Litchfield enquirer., 1874-06-25
CONGRESSIONAL.

Senate.-On Tuesday of last week, bills &c. passed authorizing the issue of dupli- cate land scrip in case of the destruction of the original; legalizing entries under the Homestead laws; authorizing the Sec retary of the Treasury to suspend work on public buildings; compelling the Pa cific railroads to operate for the govern ment.-The Postotfice appropriation bill then came up It calls for an increase of about two millions. Mir. Sherman moved an amendment giving newspapers free county circulation but requiring prepay ment of postage at the rate of 4 cts. per fb. on all newspapers sent out of the coun- ty, which was adopted. He also favored sending public documents, to be charged the receiver at the rate of 9 cts. each. MT. SgragUe regretted the abolition of the franking privilege and the Senate seemed to be at loss what to do with the thou sands of documents now stored away in the Capitol vaults.-Bills passed provid- ing for the election of Congressman at Large from Alabama and for publication of the Revised U. s. Statutes.-A confer ence committee was appointed on the h. dian appropriation bill.
 On Wednesday, bills &c., passed for as- certaining the rights of British subjects in lands awarded this government by the Emperor of Germany on the San Juan boundary; providing for sale of lands given the North Pacific R. R. Co.,; 1n- structing the naval committee to enquire into the expediency of discontinuing cer- tain naval yards.-The Finance commit tee propose to strike out the tax on the sale of coin bonds in the new tariff bill The Postofice bill came up and the amendment was adopted allowing con- gressmen to send the Congressional Record free of charge, and other docu- ments, to be paid for by the recipient at 9 cents each. A motion to restore the franking privilege was defeated, 34 to IT. The conference report on the Legisla- tive Appropriation bill was accepted. It restores most of the clerkships of the de- partments that had been cut down by the House-An amendment of the postoffice bill allowing agricultural reports to go free was defeated by tie vote.-A con- ference report on the Pension bill passed. It allows agents but 9 cents for prepar- ing vouchers-A bill passed prohibiting publication of laws in newspapers.
 On Thursday the moiety bill was dis cussed and strenuously opposed by Messrs. Conkhn, Howe and Carpenter. The latter called 1t a bill to encourage smuggling.-Billsw were passed providing for payment of awards for Southern Claims; encouraging public marine schools. The District of Columbia bill was then tsken up and discussed at length. Nh. merous amendments offered by MT. Sar- geant were rejected and the bill passed as 1t came from the House.
 Ion Friday bills passed granting rieht of way for Nevada railroad; printino 2.500 copies of Hayden's report.-A mo. tion was made to reconsider the vote of Thursday passing the District of Colum- bia bill because of its taxation of church property, but was defeated. The new currency bill then passed, 43 to l9.-The
 River and Harbor Appropriation bill was discussed and several items were approv- ed in Committee of the Whole. amono others one giving 5000 for improvement of the harbor at Milford, Ct. On Saturday the report of the commit. tee against renewing the Wilson sewinp machine patents was accepted. Rills passed buying the La Fayette watch. and giving cannon for the Mead Statue.-Tbe Indian Appropriation bill passed as mod;- fled by a committee of conference iThe Sundry Civil Appropriation bill was dis