Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-12-12
SUMMARY OF THE PROCEED-
IHGS OF CONGRESS.

HOUSE.-W We0He50ay, Dec.a 4lQ.-1u
the House, resolutions were adopted
instructing the COMMITTEES on the Dis
|trict of Columbia to report on the pres
ent debt of the District; instructing the
Committee on Commerce to examine
the matter of sunken wrecks in the
channel off Sandy Hook. Other unim-
portant resolutions were introduced
and referred, after which the bill to
construct ten slOops of war Was discus
lsed until the close of the morning hour.
The House then went into Committee
lof the Whole and considered the PreSi-
dents message. The question of i
postal telegraph was diseased, and re-
ferred to the Committee on Appr0pria-
tions. The centennial celebration was,
after discussion, referred to seleei
committee of nine. q
The Senate met and adjourned.
SENATE.-Dec. 5.-In the Senate
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, called up the
bill of last session il, regard to the en-
Edowment of national colleges by the
proceeds derived from the sales of pub
| lie lands. He delivered lengthy adj
dress in support of the measure, re
viewing the advantages to the several
States which would result from it, ex.
planning the system proposed, and
arguing that the abundant lands still
in. the possession of the Government
tcould not be disposed of more usefully
OF. upon sounder principles of economy,
| HOUsB,-In the House, the debate
ION the new sloops-of-War bill was re-
sumed, the main point of contention
being the amendment providing that
tha1f the vessels be built IN !5rivate ship
yards, The Observation-Disclosures in
iby Messre. Potter, sAeck, Archer, Il.
Myers, Kelley, Lynch; Hall, and SEQ
field, who reported the measure-final-
Iy ended in its. adoption with amend.
ments reducing the number of sloops
to six, providing for the constructing
of hall in private shipyards, and pro
ihibiting each from carrying more than
! ten guns. a bill for the relief of the
sufferers by the Boston fire was passed
unanimously after a short debate:
| SENATE.-Dec. 6th.-In the Senate
members of standing committees were
elected. Senator Wilson was excused
1 from further service on committees -
Bills were introduced to replace ma
tional bank notes with United State;
lrnotes; to erect public buildings in Gov
Iington, to appoint committee to re-
port on legislation to relieve the pres
ent striugeney of money. The resolu-
Ltion calling for information in regard
to sending United States troops to Ar
kansas was called up and referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs
HogsE.-HIn the House, bill was in
Etroduced for the payment of property
destroyed during the rebellion by au-
thority of the government. Mr
Dawes bill to abolish the offices of As.
Isesser and Assistant Assessor of Inter.
tnal Revenue, &C., was passed, being
lamended SO as tofix the time for the
i bill to go into operation at July 1, 1873
land to require Collectors to give addi'
ttional bonds for their new duties. Il
/ was voted to transfer to Wisconsin and
inter, at the public expense, the bodie:
lof w. w. Dantz, wife and child, whC
4 were killed in the late railroad accident
lat Mifflin, Pa, Mr.. Dantz being an EN-
i ployee of the House of Representatives
i HoUsE.-Dec. 9th.-In the House
! Mr.. Banks offered resolutions fixing the
salary Of the President at $780, 900 Pc
iaunum, commencing March, 1873; that
the term of Office of the President ant
j Vice President be six years, the Presi
ident to be ineligible for reelection; anC
that the President and Vice Presiden
be elected by the people at the same
time Congressman are elected; the por
/ ton of the resolutions as to term D
President being in the form of al
laaaendmentto to the Constitution.
4 Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, Offered
a bill renting the duties on certain
goods destroyed by the Boston fire, ant
4 also to refund discriminating duties un
\ der the proclamation of october so, ~
on merchandise then actually afoat.
j Bills were also introduced to repea
\ the tax on spirits made from fruit; pro
4 fviding for the safety of bonds; to re
duce taxes; repeating the usury section
4 of the curRncy act; amending the post
J al act and providing for the collection
of statistics of the inland and coastwis
trade between the States. e -
4 Several other bills were introduced
! Including one repeating the iron clat
ioath. . -.
1 Bills were also introduced and refer
red as follows: BY Mr.. Shellabarger, t.
amend the act to facilitate postal ant
: telegraphic communication; by MI
Morgan, of Ohio, to secure justice t
4 the wool growers of the United States.
q Mr.. Dawes introduced a resolution
d for adjournment over the Christina
} holidays, which was amended ans
:. adopted SO as to make the recess exten'
from Friday, December 10th, to Mon
3 day January 9Th. e, i.f.''
; Mr.. Acker moved to suspend tn
rules and pass the bill removing al
political disabilities and extending
general amnesty. Negatived-yeas
IO2; nays, "a; less than the neeessar.
: two-thirds in the Affirmative.
SENATE.AIn the Senate petition
). were presented for a prohibatOry liquo
law. - .,
The report of the Conference Com
! n1ittee on the bill regulating the cor
: Istruction of bridges across the Ohio riN
:. er was agreed to, and the House havin
agreed to it at the last session, the bi
is now passed.
: Mr.. Summers joint resolution propos
ing arl amendment to the Constitutio
confining the President to one teri
!. Twas referred to the Judiciary Commi
|. ltee.
Hon. J.sF.9 Updegraph, elector fc
! THE Sixteenth District, received 2S1 81
( votes, the largest number cast for an
\ lof the District electors, with two exceI
+ tions. Another evidence of the gres
influence ofSthe Steubenyille Herdtt
: Guernsey Times. q : q q; ~ -