The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-12
ByTeIegraph
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
TO THE DAILY LNrELLIGENCER
CON c R E S S.
HOUSE..
WAsIIINoToN. Anril III.

Ward, oil New York; and on his motion
the bill was make special order for the
third Tuesday in May.
Mr.. Kerr from the same committee re-
ported a bill to authorize the construc.
lion Of bridge across the Missouri river
at or near Sioux City Iowa. After m ex-
PLANTATION the bill passed.
Mr.. Dunnell, from the same committee,
reported a bill TO grant American reg
lister to the Canadian steam ferry boat
Geneva. He explained that the boat was
pleasure boat built at Kingston, Canada,
for Americans, but that all Of her muchin-
cry was made at New York.
Opposition was made to the bill by
Messfs. Cox, Kelly and Townsend Of
Pennsylvania, the latter representing that
this was the commencement ot move
ment to transfer American ship building
to foreign countries. After further dis.
cussion the bill passed.
Mr.. Dunnell also reported bill to
extend to the port Of Lacrosse, Wis, the
privileges OF the Revised Statutes in
reference to the immediate transporta.
tion OF goods in bond to an interior port
without appraisenlent at the original
port Of entry. Passed.
Mr.. Wells, OF Missouri, from the Ap.
preparations Committee, reported the
deficiency bill, and said he would try and
get action on il tomorrow. The bill APP
propriates $GS2,4S6.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration, MS the special order, of the
bill reported by Mr.. Reagan concerning
commerce and navigation and the regu.
lation OF steam vessels.
The Senate bill appropriating $4,000
for improvements Of the Capitol grounds
was amended by reduction Of the
amount to $4,000 and passed.
Mr.. Randall moved that the House
concur in the Senate amendments to the
bill to supply the deficiency in the Print
ing Bureau Of the Treasury.
Mr.. Hereford from the Committee on
Commerce reported bill to authorize the
citizens OF Melville, Pa, to change the
channel Of the Ohio river. Passed.
The bill was amended in various respects
and passed.
Tie silver bill pending action, the
House took recess till I'm.
The evening session is for the considera-
tion Of the legislative appropriation bill.
EVENING SESSION.
The discussion and action on the legis-
lative appropriation bill was confined TO
the reduction Of the special Treasury
agents, limited to 10, to n proposition OF
Mr.. White, OF Kentucky, TO relieve the
small private distilleres from taxation,
which was voted down, and to variety
OF matters connected with the officials OF
the interal revenue, their number and
compensation. But little progress was
made with the bill. -
Adjourned.
SENATE.
Mr.. Cooper, from the Committee on
Finance, reported (avorably on u House
bill to provide for the expenses Of the ad.
mission OF foreign goods to the Centen-
nial Exhibition. Passed.
Mr.. Howe introduced bill by request
to provide for cheap transportation OF
freight between tide.water ator near the
Atlantic ocean and the Ohio and Missis-
sippi valley railroads.
The bill authorizing the requirement. OF
Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, was
discussed until lao, when the Senate re-
sumed the consideration Of unfinished
business, being the bill fixing the rate OF
postage on third class mail matter, and
Mr.. Merrimon spoke in regard thereto.
Mr.. Stevenson presented petition OF
the tobacco men OF Cincinnati and Gov.
ipgton in favor OF reduction OF the tax
on tobacco TO l6 cents per pound. Re.
ferred.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary Com.
mittee, reported adversely on the House
bill to protect witnesses who shall be re.
ouired to testify in certain cases, with n
written report, and asked that the bill be
placed on the calendar with the adverse
report. So ordered.
Mr.. Stevenson presented report oi
the minority Of the committee on the
bill, and il was ordered that both reports
be printed.
Mr.. Edmunds submitted resolution
directing the Secretary OF War TO inform
the Senate what action, il any, has been
taken under the law Of February q, 1875,
providing for settlement with certain
railroad companies, and also to furnish
detailed information concerning the pos
session and subsequent REIMBURSEMENT
BY the United States OF the Western 4
Atlantic railroad OF Georgia, its condi-
tion, value OF improvements or repairs
by the Government, and whether the lat
Ter have been fully paid for. Agreed to.
The pending question being on the
amendment Of MIR. Merrimon to strike
out of the first section the clause allow
ing in the mails all articles not above
the weight prescribed by law which are
not from their form and nature liable to
destroy, deface or otherwise injnre the
contents OF the mail bags or the person Of
+ anyone engaged in the postal service.
Mr.. Merrimon modified that amendment
, so as to strike out OF the clause Of mail
matter prints, engraving, blanks, flexible
patterns, samples, merchandise sample
cards, Photographic paper, letter enyel-
opes, postal envelopes and wrappers,
cards, plain and ornamental paper, pho.
tographic representations, seeds, cuttings,
bulbs, roots, and scions.
Mr., Merrimon said the object OF this
amendment was to organize fourth class
OF mail matter for merchandise and make
|, II pay the cost OF transportation. He
, gave notice that he would offer an amend
ment TO the second section to make post:
, age l cent on two ounces or fractional
, part thereof instead Of each ounce, and
| II that should be agreed to he would offer
another section providing for fourth class
mail matter.
Mr.. Hamilton said he thought the the.
ory Of the Senator from North Carolina
all wrong.
, The amendment OF Mr.. Merrimon was
, rejected; yeas II, nays 90.
Mr. Merrimon said as this amendment
had been rejected it was no use TO offer
that 10 organize fourth class OF mail
matter and he therefore was ready to
support the amendment submitted by
t the Senator from Kansas Mr.. Harvey,
!. TO return to the old rate Of postage. =,
4 Mr.. Dawes, Of Mass, favored the bill
? reported by the committee, though he did
not agree that II was Perfect.
, Mr.. Harvey spoke In favor Of the sub
} stitute submitted by him to restore the
low rate Of postage.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Me-, throught the Com;
mittee on Postfiiee and Post Roads had
! proposed most important reform, and
Il "a 4 T. III kaaN a. NAHn