Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-13
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.


Tuesday, the 4tb instant. The proceedings
in the Senate were mainly marked by the
valedictory address of Vice President Colfax,
and the address of Mr.. Wilson, Vice-Presi-
dent elect, on assuming the duties of the pre-:
siding officer of the Senate. After the reti-
ring Vice-President had administered the
oath of office to the Vice.President elect, he
announced that the time for the expiration
of the forty-second Congress had arrived, and
declared the Senate of the United States ad.
iourned sine die. Vice. President Wilson then
called the Senate of the forty-third Congress
to ORDER and announced his readiness to ad-
minister the oath of Office to new Senators.
The names of the Senators elect were then
called, and number came forward and were
sworn in-those from the Southern States be-
ing Messrs. Merrimon, of North Carolina;
Patterson, of South Carolina Gordon, of
Georgia; Conover, of Florida and John r.
Dennis, of Maryland. No claimant appear
ed from Louisiana. Bogy, of Missouri, over
whose election some controversy had arisen,
and Ingalls,, of Kansas, Pomeroys successor,
were also sworn in. After the oath Of office
had been administered to the new members
the Senate adjourned until Thursday.
The measures mentioned below are the most
important that were passed during the ses-
sion:
Bill reducing the officers and expenses of
the internal revenue, abolishing the office Of
assessor and retaining three hundred collec-
tors only.
Bill to extend the time during which States
may take advantage of the act donating pub
lie lands for the benefit of colleges.
Bill to abolish the grades Of admiral and
vice admiral in the navy.
Bill amending the bankrupt law allowing
exemptions in accordance with the constitu-
tions of the respective States.
Bill to abolish the franking privilege.
Bill appropriating s113,5OO to defray the
expenses of the American and British Claims
Commission.
Bill to authorize the construction of eight
new vessels Of war.
Bill to revise, consolidate, and amend the
pension laws.
Bill to amend the postal code.
Bill putting colored soldiers on the same
footing with whites in matters relating to pen.
sions.
bill to authorize the construction of ten
new ships of war.
Bill to prosecute in the courts of the Uni
ted States fraudulent holders of the moneys,
bonds, or stocks of the Union Pacific railroad.
Bill to complete the revision of the statutes
Of the United States, and for report of the
same to Congress in December next.
Resolution congratulating the people of
Spain on the establishment Of republic.
Resolutions of the House to impeach Judge
Deahay, of Kansas, and order Of the Senate
accepting notice of the same:
Regular appropriation bills. In addition
to the usual appropriations for public service,
bill was also passed increasing the salaries
of the President, Vice-President, members Of
Congress and sundry other civil officers.
Published last week.
Special appropriation bills to pay the
awards of the Southern Claims Commission,
and to carry out the provisions of the Treaty
of Washington in relation to fisheries
The Senate, in extra session on the 9Th, oc-
cupied the entire day discussing the ques-
ton of admitting Spencer, Republican, of
Alabama, the Senatorship from that State be-
ing also claimed by Sykes, Democrat. The
question remained undecided at the hour of
adjournment.
On the 9TH, the Senate ratified the treaty
with Mexico for the continuance of the Mexi-
can Mixed Commission for the adjustment Of
claims. The action of the Mexican govern
ment is yet required. Spencer was sworn in
as Senator from Alabama. Mr.. West pre-
sented the credentials of General Mcmillan,
elected Senator from Louisiana by the Nc
Enry Legislature. Ordered to be printed
The Senate then went into executive session.
On the Sth, considerable debate was devo.
ted to determining the order Of business for
the present extra session of the Senate, and
it was finally agreed to take up and dispose
of the report of the Select Committee on the
charges affecting Senators Caldwell and
CLAYTON, and the report Of Morrill,, of Maine,
from the Select Committee on the evidence
reported from the House of Representatives
affecting certain Senators regarding Credit
Mobiler transactions.
BY an act of the Legislature, at its recent
session, the road law was amended so as to in
clude all persons within the ages of eighteen
and fifty-fve years, as liable to work on the
roads, and no one is now exempt. Under the
old law, only those between 1S and 45 years
were liable, and school teachers, ministers, &C.,
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