The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-03-14
Congressional Proceedings.

FRIpAY.-In the Senate the Finance
Committee reported fayorably on Mr..
Gordon's bill, declaring the validity Of
documents signed In southern States prior
to July |, 1865, where such papers had
not been stamped. A bill appropriating
ten thousand dollars for expenses in con
Quoting the District Of Columbia inyesti.
CATION, was referred to the Committee on
Appropriations The discussion Of the
Centennial Exposition bill was resumed,
and motion instructing the committee to
report an appropriation Of three millions Of
dollars was lost. The bill providing for an
investigation into the alcoholic liquor traf.
hc was passed, with amendments. The
Senate adjourned until Monday.
In the House Mr.. Lowndes stated that
If he had been present on Thursday he
would have voted against the Franking
bill. A number Of private bills aud others
of no special interest were passed. An
evening session was held, which was
devoted to debate upon the question Of
regulating commerce by railroads between
the States.
SATuRDAY.-The Senate was not in
session.
The House met for the purpose of dis.
cussing the bills relative to taxation, Mr..
Wood leading off in lengthy speech
upon the subject of economy, followed by
Mr.. Burchard upon importations and the
receipts and expenditures of the Govern
ment for the past several years. The
event of the day was the scathing exposure
of the false promises, short-comings and
extravaganza in the financial administra-
ton of the Republican party, made by Mr..
Beck.
! MoSDAY.-The death Of ex-Presidcnt
Fillmore was announced in the Senate by
Mr.. Fenton, and that body Immediately
adjourned as mark Of respect.
Mr.. Fillmore's death was also announced
in the House of Representatives, after the
call for bills had been presented. Mr..
Wood, Mr. Maynard, Mr., Cox and others
delivered eulogies. A committee Of seven
members was appointed TO attend Mr..
Fillmore's funeral, and then the House
adjourned, Under the regular call of
States Mr. Merriam, Of New York, Intro
duced bill repeating all acts and parts of
acts requiring duties to be assessed upon
commissions brokerage; costs of transpor-
tating, inland or overland, or by sea on
coverings of goods when included in the
same shipment, transhipment and other
like costs and incidental expenses incurred
in packing and shipping foreign merchnn-
disc, such charges hereafter not To be
made dutiable element in the cost of
foreign merchandise Mr.. Cox introduced
bill prohibiting the allowance of rebate
of duty in consequence of breakage on
polished plate glass, rough plate glass,
ground glass, crown glass and looking glass
plates, but in lieu thereof deduction of 8
per cent. on the duties on such gass shall
be made. Mr. Speer introduced a bill
giving to all female employees of the
Government the same compensation as is
paid 10 men for the same services.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate there was
some discussion upon bill appropriating
$4,000 to pay the expenses Of investiga
ting the charges against the District
Government. An amendment was offered
reducing the SUN to $1,000, but before a
vote was taken on it the subject was laid
over Mr.. Boutwell, was excused from
further service on the District Inyestiga-
ting Committee. Mr.. Wright, from the
Committee on Judiciary, reported and
recommended the passage of bill declar.
ing it to be the true intent and meaning
Of the Pacific Railroad acts Of 1864 and
1866 that for the construction of the
Central Branch of the Union Pacific Rail
road, lands and bonds were granted for
one hundred miles next TO the Missouri
river, and no more; and prohibiting the
issuance Of bonds or patents for lands for
any extension Of said road or of the
Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad in ex-
cess Of one hundred miles next to the Mis-
souri, river. Senator Ferry made an
elaborate speech in opposition to imitation
Of the currency.
In the House a resolution was adopted
requesting the Judiciary Committee TO
report whether legislation is necessary to
compel West Virginia to pay a proper
portion Of the debts of the State Of Vir.
gina. Legislative Appropriation bill was
taken up in Committee of the Whole. and
Mr.. Beck delivered an eloquent address,
in which he denounced the unlawful
expenditures Of the Administration. The
matter of the Sanborn contracts came up
incidentally, and Mr.. Butler vigorously
defended the moiety collector. A Number
of members replied, denouncing the infam-
GUS system and its advocates. Mr.. Hawley
hit out at Mr.. Butler with characteristic
vigor, and related an instance of oppres-
sion on the part Of one of the Sanborn
agents that occurred in Hartford. giving
1t as his opinion that druggist who had
been bullied into paying $1,000 by a
special deputy ought to have kicked him
out Of his store. Mr.. Phelps made
statement concerning the collection of
sl5,OJ0 from an estate of which he was
administrator by one Of the Sanborn men
which threw food of light on these
doubtful transactions. Mr.. Phelps sun
posed that he was dealing with the regular
revenue officers, and never knew that he
had been put in Sanborn's list until the
Secretary of the Treasury sent the papers
to the House.
WEDSEsDAY.-In the Senate the crit.
cal illness Of Senator Sumner was anuounc.
ed, and after reading the journal the
Senate adjourned.
In the House a bill granting pensions
to soldiers and sailors Of the war Of 1912
and to restore to the pension rolls persons
whose names were stricken therefrom for
disloyalty, bill increasing the pensions
of soldiers who have been totally disabled
and a bill granting an allowance Of $40 10
each soldier who has lost an eve. TO enable
him to purchase an artificial eve, were
passed. The House went into Committee
of the Whole on the Executive, Legisla.
tive and Judicial Appropriation bin
During the debate the death Of Mr.. Sum.
ner was announced, and the House at
once adjourned.
THURqnAy --Thara ,ys.. =.