Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-02-11

News AND OrHER ITrns.-The prom
inent events which have occurred in
Congress since our last issue are the re-
peal Of a rule Of the House of Repre-
sentatives having reference to dilatory
motions. The democrats fought gal
lantIy against the repeal, but. By the
fnnking of some of their moderate re-
publican allies at the eleventh hour,
they were overpowered. Their battle,
however. was productive Of this good
result-they forced the radicals to at
tach condition TO the repeal, that no
bill appropriating money from the treas
ury should be passed, except in the US
Ual way and under the safeguards of
ancient parliamentary law. The repeal
having been made to enable Butler to
bring up and pass the House Civil Rights
Bill, this was, of course, effected. There
are now two Civil Rights bills pending.
one passed by the Senate, the other by
the House, but neither by both branches
of Congress. Which bill will be ulti-
mately adopted is at present unknown
and the opinion is now gaining ground
that neither viii become a Law during
the present session Of Congress. One
Of the most ludicrous incidents Of the
debats which outcropped on the motion
TO exrel Mr.. Brown, Of KY, for paying
unparliamentary compliments to But
Ter, was the rising up Of Mr. Dawes, of
Massachusetts, in defence of the decen-
cy and morality Of Congress. As Mr..
Dawes is known to be badly tdrred with
the late Credit Mobelier frauds, his re-
cent effort in behalf of good morals re-
minds us strongly of the ibertine and
bravo described by DR.. Johnson. john
sons friend-whatever his other faults
never passed church without first
taking his hat off.
1t would be well for our people to
remember, in their future monetary
transactions, that all checks or sight
drafts for money passing to or from
them must have affixed to them a two
cent stamp. The penalty for ace. pting
an unstamped check is precisely the
same as for issuing it, viz Fifty dol
lars. The law expressly declares that
any person who shall sign, or accept,
negotiate or pay an unstamped check
shall lie liable. All sight drafts and
checks require two-ccnt stamp.
Among the Executive communica-
tions laid before the House of Repre-
sentativcs last week We're reports from
Gen. Humphreys of surveys of the har-
bors of Chrisicld and Leonardtown,
transmitting reports of surveys made
by Henry Bacon, engineer in charge
Five plans are submitted for our har.
Dor, the estimated costs of which range
from $4,000 to $4,000. The reports
were referred TO the Committee Oh Com
merce.
1t appears that the expenses of the
government far exceed its income, and
thirty or forty million dollars are ur-
gently needed to keep the nation from
bankruptcy. This enormous amour,
must lie raised by still further increas-
Ing the burden Of taxation. The diff
ticuity with the Republicans in Congress
now IL, bow to Dc this without I'M urins
their party.
We notice, in the Congressional pro-
ceedings of Thursday last. that Mr..
Archer. of this State. presented a me-
mortal from Col. Smoot, President of
the Southern Maryland Railroad Com
rany. which was referred to the Com
mittee on Railways and Canals. The
purpose Of the memorial is not given.
1t is probable that Congress will re-
peal the subsidy of half million dol
lars year for ten years to the Pacific
Nail Steamship Company, which was
procured by the expenditure Of about
n million dollars in bribing congress
men. The officers of the company are
fighting hard TO save tie subsidy.
None Of the Maryland members of
the House of Representatives had
anything to dowith the Pacific Mail Sub |
. dy grab when it passed Congress. ex-
cept 10 vote against it. Messrs. Ham, |
,iton, Archer and Richie voted against
1t, and Messrs. Swami and Merrick were
absent.
The Washington Chronicle is author. |
ity for the report that tie sewing ma.
chine companies have placed fund of
S25o,ooO where it would do the mos, !
good. IN order TO secure legislation to
Continue their patents in force.
Whatever may he the fate IF Pinch. !
back in his present contes. for n sea,
IN the Senate, there is no do.:bt thar h.. |
is the most elected man in the country.
He has two sets of credentials for the
United States Senate and one for the
House of Ranr,san,,.;~o,