The New York herald., 1874-12-16
Proposed Extension Of the Presidents
Term to Six Years.
National Consolidation of the
People.
The House at Work on the
Appropriations.
SENATE.
WASHING

periodicals in the new Postage law and asking for
Q change IN that law. Referred to the Committee
on Post Oiices and Pos Roads.
Mr.. DENNIS tdem.) oil Md, presented memo
rial OF tine citizens OF that State for the abolition
OF the duty watches. Referred to the Commit
tee on Finance.
Mr. CoNKLINo, (rep) OF N. Y, presented me-
mortal OF the trustees OIL the American Seaman's
Friend Society," calling attention to the necessity
ola merchants marine hospital at the port OF
New York and asking legislation to that eni. ke-
Ierred to the Committee on Pubic Buildings and
Grounds.
Mr. ALCoRN, trep.) OF Miss, introduced o bill In
relation to the compensation OF persons acting
a. commissioners under special order of Congress-
Referred to the Comnttee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. BoGY, (dem.) OF MO-. introduced q bill for
the relef OF Albert G. Whittcomo Referred to
the Committee on Private Land Claims.
PROPOSED REFUNDING OF THE DISTRICT DEBT
Mr.. CoNKLIN0 presented q memorial OF N. A.
Cowdrey, OF New YORK, reciting that the D strict
OF Columbia is indebted to him, and that ne Is un-
able to OBTAIN anything from the District but
bond upon which he cannot realize 10 per cent.
Mr.. Conkiing said the memorial was accompanied
By o bill which he had not examined, but he pres
ented It at the request OF citizen OF his State.
He therefore asked leave. without previous
notice, to introduce bill to consolidate the debt
Of the District OF Columbia and to issue bonds OF
the United States in exchange Tor bonds OF the
District The bill and memorial were referred to
the JOINT Select Committee to frame new gov
ernment for the District.
Mr.. Conkllngs bill directs the Secretary OF the
Treasury to issue four per cent thirty-year bonds
OF the United states To an amount not eedlng
$4,000 0oO, and exchange them W1tnln one year
for the ponds and stocks OF the District or Column
bla anu the cities OF " asningion and Georgetown,
dollar Tor dollar, the difference IN the nterest OF
either to be adjusted oy nun. the total amounts
set i0rth In detail and, including $o,000000
ol the three.sixty-fve bonds and Board OF Audit's
OF Congress last June, they aggregate $l7.742 800.
Tne adherence in interest between what the
IONS Of ionr per cent bonds aud the amount they
are entitled TO receive on the debts taken by them
IN exchange therefor ls stated TO be 500, 900 per
annum, and TINS amount. is to De pledged ana IN.
vested az sinking und :or the principal. The
bill IS accompanied by preamble. wGlcn c ties the
CO. Asttuti0u and repUrC made by the House Ju.
aiclary Committee last session, to snow that the
United States are liable tor these debts contracted
through their delegated rapresen tatlves.
He also introduced q bill for the relief or the
heir, or legal representatives OF Abraham LIVING
ston, deceased. Referred to the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims
Mr.. WEST, rep) OF La, introduced bill re-
sotns Committee on N Niit.ary Atralr.. ''''''ieu
Mr.. PRATT, (dem.) OF Ind, introduced bill
limiting the time IN which application Tor bounty
laad shall be received and dlsposng oi suspended
cases ailer certain date. Referred TO the Com
mhtee on Military Affairs.
provide ior the appoint tment OF specia agenis and
snpsrintendents OF Ianway postal service and
ierred to the Committee on Post Oiices and Post
Roads.
anr the expiration OF the morning hour to-mor-
roNhe would Call up his resolution of last week
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Nj WRIGHT, repl Of iowa, submitted q joint
resoeu.n proposing certain amendments 70 the
the 'resident and Vice President oi the United
State snail be elected by direct vote OF the
peopl and each hold office Tor term Of six years; |;
that tie President shall be ineligible 10 reelection.
Everymaie ctizen VINO has reached the age Of
twentsone years aud who has not been convicted
OF lnlmous crimes snail have the right to
vote. lt lurther provides that the elee tion
J ne ana ys sna
maJorit OF all votes cast to elect; but II no
one receives majority another election shall be
ordered al which only the TWO receiving the iarg-
est number OF votes at the previous voting snail
DO votea Tor; and, further, that tne election re:
the UnitG States. and certincates issued by that
trioupal. Referred to the Committee on Ctvl Ser
Mr.. BotrwELL. rep.l Of Mass, presented me-
mortal OF franK Fraiey. OF the Natlonal Board Of
Trade. ASKING ior me arsanzasion o. uan an , ad.
Department OF Commerce. Referred to the Com
mittee on commerce.
THE LAW OF LIBEL
Mr.. WRIGHT, OF Iowa, introduced resolution
instrucnng the Judiciary Committee to inquire
INTO the e2lent OF the meaning OF the act OF June
~ 1874, eatitcd IAN act conlerring jurisdiction
upon the Cnminal Court OF the District OF Coium-
oia,m ana particularly wnether under or by It's pro;
or other crime IN said District Can be brought
from sn,e or other place within federal jurls.
dlction 10 SAID Dis rict to answer THEREFOR
Mi. EDNuNDs, trep.) OF VT, said the Judiciary
Committee did inquire INTO that subject last ses-
sion, and ne did not see the necessity OF going
over the matter again. The views oil the commit
tee were Submitted 10 the Senate at the time the
utterer Of nal cio1s SANDER OUTSIDE OF the Dis
trict could be brought mere Tor trial 1t was not
worth wnne Tor the committee 20 attempt TO iur-
ther enlighten him.
Mr.. CoNKLING. OF New York, moved to amend the
resolution oy adding the following words:-"And
Also whether SAID act has any application to the
Prosecution or Indictment for the crime Of libel"
The amentment was agreed to and the resolu-
ttOn adopted as amended.
Mr.. MORTON, rep) OF Ind, submitted resolu-
non lnstrdcting the Committee on Rues to In
so as TO abolish the use ess fOfmality or Senator'S
asking PERMISSION to introduce bill without
giving previous notice. by winch much time was
the woras 'Po ormasyS be knew Of one ne
iormailty, aud that was when the Senator from
kentucky tMr. McCreery) asked leave to intro
our soldiers from Arlington, but tailed to Obtain
run, but merely TO obvlate unnecessary repeti-
cols 10 the journal.
lutiOA then adopted.
:, GENERALIZATION OF POWER
Mi; WAsnguRN, lrepl OF Mass, presented
petltiohoi William Giles DIX, OF Peabody, Mass,
setting Drth MS oelief that the time mad come
when ths people, once lor all, snould decide
whether OF not they desire and mean 10 be one
sovereign tation, claiming the direct allegiance OF
~ ana directly guarding the rights OF all, and
~ .salnR tnat Congress appoint time as early In
tne coming year as may be deemed best Tor dele
gates chosen one from each Congressional dis
Ilch 10 meet In Philadelphia, 10 consider and
Da Ham q national constitution winch, II approved BY
tne people, voting one people, without the in
.eIvenuon OF the States, shall be the organic
nSuonal s iaw-snpersedng the federal constitution
VI tne United States, as tnat consultation SUPER
1eueu tue articies OF confederation. Referred to
Commltlee on the Revision OF Laws.
Tue conslde ration OF the bill 10 frame new
government ior the District OF Coumoia was re.
b Was ana then Inc reading q the blu concluded The
Mr.. MORRILL,, (rep.J OF Me caIied mn the House
uilI. reported from the Committee on Appropra-
sions yesterday, 10 continue the Board OF Audit to