Connecticut western news., 1876-02-04
HOUSE,

AOU5Es
 MT. Knott (Dem.), of Kentucky, from the Judiciary committed, reported 8 proposed amendment to the constitution as follows "No person who has held or may hereafter hold the office of President shall ever again be eligible to said ofice." Mir. Frye (Rep.) j. on Maine, on behalf of the minority of the com mittee, gave notice that he would offer 8 sub- stitute.
 Mir. Ashe Oem, ), of North Carolina, report ed bill to amend the revised statutes in rela- tlon to naturalization. It provides that declaration to become citizen of the United States may be made before clerk of & court, and such declarations heretofore made are de- clared legal and valid. He explained that the object Of the bill was simply to restore the law to what 1t had been before the printing of the revised statutes, in which the word ''clerk D had been accidentally omitted. The bill was passed.
 Bills were introduced to restore to the pen sion rolls the names of pensioners which were struck off for disloyalty. Providing that half Of the duties on imports shall be collected iu lawful money. Also declaring United States bonds to be payable according to the proper legal construction of the laws under which they were Issued. To fix the legal rates of in- terest on national money throughout the Uni ted States at not exceeding six per cent. Fix ing the pay of members of Congress at $, ,6OO and no allowances. Fixing the pay of mem bers of Congress at $4, ,000, with mileage at ten cents per mile. For the payment of a portion ot the import duties in legal tender notes. To repeal the tax on bank deposits. To reduce the interest bearing public debt, provide for a uniform currency, limit the amount thereof. and make it equal in value to specie. Also to invite joint convention of all civilized nations for the purpose of establishing uniform sys- tenn of weights and measures and coinage throughout the civilized world.
 MT. Wadden (Dem.), of North Carolina, from the post-oftice committee, reported back adversely the bill introduced by MT. Flames, of Rhode Island, to reduce the postage on first class mail matter to one cent for each half ounce. Laid on the table.
 During the discussion on the Centennial ap- propriation, MT. Townsend (Rep.) of New York, spoke in support of the bill. He said if there ever had been nation that had reason American nation. It had just expended $5, 000 600, 900 to render it certain that the nation should exist, and had sacrificed 500, 900 lives that the natlon might have Centennial. Mir. Stenger CDem. ), of Pennsylvania, spoke in opposition to the bill He said that to doubt the existence of constitutional bower decided the question with him. He opposed | the bill on constitutional grounds. Messrs | Felton (Dem. ), of Georgia, and Cook (Dem ), | of Georgia, opposed the bLl, and Mir. Banke (Ind.), of Massachusetts, spoke strongly in | favor of it. He admitted that it had been a | venturesome step Tor the United States gov ernment to ask other nations to assist in this celebration but could Congress ana the Presi- | dent invite thirty-eight sovereign States to come here to celebrate that anniversary and | Congress not have right to grant one dollal or one dime to defray the expenses of their en- l tertainment?
 The proposition to vote the sum of $1, 500, :. | 900 for the Centennial, attracted much atten- | tion ln the House. Speeches were made in favor of and against the bill by large number of members. MT. Lawrence (Rep ), of Ohio | said that the appropriation would be wortt many times over $1, 5O0,U00 and would be { gooa investment and bring back more than il cost. The government might save $1, 500, ,00t | by refusing the appropriation, but it might lose $1O0, ,OU0,000 by doing 80. Mir. Randall | Dem. ), of Pennsylvania, gave an indignant contradiction to the statement in 8 letter rela tive to the character of the Centennial officers and said that purer set of men than ths | members of the Centennial board never man | aged any enterprise. MT. Kelley (Rep.), O. 1 Pennsy ylvania.-an nd say amen to every wort | my colleague has Said.
 MT. Hopkins (Dem.), of Pennsylvania, hat | the closing hour of the debate, but surrendered part of his time, and speeches were delivere, by Messrs. Young (Dem.) of Tennessee, ant Randall CDem. ), of Pennsylvania.
 An amendment offered by Mir. Springe | (Dem.) Of illinois, requiring the payment Il full to the United States treasury of any balanc | that may be left ln the hands of finance com mittee before any dividend or percentage o the profits shall be paid to the stockholders
 was agreed to.
 The vote was then taken, and the bill passe yeas, 146 nays, 13O. The announcement
 was greeted with applause.
 Bills were introduced to provide for the sus pension of the sinking fund until 1850 als
 to amend the act authorizing the fundin
 of the national debt; to fund tn legal tender debt of the United States fo
 funding legal tender notes into forty year fou
 per Cent. gold bonds to the amount of $400
 UOO, ,OO0, at 8 rate not to exceed $3, 900, ,000
 month; fixing the first Monday of January fc
 the time of the meeting of Congress- also,
 constitutional amendment proposing to chang
 the beginning of the Presidential term frol
 March to May :; to protect life on stean
 ships, 5teambOats and sailing vessels to pro
 vide means of cheap transportation ln interiC
 waters to abolish the stamp duty on pro
 prietary medicines to reduce the tax on tt
 bacco and whisky, aud to abolish the stamp ts
 on bank checks; granting bounties to helrs (
 soldiers in the late war who enlisted for le.
 than one year, and who were killed or died t
 reason of service.
 By MT. A. s. Williams Rep.) of Michigan
 8 constitutional amendment prohibiting Sep tors and Representatives from soliciting al pointments to or removals from office, and pr , viding civil service commission.
 By MT. Wilson (Rep.) of Iowa, constit
 tional amendment, providing that the term office of Representatives shall begin on tl first of January, instead of the fourth March.
 By MT. Crounse Rep.), of Nebraska, d
 claring lands heretofore granted to certa railroad companies subject to State taxation By Mir. Jacobs, of Washington Territory, f : restoring to the public domain land in Was l ington Territory granted to the Northern , citic railroad.
 By Mr. Stone (Dem j. of Missouri, re- ol tion instructng the post-office committee } investigate the straw bid system. Adopted.