Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-26
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-.
WEDNESDAY, January 26.

SENATE-Mr. West presented memorial
OF several state senators of Louisiana In ref
erepce to the credentials OF Mr.. Eustis as
Senator from that state. Referred to Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections.
Mr.. Wright, from Committee on Claims,
reported adversely on bill for relief OF III.
Clay Wood, and the bill was indefinitely
postponed.
Lands, reported bill TO correct error In re-
vised statutes in reference TO payments by
settlers on public lands. He said the bill was
prepared by the Commissioner OF the General
Laud Office.
The bill was considered and referred to the
Committee on the Revision OF the Laws.
Mr.. Howe, from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, reported House bill to correct the
revised statutes in reference TO naturaliZa-
ton. SO as to allow the clerks OF courts to
take the fffidavifs. Passed.
Mr.. Hamlin presented petition OF citizens
of Castine, Maine, setting forth that many
crippled soldiers are unable to avail them.
selves of the provisions of law giving them
leo acres of public land, and asking that in
lieu thereof each soldier be given 500, or the
same amount be given to the widows or de-
pendent parents of such soldiers. Referred
to Committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. Allison called up House bill trans
ferring the custody of certain Indian trust
funds from the Secretary of the Interior to
the Treasurer of the United States. Passed.
Mr.. Morrill, me }, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported with amendment,
the House bill in reference to the payment
OF the interest on the District 3-65 bonds.
He said that he would call it up tomorrow,
as it was essential that 1t should be acted on
at once.
Mr.. Cameron called up House bill author
1Zing the U. 3. consul at Tunis to accept the
position from the Bey of Tunis of commits
stoner of Tunis to the Centennial exposition.
Mr.. Cameron moved an amendment, that
while absent from bis post the consul shall
receive no compensation from the United
States. Agreed to, and the bill passed.
Mr.. Cameron (Wis.) reported. with an
amendment, the bill to reimburse the Ma
monies taken by confederate raiders from
Canada in 1864.
Mr.. Withers introduced bill for the relief
of Isaac Davenport and other citizens OF
Richmond. He said the bill had been re-
ported adversely by the Committee on
Claims, but additional testimony was now
presented. Referred to Committee on
Mr.. Sargent, from Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported adversely on several pri-
ate bills relating to naval officers, and
the bills were indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr.. West the Secretary OF
the Treasury was directed to communicate
to the Senate any proposition which may
panies for the creation of a sinking fund, and
the reply thereto and the reasons therefore.
The unfinished business, being the bill TO
confirm preemptiOn and homestead entries
of public lands within the limits OF railroad
grants in cases where such entries have been
made under the regulations Of the Land Of
fee, was taken up.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. -
Notwithstanding the exhaustive call of
Monday, when between two and three hun
dred bills were introduced and referred
members crowded down in front OF the chair
20 ask unanimous consent for the intrOduc-
tiOn of bills, and quite number of bills
were introduced and referred. These bills
were mostly of private nature and for pen
sfOns. These proceedings were at last cut
short by demand for the regular order by
Mr.. Page California;
Among the bills referred was one by Mr..
Cate lWis.), to extend the time in which
certain claims may be presented to the board
of audit in the District of Columbia. Re-
ferred to District Committee.
Also, q bill TO amend the act of March 3,
1873, relative to colored schools in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Same reference.
Mr.. Douglass (Va:) }, from the Committee
1870 OF the revised statutes. in relation to ex-
employees of the Patent Office practicing be-
fore that office. Ordered printed and recon-
mitted.
Mr.. Hartzeu (In.), from the Committee on
Patents, reported bill to amend section
1883 OF the revised statutes, in relation to
assignment of patents. Passed.
Mr.. Clark MOI, at the eld of the morning
hour, called up his motion, entered Jan. Is,
TO reconsider the vote recommitting the bill
fixing the rate of postage on third-class mail
matter. The vote WAS recOnsidered, and Mr.
Clark addressed the House in explanation OF
the bill which he said was to correct a piece
of legislation which passed the House In the
last hours Of the last session.
The bill is as follows That all mailable
matter of the third class referred in sections
1913 and 1911 OF the revised statutes of the
United states, may weigh not exceeding
four pounds for each package thereof, and
postage shall be charged thereon at the rate
of one cent for each two ounces or fraction
thereon; that all acts and parts of acts incon-
ststent with this act are hereby repealed.
But nothing herein contained shall be held
to change or amend section 1919 OF said re-
vised statutes.
Mr.. Cason (In.) advocated the feature of
the bill restoring merchandise to low rates
OF postage, denounced the manner in which
the amendment of last session was smuggled
into the sundry civil appropriation, charging
its Incorporation in that bill upon the express
companies, and generally cOndemning the
mode OF legislation by this class of amend
ments to regulate bills.
Mr.. Garfield (OhiO) said the legislation on
In the Post ONCE department, In letter from
the Postmaster General to Senator Ramsey
recommending an increase of the postage on
merchandise, and the amendment was sup
posed to embody that idea. Surprising and
understanding that ii only covered merchan-
die 1t was passed; but 1t 1t was subsequent
ly discovered that it covered newspapers and
transient matter. He (Mr. g. favored q
restoration of the old rates on papers, &C.
He argued that the principle of carrying
merchahdiZe in the mails logically carried
out would terminate in the absorption OF
the whole carrying trade of the country. II
II was dele, TO do transportation
business, he advocated rates that would
make it pay for itself.
After further debate the bill was passed.