The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-02-01
Congressional Proceedings.

tiOn Of pneymatic tube road from New
York to Chicago. Mr.. morrill,, from the
Naval Committee, reported a bill authorlz-
ing the President to appoint Captain q. y
preble Commodore in the Navy. The
Legislative Appropriation, bill was con
sidered. Mr.. Edmunds offered an amend
ment, directing the Secretary Of the Treas.
ury to withhold all payments to any railroad
company on account of freight or transpor-
tation Of any kind, to the amount Of any
payment made By the United States for
interest on bonds issued to such company
and not reimbursed. Considerable dis
cussion followed, and amendments and
substitutes for the Edmunds amendment
were offered, but pending action the Senate
went into executive session and soon after
adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. Hoar, from the Flee
ton Committee, reported in the South
Carolina contested case, that neither Bowen
nor De Large was entitled to the seat.
The report was adopted. The Naval APP
preparation bill was considered, but laid
aside for business of the District Of Colum.
bia, After passing number OF District
bills the House adjourned.
SATURDAY, Jan. 25.-The Senate was
not in session on Saturday. In the House,
| little of importance was done. A resolu-
ton was adopted asking information ofthe
President concerning the occupation by
British subjects of land in the island OF
| 49,, I,,.r .,rJ ,rkotl,a, la,,,sl,t;on n,, fha
subject is necessary A bill was reported
appropriatiug s5O0,0OO for the purchase
OF an addition to the site of the Boston
Post-ofiice, and referred to the committee
of the Whole, A bill was passed providing
for the holding of District and Circuit
| Court of the United States at Wilkesbarre,
Pa After disposing of reports from the
Judiciary Committee, ONO public interest,
the House adjourned,
MONDAY, Jan. 27.-In the Senate
memorials from Boston against the repeal
of the Bankrupt law were presented.
Bills were introduced to regulate the
building of bridges over nayigable streams,
TO contract with the Oriental and Medi-
terranean Steamship Company for the car
rying Of mails to Europe, and to endorse
its bonds to the extent Of sl3, 900, 900 and
to appropriate S2,ODO,0 900 for education in
the Southern States All these bills we're
referred to appropriate committees. The
Committee on Public Buildings were direc-
ted to inquire into the expediency of
erecting another Presidential mansion. A
number of propositions were offered look.
ing towards obtaining from the Pacific
Railroads a settlement Of their indebted
ness to the United States, and it was finally
ordered that the Government should bring
suit against the Companies for recovery of
the five per cent Of the payment Of interest
upon and redemption OF the bonds guaran-
teed by the United States; that the Secretary
of the Treasury shall withhold payments
on account offreight or transportation equal
to the amount due the Government, and
that the Companies may bring suit in the
Court of Claims to settle the points of law
involved. These provisions were incor-
porated in the Legislative Appropriation
bill, and, although adopted as amendments,
do not become law until the bill is passed,
pending the consideration of which the
Senate adjourned. In the House the most
important bills presented were to repeal the
Shipping Commissioners act, to complete
the Washington monument and 10 refund
the cotton tax. The Senate bill for the
relief of Hon. John Thomson Mason, late
Collector of the Port of Baltimore. was
passed. The House showed disposition
decidedly adverse to refunding the cotton
tax by rejecting resolution directing the
Committee on Ways and Means to report
bill to that effect. 1t was ordered that
committee of thirteen members confer with
the Washington Monument Society and
report whether it is possible to complete
the monument by 1876. The bill abolish
ing the RANKING Privilege was passed
with the Senate amendments. The House
then adjourned
TUESDAY. Jan. 28.-In the Senate
Mr.. Hamilton presented memorial from
the heirs of Nathaniel Heard, asking for
compensation for property destroyed by
the British in the War of 1872; also, the
petition of NJ. X. easier and 7. j. Quinn,
Paymasters Clerks at the Naval School at
Annapolis, asking for increase Of pay. Mr..
Hamilton also introduced bill incorpora.
ting Che Washington and Rock Greek
Valley Railroad. An appropriation of
sll3,O0O was made to pay the expenses of
the Mixed Claims Commission. A bill
refunding to Japan part OF the indemnity
fund in the shape of rents for United
States naval hospitals at Japanese ports
was passed. The general appropriation
bill being under consideration, Mr. Morrill,
moved an amendment to prevent judgments
obtained in the Court OF Claims on account
of property taken from disloyal persons
from being paid without special appro.
priatiou in each case. The pending claim
of Mr.. l.. O. c. Lamar, of Georgia, for
million of dollars, was cited as an instance
Of the imposition against which it was
necessary to provide. The amendment
was passed. Mr.. Thurman introduced a
resolution calling upon the Secretary of
the Treasuary to furnish the Senate with
statement Of all the sums of money paid
since 1869 to informers, detectives, &c.
Mr.. Hill, from the Committee on Privile.
ges and Elections, reported bill increasing
the salaries of Members Of Congress to 81
700, but it was promptly laid on the table.
President Coliax rose to personal expla.
nation. Afteralluding to the grave charges
which have been made against him in
connection with the Credit Mobilier stock.
he demanded that a committee composed
Of Senators hostile to him in politics be
appointed to make thorough and exhaust
i've examination. The Vice President then
asked Mr. Anthony to take the chair. and
he Withdrew from the Senate Chamber
Mr.. Pratt moved the appointment of the
committee suggested by Mr.. Colfax, but
Mr.. Thurman showed that the Senate had
no jurisdiction over the Vice President
except as a Court Of Impeachment, aud
thereupon Mr.. Pratt's motion was unani.
nously rejected