The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-05-09

fRlDA1.-ln tho GSilutt hull, W H. ID,
Washburn, of Massachusetts,, was admitted
TO a seat for the unexpired term Of the
late Charles Sumner. The House bill ap-
nominating 800 900 in aid Of sufferers by
the Mississippi overflow, was passed Mr..
Boutwell, was, at his own request, relieved
from service on the Committee of Claims,
and Mr.. Washbum was appointed in his
place. 4 bill to remove the political dis
abilities o. Gen. Henry Heath, of Virginia,
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Considerable routine business was disposed
of, aud various calendar bills were passed.
A bill relating to claims of citizens OF New
Mexico was also passed. The Senate then
went into executive session, and at its close
adjourned until Monday
In the House the discussion of the In
dian Appropriation bill was commenced in
the Committee of the Whole. 4 number
of speeches were delivered, after which the
reading of the bill by sections was com.
menced. The debate upon the Indian
Appropriation bill was resumed in the
evening session, but no action of impor.
tance was taken.
SAruRDAY.--The Senate was not in
session.
In the House Mr., Roberts reported
bill to amend the Custom Law, and to re
peal all laws allowing moieties to officers,
including the law under which the noto.
rious Sanborn contracts were made Other
informers are never TO receive more than
the value of the article seized, and in no
case more than $4,000 The exact sum
inside these limits is to be fixed by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and that officer
is required to make full annual report,
in each case, to Congress Hereafter in
tent to defnud must be shown, aud judy
ment is not to be given upon proof of mere
technical violation of regulation. The call
for private bills was gone through with,
and number were passed,
MoNpAY.--In the Senate bill TO con.
solidate the Pension Laws was reported
from the Committee on Pensions. A bill
was introduced by Mr. Stewart for the re-
sumption by Congress of the Legislative
powers delegated to the District of Colum-
bia The Finance Committee was directed
to inquire whether the provision of law
prohibiting the sale of tobacco by the pro
ducer to any person not licensed dealer
should not be repealed The petition of
Gen. George Il. Pickett, of Virginia, for
the removal of his political disabilities was
referred TO the Judiciary Committee. A
large number of bills aud resolutions were
introduced and disposed of temporarily.
The Senate resolution appropriating $780,
600 for the relief of sufferers by the over
flow Of the Mississippi was at its request
returned from the House, aud the amount
was increased to sl50,000, after which the
bill was again passed The Civil Rights
bill was taken up, and during its discussion
Mr., Fcnton managed to deliver his speech
on reform in the custom service.
In the House large number of bills
for reference only were introduced. Among
them was one by Mr., Archer to prevent
hazing at the Naval Academy, and one by
Mr.. o Brien granting pension to Mrs
Mary McDayil A bill was also intro.
duccd to relieve the political disabilities of
Admiral Raphael Scmmes. Bills were
passed removing the political disabilities
OF Geo. II. Collins and Richard j. Allison,
of Maryland, The Committee on Ways
and Means was instructed to inquire into
the propricty of either repeating the tax
on leaf tobacco, or changing the character
of fines and penalties The Ways and
Means Committee submitted its report on
the moieties contracts. Mr. Kasson's bill
for the redemption of three per cent. loan
certificates, and allowing the distribution
of circulating notes to the amount Of $685.
100000 by the Comptroller of the Cur
rency to banks having less than their pro-
portion Of currency, those having excess
being required to return the amounts as
issued from their surplus, was taken up.
Pending discussion the House adjourned
TuEsDAY.-In the Senate bill appro-
priating $4,000 to the widow of Edmund
Randolph, was passed. Mr.. Randolph,
prominent lawyer of San Francisco, was
employed by Attorney General Back to
appear for the Government in the cele-
brated Almeda silver mine case. He was
paid 5000, but demanded much larger
sum. He died in 1860, shortly after the
case was decided, aud before his claim was
settled. His widow appealed to Congress,
and produced letters from eminent lawyers
setting forth that the services rendered by
her deceased husband were worth s75 900.
The Senate has awarded her $4,000.
Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee on Ap-
preparation, reported bill increasing the
amount voted to the sufferers by the Mis-
sissippi floods from 500, 900 to $3.50, 900.
Mr.. Acorn urged that care should be
taken to distribute the relief fund in a
proper manner, and showed how the
resources Of the suffering States had been
wasted byirresponsiblc negroes and officials
elected by their votes, and that the present
unsafe condition Of the lcvees is due TO
their maladministratiOn. After additional
debate the bill was recommitted. The
Civil Rights bill then came up. Pending
It's consideration the Senate went into
Executive session, and at its close adj
iourned
In the House resolution was adopted
directing the Joint Committee on the
Affairs OF the District to inquire into the
very extraordinary safe robbery at the
'Ofhee of the United States District Attor-
,ney. The Centennial bill was considered
in Committee Of the Whole. Mr.. Kelley,
'of Pennsylvania, Mr. Packard, of Indiana,
and Mr.. Tremain, of New York, made
speeches in favor of an appropriation of
three millions of dollars by Congress, while
Mr.. Hale, of Maine, made strong speech
against the appronriation
WEDNEsDAY.-ln the Senate Senator
Sherman reported substitute for the
House Currency aud Banking bill, Some
'other miscellaneous business was transact
ed, but none of special note.
in the House the day was chiefly taken
up with debate upon the Centennial bill,
The tone of the discussion being decidedly
adverse to the success of that enterprise.
Inc probabilities are TINT the bill will fail
iu the House.
THuRsDAY.-In the Senate the House
'Dhl for the relief of sufferers by the over
How OF the Mississinni was ronortad from