The Osceola times., 1876-04-15

bill TO amend section 1914 Of the revised
1 statutes so as 10 provide that NO person shall
1 be prosecuted, tried or punished for any
ofense, except against the internal revenue,
| unless indicted within three years alter such
ofiense has been or may be committed. Alter
discussion the bill passed. The impeachment
| managers presented themselves ut the bar ol
the house, and reported through Mr.. Lord,
chairman, that articles OF impeachment
against Gen. Bclknap had been exhibited
and read to the senate; and that the presid-
ing officer had said that the senate would
take order in the premises, due notice OF
which would be given to the house OF repre-
sentatiyes. Mr. Durham, from the committee
on expenditures in the department OF JUS
tice, reported bill TO regulate the employ
ment Of special counsel for the government,
and authorizing il only on the certificate oil
the Judge that IL Is necessary, and requiring
the Judge also to fix the fees. In his expla-
nation Of the bill, Mr.. Durham instanced the
whisky trials in the west, where one oil the
special counsel claims a fee Of twenty SIX
thousand dollars. The bill passed. The
house then went into committee OF the whole
on the legislative appropriation bill. with.
out making much progress the committee
rose and the house took recess. The even.
ing session was consumed in discussion OF
the salary bill. The presidents salary is
fixed at twenty-five thousand dollars, TO take
effect after the fourth Of March, 1877. -Four.
teen pages of the bill were disposed OF, and
the house adjourned.
In the house, on the 9th, Mr.. Cox
reported bill to regulate the winding up Of
the national banks. lie explained that the
object Of the bill was to facilitate liquidation
and that insolvcnt banks may be perfectly
and speedily closed up in the interest oil the
public. Passed. A message was received
from the senate informing the house that the
senate had organized for the trial and I'M
peachment Of w. w. Belknap, and was ready
10 receive the managers at its bar. Mr.. Hub
bell reported back adversely the bill fixing
legal rate of interest on national money
throughout the United States at not exceed
ing six per cent. per annum, and afhxing
penalties for its violation. Pending action
on the bill, the morning hour expired. Inc
impeachment managers presented themselves
at the bar Of the house, and stated that they
proceeded to the bar of the senate and that
the senate had fixed Monday, the seven.
teenth, as the day on which they would
make process returnable against W. W. Bel
knap, late secretary of war. The house then
went into committee of the whole, on the bill
terror 10 the war department Mr.. Parks
spoke in favor OF the bill. Mr.. Cox opposed
the bill, suggesting that the present system
was hell, the Indian was in he'll, and the low
est depth was the interior department.; the
still lower depth that was threatening to de-
your him, was to be found in the war depart
ment. lie recommended the Canadian Indian
policy under which the Indians cost at the
rate Of two dollars and thirty-five cents each,
while under our system the cost some sixty
dollars each. lie referred to Gen. Sheri-
dams campaign against the Indians In 1868,
as an expensive one, and its climax, the
assassination of Black Kettles band OF
Cheyennos, as an outrage that had no par
allel in barbarity. In conclusion, he declares
that peaceful policy, such as that which
was the kindest, wisest and best, was the
policy of human advancement. The COM
mittee then rose, and the house took recess.
In the evening session there were discussions
over the restoration Of the franking privilege.
the reduction of the clerical force in the
state department, and various items sf no
public moment. Only two pages OF the bill
were disposed of, when the house adjourned.
In the house, on the 9th, the bill to
provide for the deficiency in the printing
bureau and fer the issue Of silver coin in
plucC VI 70 ~
the senate finance committee by striking out
the third section and providing in lieu OF it
that there shall be coined new silver dol
lar of four and half and eght.tenths grains
of standard silver, and that this new coin
shall be legal.tender to the amt unit of twenty
dollars in any one payment, except Tor GUS
toms and for interest on the public debt
Another amendment provides that the trade
dollar shall not hereafter be legal-tcnder
for any amount whatever. Mr.. Holman re-
ported back the senate bill fixing the presi-
DENTAL salary, after March 4, 1877, at $4,000.
Passed without discussion. The house then
went into committee of the whole on the
legislative appropriation bill. After pro-
crossing as far as the 25th page OF the bill,
the committee rose and the house adjourned.
In the house, on the'7th, Mr.. Whit
thorne reported a resolution instructng the
subcommittee TO proceed to Philadelphia
and League island navy-yards to inquire into
certain alleged abuses and frauds. Adopted.
The house then went into committee OF the
whole on the private calendar. After the
passage of number Of private bills, bill
Tor the payment of certain war claims, apply
ing to over two hundred individuals in diff
ferent states and aggrcgating $ll2,OOOy was
reported back from the committee, with the
recommendation that IL pass, and after dis.
cussion it was passed. The house then ad'
iourned