The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-02-27
CONGRESSIONAL.

WEDNESDAY,, Feb 1S.-Sendte Howe in
troduced bill amendatory Of the Soldiers Home
stead law Anthony Or. ~ introduced bill to
extend the time for the construction of the wiscon-
sin Central railroad q. The bill to provide for a
commission TO inquire into the liquor traffic was
discussed without action. The greater portion Of
the days session devoted TO the consideration Of
the bill to equaZe the currency. Chandler, Howe,
Morton, Frelinghuysen, Schurz, Ferry, and Logan
took part in the debate 4 vote reached on
SCOTS amendment, providing for the redemption of
the whole volume Of national bank currency by spe-
Gle or interest bearing bonds of the United States
The amendment was lost by the close vote Of 80 to
%. Four Western Senators-Schurz, Chandler,
Sargent and Shernan-yoted aye. Howes amend
ment, providing for the selling each month, to the
highest bidder, for United States notes. coupon
bonds equal To 50 per cent. OF the additional bank
circulation issued during the month preceding, the
bonds to bear per cent interest, was voted on and
lost-l6 to 40. Buckngham's motion, to instruct
the Finance Committee 10 report bill TO provide
for free banking and for the funding Of egatender
notes into United States bonds and the redemption
of United States bonds in legal-tender notes, was
defeated.
Houso.-The vote by which Wiltshire (Ark.l was
declared entitled TO a seat reconsidered and laid
the table. The bill prescribing the penalty for
mpnslaughter was passed. IT provides that any
person who shall be convicted of the crime of
manslaughter in any United States court in any
state Territory, or in the District Of Columbia,
be fined not exceeding Sl,0OO....A bill was also
passed making the punishment for extortion by
officers, or persons acting under authority of the
United States a fine not exceeding $500 and imprs
onment not exceeding three years....A bill was
passed providing that person shall be prosecuted,
tried, punished in any United States court for
any oense not capital, or for any fine or forfeiture
under any penal statute, unless indicted or nfor-
nation shall be found or instituted within five
years, except in case Of persons fleeing from
justice The House passed an important bill
f,f aud dos hat utar
occupant of public land, having color of title, has
made valuable improvements thereon, and his title
is found afterward not good, he shall be entitled to
all the rights and remedies as provided in such
in their respective States and Territories.
bill also passed providing that in the trial of all
indictments, ir formations, complaints, and other
proceedings in United States courts, courts-mar-
tial, and courts Of inquiry, the person charged
SHALL at his his own request, but not otherwise, be
competent witness; the law to apply to
all prosecutions now pending. Poland
introduced bill TO provide for n
commission to inquire into the liquor traffic. A
memorial for the acknowledgment Of God Al
mighty and the Christian religion in the Constitu-
ton of the United States laid on the table.
The bill TO provide for the distribution of public
documents printed by authority of Congress, and
OF seeds furnished by the Agricultural Department,
for the free exchange Of newspapers between pub
fishers, and for the free transmission Of weekly
newspapers by mail within the county where pub
lished, discussed without reaching a vote.
An evening session held, for the consideration
of the bill to revise the statutes.
THURSDAY. Feb. 19.-Sendte. Another day
was consumed by the Senate in considering the Cur
rency question. Cameron's amendment to the Re
distribution bill providing for free banking was re-
jected by vote of 80 to %. Gordon's inconyertbe
bond-nOte proposition was also defeated Cooper
offered a substitute for Merrimon's amendment
increasing the national bank circulation TO $780,
100000 was then adopted. II instructs the Finance
Committee tU report a bill providing for the
conyertibity Of United States Treasury notes into
a.
and also for free banking under the provisions Of
the National Bank act The bill amending the
Patent laws passed.
House-A bill was passed providing for the cleo
ton Of two Congressmen-at-large from Alabama. .
The House consumed most of the day in discussing
the bill for the partial revival Of the franng prv
lege, without coming to a vote.