The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-03-12
XLIIId CONGRESS.



Mr.. Kelly, of Oregon. presented petition Of
citizens OF that State in regard to charges
against his colleague, Mr.. Mitchell, and asking
that the same be investigated by the Senate.
Refused.
Mr.. Gorden, of Ga introduced a bill direct
ing the Secretary Of the Interior to place on
| the pension roll the names of all persons here
| tofore dropped therefrom because of participa-
ton in the recent rebellion.
On n motion OF Mr.. Wright, OF Iowa, the
Senate took up the bill TO provide for the APP
| pointment of commission on the subject of
the alcoholic liquor traffic. Much discussion
| followed this. MIR. Upton, OF Neb., said the
United States realized ninety millions OF dollars
| every year from the liquor traffic bill and
should make inquiries into the subject
The Senate discussed the tariff question, or
| that part OF il where an error of a comma had
led to the loss of half million of dollars of
revenue, and which might lead to the, loss of a
| larger amount. Mr.. Sumner remembered hav-
ing been told by learned Judge of the United
States Supreme Court that he nev er regarded
punctuation in interpreting statute, and it
was not believed the Government would be a
loser in the matter when decision was
| rendered.
Mr.. Merrimon's amendment to the currency
bill was adopted by yeas 2S to nays 20. Mr..
| Merrimon's amendment as adopted instructs
| the committee to report as soon as practicable
bill providing for the increase of the national
bank circulation, so that the whole volume
thereof shall not exceed $400, 00O 900.
HOUSE.
A resolution for the reassembling of the two
| Houses of Congress in Carpenters Hall, Phila-
delphia, on Sept. 8, 1874, the Tooth anniversary
of the meeting of the First American Congress,
was referred to the Centennial Committee.
A bill relating to the refunding of Customs
duties in certain cases was reported and passed.
The House took up the contested election
case from the Third District of Arkansas, the
majority report being that WV. Wiltshire was
entitled to the seat, and that of the minority
being TO recommt the matter with instructions
to the Committee on Elections to make a report
on its merits. Mr.. Wiltshire was given the
seat.
Mr.. Frye, of Me-, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported a bill providing. that any per-
mansaughter in any United States court in
any State or Territory, or in the District of
Columbia, shall be imprisoned not exceeding
twenty years, and fined not exceeding 1000.
He stated that under the existing law the
maximum imprisonment for manslaughter is
three years. provision was inserted that the
act shall not affect any prosecution now pend
ing or the prosecution of any offense already
committed Passed
Mr.. Frye reported the bill making the
punishment for extortion by officers or persons
acting under the authority of the United States
a fine not exceeding $500 and imprisonment
not exceeding three years. Passed
A bill providing that no person shall be prose
cuted, tried or punished in any United States
court for any offense not capital, or for any
fine or forfeiture under any penal statute unless
indicated or information shall be found or in
stituted within five years, except in the case OF
persons fleeing from justice. Passed.
A bill providing that when an occupant OF
public land having color of title, has made
valuable improvements thereon and his title is
found afterward not to be good, he shall be
entitled to all the rights and remedies as pro-
vided in such cases i'll their respective States
or Territories.
The bill reported by the Post Office Com.
mittee in regard to the distribution of public
documents came up as the special order. Il
provides for the distribution of public docu
ments printed by authority of Congress, and Of
seeds furnished by the Agricultural Depart
ment for the free exchange of newspapers
between publishers and for the free trans
mission of weekly newspapers by mail withir
the county where published.
Mr.. Poland, of VT, reported bill to provide
for the appointment of commission on thu
subject of the alcoholic liquor traffic, the com
mission to consist of five persons, who are t.
serve without pay for two years, but are to b'
allowed all necessary incidental expenses, anC
, Secretary at $4,000 a year. Referred to tht
Committee of the Whole.
! Mr.. Butler. of Mass. made an adverse repor
on the memorial for an acknowledgment o
Almighty God and the Christian religion in th
Constitution of the United States. Laid OIL
the table.
Mr.. Potter, of n. Y. reported bill to estab
lish an additional Judicial District i'll the Stat
of New York. Referred to the Committee o
the Whole.
The House took up the bill for the dstribu
ton of public documents printed by authorit
, of Congress, seeds furnished by the Agricul
tural Department, for the free exchange o
newspapers between publishers, and for the fre
transmission of weekly newspapers within tn
county where published.
During the discussion, Mr.. Garfield. of Ohio
said he would vote for the part of the bill al
! lowing free transmission to weekly newspaper
in the counties of their publication. The Who'll
, country newspaper press had been almof
fatally crippled by the repeal of the franklin
: privilege. In his judgment the 5000 week.
l newspapers of the country were the best ret
r exponents of public opinion. man VIII
climbed to the fifth story of a metropolita
newspaper office at IL o'clock at night an
slashed off an editorial and sent it off to tn
country, called that the public sentiment of tn
American people. In country newspapers tn
editor, quiet sensible man, who in the cours
, of the week saw men from every township
the county, and had his mind filled with tn
best thoughts of his county, wrote notices an
5 editorials in the course of the week which CAV
S more of the public sentiment of that count
than all the metropolitan journals in I'll
United States could give of that county Ill
repeal of the frank threatened to carry down
very large number of country papers th
:. could hardly live if the present order of thint
e continued. The weekly newspapers of Ne
York now come by mail into districts in low
=, 1,2OO miles Off and weighing three times
) much as the simple country newspapers al
), pass through the mail at the same price. Tn
), was an injustice which ought to be remedie
e and remedied in the name of the public pres
: and the metropolitan papers ought to conse
to it for their own good, knowing what publ
: opinion is.
Mr. Banning, of Ohio, presented a petite
s to have the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln
n birthday declared public holiday.
= A report from the Secretary of the Treasu
u informed the House that the proceeds. of Il
II sales of captured and abandoned proper
y amounted to $40, 910,65G.