Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-05-11
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.

THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.
In the Senate, Monday, Mr.. Hamlin's 5
resolution to amend the rules relating
to Impeachment trials so that the delib-
eratiuns OF the Senate on questions SUBJ
mitted to it in public was debated and
laid over. The Senate as a court of iIn-
peachment in the case of w. w. Bel
KNAPP overruled the motion of Mr.. Nc
Donald TO reconsider the vote allowing
the defendent to close the argument Oh
the question of jurisdiction of the Sen-
ate to try the Case. Mr.. Boutwell, in
troduced bill authorizing the Secre-
tary of the Treasury at his discretion to
renew the isSue of fractional currency,
and limiting the amount outstanding
at one time to S50,00O,OOO.
In the House, under the regular call +,
a rumber of bills and resolutions were
introduced, including joint resolution
for the issue OF silver com in exchange
tor greenbacks and bill 10 utilize the
prod lct of gold and silver mining in
the United States by authorizing the
issue of deposit certiticats. The rules
were suspended and q resolution adopt
ed without division directing the sew
eral committees of the House charged
with investigations to conduct them
with open doors except when in the
opinion of such con- mittees the public
interest requires secret sessions. "A
motion to suspend the rules and pass a
bill to repeal so much of the resump-
ton act as authorizes the redemption
and cancellation of notes and the sale
of United States bonds was rejected for
want of twO-thirdS vote.
In the Stnate, Tuesday, Mr.. Ham
Inns motion providing that all deliber-
ations of the Senate in the impeach-
ment trial shall be public WAS debated
without action. The Chair laid before
the Senate communication from the
President enclosingan an invitation to the
two houses of Congress to be present at
the opening ceremonies of the Centen-
nial exposition. $500
In the House a resolution was adopt
ed instructing the committee on the
judiciary TO inquire into certain trans
actions between the Union Pacific and
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad
companies. a resolution was unani-
mously adopted eXpunging from the
record so much of the resolution of cen
sure against John Young Brown, of
KY, adopted by the last Congress, as
charged him with prevarication. Mr..
Payne, from the committee on banking
and currency, reported bill authOriz-
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to is
sue silver coin now in the treasury to
an amount not exec ding $4,000, 900 in
exchange for an equal amount of legal
tender notes.
In the Senate, Wednesday, Mr.. Nor
ton made personal explanation as to
charges in the New York World in re-
gard to E250, 900 received from the Gov
ernment and expended by him in Or
ganizing Indiana troops. He said that
in 1863 she President advanced him
$3.50, 900 for military operations. He
expended $l3, 1872 .09, and returned to
the Treasury SIG, ,697. .09, for which he
had the receipt OF the Secretary of the
Treasury. He explained how a Demo-
cratic Legislature locked the State
Treasury against him, and how, after
an appeal to the people, banks, ETC., he
was still short $250, 900 which Was ad-
vanced to him by the Government. A
Democratic committee had reported his
accounts correct to cent, including his
expenditures from the Government
fund.
The House bill authorizing the trans
fer OF SIG, 900 for payment Of lighthouse
keepers, ETC., was passeetb
The bill in relation to the Japanese
indemnity fund was considered, with
out final action.
In the House a bill was introduced
to utilize the gold and silver deposits
in the United States. The contested
election case of LIE Moyne vs.. Farwell,
from the third Illinois district, was de-
cided by the seating of LIE Moyne,
dem, the contestant. The postOffice
appropriation bill was further consider.
ed, and the remainder of the session
was devoted to general debate.
lin the Senate, Thursday, Mr.. Conk-
ling presented large number of petit
tions representing the case of E. O'M.
Condor.
The Senate refused to postpone i'm
parchment proceedings on account of
proposed adjournment to attend the
opening of tine Centennial. Mr.. Blair,
for Belknap, made an argument against
the jurisdiction of the Senate, and
Mansger Lord in support of the juris-
diction of the S, nate to try the case.
In the House, some time was spent
in committee of the Whole ON the
POstofiice appropriation bill.
a bill was passed approprilting
$4,000 for the expenses of the committee
to investigate Federal offices in Lpuisi-
ana.
The Ways AMI Means committee
was instructed to consider some means
of relief from threatnd scarcity OF frac-
tiOnal currency.
A message was received from the
President, declined to furnish the
House information as to his various
absences from Washington.
In the Senate, Friday, the House
resolution accepting an invitation to
attend the Centennial opening, and
providing for adjournment from tho
10Th to the 12lh, was adopted. :
The question of jurisdiction in the
Belknap impeachment was argued by
Mr.. Carpenter for the respondent, and
Mr.. Knott for the managers. The
argument of Mr.. Knott had not been
finished when the Senate adjourned.
In the House a resolution appropriat-
Ing $4,000 for ventaIating the hall, was
adopted.
The Naval Appropriation bill was
made the spt cial order for Monday,
Sth inst.