Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL,
The Army and POstOfiice ApprO-
priatiOn Bills Passed by
the Senate.
The Revenue Bill Passed by the
House After a Long Struggle.
The Tax on Whisky Hereafter
Made Ninety Cents-NO Tax
on Whisky in Bond.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Mr. Logan,
from the Committee on Military Affairs,
reported back the House bill 20 eduali2e
the bOunties Of soldiers who served in the
late war, and asked its present consider
alton.
Mr.. Howe objected upon the ground that
the Library Committee was entitled to the
morning hour to-day. 1t was his desire to
have the bill reported by that committee
considered.
Mr.. Logan gave notice that he would ask
for the consideration Of the bill during the
morning hour Of each day until be could
get q vote.
Mr. Howe, from the Committee on the
Library, called up the bill making further
provision for the accommodation of the
library of Congress, which provides for the
erection of a building in Judiciary Square.
Mf. Edmunds offered a substitute, pro-
viding for the extension of the west front
of the centre building of the Capitol, not
exceeding thirty-four feet, to accommodate.
the library, and proposing an appropriation
Of S5OO,OO0 to commence the work.
The bill was discussed till the expiration
Of the morning hour and then laid over.
The Senate then resumed the cOnsidera-
NADu VI N4Al HuolNlhNC dlpLOlA4alAOn bAAAg
the pending question being whether the
section in the bill as it came from the
House, repeating the act of June, 1872, au-
thorizing the Pacific Mail contract, should
be stricken out. The vote was taken on
the question of striking out the repeating
clause, and resulted-ayes IL, noes 50.
The action of the House in repeating the
contract of 1872 for additional subsidy was
then cOncurred in.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, submitted a report on the question
whether the contract with the Pacific Mail
Company for seini-monthly China mail
service IS still OBLIGATORY on the United
States. The committee report that il their
opinion the Government is not bound in
law to carry this contract into effect. The
main reason assigned for this conclusion is
that the company did not furnish the ships
required for the additional service Of the
proper time, and that the Postmaster Gen
eral had no lawful authority to accept the
vessels when they were rendered, and his
action cannot bind the Government.
The bin was then read third time and
passed.
Mr., Spencer presented memorial Of the
Republican members of the General As,
sembly Of Alabama, addressed to the Pre-
sident and Congress, claiming that the
change made by the Alabama Legislature
in the Penal Code Of the State, made
system of involuntary seryitude for African
citizens; that 5000 Republican voters
were disfranchised by political legislation;
that the Democrats proposed acts amount
ing to a practical notification of the Con-
stitutiOnal amendment; and finally asking
Congress to empower the President to sus-
pend the writ Of habeas corpus in certain
contingencies, in order TO preserve the pub
lie peace in the Southern States.
Mr.. Logan called up House bill in rela-
tion to the Quartermaster's Department of
the Army, and relating to appointments
therein. Passed.
The army appropriation bill was taken
up, and amended in various particulars,
and passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont from the Com
mittee on Finance, reported adversely on
all the bills to establish branch mint in
the West, and they were indefinitely post
POned. He also submitted the following
resolution:
Resolved, that as it appears expedient
to establish a branch mint for the coinage
Of silver, the President Of the United States
be requested TO institute inquiries as 10 the
proper place for the establishment Of a
branch mint at some point in the Western
States or in the Mississippi Valley, taking
into account all questions of economy and
facilities Of distribution, and report on the
same at the commencement of the next ses-
sion of Congress.
The bill to admit Colorado as a State
was taken up.
Mr.. Edmunds said the gentleman who
had charge Of the leading business Of the
Senate were putting forward this bill and
thus they put it out of his power to call up
the Civil Rights bill, as he intended to do
upon the completion Of the army apprOpria-
tiOn bill.
Before proceeding with the Colorado
bill, the Senate adjourned until tO-mOr-
row,