The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-05-29
CONGRESSIONAL,

CONGRESSIONAL.
In the senate, on the 18th, bill was
introduced to provide for the appointment, by
the secretary of war, of a commission of
| three army officers and two civil engineers, to
investigate and report permanent plan for
the reclamation of the alluvia1 basin of the
Mississippi river subject to inundation The
bill amenda Ory of the act Of August IS 1865,
to regulate the diplomatic aud consular system
OF the United states, was passed. The leg
islature appropriation bill was considered
until adjournment
In the house, on the 18th, bill was
referred for the improvement of the mouth of
the Mississippi. "A bill was passed author
izing the president to furnish rations and
clothing for the starving and destitute people
On the Tombigbee, Warrior and Alabama
rivers. A resolution was offered requesting
the president to provide in future treaties
with foreign powers that war shall not be de-
clared by either contracting power against the
other until an effort has been first made to
settle the cause of Offense by impartial arbi-
tratlOn. "A bill was passed allowing the
stamping of documents and papers hereto
fore unsigned, and subject to stamp duty.
In the senate, on the 10Th, resolutions
providing for the adjournment of congress on
the 22d of June were agreed to without dis
cussion. House bill for the benefit OF occu-
pying claimants on pubic lands was passed
"A motion was made that the civil rights
bill be taken mp, but it appearing that
quorum was not present the senate adjourned.
In the house, on the 18th, the bill
to amend the custom laws and to repeal the
system of notifies to informers in tee customs
revenue cases, was taken up. The bill was
debated at length, and finally passed. Bills
were passed to remove the political disabilities
of Thomas Claiborne, of Tennessee, and
transferring the western to the middle judicial
district of Tennessee. The executive COM
mttee made a report in the Louisiana con-
tested election case, that neither of the claim
ants Pinchback or Sheridan had presented
evidence to establish their right to a seat as a
representative at large, but that they should
have right to take further testimony. Mr..
Lamar presented a minority report, that
Pinchback was not elected and thai Sheridan
was. Reports ordered printed and are to be
called up hereafter. An effort was made to
take up senate bill to adjourn sine die June
22d. but it VS. not taken up and the house
adjourned.
In the senate, on the Goth, the COM
mittee on claims reported adversely on the bill
to provide for the settlement Of claims OF loyal
persons against the United States, accruing
during the rebellion, and for other purposes.
This bill proposes to confer jurisdiction on
the court OF CLAIMS, TO determine the claims or
all citizens who remained loyal, or who took
the oath prescribed by the presidents Procla-
nation of December g, 1868, and further pro-
poses to abolish the board of claims commits
sion. The committee also reported unfaYorably
on the joint resolution directing the commits
sioners of claims to send to congress, without
delay, claims decided prior to April 1, 1874
and it was indefinitely postponed. Discus
sion of the civil rights bill was resumed, and
Messrs. Flanagan and Pratt spoke in its favor,
and Mr.. Thurman in opposition.
In the house, on the Goth, senate rego-
luton for final adjournment on the ed of
June was cOncurred in. The postofice ap-
preparation bill was considered, and an amend
ment permitting agricultural reports to be
transported free through the mails was adop-
ted-110 to 4S.
In the senate, on the 21st, considera-
ton was resumed of the civil rights bill.
Mr.. Morton replied to the argument of Mr..
Thurman, made yesterday, and said the bill
was constitutional, and that congress had full
power to enforce the provisions of the four
teenUh amendment to the constitution by ap-
propriate legislation.
In the house, on the 21st, a petition
was presented from the Woman's Temperance
Union, of indianapolis, requesting congress
to amend the oath of Office so that all officers
under the government shall be required to
abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as
a beverage during their terms of Office The
pension appropriation bill, which disposes OF
S29 $50, 00O, was taken up and passed. "A
bill for the admission of New Mexico as a
state was adopted-160 to 81.
In the senate, on the 22d, house bill
authorizing the president to issue army ra-
tons and clothing to the destitute people on
the Tombigbee and Tennessee rivers was
passed. re-. The civil rights bill then came up
and was debated at length, but no vote was
reached.
In the house, on the 22d, the COM
mittee on war claims reported the claims al
lowed by the commissioner under the act of
March g. 1871, numbering over one thousand
and aggregating S676, 274. A motion was made
to strike out the item of S45161 to VIM.
Bailey, of Rapids Parish. La, for cotton
| taken and destroyed, on the ground of dislsy
atty, but it was lost aud the bill passed. A
number of private bills passed, among them
one for the relief of widows and orphans of
soldiers. murdered by guerillas in Centraia,
Mo, in 1864.
In the senate, on the 23d, the debate
on the civil rights bill was continued. Various
amendments were proposed, but most of them
failed of adoption, and the bill finally passed
in nearly the shape reported by the committee,
by vote of 29 to is
In the house, on the 23d, the bill
donating condemned cannon and cannon balls
to various posts OF the grand army of the re-
public for monumental purposes was passed.
Bills were reported and referred, allowing
a bounty of eight and one-third dollars per
month to soldiers during the late war, and
providing for grants of land to them, and to
provide for the gradual reduction of the army
of the United States, reducing the number Of
cavalry regiments to nine, artillery to four,
and infantry to twenty. -. A bill was passed
to constitute Montgomery. Alabama. a port OF
delivery with deputy collector at q, 800.
WRITERS of every age have endeav-
ora1 70 sbC-r that v0Iaag,,-o - - 30 o,,I