Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-12-18
Proceedings Of Congress.


In the Senate on Monday, protest in be-
half of is, 900 colored voters Of Indiana was
presented denouncing the recent decision OF
the Supreme Court of that State against mixed
schools, and asking that the Attorney General
be directed TO appeal the case to the United
States Supreme Court. A bill was introduced
making an appropriation to continue the i'm
proyenent Of The Great Kanawha river, West
Virginia. a bill WAS passed for the relief OF
those settlers on public lands who we're raw
aged by grasshoppers last summer. reso-
luton was passed looking to proper measures
for noticing the presence of King Kalakaua al
the capital The bill to frame new form OF
government for the District of Columbia was
read at length.
In the House many bills were introduced
and appropriately referred, among them, bill
to repeal stamp tax on checks and drafts; to
allow insurance companies 10 participate in
the Geneva award; to kill the "press gag
law" by allowing parties indicted for libel to
be tried in a court OF the district where the
libel may be printed; fixing the date of a sol
dier's death as the time for commencement OF
pension TO his widow or orphans; 10 reduce
letter postage TO one cent for the relief OF the
Southern States by compromise in settle
ment OF their debts; to repeal the law requir-
ing prepayment on newspapers and periodi-
calls; TO relieve all savings banks Of taxation;
TO incorporate the Georgetown ID. O.. and
Tennally town Railroad Company to author
ze payment of nc-half of duties on imports
in legal-tender notes. The Secretary of War
was directed to furnish statement OF the
number of United States troops in Alabama
last election day, the places where they were
stationed, and whether they acted as posse
for United States marshals; also how govern
ment ra.ions were distributed to sufferers by
the overflow of the Tombigbee river. An in
effectual effort was made 10 put on its passage
the bill to repeal the +" gag law and the bill
was referred TO the judiciary committee Mr..
Beck, of Kentucky, asked that the rules he sus-
pended to pass resolution empowering a
committee to inquire whether any government
or District of Columbia officers have used
means TO obstruct the administration of law in
said District, especially in The burglary
trial, but the motion was rejected by a vote Of
1873 yeas to s8 nays, two-thirds not voting
affirmaiively.
Mr.. Swami presented a petition of Jane C.
Dyer, of st. Marys county, Md, for relief
resolution was adopted for the appointment
of a committee to investigate the Vicksburg
imbroglio.
In the Senate on Tuesday, Mr.. Dennis and
Mr. Hamilton presented memorials from citi-
zens of Mary land, asking that the tax on fric-
ton matches oe abolished. A bill was intro
duced to incorporate the Mutual Protection
Insurance Company of the District of Column
bia A resolution was introduced providing
for the election of President and Vice Presi-
dent by popular vote also bill to CONSOLE
date the debt Of the District of Columbia, and
to exchange the bonds for those of the United
States. TIE joint resolution to extend the
functions Of the board of audit of the District
of Columbia was passed.
Mr.. Conkling presented the petition of N.
A. Cowdrey, of New York, for the enactment
ola law authorizing the Secretary ofthe Treas
ury to issue to him and other creditors Of the
District OF Columbia, and Washington and
Georgetown, bonds Of the United States bear
ing four per sent. interest, and running thirty
years, in lieu Of the certificates Of indebted
ness heretofore issued to them by the board Of
audit created by an act of Congress.
10 the House of Representatives bill was
introduced for The relief oftrustees of the Epis-
copal Theological Seminary of Virginia; also,
by Mr. Poland, bill TO regulate the q gag
law - in the District of Columbia. In com
mittee of the whole the legislative appropria-
ton bill was considered. In the course OF de-
bate thereon, Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania,
said that the next Congress would. pursue an
economical policy and curtail all expenses, and
amendments to the bill were adopted reducing
the number and salaries of the capitol police,
and reducing the salaries of clerks to the COM
mittees Of appropriations and of ways and
means from So, 600 to 81, 592.