Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-03-11
CONGRESS.


admission of Pinchback was
taken up, Mr.. Edmunds having the
floor, but at his request was laid over
until to-day. Mr.. Bogy gave notice
that on Monday he would cali up the
bill authorizing the payment of du-
ties in greenbacks. The bill to in
corporate the Washington Inebriate
Asylum in the District of Columbia
was passed, the recommendation of
the committee to strike out provi-
sion which provides that no person
shall sell liquor within one-fourth
of mile of the Asylum under the
penalty of $50 for each offence being
negatived. A number of private
bills were passed and the Senate adj
journed.
In the House a bill was reported
from the Committee on Appropria-
tions, providing for the engraving
and United States notes, and direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to
issue silver coin of 10, 20, % and 80
cents in redemption Of an equal
amount of fractional currency. The
bill was recommitted. The House
considered in Committee of the
Whole the act to carry into effect the
treaty with tn Hawaiian Islands.
Mr.. Wood. of New York, advocated
the passage of the bill, but before
concluding moved that the commit
tee rise. Mr.. Clymer, of Pennsylva-
MIA, from the committee on Expen-
ditures of the War Department, made
his report in relation to the charge
against Secretary Belknap, which oc-
cupied the attention of the House
upon the adjournment.
MARCH BIN the Senate the cred
identials of James B. Beck, United
States Senator from Kentucky for
six years from March 4, 1877, was
read and laid on the table. Bills
were introduced and referred restor-
ing the franking privilege, and fixing
a graduated rate of postage for third
class matter. Mr.. Morton, from the
Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions, reported favofably on the Sem
ate bill to regulate the counting of
votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and gave notice that he would
ask its consideration at an early day.
A petition from colored men Of Texas
complaining that they were denied
ample school facilities and asking
for legislation to compel the State to
maintain a system of free schools
was referred to the judiciary Com
mittee. The Pinchback case was
then taken up, and Mr.. Edmunds
advocated his amendment that
Pinchback was not entitled to a seat
in the Senate. The debate was con-
tinued by Messsrs. Merton, Freling-
huysen and Bruce, of Mississippi, in
favor of his admission to seat.
Pending the debate on the Pinchbach
case, the resolutions of the House re-
lating to the impeachment of Belk-
nap were read and special commit
tee of five Senators was appointed to
whom the matter was referred. The
Senate then adjourned till Monday.
In the House it was ordered that
the testimony in the Emma Mine in
vestigation be printed. The commit
tee appointed on Thursday to notify
the Senate of the action OF the House
in regard to the impeachment Of the
late Secretary of War made their re-
port that the Senate would take or
der in the matter. The balance of
the session was devoted to the pas
sage of private bills, and the House
adjourned.
The Senate was not in session on
Saturday. In the House, speeches on
the Hawaiian treaty by Messrs. Re
gan, Ward and Jacobs, and by Mr..
Woodwork on bill granting boun-
ties to the heirs of soldiers who en-
listed for a less period than one year,
and who were killed or died by rea-
son of such service.
MARCH Elm the Senate, Mr..
Edmunds, from the select commit
tee on the impeachment of w. w.
Belknap, late Secretary of War,
submitted preamble and resolu-
ton in the usual form in such cases.
Mr.. Dorsey submitted bill amen
datory of the Pacific railroad law.
A resolution was adopted calling
on the Secretary of the Interior for
a statement of the annual expendi-
lures of the Indian bureau since
its organization also a resolution
calling on the Postmaster General
for any information in his possess
sion in regard to straw bids for
mail contracts. Mr.. Sherman
spoke to the resolutions of the
New York Chamber of Commerce
concerning the finances, and took
ground against the repeal of the
specie resumption act. Mr.. Bogy
spoke to his bill authorizing the
payment of duties on imports in
legal-tender and national bank
notes; he expressed the opinion
that the specie resumption act was
founded in error and would fail to
accomplish the ends desired.
In the House Mr.. Randall intro
duced a bill to secure indemnity