Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-01-15
xLIIId CONGRESS.
6ENlTE.

ALllld COhGhESSs
SENATE.
Mr.. Gordon, of Georgia, introduced bill to
repeal the section of the bill of March 8. 1878,
forbidding the free transmission ofperiodicals,
magazines, and newspapers through the
lege. Referred.
Mr.. Gordon also submitted preamble and
resolution reciting that, whereas the abolition
Of the franking privilege, intended to econo-
mize the expenditures Of the Government,
prevents the general distribution to the people
Of improved field and garden seeds, and also
discoursges the distribution Of public docu-
ments which afford important information to
the people therefore,
Resofued, That the Postmaster General be
requested to report for the information Of the
Senate: First-What amount Of expense, IL
any, has been saved to the Government by the
abolition Of the franking privilege; Second
How many employees in the mail service, II
any, have been discharged, and how much less,
carriers for the mails. since the abolition Of the
franking privilege; Third-How much less
appropriation will be required for the postal
service by reason Of the abolition Of the said
privilege.
Mr.. Sumner presented petition signed by
citizens Of Pennsylvania asking that Congress
take steps to provide for the settlement OF
|
By Mr.. Clayton-To repeal the tax Of ten per
cent. on the circulation Of bank notes, to take
effect Jan. 1, 1874. Referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Among the bills introduced in the Senate
was one by Senator Ingalls, requiring the re-
funding to settlers on the double minimum
lands within railroad grants of all they have
giving homestead settlers on the same class Of
lands, who are now restricted to eighty acres Of
land, the right to eighty acres additional. The
bill abolishes all distinction between lands with
in and those outside Of railroad grants.
Mr.. Davis introduced bill to reimburse the
State Of West Virginia, directing the Secretary
of the Treasury to pay to that State, upon the
order of the Governor Of that State, the sum
of $500 900, to be applied to the rebuilding Of
bridges, Court-h houses, ,school-houses, churches,
turnpike roads, and other public property in
said State destroyed by Federal troops, by
military orders, during the late civil war.
The House bill appropriating s4,0O0,000 for
the navy was passed by vote OF 46 yeas to
nays.
The Chaplain Of the Senate in his opening
prayer alluded to the death Of Col. Dent, Mrs.
Grants father, invoking the consolation Of Di-
vine Providence upon the President and family
in the hour Of aff1iction.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, from the Committee
on Finance. reported the act amendatory OF
the act to reduce the duties on imports and to
reduce internal taxes, which provides that
| foreign merchandise which arrived at port Of
the United States on or before the 31st day of
July, 1872, and upon which duties were not
paid prior to Aug. 1, Of that year, though the
| same were not entered or transferred to
public store or bonded warehouse, shall be en-
titled to the benefits of the 9Th section Of the
act Of June 6, 1872 the same as such merchan-
disc would have been entitled to had 1t actually
Aa1 l.. .ko ho,, lad
or prior to the S1st 0f July Of that year.
Passed.
Among petitions presented was one allowing
| soldiers in the late war bounty and 100 acres
Of land.
Mr.. Morrill, thought the expenditures for
printing by the several departments Of the
Government were very heavy and should be
cut down.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House a COM
munication from the Secretary Of War calling
attention to defalcations in the accounts Of Gen.
eral o. o. Howard, Of the Freedmen's Bureau.
At the request of Mr.. Wood, the letter was
read II fixes the total amount Of defalcations
at $278, ,573. &C. and states that the Secretary Of
War would have General Howard tried by Q
military court Of inquiry were 1t not that most
Of the matters are barred by the statute Of
limitations.
Inc nOub6 III OOuluutttc VI tuo NuOio, Will
Mr.. Tyner in the chair, took up the bill appro-
priating "a, 900, 900 for extraordinary expenses
Of the naval service, and passed 1t.
After q lengthy debate the salary bill was re-
committed to the special Committee, with in
structions to report o bill repeating the whole
salary act of the last Congress, 30 far as csn be
done under the Constitution.
The refusal Of the House to second the previ-
ous question on the Salary bill, by vote OF 145
nays to 100 yeas practically rejects the bill for
the salary repeal reported by the special COM
mittee, known as the "Hale BILL" The vote
was BY tellers, upon motion for the previous
question.
Bills introduced for the resumption Of specie
payment for an additional judicial district in
New York to make Albany port Of entry and
delivery; for the issue Of convertible bonds
and the reduction of interest on the funded
debt granting pensions to soldiers Of the
Mexican war granting the franking privilege
to publishers Of newspapers for journals mailed
to subscribers within the county, and for ex-
changes, DC. for the construction Of the Fort
st. Philip Canal and its maintenance as public
highway to put printing paper, type, &C., on
the free list for the establishment Of an iron
ship-building navy yard on the Southern coast;
for reciprocal free trade with Spanish American
possessions to substitute the national cur
rency for the national bank currency authori-
zng national banks to withdraw bonds in pro-
portion to their reduction of circulation also
granting pension to the widow Of Gen. Candy;
for q survey for ship canal from Lake Michi-
gan to the Wabash river.
Mr.. Dawes submitted resolution for the
adjournment over the holidays, from Tuesday,
the Esd Of December, till Monday, the 9th OF
January. :,
Mr.. Scofield moved to amend by making it
extend from Friday, the 10Th Of December, till
Tuesday, the 9Th Of January.
Mr.. Scofeld's amendment was agreed to by
145 yeas to ia nays, and the resolution, as
amended was adopted.
Mr.. Kelley Of Pennsylvania asked leave to
offer the following resolution:
Resolred, That it il the sense Of this House
that the taxes which now burden the people
should not be increased, but that the extra
ordinary means, il any be required for the sup
port of the Government during the temporary
paralysis Of the industries Of this country now
prevailing, should be oh. aimed by a temporary
loan or loans, bearing low rate Of interest in
currency and redeema''e in United States
| notes.
Mr.. Dawes objected, unless the resolution
was referred to the Committee OF Ways and
| Means.
Mr.. Kelley moved to suspend the rules and
| adopt the resolution.
Mr. Wheeler moved that the House adjourn.
The motion, which was regarded somewhat in
| the light of test vote on Mr.. Kelleys resolu-