Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-06
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
In the Senate, on the 2Sth, Vice-President
Colfax asked for committee to investigate
the charges which have been made against
him regarding his alleged completely in the
Credit Mobilier frauds. After remarks by
Senator Pratt, Republican, from Indiana,
favoring such appointment, and Thurman,
Republican, from Ohio, opposing it, the Sen
ate refused to appoint the proposed committee.
The legislative appropriation bill was resu'
med. An amendment was agreed to requir.
ing that no judgment of the Court of Claims
shall be paid, except to persons whose loyalty
has been proved. Mr.. Morrill,, in explana-
ton, said that this amendment was aimed
principally at Mr.. Lamar, of Savannah, Ga.
The House considered the Indian appropria-
ton bill, and adopted resolution directing
the Judiciary Committee to inquire into
the truth Of the report that j. W. Locke,
U. S. Judge of Florida, was holding office as
State Senator, thus disqualifying him from
holding his judicial position.
In the Senate, on the 29th, Mr.. Sprague
moved to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was passed, forbidding the pay.
ment of any judgment of the Court of Claims,
unless it appears that the claimant never
rendered aid or comfort to the Confederate
Government. Mr.. Morrill, moved to lay the
motion to reconsider on the table, which was
lost. The French spoliation bill being the
special order, gave way to the appropriation
bill. In the House, the bill admitting Colo
RADIO as State was tabled by III to 81. The
report of the Election Committee, in the case
of the Florida contestants, unseating Walls
and seating Niblack, was adopted.
In the Senate, on the 30th, the considera-
tion of the appropriations bill was resumed.
The pending question was on the motion of
Mr.. Sprague to reconsider the vote by which
the Morrill, amendment was adopted, prohibi-
ting the payment, unless by special act of
Congress, of judgments Of the Court of Claims
to claimants whose loyalty during the war
has not been proved. Mr.. Trumbull argued
in favor Of the motion to reconsider, and
against the amendment, which he said would
violate the plghted faith of both the Legisla-
tive and Executive Departments of the Gov.
ernment Messrs. Morrill,, Edwards and
Scott made arguments on the other side.
The motion to reconsider was agreed to by
yeas 20, to nays 26, when Mr.. Stevenson
moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was lost by yeas %, to nays 81.
An amendment by Alcorn, of Mississippi, to
extend the time for the presentation Of claims
twelve months from the passage of this act
was tabled by vote of 80 to 27 Alcorn
then moved to amend the Morrill, amendment
so as to make it apply only to the claim of
G. B. Lamar, of Georgia. This amendment
was tabled, and after some dilatory motions
on the Democratic side, the Morrill, amend
ment, unchanged, was agreed to by vote of
yeas 25 to nays %. In the House bill was
passed restoring from date pensions to soldiers
of 1912 who participated in the Southern
cause. 1t repeals the bill of 1862, striking
from the pension rolls all who sympathized
with the Confederacy, though it gives no back
pay. Mr.. Stewart, an attorney, having, on
the day previous, refused to answer certain
questions before the Credit Mobilier Investi-
CATION Committee, was arraigned before the
House for contempt. He made an hours
speech in justification Of himself, the main
point being that he could not, nor would not,
divulge any information that had come to his
knowledge solely from his relations as coun-
sell. He was given another opportunity to
consent to answer the questions, when, on
his again declining to disclose anything con-
fded to him as counsel, he was removed from
the Houseia custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
On the 31st, the Senate discussed steamship
subsidy bills without result. The House was
occupied with private bills.
On the End instant, the Senate was not in
session. The House was in Committee of the
Whole on the private calendar.
In the Senate, on the 3rd, the currency bill
was discussed a bill for erecting public build
ings at Atlanta, Ga, passed; subsidy bill
for the Australia Steamship Company was
tabled; and the disabilities of Mr.. Hardcastle,
of Mississippi, were removed. A petition
was presented from prominent business men
of New York memorializing against the repeal
of the bankrupt law. In the House, num-
Der of bills were introduced them
one to remove the disabilities of all the citizens
of the United States and one to remove the
tax on spirits distilled from fruits A bill
appropriating s5OO,O00 to pay mail contract
ors in the southern States for services up to
the time of the secession Of their respective
States, was rejected by vote of 81 to 81. A
proposition to appointa day for the consider
alton by the House of the various bills before
the Committee Of Ways and Means for re-
funding the cotton tax, was rejected by a vote
70 &o go