Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-01-22
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS-.
The Business of General Interest Trans
ncted.


Mr.. Conkling, of New York, presented pc
tition Of citizens Of New York city, asking the
passage OF an amendment to the constitution
Of the United States, prohibiting the appropria-
ton of money for any religious sect. Referred
to the Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, presented a bill TO
provide for the redemption OF legal tender
United States notes in accordance with the
existing law. A section OF the bill provides
that all contracts entered into or made after
the first day of January, 1878. shall be payable
in accordance with the legal tender standard
of gold and silver, unless otherwise provided
at the time of the contract. That all national
banking associations shall be and hereby are
required 10 hold in coin as part of their lawful
money reserve, on and after the first day Of
January, 1877, one-fourth after the first day
of January, 1878, one-half, and after the first
day of October 1873, three-fourths.
Five hundred and ninety-six petitions,
signed by 20, 800 persons, praying for the abo-
lition Of the bank check stamp act we're pre-
scented and referred.
Mr.. Sargent, Of California, submitted reso-
luton that the committee on the judiciary are
instructed to inquire what legislation, If any,
is necessary to secure indemnity to the United
States for advances Of interest paid and to be
paid by the government on account Of subsidy
bonds issued to the several Pacific railroad
companies.
After some discussion the bill for the re-
demption of legal tenders, presented by Mr..
Morrill,, OF Vermont, was referred to the CON-
mittee on finance.
HOUSE.
Resolutions were adopted referring to
the committee on banking and currency and
giving to that committee control Of the sub
ject Of banks, banking, and currency, and the
resumption of specie payments by national
banks.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred
BY Mr.. Frye, of Maine.-To provide for the
payment of the judgments OF the Alabama
commission as soon as possible after the
twenty-second of January next.
By Mr.. Joyce, of New Hampshire For q
commission oD the subject Of the alcoholic
liquor traffic.
By Mr.. Starkweather of Connecticut -Fol
the improvement Of Stonington harbor, Conn
By MIR. Welles, of New York.-To appeal the
bankruptcy act.
By Mr.. Davy, of Ne1 York-To allow al
persons on trial in United States courts to be
competent witnesses.
By Mr.. Douglas, Of Virginia-A resolution
for the appointment Of select committee t.
investigate the affairs of the Freedmen's Saw
| ings and Trust company and its severa
| branches, the cause of it's failure, the parties
responsible therefor, ETC., with the names anC
residences of all the debtors Of the company
/ Adopted.
By Mr.. Harris, of virginia-To restore t.
the pension rolls the names of persons
stricken therefrom for disloyalty.
By Mr.. Caldwell, of Alabama-A resolution
calling on the secretary of war for information
as to the number of United States troops sta
toned in the States Of Alabama Mississippi
Arkansas and Louisiana, on the sixth of De
cember, 1875. Adopted.
BY Mr.. Cutler, of New jersey Constituting
Jersey City as port of entry.
BY Mr.. White, Of Kentucky-That all pen
sions on account Of death, or wounds, or dis
ease contracted in the service since March
1861, shall commence from the date of deatl
or discharge also to economiZe in the collec
ton of the whisky tax in remote and out 0
the way places also to insure the success o
the international exhibition at Philadelphia
and to maintain the honor of the nation ais
to pay the soldiers and sailors who are entities
to bounty lands dollar per acre for thos
lands.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania reported a re
solution, which was agreed to, instructing tn
committee on military affairs to take into i'm
mediate consideration the pay and allowance
of all the officers of the army, and to repor
whether in any, and if so in what cases, sucl
pay and allowances should be reduced.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, reported bi
appropriating 81, $780, 900 to complete the Cen
tennial buildings and other preparations 70
The celebration. Referred.
By Mr.. Rea, of Missouri.-A resolution de
claripg it to be the opinion of the House tina
the contraction of the currency in the name
and to the extent that it has been done ha
been detrimental TO the business of tn
country, and that in the present financial con
dition of the country no further contraction o
the currency ought to be had Referred.
By Mr.. Schlecker, of Texas.-A resolution
for the appointment of select committee t
inquire into the inroads, robberies, and muI
ders along the Mexican border in Texas wa
adopted.
BY Mr.. Oliver, of Iowa.-Bill proposing a
amendment to the constitution to elect tn
President, Vice-Presdent, and Senators b
direct vote of the people. Referred.
By. Mr.. Kidder Of Dakota.-A resolution il
structing the committee on Indian affairs I
inquire into the expediency of opening th
Black Hills to settlement by purchase fror
the Indians Adopted.
} M. Blaine then said he had substitute t
offer to Mr.. Randall's Amnesty bill, which
asked to have read and ordered printed. Th
substitute was read, as follows;
That all persons now under the disabilitie
I imposed by the Fourteenth amendment of th
Constitution Of the United States, with til
exception Of Jefferson Davis, late President {
the so-called Confederate States, shall be r,
) lieved of such disabilities upon their appearin
before any judge Of United States court, ali
taking and subscribing in open court the 70
: lowing OATH to be duly attested and recorded
viz: 81, -, do solemnly swear Cor affirm
that will support and defend the Constitl
3 ton of the United States against all enemie
foreign and domestic. That will bear trr
faith and allegiance to the same. That 1 tai
this obligation freely, without any mental re-
[ nruc tin,n or r,nrnnaa Of auaainr,. and TINT