Finance Commit
tee, he said, was in favor of law imposing
IA penalty for the benefit of the wives or
creditors of drunkards upon those who
sold them liquor, but thought it was rath-
er question of morals than of finance.-
Mr.. Pomeroy said the Judiciary Commit
tee was not committee on morals. Mr..
Sherman. Not exactly, but it is COM
tee on laws. Mr.. Conkling opposed refer
ring the subject to the Judiciary Commit
tee, and asked whether the question of
prohibiting importations did not belong to
the Finance Committee. Mr.. Sherman
said the Committee on Finance was of
opinion that Congress had no right to pro-
hibit the importation of liquors. Mr.. Ed
mundS opposed the reference of the sub
ject to the judiciary Committee. Con-
gress had no right to legslate in regard to
the manufacture of liqbors, except in the
Territories, but the importation of liquors
was Il question of revenue, and therefore a
question for the Finance Committee. Af-
ter some discussion the Senate refused to
discharge the Finance Committee from the
consideration of the subject. Mr.. Cole,
Republican senator from California offered
a resolution which was adopted to inquire
into the eXpedieucy of clecting President
and Vice President and United States Sen
ator by direct vote of the people. The res
olution was adopted by a large majority,
showing that the Republican party are up
to the times in promoting and perfecting
every useful reform demanded by the peo-
pie. On the Temperance question above
referred to the Finance Committee, will be
compelled to report for or against, and
show their hand on this important ques-
tion which is now attracting so much at
tention in the country.
A bill amendatorv of the Internal Reve-
nue. Laws has been reported to the Senate,
giving the Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue. authority to abolish the Office of Asses
sors and Assistant Assessors at any time
after the first of July next. The shortest
system.
Wednesday, granting equal privileges in
the public schools IN the District of Colum-
bia, without distinction of race OR color,
but Mr.. Davis objected. and it went over.
His Supplementary Civil Rights bill shared
the same fate. l.. @. c. Lamar, of Missis-
sippi, was relieved of the disabilities i'm
posed by the Thirteenth Amendment A
number of private bills were passed, and
the Senate concurred in the House resolu-
tion proposing an adjournment from Dec.
20 to January 9th.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue
is now of the opinion that the collections
of internal revenue for the current year
will go eight or ten millions beyond his
original estimate. This announcement
imparts considerable strength to the prop
osition in Congress to remove all internal
taxes, except those on liquors and tobacco.
The House Committee on Commerce is
generally disposed to enact some legisla-
tion this winter, which will regulate tolls
for freights and passengers on railroads
running through the several States. Last
session this committee, after an investiga-
tion of the subject, came to the conclusion
that railroal companies take through pas
sengers and freights at losing prices, and
make the losses good by overcharges on
local passenger and freight rates.
The bill appropriating $50, 4S0, 900 to pay
pensioners for the current year was passed
by the House on Thursday. The Soldiers
Bounty Land bill was also passed by the
House. Should this bill become law, it
will take from the public domain not less
than two hundred millions of acres, which
would be transferred to the hands of spec
ulators for song, and about break up the
pre- empting land by actual settlers. 1t
would be far better for to pension the sol
diers with money from the sales by govern
ment Of public lands.
DECEMBER.
Winter. Just now, relieves all dweers in temperate
regions north OF the Equator from the original
-: miasnata unless homebrcwed in the kitchen. the
rIyar, the chamber. But this is the very
in which meet with the cravest Of constitu-