Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

Both houses of Congress assembled at noon
on Monday of last week, and the Presidents
message was read. In the Senate the cre>
dentisls of Messrs. Edmuuds, of Vermont,
aud Eaton, of Connecticut, for the senatorial
term commencing March 4, 1875, were pres
serted. Mr.. Morrill,, of joint select COM
niittee, reported statutes providing for form
of government for the District of Columbia
a petition was presented from Admiral Wor-
den aud his command for prize money for de
stroyiug the Confederate ram Merrlmac, on
the same principle that compensation was
awarded the crew Of the Kearsarge for de-
stroyiDg the Alabama In the House of Rep,
resentatiEes an unsuccessful effort was made
for immediate consideration of bill to repeal
the Poland ''gas-law." After the Presidents
message was read. the legislative, naval, army,
Indian and fertilization appropriation bills
were reported, and referred to the committee
of the whole. A bill was passed app1opri.
at;ag funds to purchase scales to be used by
the Postoficc Department, under the new
postage laT. .-.- .5
Infthe- Senate, on Tuesday, bill was in
tr0duced to fix the salary. OF the President OF
the United States at SIS, 600 alter the term
uf tho present incumbent; also directing the
Postmaster General TO cause to be constructed
limo of telegraph between Washington and
Boston, via Baltimore, Philadelphia. New
York aud Hartford, to be operated in the
postotIces in those cities by persons to be APP
pointed by the Postmaster General. In the
House OK r1tepresen tatives "a large number OF
bills we're introduced and referred, among
them bill to reduce the President salary to
S25, 900; to substitute United States notes
for issues OF national banks; to disquality
members OF Congress from holding ofice under
the United States If they act as counsel for
defendants IN suits by the government for
revenue frauds [this ball was passed y making
valid before the treasury ell permits to pur
chase products of the lnsurrecTionary States
granted by the President during the late war;
to suthorizc free banking; to continue the lm
PE0veiacnt Of the Great kanawha river in
West Virginia; abo!;shlng the use of stamps
On checks, drafts, &c TO amend the enforce
Ilent act. The bill for the Improvement OF
the currency and reduction of interest on the
funded debt of she United States was con-
sidefed in committee OF the whole aud dis
cusSeG by Messrs- Kelly, Butler. Dawes, Gar
field and Cox. The bill was amended and
ordered 20 be printed.
In the Senate, on Wednesday, a petition
was presented from the presidents of the Texas
Pacific and the Atlantic and Pacific railroads
asking Congress to guarantee the payment of
the interest on the r0ld-bearing construction
bonds of those companies. and bill was in
t-Oduced to carry out the Object OF the petition.
In the House the committee on public lands
was authorized to frame a general bill for the
relief of ali the people who suffered from the
grasshopPer plague.
In the Senate, on Thursday, joint resolu
ton was passed to appoint George Bancroft
member of the board Of regents of the Smith
sonlan Institution in place of Gen. Sherman,
who has resigned. The Senate adjourned
until Monday. In the House, Mr. Stowell,
cf Virginia, asked an investigation into the
charge made against him of selling a naval
cadetship, denouncing the charge as false
The committee on naval affairs was directed
to make, the Investigation. The bill ..for the
iTnPEoyenent Of the CURRENCY and the reduc=
non Of interest ON flesf11ded debt of the
United States Eas consid cred IN committee
of the % e. An araendmeht was offered
that sssen5acks not be q legal tender for
.det Eaetsd e IL 1870 stre
i)aE q IassaeF psetts, poke d consider
SHE lenstii % was flowed by
alsssgs3 Phelp of Jerss8, and Smith,
easta = a 2 ot "a ssssieq on