Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-01-13
CONGRESS.
MONDAY.

Congress reassembled after the holiday re-
cess. In the Senate Mr.. Wilson introduced a
bill granting reward to Miss Ann Eliza Car
roll, of Maryland, for services in furnishing
valuable information during the war; Mr.
Pomeroy, a bill granting one million acres Of
public lands to the District Of Columbia for
school purposes. The general amnesty bill
cane up, but in the absence of Mr.. Robertson,
who has it in charge, lay over. Mr.. FentOn
addressed the Senate in favor Of his bill for
reform in the customs service, and said that
out Of 1000 cases of attempts to delraud the
revenue detected during period Of eighteen
months, only one was followed up by indct-
ment, and that was abandoned upon the pay
meut of large sum to the collector.
In the House, number of bills were intro
duced and referred Mr.. Cox introduced a
joint resolution recognizing a state Of war in
Cuba, and extending belligerent rights to the
rebels The House refused, by vote Of II
to 81, to instruct the ways and means COM
mittee to report bill for the repeal of the in
come tax. A resolution was adopted directing
inquiry into the grant of 100000 acres of
land to the Atchison and Pixies Peak Branch
of the Kansas Pacific railroad Mr.. Wood
said that the grant was a fraud, in which
United States Senator and high officials were
| interested and that it was in consequence of
having given an opinion adverse to the grant
| that Mr.. Alderman was forced out Of Office
| A resolution for constitutional amendment
to make naturalized citizens eligible to the
Presidency was defeated A bill was passed
removing the political disabilities of sundry
citizens of Mississippi who were elected to
Office last fall.
TUESDAY.
In the Senate, committee was appointed
to investigate the charge against Senator
Clayton, Of Arkansas, that he, as Governor of
that State, fraudulently issued certificate Of
election to a Congressman who was not elect
ed, in consideration of receiving the support
of the Consressman's friends in his own can
vass for his present position. Mr.. G. Goldth-
waite, democrat, was admitted to his seat as
Senator from Alabama. To Mr.. Foster Blod
gett was appropriated per diem and expenses
for contesting seat from Georgia.
In the House, the committee on elections
reported in lavor of Mr.. BraAton, of Virginia,
sitting member, over his contestant, Mr.
Mckenzie Mr. Richie, of Maryland, pre-
scented memorial from citizens of Cumber-
land, praying the sale of the vacated soldiers
cemetery to the Hebrew congregation.
WEDNESDAY.
In the Senate, joint resolution was re-
ported, and passed to second reading, au-
thorizing the reception at the West Point
Academy of six japanese youths, their ex-
penses to be paid by their government.
In the House, official correspondence was
received from Secretary Boutwell,, showing
that Generals Howard and Balloch of the
freedmen's bureau, had invested government
funds in bonds and made no account of the
accruing interest The case Of w. 7. Clark,
republican, claiming seat as member Of
the House from Texas, came up. 1t was con-
tended that the Governors certificate did not
constitute p1'ima .facie title to the seat, be-
cause it showed that he had arbitrarily thrown
out the votes of enough counties to leave
Clark majority, while he was in fact defeat
ed. Mr. Farnsworth protested against the
farce of seating men for few weeks merely
that they might draw their pay as members of
the House, and against the farce of allowing
| Governors to elect members Of the Honse.-
Mr.. Clark was seated by vote of l02 to 10,
and sworn in.
THURSDAY.
In the Senate, the deficiency appropriation
bill providing S27, S75 for the expenses of the
congressional Ku-Klux committee was passed.
The proposed constitutional amendment limit
ing the President to one term was called up
by Mr.. Conkling, who expressed his belief
that no President since Washington had had
so stroug a hold on the affections of the people
| in raplx- cold thu