Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-03-18
CONGRESS.

MARCH 1O.-In the United States
Senate the session was mainly 0ccu-
pied in considering the bill to enable
New Mexico to form Constitution
and State Government. After con-
siderable argument the bill was pas
sed--yeas 35, nays Is. The bill OF
Mr.. Wright reducing the Presiden-
tial salary to $25, 900 per annum came
ND. but ON motion of Mr.. Sherman
the Senate went into Executive ses-
sion, and subsequently adjourned UNI
til Monday.
In the House Mr.. Cox, of New
York, offered resolution for an ex-
animation of the books of the Treas
ury Department to ascertain the
causes of a reduction in the amount
of bullion in the Treasury between
the Goth and the 26th of February of
twenty millions, while between the
3lst OF January and the oath OF Feb
ruary an increase of eighteen mil
lions had been reported. Also to in
quire whether the legal tender notes
received for the redemption of Ma
tional bank notes are kept as spe-
cial fund or held in common with
ether money. Referred to the Ways
and Means Committee.
MARCH 13.-In the United States
Senate the entire session was occu-
pied in discussing the bill from the
Committee ON Privileges and Elec-
lions to regulatethe counting of votes
for President and Vice President.
In the Honse great variety of
bills were introduced and referred.
Mr.. Landers introduced bill to al
low twenty days vacation to all Gov
eminent employees to attend the Cen
tennial celebration. Mr.. Baker, of
Indiana, offered a series of resolu-
tons declaring the nation sovereign
and supreme, that in its nature it is
permanent and indisS0luble except
by the action of the whole people,
that all overt acts by any State or
the people thereof of secession or of
rebellion against the same constitute
treason, and that the late war was
causeless and indefensible on any
theory Of right or constitutional law,
He moved a suspension of the rules
and the previous question. After
some debate the motion was rejected
yeas. 81, nays Y, not two third
vote in the affirmative. All of the
Southern Democrats voted no, and
most of the Northern Democrats re-
Trained from voting.
MARCH 14.-In the United
States Senate the bill regulating
the salary of the President was
again taken up, and, after some
debate, passed-yeas. 26 !; nays,20
Pending the consideration of a
relief bill the question as to the
Presidents salary was debated.
Mr. Dawes said he voted for the
bill because of his anxiety to do
away as far as possible with the
Objectionable measure known as
the back grab bill. Mr.. Christian
cy was urged TO press his motion
to reconsider, but declined, and
the Senate, after ali executive ses-
sion, adjourned.
In the Housa the Senate amend
ments to the Pension appropria-
tions bill concurred in. Mr.. Kas-
son called attention to the bad VEN
tilation of the House, and asked
leave to effer a resolution Instruct
ing the Committee on Public
Building to report on the causes
and direct improvements to i'm
prove thepurity ofthe atmosphere.
Mr. Sparks, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs, offered a substitute
for the bill transferring the Indian
Bureau from the Interior to the
War Department. The select COM
mittee on the Real Estate Pool and
Jay Cooke Indebtedness reported
the contumaciousness of witness
Hallet Kilbourn, who refused to
produce his books. The Speaker
issued his warrant for the arrest of
Kilbourn, who, upon being brought
to the bar of the House, was heard
by a written argument prepared
by his counsel. The witness was
then asked if he still persisted in
his refusal, and replied that he did,
and thereupon resolution was
adopted for the committal of the
witness to the common Jail until
he sholld purge himself of his con-
tempt. Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsyl-
vania, called attention to charge
made in the New York World al
leging that he had obtained a con-
tract for Mr.. Dobson to furnish
blankets for the Government, for
which Mr.. Kelley had been paid
20 per cent. of the profits, thereby
receiving about 81 900, 600. He de-
n0unced thestory more on account
of Mr.. Dobson than himself, and
invited investigation.
MARCH 15.-In the United
States Senate Mr. Wright, of Iowa,