Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-04-20
CONGRESS-.

A large number of petitions were
presented during the morning hour of the
Senate, on the 10th. The bill to establish the
territosy of Pembina was reported favorably
and placed on the calendar. The House bill
to provide for the issue Of silver coin in the
place of fractional currency, was then taken
up and after amendment, passed as follows
Be it enacted, &C., That there be and here
by is appropriated out of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum
SIG, ,OO0, 900, to provide for engraving, print
ing and other expenses Of making and issu-
ing @ y: s: notes, and the fartner sum Of s48,-
oOO to provide for engraving and printing
national bank notes, to be distributed under
the secretary of the treasury.
Sec. 2. Thatthe secretary OF the treasury
is hereby directed to issue silver coins of the
United States of the denomination of 10, 20,
25 and so cents, of standard value, in re-
demption OF an equal amount of fractional
currency, whether the same be now in the
treasury awaiting redemption, or whenever it
may be presented for redemption. The Sec
retary Of the treasury may, under regulations
OF the treasury department, provide for such
redemption and issue by the substitution at
the regular sub-treasuries and public deposi
tories Of the United States, until the whole
amount OF fractional currency outstanding
shall be redeemed, and the fractional cur
rency redeemed under this act shall Ike held
to he part Of the sinking fund provided for
by existing law, the interest to be computed
thereon as in the case of bonds redeemed
under the acts relating to the sinking fund.
The House report was very meager,
a large number of bills being introduced but
titles not given. The river and harbor bill
was passed under suspension OF the rules.
After number Of speeches on the Hwaiian
treaty, the House adjourned.
The Senate judiciary committee pre-
sented majority and minority report on the
House bill to protect witnesses who shall be
required to testify for the government. The
postage bill was taken up and after the con-
sideration of several proposed amendments
the Senate adjourned.
In the House both majority and mi
nority reports were presented from the COM
mittee on commerce, regarding the proposed
commercial treaty with Canada. Regan's bill
to regulate the navigation of steam vessels
was passed, after which a recess was had until
time set for an evening session, no report of
which was transmitted.
Mr.Spencer introduced in the Senate,
OH the 18th, bill to provide for an elastic
currency. The bill regulating third-class
postage was passed without division, after the
failure Of repeated attempts to amend by fix
ing the rate on seeds, etc. at still lower rate
than newspapers. On the question to restore
the old rate Of postage the vote stood "a to
"a, divided politically as follows: Voting
yes, Republicans l3, Democrats IL; ; voting no,
Republicans IL, Democrats IA.
The House cOncurred in the Senate
amendments to the silver bill. The commit
tee on elections reported that H. B. Strait
OF the second Minnesota district is entitled
| to his seat in Congress. Considerable mis-
cellaneous business was transacted, but moth
| ing of general interest to western readers.
The bill authorizing the construction
of pontoon bridge at La Crosse was passed
| without opposition, and after a lengthy de-
bate on the question Of re-paving Pennslyva-
nia avenue the Senate adjourned.
The House passed the bill to author
ize settlers on even numbered sections of land
within the limits of the Northern Pacific rail-
road to make proof and payment for their
claims at 81 .25 per acre. The Senate bill to
confirm pre-emption and homestead entries
of public lands within the limits of railroad
grants in certain cases was also passed. In
committee Of the whole the bill to transfer
the Indian bureau to the war department was
discussed for several hours, and the House
adjourned to Saturday.
In the House on the 18th the Judici.
ary committee reported resolution in the
Habeas corpus case of Hallett Kilbourne the
recusant witness in the real estate pool in
vestigation, directing the sergeant-at-arms to
make careful return to the writ, setting out
the cause of the detention of Kilbourne, and
retain the custody of his body, and not to
produce it before the Judge or court without
further order Of the House. The resolution
was discussed at considerable length both for
and against. An inquiry was ordered into
the charge that the journal clerk had offered
to prosecute additional bounty claims for
commission. The clerk handed in an explain
| atory letter which was read. The case was
| finally referred to the committee on rules.
The Senate bill to provide for administering
oaths in impeachment trials was passed.. ::
The Senate was not in Session. IL
The principal business before the
Senate on the 18th was the opening of the
Belknap impeachmenttrial. After resuming
legislative business report was received
from the special committee appointed for the
purpose, recommending that Pinchback re-
ceive the full amount Of Senator's pay dur
ing the time Of Ais contest for the seat. :, :...s
The discussion of the Kilbourne hab-
cas- corpus case was resumed in the House. A
very bitter personal debate sprang up be-
tween Mr.. Tucker and Mr.. Blaine, and an
amendment offered by the former that the
writ be not recognized, but on the question
being put the amendment was lost. On the
final amendment, by MIR. Lynde, vote Of l65
to rs ordered the sargeant-at-arms to produce
Kilbourne before the court. The House then
adjourned. -
William Osenbaugh, of Fort Wayne,
was instantly killed Monday by the
express train. He was walking on the
track and did not notice its approach.
A young farmer named Herrod, re-.
ai6in0 near Gontorhnrn Dooox, oo,,,,%xy.s