Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-04-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
First scAslsa 18th Congress

First sesslsa 18th Congress.
SENATE.
WAsHINGToN, April H.
There was uhsisual activity in Tho
Chamber this morning prenar;nu for
the impeachment of the late San,.oto.
ry of War. In the area In front Of
the presiding officer tables were
placed for the counsel of Belknap and
for the managers on the part of the
Honse. In the space I'M the rear OIL
the Senators seats chairs were placed
for members of the House. When
the Senate was called to order there
was not seat to be obtained in the
galleries. A large portion of the
gentlemen's gallery, ON the left of the
diplomatic gallery, was reserved for
ladies', in addition to the regular gal
lery. A large majority Of the audi
ence was comprised Of ladies'.
At IL 80 legislative business was
suspended and the Senate began the
consideration Of the impeachment ar
ticles.
After proclamation BY the Ser
geant-at-Arms, Chief Justice Waite
administered the oath to Senators
Allison, Burnside, Christiancy, Dem
mis-, Conkling, Caperton, Goldthwaite,
Howe, Jones, of Nevada, Morrill,, OF
Maine, Ransom and Robertson, who
were not present when the other
Senators were sworn few days ago.
Senator'S Alcorn, Johnston, Of Va,
English, Patterson and Wadleigh
were not present to take the oath.
The Secretary was ordered to noti-
fy the House that the Senate was
ready to proceed with the trial and
that seats had been provided for
members.
At 1856 Ex-Secretary Belknap,
with his counsel, Messrs. Carpenter,
Black and Blair entered and proceed
ed to the table provided for them. The
Ex-Secretary was leaning on the arm
of Carpenter, and took scat between
him and Judge Black. He appeared
very nervous and began reading, but
soon dopped the pamphlet and con-
versed with his counsel.
i The managers of impeachment and
members Of the House appeared and
all were ready at l Is, when the
minutes of session of the Senate, as a
court of impeachment, held on the
9th inst, was read.
The return on the writ served upon
the Ex-Secretary having been read
and the Sergeant-at-Arms having
called upon him to answer, Carpenter
read and had filed a plea denying the
jurisdiction of the Senate to try Bel
KNAPP on articles of impeachment, as
he was not an officer Of the United
States at the time such articles were
found and presented to the Senate,
that he has not since been, nor is not
now an officer of the United States
but was and is a private citizen Of the
United States, and of the State OF
Iowa..
i Lord, on the part of the managers
asked time be allowed them till the
10Th to consider what replication
shall be made to the plea of Belknap
So ordered.
The Senate then adjourned rs 0
, court until Wednesday and resumed
the consideration of legislative bust.
ness.
Mitchell from the Election Com.
mittee, to which was referred the
question of compensation to be paid
Pinchback, reported resolution to
pay sum equal to the compensation
and mileage of Senator from the be.
ginning of the term for which he was
a contestant to the termination of tho
contest by the Senate. Ordered
printed and to lie on the table.
Thurman gave notice that at thu
earliest time possible he would cal
up his motion to reconsider the vote
by which the bill in relation to count.
ing the vote for President and Vice
President was passed.
Morton gave notice that on Monday
next he would ask the Senate to pro-
coed to the consideration of the reso.
lutions submitted by him early in the
session, in regard to the rights OF
States and the national character OF
the Government.
WASHINGTON April lS.
, The Senate resolution instructine
the Committee on Judiciary to inquire
J into the expediency of providing a
J reasonable statute of Limitations, bar.
} ring all right on the part of the U. S
to sue upon official bonds, with leave
to report by bill or otherwise, was
!. lagreed to.
i Sherman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported favorably on the
Senate bill to amend laws relating to
legal tender of silver coin. He gave
notice that he would call it up Thurs.
day.
|, The bill embodies the main features
OF two sections proposed by the Com.
mittee as amendments to the House
silver and currency bill, but subse-
quently withdrawn. 1t provides for
the coinage of a silver dollar of -four
and one-half and eight-tenths grains
OF standard silver, to be a legal tender
for any amount not exceeding twenty
dollars in one payment, except fol
customs, dues and interest on the
public debt. The legal tender powe,
Of the trade dollar is to be abolished,
but other existing silver coins remain
q legal tender for all amounts now
fixed by law. The bill limits the issue
of the new silver dollars to fifty mil.
lion.
| Mr.. Anthony introduced bill re-
lating to the sale of the Congressional
Record and other public documents.
1t authorizes the Congressional
printer to furnish copies of the
Record and extracts therefrom 10
members of Congress at cost, and
other public documents, etc, with
ten per cent. additional thereon, and
collects money after delivery. Passed.
/ Logan, from the Committee on
Finance, reported favorably on the
House bill to define tax on fermcnted
and malt liquors. The bill will be
called up tomorrow or next day.
| Oglesby, from Committee on Public
Lands, reported back Senate bill to
dispose of lands formerly covered by
waters of Piscartee Lake, Illinois.
Passed with an amendment providing
that nothing i'm the act shall be con-
strned to convey any other title than
a release of that now existing in the
United States to said lake.
Unfinished business was then taken
up being the bill authorizing the re-
pavement of Pennsylvania Avenue.
HOUSE.
The House agreed to the unani-
nous report of the Election Commit
tee in the contested election case of
Brombery against HARRISON, declar-
ing HARRISON, Republican, elected to