The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-18
Proceedings of Congress.


intempeance. The Indian appropriation
bill was amended so as to authorize the
President to appoint Eve inspectors of
Indian affairs, at $4,000 per annum each
and travelling expenses, to hold Office for
four years, and the bill then passed.
The House was engaged on private bills
and on the Legislative appropriation bill,
incidental to which the bureau of educa-
ton, It's centralzing tendencies, and the
disposition towards personal government
"a generally, manifested in these times, came
in for share Of attention.
SATURDAY, Jan. 1.-THE Senate was rot
in session on Saturday. In the House %
Representatives an adverse report was
made upon the Senate bill for the relief of
the purchasers of lots and houses at Har-
pers Ferry Several petitions from Mary
landcrs for the payment of the French
Spoliation claims were presented. The
Legislative Appropriation bill was taken
up, and an amendment appropriating s400,-
900 to pay Judgments awarded by the
Court of Claims was rejected.
MONDAY. Jan. l3.-In the Senate a
y bill was introduced incorporating com
\ pany to build a railway from Port Royal,
South Carolina, TO Leayenworth, Kansas.
There was considerable debate on the bill
of Mr.. Morrill, to give further endowments
to agricultural colleges, by which il is ex-
pected to bestow S34 900, 900, the pro-
ceeds Of the sales of public lands for the
next ten years.
In the House, bills were introduced to
repeal the tax ON friction matches and to
equalze newspaper postage; also a memo
rial from Cecil county, Maryland, for the
removal of distractions in Elk River, at
Elkton. 4 resolution was adopted for an
inquiry into the recent conduct of United
States Judge Durcll in Louisiana. An
interesting debate came up on resolution
for another committee Of three Senators
and six Representatives to investigate the
troubles in that State, Mr.. Butler, of Mas
sachusetts, expressing himself in favor of
direct congressional interference through
commission to 20 down and hold fair
election As II compromise, however, the
whole matter was referred to the Judiciary
committee, with leave 10 report ut any
time, and to send for persons and papers.
There are now six committees investigating
Louisiana. Two proposed constitutional
amendments were introduced, one restrict
ing the imposition of duties on imports
exclusively to the payment of the public
debt and interest, and TO consolidate the
present debt at a uniform rate of interest,
and to extinguish it at the rate of $50 ,000, :
900 year; the second providing for flu
ture constitutional amendments by Il three
fifth vote of both houses of Congress, by a
convention called BY State Legislatures,
&c.
TUESDAY. Jan li-In the Senate petit
tions from soldiers Of the Federal army were
presented asking for the grant of 100 acres
of land each 10 the honestly discharged
soldiers and sailors Of the war Secretary
Belknap estimates that the passage of the
bill would call for 320,00O,00O acres
The Committee on Finance submitted a
report and resolution adverse to the power
Of the Secretary of the Treasury to reissue
any portion of the four millions of currency
which has been retired The Judiciary
Committee WAS instructed to inquire wheth-
err the States have now full power over
railroads within their limits, especially as
to rates charged for freight and passengers.
An amendment TO the currency act was
passed to permit National Banks TO loan
ten per cent. of their surplus as well as OF
their capital The bill to further endow
Agricultural aud Mechanical Colleges was
debated, and pending motion To take up
the French Spoliation claims the Senate
adjourned. In the House Of Representa-
tives an amendment to the Legislative Ap-
preparation bill was passed directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to retain the
money due the Pacific Railroads for trans
portation, and apply it to the payment OF
the interest which the roads owe the gov
eminent. There was considerable dis
e,ISsion of this subject, and the House did
nothing else of Importance.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. l5.-ln the Senate
the minority Of the Committee on Finance
submitted report affirming the authority
of the Secretary of the Treasury to reissue
the forty-four millions of retired currency
A bill was passed for the relief of Hon
John Thompson Mason on account Of mat
tiers occurring while he filed the Office OF
Collector of the port of Baltimore. Mr.
Sherman reported bill to compel the
stockholders of National Banks failing IL
pay up their capital stock to pay the def
CHENEY otherwise the banks are to go int
liquidation or have receiver appointed t.
close I'M their business. No other bushes.