Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-12-18
Congress.

w cuHeStdy.-ln the senate, MIR. scott, oil
Pennsylvania, presented remonstrance oil
the type founders of Philadelphia, Boston
San Francisco, Chicago and other cities
against the ratification of the Canadian re.
ciprocity treaty as far MS it relates to type
and type material.
memorial was presented by the nation
al association of lumbermen against the re-
ciprocity treaty.
The Senate was in session but half an
hour.
The House was in session but little longer
than the Senate.
A resolution was introduced by Fernando
Wood calling for full statement of changes
in duties since Jan |, 1874, consequent on the
revision OF the laws by tho Poland commit.
tee
A bill was introduced for the relief of the
sufferers from the gr,,sshoppers in Nebraska
and other states, by allowing homestead set
tiers to absent themselves from their land
till May. 1876.
Tho various portions of tho message were
referred to the various committees, that por-
ton referring to the affairs in Arkansas be-
ing referred to the select committee on that
subject, appointed last session, and that por-
ton referring to the troubles in Louisiana
and other southern states to select COM
n,ittec of seven members to be appointed by
the speaker.
ThurSoidy.-In the Senate the House bill
appropriating $4,000 for the purchase of
post Office scales was passed, with an amend
ment that proposals for furnishing such
scales shall be invited for Mt least seven
days, and the contract be awarded to the
lowest responsible bidder.
The Senate adjourned to Monday.
House. The Senate amendment to the
bill for the purchase OF scalcs'was concurred
in.
A resolution was adopted calling for u re-
port of the present condition of the Freed
mems bank, and bill introduced ordering
the commissioner of the Freedmen's bank to
declare nm immediate dividend, and sue the
trustees and other officers of the bark with
view TO holding them personally liable.
The fact that only 100000 can be realized
out of IS, 900, 900 of deposits surprises every
body.
The rest of the day was taken up with dis
cussing the financial situation.
Friddy. The bill for the relief of the
Western grasshopper sufferers was passed in
the House.
MOnday.-In the Senate petition was
presented from the colored people of Indiana
protesting against tho recent decision of the
supreme court of that state excluding them
from the public schools, and asking that the
proper officer be directed to appeal the case
to the United States supreme court.
A bill was passed from the committee on
public lands for the relief of settlers who
have suffered from grasshopperS. authorizing
tho commissioner general of tho land Office
to modify the homestead law in their favor
A resolution offered by Mr.. Anthony was
adopted that the printing committee inquire
whether the Congressional Record cannot be
reduced.
House. A bill was introduced providing
that where libel appears in any newspa-
pcrs published elsewhere but circulated in
Washington, no indictment shall be found
in the District unless the party libeled shall
reside therein. and in that case it may be re-
moved to the United States Circuit or Dis
trict Court for the place where the newspa-
per is published; also bills reducing the
letter postage to one cent to amend the
Constitution concerning the official term of
the President to repeal the law requiring
the prepayment of newspaper postage.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana offered II resou-
ton that in the judgm cnt of the House, in
the present condition OF the financial affairs
OF the Government, no subsidies in money,
bonds, public lands or pledges of public cred
it should be granted by Congress to associa-
tons on corporations engaged in public or
private enterprises, and that MI appropria-
tions ought to DO limited TO such amounts
rs shall be imperatvely required for public
service.
Without action upon il. and leaving it
over till next Monday, the House adj ourned,
TaeSddy.-ln the Senate bill WAS intro
duced to authorize the president to Temporal
riIy issue supplies OF food and disused army
clothing to tho grasshoppor sufferers, and APP
propriating 100000 to carry out the provis-
ions of the bill.
The judiciary committee were instructed
to inquire and report whether the so-caled
press gag law really applied to libels in the
District of Columbia, or whether people ro-
siding Mt distance could be brought for
trial here under it.