Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-05-07
NUMBER 80.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
XLIInd CONGRESS, End SESSION.

| SENATE.-Saturday, April 27.-Mr. Ramsey
Delivered speech in favor of the Postal Tele-
graph bill. bill was passed confirming the
| title OF occupants of the Cherokee strip in
Kansas. The Deficiency, Naval, and Postofice
bills were severally called up, discussed and
amended, but no final action was taken. The
senate, at Q. clock Z. NJ, adjourned.
HoUsE.-The tariff bill was taken up in
Committee of the Whole, and Mr. Wood ad-
dressed the House upon the subject A sharp
discussion took place during the speech, in
which Mr.. Beck reiterated his charges of ex-
travagance in the conduct of the War Depart
ment. and declared that $l38, 900 900 used by
its officers had not been accounted for. Speech
es were delivered by Messrs. Burchard and
Slater. The committee, at 4:25 P. M, rose,
and the House adjourned.
Systematically, April29.- in the Senate.
a rule moved by Mr. Scott, was adopted for the
remainder of the session, limiting debate on
appropriation bills by any one Senator to five
minutes. Mr.. Casserly said this was the result
of caucus action. Mr. Trumbull said the rule
reversed the practice of the Senate from its
foundation, was unparalleled in the deliberative
assemblies of France or Great Britain, was de-
signed to place the minority In a helpless SUBJ
lection to the majority, and as a despotic mea-
81 sure transcended anything thought of by the
"domineerlng majority which put through the
Lecompton bill. On the adoption of the reso-
luton Messrs. Alcorn, Boreman, Sumner and
Trumbull voted mo" with the democrats.
HOUsE.-In the House, the usual large num-
Der of Monday bills were introduced, and one
amendment to the constitution, to restrict the
power OF Congress in granting the public lands.
bill was passed relieving the political disabili-
ties of Hon. S. Ii. Rogers, member elect from
North Carolina. A copy of the British counter
case was laid before the House. Bills were
finally passed providing surfmen at New Jersey
life saving stations to perpetuate testimony in
United States courts, and for the relief of pur-
chasers of lands sold for taxes in the insurrec-
tionary States. A resolution of thanks was a.
dopted to the State of Connecticut for the stat.
ues of Jonathan Trumbull and Roger Sherman
in the capitol.
SENATE.-Tuesday, April 30.-In the Sem
ate, Mr.. Hamilton, of Maryland, introduced
bill authorizing the extension of the National
Railroad of Maryland into the District of Co
lumbia. The House bill providing for COM
mission to inquire into depredations on the
Mexican border was passed. On the Morrill,
amendment to the deficiency appropriation bill
limiting the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims
the vote resulted in tie, when the Vice-Presi-
dent gave his casting vote in favor of the
amendment, and the bill passed. The House
bill to repeal the duty on tea and coffee was
amended to provide that it shall go into effect
on July l, and that tea and coffee then in ware
house shall be exempt from duty, and passed
by vote of yeas 80, nays 10.
HOUSE.-In the House bill was passed
providing for the issue of bonds in lieu of de-
faced or destroyed bonds of the United States.
The tariff bill was debated to the end of the
session.