South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-12-26
Congr s s


In the Senate, on the Eth, Mr.. SUMNER
offered a resolution, which was agreed TO,
instruciing the committee on finance 20
consider the expedienoy Of a5olishiug the
office of commissioner Of Internal revenue
and other Offices under him, aud providing
by law for the collection of all internal tax
es by the sale aud use OF stamps. M,.
DAVIS introduced the bill TO reimburse, by
a payment Of $500, 900, the State of West
Virginia for losses of school houses, bridges,
&c, during the war, caused by military OPP
erations; referred to the committee on
claims. Ga motion Of Mr. EDMUNDs the
House bill to repeal the bankrupt Law was
referred TO the committee on the judiciary.
The House bill appropiiating four millions
to the navy, called up by Mr.. MORRILL,, e.
voked animated debate, but was passed bv
large majority with an amendment strik-
ing out the clause comforting the authority
on the President to transfer an appropria-
ton from one bureau 10 another.
10 tho House tho consideration Of the
salary bill and proposed amendments caus-
ed protracted discussion. Mr.. HOLMAN
offered an amendment, which was adopted,
providing that all members of the present
Congress who had received extra compeu-
sati0n as members of the last Congress
should refund the mount so received. Mr.
HURLBERT offered an amendment, as a
substitute for the whole bill, fixing the SAL
airy of members of Congress ut Sc 600, with
an addition of g., 1000 for the Speaker, and
making the salary of the Vice President
% ,00O, which was passed by q Uicd uoce
ha IL,
ln the Senate, on the 18th, the House
salary bill was read and referred to the COM
mittee on retrencbment and reform. The
resolution on the 6nance came up ir repu.
lar order, and was discussed by Messrs.
BOUTWELL,, MORTON and others. At the
conclusion of Mr.. MoRToN's speech the
Senate went into executive session.
ln the House, Mr. HALE, of New York,
rose to personal explanation, and some
time was consumed in a spiteful encounter
OF words between himself and Mr. WILSON,
OF Indiana. MIR. BUTLER followed with
rather moderate speech, pointed with the
Serlp'ural quotation "IIct him that is
without sin among you first cast stone at
her, The Senate ameudmt MT to the naval
appropriation bill was reported from the
committee AID concnrred ip. hir. DAWES
introduced concurrent resolution for ad-
journment from Friday, the 10Th inst, to
January 5'h, which was adopted, aud the
House adjourned.
10 the Senate, on the 19th, Mr.. WRIGHT.
from the committee on re,renchment. re-
ported the House salary bill, with amend
ments, fixing the salaries of members OF
Congress at the compensation received be-
fore the act Of March 3, 1873, and giving
to the heads of the departments IS, 900 per
annum, and requiring the Secretary of the
Treasury to cover into the Treasury all
sums undrawn, or all that may come into
his possession as return of the increased
compensation. The Senate, after tho trans
action of some other business, then went
into executive session, and subsequently,
adjourned until January 5, 1874
In the House, Mr. BUTLER called up the
civil rights bill, which was discussed by
Messrs. BECK, BUTLER and others. Mr..
BUTLER advocated it's passage strenuously.
and said, in allusion to the ejectment Of
cOlored men from the railroad cars, that he
wanted bill as long as a railroad to pro-
tect them. Mr.. BECK opposed the BILL not
from wish to deprive the coorcd man of
legal rights, but because be thought these
matters should be left to the States. He
thought no benefit but harm would accrue
to those whose advantage the bill apparent
ly contemplated. The bill is TO be further
discussed the first day after the recess. Va
rious bills were presented aud referred and
the House, at 3:45 z. NJ, adjourned until
.IanuaTy n 1874