The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-12-24
coNcRESsToNALs
Opening of the ForIy-fourih congress.


WASHINGTON, December 6.-The Sen
ate was called to order promptly at twelve
O'Clock by Hen. T. W. Ferry. Senator
Anthony submitted a resolution pruei1ihg
for the appointment OF a committee of two
senators to join such committee as may be
appointed by the house of representatives to
inform the President that quorum of the
two houses had assembled and congress was
ready to receive any communication he may
be pleased to make. Agreed to; aud the
chair appointed Senator anthony and Thur
man such committee. The Senate then took
a recess for half an hour. On reassembling
Senator Boutwell, announced the death of
Vice President Wilson, and said at an early
day resolutions relating to his life, character
and public services would be offered. Ad-
jOurned.
DECEMBER THE Senate was called
to order at twelve o'clock noon. Upon re-
assembling Mr.. Luckey, the private secretary
TO the President, appeared at the bar Of the
Senate with the message, and it was read by
Mr.. Gorham, secretary 81 the Senate. The
reading was concluded at eight minutes past
two O'clock, and was listened to with marked
attention by the Senators and the large audi
enee in the galleries. On motion of Sena-
tor Conkling, the message was ordered to lay
on the table and he printed. The President
pro tenn laid before the Senate the reports of
the various cabinet officers and the comp
troIler of currency, which were ordered to be
printed and lay on the table. Adjourned.
In the Senate on the Sth, large num-
Der of bills were introduced, laid on the
table, ordered printed and referred to the
appropriate committees when appointed.
Among them were the following: To pro-
vide for and regulate the counting of votes
for President and Vice-President, and dis
position of the questions arising therefrOm.
To secure depositors in the Freedman's
savings and trust company from ultimate
loss Amendatory and supplementary of
acts TO incorDorate the Texas Pacific railroad.
To remove the legal and political disabilities
of all citizens of the United States subject
thereto. Granting W. Cornell Jewett and
associates charter rights for teleSraphic ocean
cable communication between the Pacific
coast of the United States and Asia. To ex-
tend the time for the completiOn' of the
Northern Pacific railroad. 1t allows that
company ten years additional time in which
to complete the road. Regulating the sala-
ries of judges of the court of claims. 1t
provides that the salaries of those judges
shall be six thousand dollars per annum from
and after the passage of this act For the
sale of the Black Bob Indian lands in Kansas
conferring exclusive jurisdiction in the
- md fnr tha ant
of crimes committed against the Indians.
Senator Morrill, Me submitted a resolution
Einstructng the committee on postOflices and
kpOstalrOads, when appointed, to inquire into
the expediency of so amending the postal
laws as to produce revenue adequate to the
support of that service. Ordered printed.
Senator MOrtor submitted a joint resolution
to amend the constitution of the United
States so as to elect the President and Vice
President by direct vote of the people, and
abolish the electoral college. Ordered printed
and referred to the committee on privileges
and elections when appointed. large
number of memorials were presented and
| laid upon the table, to be referred to appro-
pirate committees when appointed. Sena-
tor ingalls, submitted a resolution that the
| secretary of the interior be requested to
transmit the report of the commission APP
pointed to investigate the affairs OF the
Dosage Indian agency, together with the. evi-
dence taken by the board and separate find
ings of individual members. Agreed to.
| Adjourned. r
IN the Senate on the 9th, it was ordered
that the bills and memorials presented yes
/ terday be taken from the table and referred
| to the appropriate committee. Senator
Maxey presented the memorial OF the Texas
constitutional convention in relation tt the
! depredations on the people of the Texas
| frontier by bands of niauraders organized be-
! yorid the limits of the State The following
1 bills were introduced: To amend the act
creating the tribunal to adjudicate the
| Geneva award. To extend the duration OF
the court for the adjudicatiOn of the claims
arising ont OF the Geneva award To amend
the act of July -, 1864, to aid in the con-
struction of railroad and telegraph line
from the MISSOURI river to the Pacific ocean.
To authorize the payment of duties on i'm
ports in legal-tenders and national bank
notes. Referred. After referred executive
session, adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
/ WASHINGTON, December g The
opening of the Forty-fourth Congress was
marked by the presence, in and around the
( capitol, of a larger crowd than probably ever
! before watched similar proceedings. At
/ .,I,-x r.l..I- H., Io,,so ,-o- o.1I.d 70 o,1 ar