Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-03-19
xLIIId CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Mr.. Kelly, Of Oregon, presented q petition Of
citizens of that State in regard to charges
against his colleague, Mr.. Mitchell, and asking
that the same be investigated by the Senate.
Refused.
Mr.. Wright, of Iowa, presented joint resolu-
ton Of the Iowa Legislature recommending the
adoption of an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States providing that any increase
in the compensation Of members OF Congress
shall apply to future Congresses, and not to
the one making the law. Referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
Mr.. Gordon, Of Ga, introduced bill direct
ing the Secretary Of the Interior to place on
the pension roll .he names Of all persons here
tofore dropped therefrom because Of participa-
ton in the recent rebellion.
A bill has been introduced into the United
States Senate by Mr.. Gordon, Of Georgia,
granting aid to the Atlantic and Great Western
Ship Canal. This is q project for uniting the
navigable waters Of the Tennessee river with
the tide waters Of the Atlantic. =.
On motion OF Mr.. Wright, Of Iowa, the
Senate took up the bill to provide for the ap-
pointment of commission on the subject OF
the alcoholic liquor traffic. Much discussion
followed this. Mr.. Upton, Of Neb., said the
United States realized ninety millions Of dollars
every year from the liquor traffic, and should
make Inquiries into the subject.
The yeas and nays were taken on MIR. scott's
amendment to the currency bill, and it was lost
yeas. %; nays, 80. Mr.. Howe's amendment
was also rejected-by yeas, 16; nays, 40.
HOUSE.
Bills introduced:
By Mr.. Whitthorno, Of Tenn, to abolish
the navy yards at Kittery, Me-; Charlestown,
Mass; New London, Conn. and Washington,
D. G.. to abolish pension agents, and provide
for paying pensions by Postmasters and Col
lectors of Internal Revenue. thus effecting an
annual saving Of half million Of dollars; to
increase the taxation on whisky.
Mr.. Kelly, Of Pa, said that conspiracy Of
New York lawyers had BEEN formed to procure
a refunding Of duties, they to have one-half Of
all the sums recovered, and that an enrolled
bill in the State Department had been tampered
with by the change of q comma in order to
enable that conspiracy Of lawyers to secure q
reversal Of the decision, and this had cost the
Government 81, 600, 900.
A resolution for the reassembling Of the two
Houses Of Congress in Carpenters Hall, Phila-
delphia, on Sept. 5, 1874, the Tooth anniversary
of the meeting Of the First American Congress,
was referred to the Centennial Committee.
A bill relating to the refunding Of Customs
duties in certain cases was reported and passed.
The House took up the contested election
case from the Third District Of Arkansas; the
majority report being that W. W. Wiltshire was
entitled to the seat, and that Of the minority
being to recommit the matter with. instructions
to the Committee on Elections to make report
on its merits. Mr.. Wiltshire was given the
seat.
On motion of Mr.. Cox, of New York, the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
was instructed to investigate the alleged vio-
lation Of the Eight-Hour law in the work on
the New York Post-Ofice, with power to send
for persons and papers.
Mr. Frye, Of Me-, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported a bill providing that any per.
son who shall be convicted OF the crime Of
manslaughter in any United States Court in
any State or Territory, or in the District Of
Columbia, shall be imprisoned not exceeding
twenty years, and fined not exceeding 81, 000.
He stated that under the existing law the
maximum imprisonment for manslaughter Is
three years. A proviso was inserted that the
act shall not affect any prosecution now pend.
ing, or the prosecution Of any offense already
Mr.. Frye reported the bill making the
punishment for eItorton by officers or persons
acting under the authority Of the United States
q fine not exceeding $500nnd imprisonment not
exceeding three years. Passed.
A bill providing that no person shall be prose-
cuted, tried, or punished in any United States
court for any offense not capital, or for any
nne or 1Or 1elture unueI.any penalbLatuIo upiorb
indicted, or information shall be found or in
stituted within five years except In the case OF
persons fleeing from justice. Passed.
A bill providing that when an occupant OF
public land having color OF title, has made
valuable improvements thereon and his title is
found afterward not to be good, he shall be
entitled to all the rights and remedies as pro-
vided in such cases in their respective States
or Territories. Passed.
The bill reported by the Post-Office Com
mittee in regard to the distribution Of public
documents came up as the special order. 1t
provides for tho distribution Of public docu-
ments printed by authority Of Congress, and OF
seeds furnished by the Agricultural Depart
ment for tho free exchange Of newspapers
between publishers, and for the free trans
mission Of weekly newspapers by mail within
the county where published.
Mr.. Poland, Of VT, reported bill to provide
for the appointment OF q commission on the
subject Of the alcoholic liquor traffic, the COM
mission to consist Of five persons, who are to
serve without pay for two years. but are to be
allowed all necessary incidental expenses, and
a Secretary at 1000 year. Referred to the
Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Butler, OF Mass, made an adverse report
on the memorial for an acknowledgment OF
Almighty God and the Christian religion in the
Constitution Of the United States. Laid on
the table.