The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-05-23
CONGRESSIONAL.

APRIL 30.-iSenate.-The Civil-rights bill
being under consideration, Mr.. Norwood made
a speech in opposition thereto. The bill was
then laid aside. "A number of private bills were
passed. House. .-There was a three hours de-
bate on the Louisville and Portland Canal bill,
which was finally passed. The Election Com
mittee reported in favor of Cannon, the sit
ting member from Utah, but gave notice
of resolution, to be introduced hereafter, re-
citing that Cannon, sitting member, is openly
living and cohabiting with woman as his wife
under the pretended sanction of system of po-
lygamy, to the great scandal and disgrace of the
people and the Government of the United States,
and providing for the appointment of q commit
tee to inquire into the matter and to recommend
such action as shall seem meet and proper. ...Ad-
journed.
MAY 1.-SenGte.-The oath of office was
administered to Senator Washburn of Massachu-
sets . The House bill authorizing the Secretary
of War to provide relief for the sufferers by the
Mississippi inundation, and sppropriating $780,
goo for the purpose, was passed Adjourned to
Monday. 1lSe.-Severai local bills were
passed. after which the Indian Appropriation
bill was considered in Committee of the Whole.
Speeches on the general Indian question, and of
the policy to be pursued toward them, were made
by Messrs. Hancock, Richmond, Knapp, Beck,
Adams and Shanks Adjourned.
MAY 2.-Sendte not in session. House.
The day was mainly occupied by the eonsidera-
ton of private bills MFR. Roberts from the
Committee on Ways and Means reported an elsb-
crate bill to amend the customs revenue laws,
and to abolish the moieties. Referred to the
Committee of the Whole. :. Adjourned.
MAY 4.-Sendte.-Mr. Stewart introduced
bill to resume legislative control of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and provide for the govern
ment thereof Referred to Committee Mr.
Pease submitted a resolution requesting he House
to return to the Senate bill of last week appro-
priatIng ninety thousand dollars for the relief of
persons suffering from the overflow of the Mssis-
"a 10 nj m 10
appropriation. He had received a telegram from
the Governor of Mississippi, stating that at least
20, GOO people were suffering, and another from
the sheriff of the county, stating that there were
five thousand persons In want of bread there.
Agreed TO. A bill to revive and continue Ger
tain grants of lands heretofore made to the
Territory and State of Minnesota to aid in the
construction of the seyerM lines of the st. Paul
and Pacific Railroad Company was passed.
The supplementary Civil-rfghts bill was then
taken up and discussed at some length Ad-
journed. House.-Bills were introduced
and referred-=for the issue of additional
bank note circulation to the States and Terrific
ries having less circulation than ten dollars per
capita of population. and for the withdrawal of
legal tender notes at rate of twenty-five per
cent. additional issue of national bank notes
until outstanding legal tender notes shall be
reduced to $3.50, COO, eco and prohibiting national
banks from charging more than $40 per cent
for interest or discounts to incorporate The East
ern and Western Transportation Company; TO
relieve Raphael SeInmes from political disabili-
ties; for the construction of the Fort ST. Philip
Canal in Loulslana, at a cost not exceeding the
estimates, the yearly installment not to exceed
81, 900, 600; granting aid in the construction of
canal from Rome. Ga to Macon, and a canal
connecting the Tennessee and Coosa rivers, by
guaranteeing the bonds of the counties in the first
case not to exceedIwenty- million dollars,
ana in the latter case fourteen million dollars.
MIR. Foster Of Ohio, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, presented report on the Sanborn
contracts. Ordered printed and recommitted,
with leave TO report at any time The committee
recommends the passage of bill repeating the
provisions of the act of May s, 1872, under hich
these contracts were made, and directing the re-
vocation and annulment of all such contracts,
and provides that the Court of Claims shall have
no authority to consider decide upon any claims
for damages by reason of the discontinuance Of
such contracts or for any profits or percentages
under them. Adjourned.
MAY 5.-Sendte.-There was considerable
discussion over the amended bill for making an
appropriation for the relief of persons suffering
from the overflow of the Mississippi. Mr.. Al
corn said that care should be taken 10 distribute
this food and clothing judlclousiy. he referred
to a telegram stating that negroes around Mem
phs w. re now declining to work, alleging that
the Government of the United States was going
to feed and clothe them. The difficulty was
that under this bill labor in that country might
become demoralized. An economical way to
relieve the people, he suggested was for the Gov
ernment to take eaarge of these levees and give
poor people employment by reeonstructiEg them
when the water goes down, and not let the ne
groes suppose that the Government was going TO
feed and cl0the them. MIR. ConEflDg repled 10
an insinuation by Mr.. Alcorn that the difficult
ties in MS State fMississpp) arose out of carpet
bag rule, by denying that any man had been de-
MED the right to vote in that State after the
State Government was organized. The bill was
recommitted to the Committee on Appropria-
tons House.--Mr. Kelley spoke in favor of the
bill appropriatng 50, ,UG0 COS in aid OF the Centen-
NAL celebration. Mr.. Hale opposed the bill on
the ground that there would be an ultimate deficit
of nst let less than $l0 08D, 90, which Congress
would be asked to. and finally would, appro-
PIRATE. Without reaching vote the House adj
journed.