The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-06-20
Congressional Proceedings.

FptnAy.-In the Senate, numerous
memorials were read and referred against
The section in the pending tariff bill levy
inc tax on gold and securities A bill
was introduced to construct tunnel undor
the Hudson river, between New York aud
New jersey and one between New York
and BROOKLYN, with amendments The
committee on commerce reported with
amendments river and harbor appropria-
tion bill, recommending among other
items, the appropriation of $4,000 for the
Improvement Of Chester river, at Kent,
Nd. The currency bill was then taken
up, and after further discussion was passed
by vote of 81 yeas aud 23 nays.
In the House the committee ON appro-
priations reported II bill appropriating
$500, 900 for the relief of the sufferers by
the overflow of the Mississippi river. A
petition was presented, signed by three
hundred practical printers in the city of
Washington, asking Congress to stay
further proceedings in relation to fixing by
law scale Of prices for work IN any and
all mechanical establishments carried on
by the government of the United States,
because they hold it to be class legislation.
The civil service reform bill was next
taken up, but no final action was taken
thereon
SATURDAY.-In the Senate the Con-
ference Committees report on the bill to
wind up the affairs Of the Freedmens
Bank was concurred in. The Tmnsporta-
ton Committee made an unfavorablc
report on the House bill for ship canal
at the mouth of the Mississippi, accom-
panied with provision for the appoint.
ment by the President of Board of
Engineers to survey the river and decide
upon the best method for the improvement
Of its navigation. Mr.. Mortonss commit
tee was discharged from any further con-
sideration Of the charges against Senator
Mitchell. The House bill for compelling
the Pacific railroads to pay their debts to
the Government was passed. The House
announced by message its rejection of the
Currency bill reported by the Committee,
and, after some discussion, new commit
tee was ordered. Mr.. Edmundsa and Judge
Thurman spoke of it as being u waste Of
time and labor to 90 over the financial
business again, and wanted to have it
dropped for the session, but they we're
overruled by the majority.
In the House the Senate amendments to
the bill repeating moicties were non-con-
Cured in, and Conference Committc was
ordered The Currency bill was rejected
by vote of los to ll6, and a new com
mittee appointed The Sundry Civil
Appropriation bill was taken up, and Mr.,
Coburn moved that the amount for the
continuation of work at present on the
new department buildings at Washington
should be cut down to 100000. A
colloquy arose on this point, in which the
late Secretary Richardson and Supervising
Architect Mullctt were handled without
gloves. Mr.. Speer limited that Mr.. Platt
was interested in the stone contract, which
insinuation the Virginia member repealed
with some heat. Mr. .Coburu's motion
was rejected, but subsequently, $4,000
was fixed as the sum. The Appropriation
for furniture for buildings under the
control Of the Treasury Department was
cut down to sl50,000 Another amend
ment strikes down the whole system of
Civil Service Reform by repeating the law
for the appointment of the Commission, in
place of which it was provided that APP
pointmcnts in the Government employ
shall be made from Congressional districts,
and that preference shall always be given
to honorably discharged soldiers and sail
ors, or the widows Of those deceased
MoNDAY.---In the Senate petitions were
presented from Baltimore business houses
against the passage Of the law taxing the
sales Of gold, stocks and bonds A com
mittee Of conference was ordered ON the
Geneva Award bill. MIR. Carpenter re-
ported from the Committee on the Judi
ciary bill Of which one section is intcn-
ded to make newspaper correspondents in
Washington subject to libel suits on account
Of the papers which they represent Mr..
Bayard attacked the provision as direct
blow at the liberties of the press, but il
was, nevertheless, adoptedsby the Senate.
MIR. Edmunds submitted report from the
Conference Committee on the Bankrupt
phi1 WhiVh was COuCuIftu III. IL - tlc
Senates original bill with the amendment
that bankrupt, after paying thirty per
cent. Of his Indebtedness, may be dis
charged with the consent of onc-third of
his creditors. The resolution instructing
the Committee on Appropriations 10 report
an amendment to the River and Harbor
bill, providing for new surveys Of the pro-
jected works recommended by the Select
Committee on Transportation, was adopted.
In the House the conference commit
tees report on the Frcedmeu's Bank bill
was agreed to. A petition was presented
Tor the purchase OF bust Of William
Pinkney. Mr.. O'Brien presented the
memorial Of Baltimore workingmen for
the re-enactment Of the ten per cent. duty
on imported iron and steel An amend
ment to tho General Appropriation bill
was adopted, requiring tho heads of the
several executive departments to prescribe
and publish rules for the examination of
applicants for appointment to position, aud
distribution Of the appointments as nearly
as practicable among the several Congress
slonai districts in proportion 10 population,
preference being given to soldiers and
sailors. A debate occurred over the
provision for the payment Of the claims of
the Chocktaw and Chickasaw Indians, and
It was finally referred to the Secretary of
the Treasury. At the evening session the
bill for the construction Of public buildings
in a number Of cities named was laid on
the table.
TUEsDAY.--In tho Senate II large
number of bills were passed. Among
them were the following House bill
authorizing the issue of duplicate agricul-
tural land scrip where the Original has been
lost or destroyed; allowing the Secretary
oil the Treasury to suspend work ON the
public buildings at his discretion to aid
In the construction of railroad limo from
the Missouri river to the Pacific Ocean !;
providing for the publication Of the revised
statues Of the United States: 10 confer