The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-04-19
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
TUESDAY, APRIL IL.

tions petitions, ETC., the bill relating to third
class mail matter was taken mp aud discussed.
Ser ator Merrimon advocated the admission OF
merchandise generally ITO the mails and
offered an amendment looking to that end.
| but Ii was rejected. The bill making an appro-
priation for improving the capitol grounds
was taken up and the amendment OF the
house, reducing the amount from $4,000 to
$4,000, was adopted and the bill passed.
HoUsE-The bill looking to a commercial
treaty with Canada was made the special
order for May IL. A bill concerning commerce
and navigation and the regulation of steam
| vessels was passed, as was also the Senate bill
| for the Improvement OF the capitol grounds,
| the amount first having been reduced. At
the evening session the legislative. sppropria-
tion bill was further discussed.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL IL.
SENATE-Among the mea7ures introduced
was one by Senator Spencer TO prevent panlcs
and give elasticity to the currency. A bill
providing for the sale of extra copies OF public
documents was passed and the third-class mail
matter bill reported from the committee on
post offices and post roads was taken up
Several amendments looking to the restorar
/ ton of the original rates and to low rates for
particular articles were rejected, but the
proposition of Senator Dawes to strike out the
discrimination in rates for different distances
was accepted and the bill was then passed. II
makes the postage on third class matter
| for all distances one cent an ounce,
except for transient newspapers or magazines,
on which the postage is one cent for every
three ounces. II the whole postage Is not
/ paid in advance, the sender is to be notified
/ of the fact IL he is known, but IL he Is not
/ known, the matter is to be forwarded and
double the deficient postage is to be collected
at its proper destination. The bill is 10 go
nto effect on July l.
\ HoUsE-The silver bill was passed as II
came from the Senate without debate or
division. Resolutions in regard to the Kill
bourn matter, inquiring into the Credi-
Mobilier suits, and providing for the rec =
ton ofthe emperor of Brazil and PRESIDENT
/ Peru were referred. The bill to transferil
Indian bureau was taken up, and at theevsu
ing session the legislative appropriation
| was discussed, and an attempt to strike outa
item of 5000 for Furnishing violations of the
internal revenue laws was rejected.
THURSDAY, APRIL 13.
SENATE Several resolutions were referred
and bills passed, among the latter cas-
ures providing for the imprisonment
and transfer of United States pris-
oners and for the separate entry
OF packages contained in one importation
The bill for the requirement. of Pennsy lvania
avenue was discussed at length and amended
by the appointment OF commission to super
intend the work. The House deficiency bill
was referred.
HoUsE-Sevsral unimportant measures
were passed, among Them the bill which the
senate debated so long early in the session
concerning the pre-emption and homestead
entries of public lands. After some conflict
between the legislative appropriation and
Indian bureau transfer bills, the House
went into the committee Of the whole on the
latter. Messrs. Cook and Hooker advocated
and Mr.. Seelye opposed IL. The evening ses-
sion was occupied with the legislative appro-
priation bill. The House adjourned until
saturday, Friday being a legal holiday In the
district.
SATURDAY, APRIL Is.
HoUsE-The case Of Mr.. Smith, the Journal
clerk, &C used OF Offering to prosecute bounty
claims under the proposed equalization law
for a commits sion, was bought up. The clerk
offered letter explaining that II had been his
intention to resign as soon as the bill was
passed and follow his legal profession.
The mat er was referred to the committee on
rules. After providing for the future consid-
Grafton of the Freedman's bank and diplo-
matte appropriation bills, the habsss
corpus case OF Hallet Kilbourn was dis.
cussed at great length, and with con-
siderable spirit. Messrs. Hoar, Lawrence
and Hass advocated q resolution direct
ing the sergeant-at-arms to make a re-
turn refusing TO deliver up the recusant wit
ness 1t was o. posed by Messrs. Frye, Kasson
Kelley and Garfield. 1t was finally Learn ed
that the hearing before the judge had been
adjourned until Tuesday and no action was
therefore reached by the House.
/ MONDAY, April IL
SENATE-Before ciowded chamber the i'm
peachment proceedings were inaugurated
The ex-secretary, his counsel, the managers
and the House appeared. The counsel fol-
Belknap read plea denying the jurisdiction
Of the Senate and the court adjourned until
Wednesday. A bill paying Pinchbsck
the compensation and mileage of a
senator from the beginning OF the
term until the disposition of his case was
ordered printed, and notices were given that
the i'll in relation to counting the vote for
esident, and Senator Mortons centraliza-
tion resolutions would be speedily brought
up. The deficiency appropriation bin and
one of the mum, rous Pacific railroad bills
were reported favorably, and the Pennsyl-
vania avenue pavement matter was further
discussed.
HoUsE-Almost the whole day, except that
Il part OF Ii which was spent in tendance
upon the impeachment trial, was occu-
pied with discussion upon the reso-
luton OF the Judiciary committee or
dering the sergeant-at-arms' to re-
fuse TO take Kilbourn before the District
Supreme Court in obedience to the writ OF
habeas corpus. Speeches were made by
Messrs. Hooker, Hurlbut aud Frye, and Mr..
Tucker offered a substitute directing the SER
geant-at-arms to appear before the court and
move to quash. bitter alteration ensued
between Messrs. Tucker and Blaine, and the
Question was further discussed by Messrs.
Jones, Lord, Lawrence and Hurd. Mr..
fuckers amendment was rejected and q sub
/ stitute offered by Mr.. Lynde directing the