Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-04-02
XLHId CONGRESS.
SENATE.

| Chicago asking Tor an increase IN the currency.
Mr.. West (Rep., La-) introduced bill to
provide for the settlement OF claims OF loyal
pensions IN the late rebellion.
The Centennial question being under discus
sion, Mr.. Sargent said The city Of Philadel-
phia has appropriated $500, ,000 and the State
Of Pennsylvania 81 100000 Irivate indiyid-
uals had probably subscribed as much more,
and Congress was asked to appropriate IS, ,OOO,- :
900. He offered the appropriation. Mr.. Nor
rell, Of VT, said the Centennial should be cele-
brated and an exhibition held. He had 10
doubt it would be held. 1t would be discredi-
table to the nation if at 100 years Of age it
could not afford to have an Exhibition, but it
should be national in its character. The dis
.cussion was INDUCED in generally by the mem
bers.
Senator Ramsey, Of Minn. submitted q
resolution instructing the Committee on Trans
| portation Routes to the Seaboard to consider
and report upon the expedency Of improving
water routes and railway communications from
| the Mississippi Valley to the seaboard, and to
regulate commerce among the States by cheap
ening transportation between the East and
| West.
The liquor traffic bill was discussed at some
length by Messrs. Conkling, Howe, and Car
penter.
The Louisiana question was opened in the
Senate BY lengthy discussion and much feel
ing. Carpenter, Of Wis, spoke against the
Kellogg government:
The Centennial bill being under discussion.
| Mr. Frelnghuysen moved to amend motion 70
refer 80 as to instruct the committee to report
q bill making an appropriation OF sufficient
amount Of money not to exceed S3,OO0,OOO to
| defray the expenses Of the American Centen-
nial Exhibition at Philadelphia.
The Chaplain Of the Senate, in an opening
PRAYER, said " Oh Lord. our God, we come in
| this place to deplore before Thee the spirit OF
| lying which is abroad and we beseech Thee to
| rebuke the giant demon Of slander that stalks
forth casting upon all the earth fearful
| shadow; paralyze the hand that writes the
willful detraction palsy the tongue that utters
wanton calumny-the things which tend to
undermine all confidence in the good and to
give malignant power to all the bad elements
| for the Generalization and destruction Of
human society. Let thy flaming spirit take
vengeance upon the false accuser and consume
this spirit Of ruin from all the land. This we
ask in the name and for the sake OF Him who
was truth itself"
Citizens of New York city representing
$500, 600, 900 Of capital in a petition to the
Senate, asked Congress to put an immediate
stop to any further issue OF greenbacks by the
Secretary Of the Treasury, and cause the retire.
ment at once Of the legal-tender reserve
issued.
The usual fortifcation bills were reported.
The bill in reference to the centennial e1-
hibition was taken up, the pending question
being an amendment by Mr.. Morrill,, of YER
mont making the exhibition national in its
character, instead Of international. Sherman,
of Ohio, Stewart, of Nevada, spoke in favor OF
the Philadelphia Centennial, urging that it be
made o national and not local or private
affair.
Mr.. Conkling, of N. Y, introduced bill to
provide for deductions from the terms Of
United States prisoners, etc. 1t authorizes
deductions OF five days from each month in
which no charges Of misconduct shall have
been sustained against them, and provides for
the appointment by the President Of COM
missioner to make inquiry into the condition
and treatment OF United States prisoners wher-
ever they may be confined.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
Liquor bill, the pending question being on the
amendment Of Mr.. Bayard providing that all
members Of the Commission should not be in
favor Of prohibitation legislation or total absti-
nence. The amendment was adopted-23t to ~.
Mr.. Scott, Of Pa. presented the resolutions
Of the Philadelphia Board OF Trade, asking
Congress to revise and amend the customs and
revenue laws, so that honest importers may not
be injured by the action Of men who inform
and put importers to unnecessary trouble;
when there is no occasion for it.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
Centennial bill, the pending question being on
Mr. Frelinghuysen's amendment, instructing
the Committee on Appropriations to report i'll
favor Of appropriating sum Of money not to
exceed S3,000,000 to defray tho expenses OF
the exhibition, 1t was rejected by o vote Of
SO nays to II yeas. The bill was then referred
to the Committee on Appropriations without q
division. AS amended and referred, the bill is
as follows Be IL enacted &C., That the Pres-
dent be requested to extend q respectful and
cordial invitation to the Governors OF each one
Of the United States to be represented and to
take part in the National Exhibition to be held
at Philadelphia under the auspices Of the
Government Of the United States in the year
1876.
Mr.. Scoheld, Of Penn. called the attention
Of the House to the fact that there were among
the employees of the House in the folding
room eleven wounded soldiers, eight Of whom
had lost leg or an arm, the three others had
suffered injuries equivalent to law and he
offered resolution directing the Doorkeeper
to retain those men in case of reduction OF
the force Of employees. He stated that there
we're now sixty-six employees in the folding
room. The House refused by vote Of 68 to 90.
Mr.. Schumacher, Of N. Y, moved to suspend
the rules and pass bill extending to the un-
naturalized enlisted men Of the navy and
marine corps the same privilege as to obtaining
citizenship as unnaturalized enlisted men Of
the army now have. After some informal dis
cussion the motion was agreed to and the bill
passed.
Mr.. E. II. Roberts addressed the House in
reply to Mr.. Dawes's recent speech he assert
ed that the condition Of the country, as regards
the revenues, was improving, and that Congress
was doing its duty in enforcing retrenchment.
Mr.. Potter, OF n. Y, presented the memorial
Of merchants, bankers, officers Of banks, In
surance companies and business men i'll New
York city, representing an aggregate capital Of
over S470000,000, against any increase OF
currency by the Government.
A bill was passed to prevent the e1termina-
ton Of fur-bearing animals in Alaska.
Mr.. Shanbs. Of Ind, called up his motion to
reconsider the vote rejecting the bill for the
free distribution OF public documents, etc.
Mr.. Cotton, of Iowa, moved to table the mo-
ton Rejectcd-102 to 124. The bill provides
that during any session OF Congress- and for
thirty days prior and subsequent thereto, all
written and printed matter, and such other
things as have been ordered by either House
for distribution, shall so free of postage. Tho
second section provides that all newspapers
regularly printed and not advertising sheets
simply, shall so free Of postoge through the
mails in the county where they are published,
but shall not be delivered under the free de-
| livery system. The third section requires all
postal matter to be prepaid. The bill was re-
| iected-yeas, Ill; nays, 12O.
The liquor commission bill was taken mp and
passed-yeas, &c; nays 81. The bill provides
that there shall be appointed BY the President,
by and with the advice and consent OF the SEN
ate, commission of five persons. neither Of
whom shall be the holder OF any Office Of profit
or trust in the general or State Government.
1t shall be their duty to investigate the alco-
holic and fermented liquor traffic and manufac-
ture. having special reference to revenue and