Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-03-14
CONGRESSIONAL,

VIII LNN4VlIJOl lOlN ALI
In the senate, March ID, various pc
tl'lons we're presented for and against nha-
tion.....T The committee on public lands re-
ported fayorably on senate bill in regard to
the several states beds of unsuryeycd lands,
bayous and o her bodies of unnayigabe waters
| lying within the limits of such states. and il
was placed on the calendar. The bill re-
ported from the committee on public buildings
| and grounds few days ago, in relation to re-
moving the bronze statue of jefferson from
| the grounds of the executive mansion to the
oid hall OF the house Of representatives., was
taken mp and passed, Resolutions were pre-
sented from the Missouri legislature, asking
All appropriation for the removal of obstruc-
tions from the channel Of the Mississippi
river, and of the Minnesota legislature, ask
ing that survey be made to determine the
feasibility Of connecting the navigahle waters
OF Minnesota river and Red river Of the north
by canal. go. Houee bill relating to the cen
tennlal exhibition was taken up, and pending
ITS DISCUSSION the senate proceeded to eXecu-
tive business aud adiomned.
In the house, March %, bills were
introduced and referred: To give hexibility
to the currency without initiation; to legalize
the issue of the reserve Of forty-four millions,
and to make tho same available for time of
extraordinary financial issues; to cover into
the treasury the bonds and money belonging
to the Japanese and Chinese indemnity funds;
for the admission of Utah into the union as a
state; Tor the appointment Of joint com
mission to examine the national lines Of water
COmmuuiCat ons. Mr.. liutler intro luced
bill to enable members OF congress to do pub
lie business with their constituents aud other
departments of the government, and to limit
the fTanklng privilege to certain newspapers.
The bill provides that during any session of
congress- and for thirty days prior aud sub
sequent thereto, all written and printed mat
ter and such other things as have been or
dered by either house for distribution. shall
60 free of postage. The second section pro-
vides that all newspapers regularly printed
and not advertising sheets simply, shall 20
free of all postage through the mails in the
county where they are published, but shall
not be delivered free under the free delivery
system The third section requires all postal
matter to be prepaid. %. Mr.. Maynard moved
to suspend the rules and make the currency
bill the special order for Wedne day of next
week. to the exclusion of all other orders,
except appropriation bills, After various con-
tllcting suggestions, the motion was agreed to.
&C.. The house then went into committee of
the whole on the bills to repeal the tax on
matches and bank checks and soon after al
iourned,
In the senate, on the 3d. Mr. Fenton
presented the pc ition Of a large number of
business men of New York city asking con-
gress to put an immediate stop to any further
al g H.,
treasury and cause the retirement, aud at
once OF the legal tender reserve issue. He
said the signers represented at least $500 000,-
900 of capital. The bill in reference to the
centennial exhibition was taken up, the pend
ing question being on the amendment OF Mr..
Morrill,, OF Vermont, making the exhibition
national in its character instead of interna-
tional The remainder Of the session was
consumed in the discussion Of the measures,
and, without action the senate adjourned.
In the house, on the 3D., a bill was
passed to amend the homestead laws; also to
amend the act of July /, 1870, to prevent the
determination Of the fur-bearing animals of
Alaska, 30 as to authorize the secretary of the
treasury to designate the months in which fur
seals may be taken for their skins, on the is
lands of st. Gray and St. George, and the
waters adjacent thereto, and the number to be
taken on or about each island. IT,. The house
then proceeded to the consideration OF the
bill to regulate commerce among the several
states, and without taking any action on the
bill, which is the special order from day to
day until disposed Of, the house adjourned.
In the senate, on the 4th, number
of bills for the relief of various persons were
reported from the committee on claims and
placed on the calendar, 80. Mr.. Ramsey sub
mitted a resolution instruciug the committee
on transportation routes 20 the seaboard to
consider and report upon the oxpedency of
improving the water routes aud railway COM
mnnications from the Mississippi valley to the
seaboard, and to regulate commerce among
the states, by cheapening the transportation
between the east and west. by improving the
navigation of the Mississippi river from its
source to the Gulf Of Mexico, and lake navi-
ration from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario,
and by chartering Il double track railroad from
the Mississippi river to the ocean, at low
maximum rate of Fix mills per ton per mile.
The senate discussed the liquor traffic
bill until the expiration Of the morning hour,
am amendment having been Offered by Mr.
Bayard, providing that all OF the commission
ers who are to make inquiry should not be In
favor of prohibitory legislation or total ab-
stinence. .. Mr.. Carpenter spoke at length on
the Louisiana bill presented by him, in which
he took decided ground against tho Kellogg
government. The centennial bill then came
np for discussion, but no progress was made.
In the house, on the 4tb, the appro-
priation committee reported the annual Indian
appropriation bill, whicu was referred to
committee of the whole, and made the special
order after the special legislative appropriation
bil is disposed Of. 81. The house then resumed
consideration of the bill to regulate commerce
| Inv vrsilroa1samong the several states. Speeches
we're made for and against the bill, and the
house adjourned without action
In the senate, on the 9th, house bill
To amend the act to encourage the growth OF
timber on western prairies was passed. The
committee on commerce has agreed to recon-
mend the passage Of the bill allowing aliens
who have declared their intention of becom-
INC citizens to be employed as engineers or
niSois on steam vessels. The law now limits
snch employment 30 Americans Ihe COM
mittee on claims reported favorably on the
bill for the relief OF the Kentucky agricultural
and mechanical association, and 1t wa placed
ON the calendar. "A bill was introduced TO
organize the territory of 0klohoma', Mr..
Bogy offered bill for the improvement OF the
mo9nth OF the Mississippi river. It is what IS
known as the Eados project. The senate
resumed consideration OF the liquor bill the
nondinp discussion being on the amendment
Of MIR. Bayard, providlng that ali members Of
commission should not be in favor oil pro,
hibitipg legislation or total abstinence an Tlo
ibs amendment was adopted-23 to %. The
centennial bill then came up the pending
onostion being on tho motion Of Mr., Freling-
hTvsen. 10 instruct the appropriation COM
miiteo to report bill approprating sum OF o.
n,onov not exceeding three million dollars, to
defray the expenses Of the American centen'
nal oxMbition. II was debated pro and con,
as usual, but no vote was taken
In the house, on the 5tb, the bill foi
the free distribution Of public documents