Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-19
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, d. c., February 49,
MIR. Sawyer asked leave to report, from the
committee on commerce, q bill to extend un-
til April, 1876, the time for the completion of
the Green Bay, Surgeon Bay and Lake Mlchi-
gan ship canal.
Mr.. Storm oDj ected.
Mr.. Holman offered a resolution directing
the secretary of the treasury to inform the
house OF the amount paid since the first OF
January, 1855, for the transportation OF troops
and property of the United States on each of
several railroads that have been constructed in
by the United States, conditioned that such
railroads should be and remain public high
ways for the use OF the government free OF toll
and other charges. Adopted.
The contested election case from the third
congressional district OF Arkansas came up,
and on motion to reconsider and lay on the
shire entitled pTfntd Jdcie to the seat. The
motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Yeas, l35; nays, l29. Wiltshire was then sworn
in, taking the iron-clad oath.
Mr.. Frye from the Judiciary committee re-
ported bill providing that any person who
shall be convicted OF the crime of man.
slaughter in any State or Territory, OF in the
District of Columbia, shall be imprisoned not
exceeding twenty years and fined not exceed
Ing one thousand dollars. He stated that un-
der the existing law the maximum imprison-
ment for manslRughter is three years. After
suggestions from Messrs. Lawrence, Bass and
others, Mr.. Frye inserted the proviso that the
act shall not affect any prosecution now pend.
ing or prosecution for any ofense already
committed.
as an amendment that punishment for muir
der shall be Imprisonment for life. Mr.. Frye
declined, and the bill was passed.
Mr.. Frye, from the same committee, re-
ported bill making the punishment for ex-
tOrtion by officers or persons acting under the
authority Of the United States, fine of not
exceeding five hundred dollars and tmprison-
ment not exceeding three years. Passed.
Mr.. Frye also offered a bill providing that
no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or
punished in any United States court for any
offense not capital, or for any fine or forfeit
uIe under any penal statute, unless indicted
or information found or instituted within five
years, except in the case of persons fleeing
from justice. Passed.
A bill passed providing that where an occu-
pant of public land, having color of title, has
made valuable Improvements thereon, and
his title is found afterward not to be good, he
shall be entitled TO all rights and remedies as
provided in such cases, in their respective
Mr. Frye reported bill providing that in
trial OF all indictments, information, COM
plants, or other proceedings in United states
courts, the persons charged shall, at their own
request, but not otherwise, be competent wit
nessess, the law to apply to all prosecutions
now pending.
ON motion of Mr.. Gooch, the bill was made
to apply to courts-martial and courts OF in
quiTy. After discussion, the bill was passed.
Mr.. Frye also reported bill to provide for
holding terms of the western district court OF
Missouri, one court to be held at jefferson
City and the other at Springfield. Passed.
Mr.. Poland, from the judiciary committee,
reported a bill to provide for the appoint
ment of a commission on the subject of the
alcoholic liquor traffic, the commission to
consist of five persons who are 10 serve with
out pay for two years, but are to be allowed
all necessary incidental expenses and sec
retary at two thousand dollars year. Re-
ferred to the committee of the whole. Also,
a bill to provide for deducting any debt due
to the United States from any judgement re-
covered from the United States by such
debtor. Passed.
Mr.. Butler [Mass.l from the same commit
tee, made an adverse report on the memorial
Lode aasrlaN
and the christian religion in the constitution
of the United States. Laid on the table,
The bill reported by the postoftice commit
tee in regard TO the distribution OF public doe
uments came up, as the special order, and
Mr. Woodford raised the question
of consideration, remarking that he wanted to
lion dollars reserve, and that IL vas the ques-
ton of public printing and franking on the
one side and national finances on the other.
The house decided by very decided majority
to proceed with the bill TO provide for the dis
tribution OF documents printed by authority
OF cengress-those, it seems, furnished by the
agricultural department.; for free exchange
OF newspapers between publishers, and for
the free transmission of weekly newspapers
by mail within the county wnere RuoIIisned;
reported the bill, to allow him TO offer sub
stitute, simply repeating the law which abol-
ished the franking privilege.
Mr.. Packer declined.
Mr.. Garfield raised point OF order whether
the bill should not be first considered in COM
mlIJ6S OF IQ6 WnOitr lOE IL CoIIAlnly luNOlNSN
an expenditure of money.
The speaker replied that the point would
have been good, had not the house, by sus-
pension of the rules, overruled that point.
Mr. Packer went to speak in support of the
bill. He stated that there were in the docu-
ment rooms OF the house and senate some
two hundred and sixty-six thousand volumes
of valuable public documents folded and
ready for transportation, besides pamphlets.
The postage on these books and documents
would be about one hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars. But II not distributed free
through the mails they would be sent by ex.
press. The bill only applied TO congress
The same principle under which the
various executive departments were
now allowed for postage, by having special
stamps furnished them, and which we're fur
nished up to the eighth OF September, 1873, &c,
the nominal value Of one million nine hum
dred and ninety thousand four hundred and
seyenty-eight dollars. In the treasury depart
ment these special stamps were furnished to
six hundred and seventy.eight persons all
over the country, and ne Thought 1t sale tc
saw that they were used by ten times that
number of persona.
Mr. Hurlbert asked Mr.Packer WHITTIER there
had been any diminution In the expense OF
TRANSPORTING the mails since abolishlng the
frsnking privilege. ,,
Mr.. Kasson explained that no new contracts
for the transportation OF the mails had been
made since that time
Mr. Packer stated that the cost of the trans
portation Of the mail preceding the abolish