Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-03-13
Congressional Items.

Smith, ex-Assistant Postmaster General, ha
j sent to railroad companies proposing a eou
{ bination of these companies to secure a.
increased rate of compensation for earryiD:
the mails, and Offering to obtain that rat
for one-third of the amount of increase
: Mr.. Wilson commented severely on the con
duct of ex officials who profted by thei
knowledge of public life to cheat the GOV
eminent.
Mr.. Morrill, also, from the committee or
public buildings and grounds, reported al
r amendment to the appropriation bill, pro
viding for the extension of the capital
grounds. He said the committee had reason
, to believe the House of Representatives
would agree to it. Adopted.
The Senate elected by ballot the invcstiga-
ting committee on the sales of arms, al
follows: Mess-s. Hamlin of Maine, Car
penter of Wisconsin Sawyer Of South Caro-
lima, Logan Of Illinois, Ames Of Mississippi
Harlan OF Iowa, and Stevenson Of Kentucky
Mr.. Schurz had twenty three votes, but failed
Of an election. The committee intend to
begin operations at once, as its request for
a stenographer indicates
The Republican Congressional committee
reorganized on Wednesday, electing Senator
! wilson chairman, Representative Platt OF
Virginia secretary, and an executive board.
10 the House on W ednesday, Mr. Mercer,
of Pennsylvania, from the judiciary com
miltee, reported the supplemental apportion-
ment bill allowing additional Representatives
! from New Hampshire, Vermont. New York,
+ Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.
1t was recOmmitted.
On Thursday in the Senate. the appro-
priatiOn bill was considered without comm .
to a vote, and in the House the Senate bill
authorizing the withdrawal Of the three per
cent. certificates was defeated The de-
icIency bill was also taken up, and after dis
posing Of ali the amendments CD the bill and
agreeing TO one offered by Mr. Drives for the
payment of a full days wages to a5orers
and mechanics IN navy yards. &c, who had
worked only eight hours, the bill was passed O..
On Friday the Senate resumed the con-
siderati0n OF the civil service amendment to
the Legislative Appropriation bill Mr..
Howe read long and labJri5usly tacetious
speech in opposition t. the President plan,
and this was followed by an amusing little
encounter between Mcssrs. ElmundS and
CJnkling in the midst of one Of Eimuuds'
witty and sarcastic speeches. Couklng in
terruptei him and sand that he was 4. tght-
ing Windmill = q Certainly" was Mr.
L-AulAA4IN AattNh ANiAY3 e'iI -eAI-AN AA@ii
from New York" Mr.. Eimuuts. by has
shrewduess, finally succeeded I'D driving Mr..
C0nkliny upon q civil service platform 50
broad that he'll never yet of ID il iurIu.
the short remainder Of his Senatorial career.
Ia the House the bill clualiz.-E h3uutieS-
which Is published elsewhere was passed.
and Mr.. Dawes made an important statement
relative To the financial prospects of the
government Tor the current fiscal year.
Mr. Peters, from the judiciary committee,
reported the bill extending the pension pro-
vision Of nited States Judges q those who
had resigned after the first of january, lN6J.
and before the passage Of the ac- Jt the lO-h
Of April, 1862. after having attained the age
0f 20 years, and held their comm .s-iJns at
least twenty years. the pension % commence
from the date Ot resignation. ITO SAM tllt
the bin would only cover two cases, those IS
Judge Ware OF Maine. who had served for
forty four years. and was nlW go years Of
age and poor, and OF Judge SgraZue Of Mas
-aehusetts, who bad resi- Lnei Iu 1850 be-
cause he had become almost totally blind.
Alter some little discussion tine h.l was
passed.
Congress wa, not in session ODD Saturday.
Mr. Buffers bill t, ratiy the fishery
clause 90 the Treaty of Washington is d.
special order for the third week Do o., present
month. but 1T viii, 40 doubt be postponed
To- await the toal action Of England lr'u
the Geneva Conference question Mr.. Be
Ter HIS MAIDS a careful canvass 81 Doth the
republican aud democratic side, Ut tile
House, and is confident that d. can easily
d.t,or tas b1Ll sr - elo,,li come. rs, -- .-it-
this session. Secretary FISH told Mr. Builder
recently, that, as a friend of the aimui-Jra
ton, he ought not to be Sd actively hostile