The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

I SENATE
In the senate, on the 18th, the chai
laid before that body a communication frol
the secretary of the interior, inclosing a r'
, port from the commissioner of Indian a
fairs, in answer to the resolution of tn
/, senate of the 18th in regard to books keI
by Indian agents in compliance with sectio
10 of the Indian appropriation bill for tn
year ending June 80, 1876. Ordered printe
| and lie on the table, Mr.. Thurman present
ed the credentials of Jas B. Eustis, elsimin
a seat as senator from Louisiana, which h
sent to the clerks desk and had read. Thi
| led TO a long debate, at the close of whicl
the accompanying documents were orderet
printed in the record and laid over until to
morrow. The memorial OF the democratic
conservative convention of Louisiana, helC
| January o. 1876, concerning the election anC
condition of the state of Louisiana, was pre-
sented and referred. Bills were introduced
and referred as follows: To extend the pro
| vision of the act to settle accounts between
the United States and the state of Mississip
pi, approved March 3, 1857, to othel
states Mr.. Window presented various peti
tiOns asking an appropriation of 100000 fQI
the Improvement of the upper Mississippi
river. Mr.. Cragin called up the senate bill
to secure the attendance and payment OF
| witnesses before military courts, and sub
| mitted an amendment giving to every court
| martial the same power to punish witnesses
for refusing to testify as that now held by
| circuit courts of the United States providing
that the action of such court martial shall be
/ subject to revision on writ of habeas cor
| pus by any court or district court in the
| Emitted States. Mr.. Whyte moved to amend
| the amendment so that no imprisonment i'm
| posed on civilian for contempt shall CON
| tinue for more than two months. After
! some discussion he modified the amendment
10 do hat
| shall not be for a longer period than that
/ imposed on a soldier sailor for a similar
] offense. The amendment of Mr.. Cragin, as
! amended by Mr.. Whyte, was agreed to, and
| the bill, as amended, was passed. The sem
ate resumed consideration of the resolution
submitted by Mr.. Davis on Wednesday, to
appoint a special committee TO investigate
the books and accounts of the treasury de-
partment. Pending discussion, the senate
went into executive session and soon after
adjourned.
In the senate, on the 10Th, Mr.. Thur
man presented four petitions from citi-
zens of Ohio, asking congressional aid for
the construction of Southern Pacific rail-
road. Referred. The senate resumed con-
sideration of the resolution submitted by Mr..
Davis in regard to the books of the treasury
department. This gave rise to a lengthy de-
bate, and the resolution was finally laid
dSlue 10 give MI MORTON du opportunity 10
call up his resolution in regard to the Mis-
sissippi election. Mr.. Morton addressed the
senate at length, but before concluding
yielded the floor, and the senate proceeded to
the consideration of executive business.
After a short time the doors were re-opened,
and the senate adjourned.
In the senate, on the Goth, various
patitions were presented, asking the repeal
of the law requiring a two cent stamp to be
affixed to bank checks. Referred. Mr.
West introduced bill 10 amend the Pacific
railway acts of july 1 and July 1864,
which provides that from and after its enact
ment all Pacific railroad companies shall be
liable to pay into the treasury of the United
States the whole amount of interest hereto
fore paid by the government on bonds loaned
to them to aid in the construction of their
roads, together with interest upon the several
sums paid by the government in the dis !
charge of the interest on said bonds, at the |
rate of blank per cent, less the amount re- |
tanned by the government for mail transpor- |
tatiOn, which shall be credited in the account |
every six months. At the expiration of the |
morning hour, the consideration of the reso- !
luton submitted by Mr.. Morton in regard to |
the recent election in Mississippi was re- |
sumed, and Mr.. Morton continued his speech |
a bill comforting certain privileges on tele-
graph companies, and provides for the |
establishment of new postal telegraph !
system. Adjourned.
In the senate, on the oath, Mr.. Sher- |
man presented petitions of citizens ofOhio, |
asking government aid in the construction !
of the Texas and Pacific railroad. Similar !
petitions were presented by Messrs Cameron
of Pennsylvania and Wallace. All referred |
Mr.. Goldwaite presented the report of the |
the testimony taken by the committee in re- |
gard to the election of George Spencer, L. |
S. senator Referred. Mr.. Wright, from |
the Judiciary committee, reported without |
the bill declaring the true intent |
and meaning of the Union Pacific rail |
road acts. 1t provides that none of these |
acts shall be construed to authorize any sub |
sidy or land grants to the Hannibal and st. |
Joseph railroad company, or the central |
branch OF the Union Pacific company for |
any extension of the road in excess of one |
hundred miles next to the Missouri river. |
A bill for the relief of the widow OF /
L. II. ROsseau, late brigadier-general L. S. |
A. was referred. Mr.. Morton said that GER |
tain, papers, purpOrting to be the credentials |
of Mr.. Eusts as senator of the United States |
from Louisiana, were presented, the other |
day and laid on the table. He moved they |
now be referred to the committee on privi- !
leges and elections. Agreed to- The chair |
laid before the senate unfinished business, |
being the resolution of Mr.. Morton in regard |
to the recent ELECTION in Mississippi. Mr.. |
Morton said his health was in such a coudi- |
tion that he would not be able to continue |
his remarks. The senate resumed cOnsidera- |
tion of the bill to provide for a commission on |
the subject of the alcoholic liquor traffic. |
Mr. Bayard submitted an amendment in. |
structing the commission TO inquire whether |
the use of opium as a substitute for alco- |
holic drinks had not become more general in |
of legislation. The amend |
ment of Mr.. Bayard was rejected. Mr.. Nor |
rill then spoke for the bill. Pending dis |
cussiOn the senate went into executive |
session, and soon after adjourned.
In the house, on the 18th, Mr.. Knott, |
from the Judiciary committee, reported |
proposed amendment to the constitution, as |
follows: No person who has held or may |
hereafter hol1 the Office of president shall |
ever again be eligible to said office. Made |
special order for Tuesday next Mr. Ashe |
reported bill TO amend the revised statutes |
in relation to naturalization. 1t provides |
that the declaration of the intention to be- |
come a citizen of the United States may be |
made before the clerk of a court and such /
declarations heretofore made are declared |
legal and valid. He explained that the OBJ
iect of the bill was simply TO restore the law /