Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
A Regency for the District.
Proposed Commission on Tariff
Revision.

proposed Commission on Tariff
Revision.
A Move in the House to Repeal
POland's Gag Law.
The Regular Appropriation Bills
Already Introduced.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE Senate was
called to order promptly at noon by Vice
President Wilson. Rev. DR.. Sunderland,
Chaplain, in the opening prayer returned
thanks to Divine Providence for the many
blessings bestowed on our nation, and said:
ave acknowledge our chastisements, and
pray we may be corrected through them.
We beseech Thee to show Thy favor upon
this people, and help the government in its
great responsibility. Help the Congress OF
the United States. May the candle of the
Lord light them through every difficulty.
Vice President Wilson took the chair.
Mr.. Anthony, from Rhode Island, offered
a resolution instructing the Secretary of the
Senate to inform the House of Representa-
tives that quorum Of the Senate had as
sembled, and that the Senate was ready to
proceed to business. Agreed to.
He also submitted an order providing
that the hour of meeting of the Senate
should be daily at Y O'Clock, until other
wise ordered. Agreed to.
Mr.. Conkling offered a resolution pro-
viding for the appointment Of two mem
bers of the Senate to join a committee on
the part of the House of Representatives to
wait on the President and inform him
that quorum of each house of Congress
had assembled, and were ready to receive
any communication he may desire 10 make.
Agreed to. The chair appointed MesSrs.
Conkling and Thurman on the part Of the
Senate.
A Regency for the District
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, from the joint Sc
lect committee appointed at the last ses-
sion to frame government for the District
of Columbia, submitted a written report
accompanied by sundry statutes. It pro-
Tides for placing the District under board
of three regents, to be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate, and
who shall themselves appoint subordinate
boards of health, police, ETC., the powers of
all being infinitely defined. The people
are to elect three members of the Board Of
Education. All expenditures are to be
controlled by Congress. Laid On the table
and ordered printed.
New Senators.
The Chair laid before the Senate the Ger
tifcates Of election of Geo. F. Edmunds,
United States Senator from Vermont, and
Vim. W. Eaton, of Connecticut for the
term commencing March 4, 1875.
Tariff Revision.
The following bills were introduced, and
ordered printed, and lie on the table until
the appointment Of the standing committees
of the Senate:
By Mr. Sherman-A bill for the revision
of the laws for the collection Of customs
duties. 1t provides for a commission of
seven persons, to be constituted as follows:
One member Of the Senate, to be designat-
ed by the President of the Senate; two men,
bers elect of the next House of Represent
ativeS, to be designated by the Speaker of
the present House, and two officers in the
customs service and two citizens familiar
with the customs law, to be appointed by
tine President. The commission is to ter
inmate on the first Monday in December,
1875, and in the meantime shall report to
Congress, through the Secretary of the
Treasury, a revision of all the customs
laws, together with such facts as they can
elicit, by examination and inquiry, per-
tanning to the trade, industry, commerce
and taxation Of the country, with a view
to making changes of rates and claSsifica-
ton and modes of collecting the duties, in
order to promote the public interests. The
commissioners are also to report as to the
of foreign trade to domestic in
dustry, and mutual adjustment of the Gus
toms and excess Of taxation, with a view
to securing the requisite revenue with the
least hindrance to the development of the
resources If the country, and also the man
ner in which customs officers perform their
duties. In order to conduct this investiga-
ton, the commissioners are empowered TO
examine the books, papers and accounts of
any customs officer, and TO administer
oaths. The members of the commission
are to be allowed their necessary travelling
expenses, but are not to receive any COM
pensation.
Kansas Grassh0pPers.
Mr.. ingalls, introduceda bill to provide that
The homestead and pre-emption settlers in
Kansas shall be alloweda years absence from
heir lands ravaged by the grasshoppers
without loss of their rights.
Mr.. Hitchcock introduced bill appropIia-
-ingiS10O, 900 for the purchase ofgoOds to be
issued to the starving people from the ravages
Of the grasshoppers on the Western frontier.
The bill also directs the issue of disused
army clothing to relieve the extreme wants
IF those destitute sufferers.
Mr.. Sergeant introduced bill to protect
persons of foreign birth against forciblere-
'traint or involuntary servitude.
Recess, and on assembling at O'Clock,
Mr.. Wright gave notice that wednesday
lext he would ask the Senate to proceed
With the consideration of the bill to abol- |
sh the Western Judicial District of Arkan-
'as, which he reported last session from |
he judiciary Committee.
Indian Troubles.
Mr.. Ingalls, submitted a resolution in |
tructing the Committee on Indian Affairs |
o inquire into the recent disturbances in |
he Indian Territory, and to report to the |
senate what measures are necessary for the |
of life, liberty and property, |
md the preservation of law and |
rider in that region, and whether the best |
interests of civilization do not demand the |
immediate establishment OF courts OF the /
United States in said Territory, as pro-
'ided by the treaties of 1866. Laid on |
he table until the appointment of COM
nittees.
The Senate took another recess, and |
Ipon reassembling, Mr.: Conkling, from the
committee appointed to wait upon the
President, reported that that duty had
,een discharged, and that the President
would soon communicate with the two |
houses in writing.
The Message.
At half past one o'clock Gen. Babcock /
the Presidents message, and it /
vas read. The reading of the message
vas concluded at 2:40 p. N.
Mr.. Carpenter moved that it be laid on
be table, and printed, together with the
documents. Agreed to.
The chair laid before the Senate the re-
,orts of the Secretary of the Treasury, the
of Justice, and the Comp
roller of the Currency, which were order
d laid on the table and printed.
Adjourned.