Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-04-15

Bills and petitions wereintr oduced
as follows and referred /: To pro-
vide for the cheap transportation
of freights between the tidewater
and the Ohio and Mississippi Val
ley in favor of uniform system
of weights and measures to fix
and determine thes relative rank
of the several corps of the navy,
and for the relief of settlers on the
Usage coded lands in Texas, A
number of petitions were present
ed in relation to changes In the
tariff and to the present mode of
paying pensions, and in Opp0si-
ton to the manufacture and sale
by the Government of en- velopes,
posta! cards, &c., also bill in refer
ence to District matters. The con-
sideration of the bill fixing the
rate of postage on third-elass mail
matter was then resumed. and was
discussed up the hour of adjourn
ment.
In the House of Representatives
bills were reported as follows: Au-
thorizing the citizens OF Melville,
Pennsylvania to close the channel
Of the Ohio river, for the construc-
ton of a bridge across the Missou-
ri, at Sioux City, and in reference
to the immediate transportation
of goods in bond to an interior
port without appraisement. The
special order, the bill concerning
commerce and navigation and the
regulation of steam vessels, was
taken up and passed, as was the
bill appropriating twenty thous-
and dollars for the improvement
of the Capitol grounds. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Randall, the House
c0ncurred in the Senate amend
ment to the bill to supply the de-
| ficiency in the Bureau of Engrav-
ings and Printing, and it was
passed. In the evening session
the Legislative Appropriation bill
was discussed, but without making
any progress, and the House adj
journed.
APRIL 12.-In the Senate Mr..
Morrill,, from the Committee on
Public Buildings, reported adverse
ly on the proposal to extend the
east front of the Treasury build.
ing. Mr.. Spencer introduced q
bin ito give elasticity to the cur
rency." Mr.. Whyte presented q
memorial from Baltimore under
writers against the passage of the
House bill for the distribution of
the Geneva award. Mr.. Antho-
ny's bill providing for the proper
distribution Of public documents
| was passed. The bill fixing the
postal rates for third class mail
matter was taken up, and after q
number of amendments had been
rejected It passed. The first Sec
ton defines what shall be ''third-
class matter" 1t includes books
pamphlets, catalogues, merchan-
disc, likely to injure the mails or
persons who handle them, no
package to exceed four pounds in
weight. The postage on all such
matter is fixed at one cent
for each ounce or fraction Of
an ounce. The sender of
such a package may write his
name thereon or make.a. brief note
indicating the contents. Under
the new bill the postage on trans
silent newspapers and magazines
| will be one cent for every three
ounces or fractional part thereof
In the House of Representatives
Colonel Waite, the recently elect
ed member from the Third Dis
trict of Connecticut, appeared and
took the oath of Office. The Sem
ate amendment to the silver coin
bill Striking out the $50 legal
tender clause was concurred in.
The bill now goes to the President
for his signature. An evening
session was held, at which the
neutrality-suspicious. bill was
considered. A motion to strike
out the item of $50, 900 for detect
ing and furnishing violations of
the internal revenue laws was re-
| jected after an animated debate.