Connecticut western news., 1874-03-06
? XLIIId CONGRESS.
SENATE.'

- PA ,-r SENATE. .+
 MT. Kelly, of Oregon presented petition of citizens. of that State in regard to charges against his colleague, MT. Mitchell, and asking that the same be investigated by the Senate. Refused.
 Mr. Wright, of Iowa, presented joint resolu- tion of the Iowa Legislature recommending the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that any increase in the compensation of members of Congress shall apply to future Congresses, and not to the one making the law. Referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
 Mir. Gordon, of Ga., introduced 8 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 partlclpa- tion in the recent rebellion.
 A bill has been introduced into the United States Senate by MT. Gordon, of Georgia, granting aid to the Atlantic and Great Western Ship Canal. This is project for uniting the navigable waters of the Tennessee river with the tide waters of the Atlantic.
 On motion of MT. Wright, of Iowa, the Senate took up the bill to provide for the ap- pointment of a commission on the subject of the alcoholic liquor traffic. Much discussion followed this. MT. T1pton, of Neb., said the United States realized ninety millions of dollars every year from the liquor traffic. and should make inquiries into the subject.
 The yeas and nays were taken on MT. Scotts amendment to the currency bill, and it was lost yeas, 28; nays, 80. MT. Howe's amendment was also rejected-by yeas. 16; nays, 40.
 The currency bill being under discussion MT. Camerons amendment, repeating all acts of Congress which limit or may be construed to limit or restrict the entire amount of national bank notes for circulation was rejected by 8 vote of 26 yeas to 32 nays. The question re- curing on MT. Merrlmons amendment, n- structing the committee to report as soon as practicable bill providing for the increase of National Bank circulation 50 that the whole value thereof shall not exceed $4OO GOO, 900, 
 the committee to report as soon as practicable 8 bill for free banking, and providing for the convertibility of United States Treasury notes into low interest bonds or gold coin at the option of the Government, and the bonds con- vertible into Treasury notes at the option of the holder. Rejected-Yeas, 26; nays, 30. MT. Cooper, of Tenn, moved to insert the following as a substitute for MT. Merrimon's amendment That the Committee on Finance be instructed to report 8 bill providing for the convertibility of United States Treasury notes into gold coin or five per cent. bonds of the United States, and also for free banking under the provisions of the National Bank act. Adopted without roll call.
 The Senate discussed the tariff question, or that part of it where an error of comma had led te the loss of half million of dollars of revenue and which might lead to the loss of 8 larger amount. MT. Sumner remembered hay ing been told by learned Judge of the United States Supreme Court that he never regarded punctuation in Interpreting 8 statute, and it was not believed the Government would be loser in the matter when 8 decision was rendered.
 Mr. Merrimon's amendment to the currency bill was adopted by yeas 28 to nays 25. MT. Merrimons amendment as adopted lnstructs 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, 100000.
 HOUSE.
 Bills introduced:
 By MT. Whitthorne, of Tenn, to abolish the navy yards at Kittery, Me-. Charlestown, Mass; New London, Conn. and Washington, D. G.; to abolish pension agents, and provide for paying pensions by Postmasters and Col lectors of Internal Revenue, thus effecting an annual saving of half million of dollars to increase the taxation on whisky.
 MT. Kelly, of Pa., said that conspiracy of New York lawyers had been formed to procure a refunding of duties, they to have one-half of all the sums recovered, and that an enrolled bill in the State Department had been tempered with by the change of 8 comma in order to | enable that conspiracy of lawyers to secure a reversal of the decision, and this had cost the Government $2, ,000 00O.
 A resolution for the reassembling of the two Houses of Congress in Carpenters Hall, Phila- delphia, on Sept. 5. 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 w. W. Wiltshire was entitled to the seat, and that of the minority | being to recommit the matter with instructions to the Committee on Elections to make 8 report | on it's merits. MT. Wiltshire was given the seat: --g
 On motion of MT. Cox, of New York, the Committee Public Buildings and Grounds was instructed to investigate the alleged vio- | lation of the Eight-Hour law in the work on the New York Post-Office, with power to send for persons and papers. .%E
 MT. Frye. of Me-, from the Judiciary Com mittee, reported bill providing that any per son who shall be convicted of the crime of 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 $1.000. He stated that under the existing law the maximum imprisonment for manslaughter is three years. proviso was inserted that the act shall not affect any prosecution now pend- | ing, or the prosecution of any offense already | committed. Passed.
 MT. 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 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 indicted 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 imp1 ovements 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 in their respective States | or Territories. Passed.
 The bill reported by the Post Office Com mittee in regard to the distribution of public documents came up as the special order. It 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 mi of weekly newspapers by mail within
 Mir. Poland, of Vt., reported bill to provide for the appointment of a commission on the subject of the alcoholic liquor traffic, the con- mission to consist of five persons, who are to serve without pay for two years, but are to be allowed all necessary incidental expenses, and 8 Secretary at $2,000 year. Referred to the Committee of the Whole.
 2 MT. Butler, of Mass, made an adverse report on the memorial for an acknowledgement of Almighty God and the Christian religion in the Constitution of the United States. Laid on the table. e- --.
 Mir. Potter of. N. r., reported bill to es- tablish an additional Judicial District in the State of New York. Referred to the Committee of the Whole
 The House took up the bill for the distribu ion of public documfnts printed by authority of Congress- seeds furnished by the Agricul- tural Department, for the free exchange of newspapers between publishers, and for the free transmission of weekly newspapers within the county where published
 During the discussion MT. Garfield, of Ohio, said he would vote for the part of the bill al- lowing free transmission to weekly newspapers in the counties of their publication. The whole [ country newspaper press had been almost | fatally crippled by the repeal of the franking | privilege. In his judgment the 5000 weekly | newspapers of the country were the best real | opponents of public opinion. man who climbed to the fifth story of metropolitan l office at Il o'clock at night and | slashed off an editorial and sent it off to the | country called that the public sentiment of the | American people. In country neMspapers the 1