The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-20

lied to employ clerk and a stenographer,
to send FOR persons and papers, and
to take testimony, and the Appro-
priatlon Committee reported favorably
on allowing them $4,000 for their
expenses. The bill to establish the new
Territory Of Pembina was reported favora-
bly,, and the House bill to provide for
the deficiency in the printing and en-
craving bureau of the Treasury Department,
and for the issue of silver coin Of the United
was taken up, and vigorously supported
by Mr.. Sherman. The bill was read
third time and passed. The Senate then
went into executive session, and soon
after adjourned........In the House, under
the call of the States, a large number OF
bills were introduced and referred. A
bill appropriating $5,S72, $50 for river and
harbor improvement was passed. A reso-
luton instructing the Committee on the
Judiciary to Inquire whether any addi-
tional legislation is necessary to secure TO
the army the right of petition, which be-
longs to every citizen, was adopted. The
House, in committee of the whole, listened
to q three-hour speech from MIR. Banks, oil
Massachusetts,, on the Hawaiian Treaty, ana
then adjourned.
In the Senate, April II, the Judiciary
Committee reported adversely on the House
bill to protect witnesses, who shall be re-
quired to testify in certain cases. A minor
ity report was also presented, and both were
ordered printed. The bill fixing the rate OF
postage on third class mail matter was taken
up and discussed. Mr.. Merrimon, of North
Carolina, offered an amendment so as to
strike out of the third class of mail matter
prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns,
samples of merchandise, sample cards,
Photographic paper, letters, envelopes,
postal envelopes and wrappers, cards,
plain and ornamental paper, Photographic
representations, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots,
and scions. He said that the object Of this
amendment was to organize a fourth class
of mail matter for merchandise, and make it
pay the cost OF transportation. The amend
ment was rejected, yeas IL; nays 20. The
bill was discussed at length, but no action
was taken, as the Senate went into execu-
tive session and soon Acknowledgements
the House, large number of bills
relating to commerce and navigation
were introduced, the most important
Of which were, to authorize the citizens OF
Melville, Pennsylvania, to close the channel
of the Ohio river; to authorize the construc-
ton OF bridge across the Missouri river at
or near Sioux City, Iowa; to grant Ameri'
can register to the Canadian steam ferry
boat Geneva, all of which were passed.
Twenty thousand dollars were appropriated
to improve the grounds around the Capitol
A recess to 1880 was then taken. In the
evening session nothing was accomplished.
In the Senate, April ~, the bill to provide
for the sale OF extra copies of public docu
ments, and for the distribution of the regu
lar official edition thereof, was passed. The
reconsideration of the bill fixing the rate Of
postage on thrd-class mail matter was then
,aI tha Ia.. 81 Iats
tute of Mr.. Harvey to restore the old rate OF
postage on that class of matter. 1t was de
bated at great length, and finally rejected
by vote of 20 yeas to 25 nays
An amendment was offered so as Il
allow seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, sciOns
State and county fair premium lists, ant
State and county agricultural reports
through the mails at one.half of the rat,
heretofore established for third-class matter
1t was also rejected. The original bill wa
then read third time, and passed. After
short executive session, adjourned. lin tn
House the silver bill came up, and the Sen
ate amendments were concurred in withou
debate and without division. The bill nov
goes to the President. A resolution wa
offered instructing the Committee OF
Foreign Affairs to consider what actor
should be taken to enable the Presiden
to receive and entertain the Empero
of Brazil and the President of Peru, VIII,
are soon to arrive in this country, whicl
was referred. The House then took up tn
deficiency bill, which was amended in va
rious minor particulars and passed. Tn
House then went into Committee of tn
Whole on the bill to transfer the Indial
Bureau to the War Department. Withou
debate the committee rose, and the Hous
took a recess until half.past seven. In tn
evening session the legislative appropria
ton bill was considered, and but little pro
gress made. Adjourned.
In the Senate, April Is, only one bill, tina
to authorize the construction of a p0ntoo
bridge across the Mississippi river fror
some point in La Crosse county, Wisconsin
to some point in Houston county, Mime
sofa, was passed. The consideration o
unfinished business was next in order, blu
nothing was accomplished. After q shor
Executive session the Senate ad journe
until Monday......In the House, severa
bills relating to public lands, the mos
important of which was one to confirm tn
presumption and homestead entries of publ
lands within the limits of railroad grants, i
cases where such entries have been mad
under the regulations of the Land Depar
ment, were passed. The House the
went into the Committee of the Whole o
the bill to transfer the Indian Bureau to tn
War Department. Mr.. Cook, of Georgi;
then finished the speech which he bega
yesterday, and the committee rose, and tn
House took recess until 1880 p. IN. Upo
reassembling, the legislative appropriate
bill was considered, but little progress wa
made.