The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-01-27
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.
The Business Of General Interest Trans
acted.
gFNATE.

acted.
SENATE.
Bills were introduced to equalize bounties Of
soldiers; to abolish capital punishment; and
white.
Mr.. Gordon (Dem. }, OF Georgia, presented
the petition Of G.. r. Beauregard for the re-
moval OF his political disabilities. Referred.
MIR. West (Rep.), of Louisiana, also intro
duced bill to recover from the Central and
Union Pacific railroad companies the bonds
and coupons issued to them in excess OF the
amount prescribed by law He said 50, 900, 900
worth of bonds had been issued to these COM
panies in excess Of the amount authorized by
law.
Mr.. Kelly (Dem }, OF Oregon, from the COM
mittee on railroads, reported with amendment
the Senate bill to extend the time for the con-
struotion and completion OF the Northern
Mr.. Dorsey (Rep.), of Arkansas, submitted
resolution instructing the committee on post
Offices and post roads to inquire and report
whether the restoration Of the franking privi-
lege would inc ease the cost Of mail service,
and to what extent and il it is expedient to
restore the same. Agreed to.
The Senate considered the question Of the
claims for seats in the Senate from Louisiana,
aud the discrepancies alleged to exist in the
public debt statement.
Bills were introduced to make IL q misde-
meanor for United States officials to demand
contributions to election funds to repeal the
Bankrupt law; requiring national banks to
prepare for specie payments; to abolish
stamps on bank checks; for the organization
of the Territory Of Oklahoma for the adnis-
sion OF New Mexico as State, and to limit the
sale Of public lands to homestead and pre-
emption settlers.
Mr.. Clark (Dom.) Of Missouri, from the
post t-office committee, reported bill fixing
the rate Of postage on third class mail matter,
not exceeding four pounds to each package,
at one cent for two ounces.
Under the call of States for bills for refer
ence, Mr.. Banks Und) OF Massachusetts,,
introduced bill for the removal Of all political
disabilities, the bill to take the place OF the
one just defeated in tho House.
MIR. jerks (Dem.), OF Pennsylvania, intro
duced bill to reduce the salaries of all execu-
tive and Legislative Offices Of tho government,
except the army aud navy, under $1,000,
twenty per cent, and to fix the salary of the
President at S25, 900.
Mr.. Hurd (Dem.), OF Obio-To restore to
gold and silver their monetary use in the
United States from and after January, 1877,
and to repeal the act for the resumption of
specie payment
Mr.. O'Brien Dem.), of Maryland, intro
duced joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution
That no State shall make any law respecting
an establishment Of religion or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof, and no minister OF
preacher Of the gospel or any religious creed
or denomination shall hold any Office of trust
or emOlument under the United States. OF
under any State, nor shall any religious test be
required as a qualification for any Office ol
public trust in any State, or under the United
States.
SEC 2. No money received by taxation il
any State for the support Of public schools, OF
derived from any public lands devoted thereto
shall ever be under the control Of any religious
Sect
Mr. White (Rep), of Kentucky, moved tc
suspend the rules and bring the House to
vote on the Amnesty bill introduced by him
aud from the benefits Of which Jefferson Davi'
ia excluded, and also to vote on an amendment
striking out that exception. The motion was
lost by vote Of 165 yeas to 11O nays.
Mr.. Holman (Dem.), Of Indiana, moved tt
suspend the rules and adopt resolution de
claring it unwise and inexpedent at this tim,
that s specific and arbitrary period should b.
prescribed by law at which the legal tende
notes Of the United States should be paid il
| coin by the secretary of the treasury, and that
therefore, the act entitled 'An act to provide
for the resumption of specie payments" ap
| proved January, 1875, ought to be repealed
and instructing the committee on banking ant
| currency at as early period as practicable t,
| report TO the House bill for that purpose
| The rulas woro not suSPonded- yean 11a, nay
| 1853.
On motion of Mr.. Hopkins (Dem }, of Penn
| sylvania chairman Of the committee on tn
Centennial celebration, the House, at fou
| o'clock, went into committee of the whole
Mr.. Wood Dem.) of New York, in the chair
on the bill appropriating 31.500,0O0 for tha
purpose. The bill provides that the amour
| shall be paid on the drafts Of the treasure
| of the Centennial board Of finance, one-tbir
immediately after the passage of the act, an
the remainder in four equal monthly payments
provided that in the distribution OF an
moneys that may remain i'll the treasury Of th
Centennial board OF finance after the paymen
Of its debt, this appropriation shall shar
| equally with the holders OF Centennial stool
aud like percentage thereof shall be paid t
the United States as to the stockholders bu
the United States government shall under II
circumstance be liable any debt or oblgatio
OF the Centennial commissioners or for al
additional payment,
Mr.. Knott (Dem }, of Kentucky, from til
Judiciary committee, reported propose
amendment to the constitution as follows
"No person who has held or may hereafUt
hold the Office Of President shall ever again
eligible to said Office" Mr.. FRYE (Rep), {
Maine, on behalf OF the minority Of the con
mittee, gave notice that he would offer sui
stitute.
Mr., Ashe (Dem. }, of North Carolina, repor
ed bill to amend the revised statutes in rel
ton to natura ization. 1t provides that
declaration 10 become citizen of the Unite
States msy be made before a clerk of o cour
and such decisratians heretofore made are
clared legal and valid. He explained that Il
object of the bill WAS simply to restore Il
law to what it had been before the printing
the revised statutes, in which the word 'cerl
had been accidentally omitted. The bill WI
passed.
Bills were introduced to restore to the pc
sion rolls the names OF pensioners which we
struck off for disloyalty. Providing that ha
of the duties on imports shall be collected
, lawful money. Also declaring United Stat
bonds to be payable according to the prop
legal construction of the laws under whi,
they were issued. To fix the legal rates Of i
) terest on national money throughout the Ur
ted States at not exceeding six per cent. Fl
ing the pay of members of Congress at 80, GO
and no allowances Fixing the pay of mel
t bers OF Congress at 81, 900, with mileage at t.
cents per mile. For the payment Of porti
Of the import duties in legal tender notes.
repeal the tax on bank deposits. To redu
1 the interest besring public debt, provide for
uniform currency, limit the amount theret
and make it equal in value to specie. Also
invite joint convention of all civilized natio
for the purpose of establishing uniform s!
I tenn of weights and measures and COMA
, throughout the civilized world.
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