Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-04-29
CONGRESS.


monstrating against the manufac-
ture and sale of envelopes by the
Government and against the abol-
ition of compulsory pilotage. Mr..
Anthony, from the Committee on
Printing, reported resolution au-
thourizing he publication of TO-
600 copies of the annual report of
Smithsonian Institute and $500
copies of Prof. Hayden's Geologi-
cal and Geographical Survey of
the Territories, which was passed
Also, resolution from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs author
izing the Secretary of War to issue
certain arms to the Washington
Light Infantry of Charleston, S.
c., and the Clinch Rifles, of Au-
gusta, Ga. A bill introduced by
Mr.. Edmunds to abolish the Board
of Health of the District was re-
ferred to the committee on Mill
tary affairs. Mr.. Morrill, introdu-
ced bill authorizing the Secretary
of the Treasury to allow Mrs Min.
ME Sherman Fitch to receive, free
from duty, wedding present
from the Khedive of Egypt, and
after some discussion it was passed
unanimously. The bill anthori-
Zing the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue shall hold their offices
was taken up, and after being
further amended was laid ovor.
The consideration of the bill to
amend the laws in relation to the
legal tender ofsilver coin was then
proceeded with, after which the
Senate went into executive ses-
sion, and when the doors were
opened, adjourned to Monday
next.
In the House Mr. Lawrence in
troduced bill to limit the power
of courts to punish for contempt:
also to- enlarge the privileges of
the writ of hebeas corpus, espe-
cially in its application to both
Houses of Congress. The Com
mittee on Appropriations reported
back the Senate amendments to
the Consular and Diplomatic APP
preparation bill, and they were
non-concurred in. A resolution
reciting the outrages TO which
American citizens are subjected in
Mexico, and requesting the Pres
ident to direct the General of the
Army to proceed to the scene of
disturbance and to take such mea-
sures as may be necessary to main
tain peace and protect the honor
and dignity of the Government
was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs. Mr.. Cate offered
d resolution, which was adopted,
for the appointment to a commit
tee to Investigate the charges
against Secretary Bristew in con-
nection with the seizure, forfeit
ure and release of the bark Mary
Merritt at Milwaukee In June,
1869. The bill for the transfer of
the Indian Bureau to the War
Department was then taken up
and discussed up to the hour of
adjournment.
APRIL 21.-In the House of Rep
resentatives Mr.. Knott introduced a
bill to regulate the writ of habeas
corpus in certain cases. Mr.. Buck
ard reported q bill concerning the Ii
ability of corporations engaged in
distilling, and after considerable dis
cussion it was passed. Mr.. Kasson
moved to reconsider the vote by
(which the resolution ordering an in
ivestigation of certain charges against
Secretary Bristow was adopted, and
to amend the same by making the
investigation public, which was
adopted. The bill for the transfer
of the Indian Bureau to the War
Department was then taken up, and
after being discussed was passed, af-
ter which the House adjourned. The
Senate was not in session.
APRIL 24.-In the Senate the
Chair presented a communication
from the Secretary Of the Interior
enclosing the report of Professor
w. p. Janney upon the agricul-
ture, climate and other resources
ofthe Black Hills country. Mr.,
Sargent submitted a resolution,
which was agreed to, calling On
the Secretary of the Treasury for
Information in reference to the
average and taxable capital, and
average and taxable deposits in
the various saving institutions of
the several States and Territories,
with amount of taxes collected on
the same. A number of bills of a
local nature were also introduced
and appropriately referred. Mr..
Sargent called UP the bill autho.-
izing the Committee of Internal
Revenue to designate and fix the
points at which Collectors and
Supervisors of the revenue shall
hold their offices, and proceeded to
discuss its provisions. The con-