Connecticut western news., 1876-03-17
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-.
Enc Business of General Interest Trans. acted.
 auMArr

acted.
 SENATE.
 The Senate resumed consideration of the bill making appropriations for the support of | the military academy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, the pending question being on | the amendment of the committee on appropria- tions to strike out the clause appropriatlng $2- | 496 for sixteen musicians for companies, and insert in lieu thereof the following: For the | pay of the military academy band, $14, ,88O |; and it was agreed to. Other amendments, ap- propriating various amounts were agreed to, and the bill was read third time and passed. The Chair laid before the Senate message from the President of the United States in- closing communication from the secretary of the interior, in regard to deficiencies in sup pliesAt the Red Cloud Indian agency in Ne braska, and recommending favorable action on the estimates submitted by the secretary to supply such deficiencies. Ordered to be printed and referred to the committee on Indian affairs.
 Mir. Alcorn (Rep ), of Mississippi, introduced bill approprlating $3, 200, 900 to repair and in part rebuild the levees of the Mississippi river; providing for it's expenditure, and for other purposes. Referred to the select committee on the Mississippi levees.
 Mir, Merrill (Rep. ), of Vermont, from the committee on public buildings and grounds, re- ported favorably on the House bill appTopria- ting $75, 900 for the purchase of material and for the continuation of the work on the build ing for a custom house at St. Louis. The bill was then read third time and passed.
 Mir. Dunham (Denn.) of Kentucky, offered 8 resolution instructing the judiciary committee to inquire what legislation is necessary to se- cure indemnity to the United States for the interest on subsidy bonds of the Pacific rail- road companies, and also to secure indemnity against the liability of the United States to pay the principal also, to what extent the rates of freight and transportation on those roads can be regulated by Congress, 80 as to make them less burdensome to the public. Adopted.
 MT. Hamlin (Rep.), of Maine, introduced a bill fixing the rate of postage on third-class mail matter and for other purposes. The bill proposes the following rates of postage, gradu- Ated according to distance, namely: For dis tances not exceeding 300 miles, one cent for each two ounces CT fractional part thereof; for distances between 30O and 500 miles, two cents; for distances between 800 and 1,5OO miles, three cents, and for each additional 1000 miles, one cent additional for each two ounces or fractional part thereof.
 A special rate is, however, proposed for tran sient newspapers and magazines namely One cent for every two ounces or fractional part thereof for any distance not exceeding 1000 miles, but for any greater distance double this rate is to be paid. The bill also provides that all occasional publications, prices current, catalogues, and annuals, and ali regular pubh- cations devoted primarily to advertising pur- poses, or for free circulation at nominal eub- scription rates, shall hereafter be considered and charged as third-class mail matter. Other provisions authorize the writing of & brief form of presentation or of 8 brief description upon books and magazines, or any other arti- GIGS mailed as third class matter and all in- sufficiently prepaid matter to be carried to it's destination Ill cases where there has not been evident intention to underpay the full amount, provided that double the deficiency shall be collected at tue other end. When the sender is known, however, he is to be notified and required to make full prepayment. Re- fer1ed.
 Mir. Morton Rep.), of Indiana, reported favorably on the senate bill to provide for and regulate the counting of votes for the Presi- dent and Vice-President, and the decision of questions arising thereon. Placed on the calendar.
 Mir. Spencer (Rep), of Alabama from tho committee on the District of Columbia report ed favorably on the Senate bill to amend sec- tion 993 of the revised statutes of the United States, relating to the District of Columbia, so as to make the twenty-seoond of February a legal holiday, with an amendment making the twelfth day of February, the birthday of Abra- ham Lincoln, 8 legal holiday also. Placed on the calendar
 MT. Ramlin (Rep.), of Maine, submitted 8 resolution requesting the postmaster general to furnish the Senate with any information which he may have touching the submission of straw bids or probable worthless or fraudulent bids for carrying the mails Of the United States ln the several States in which advertisements LOT mdl1 prOpOSalb 8pp6aF0Q OCG. ], 1870, and that said information and all evidence in his possession be furnished before awards shall be made on said bids. Agreed to.
 Mir. Dorsey (Rep. ), of Arkansas, introduced bill amendatory of the Pacific railroad laws. The bill proposes to estrain the issue or sale of any more obligations of the company secured by the mortgage upon the main line, or the land granted by the United States to aid in it's construction. The bill also requires detailed statement of all the com ko 3l, 1875, to be filed with the secretary of the interior and provides that the net recelpts shall be applied FHst, to the payment of the interest on the first mortgage bonds on the main line and the creation of sinking fund second, to the payment of interest on the bonds alleged to have been issued, and thus secured without authority and third, to the purchase anu retirement of all the last de- scrlbed class of bonds
 The Speaker laid before the H,use a 1nes sage from the President urging the necessity of an immediate appropriation 10 supply the deficiency at the Red Cloud Indian agency. appropriations.
 The House then took up the bill limiting the cost Of custom house building at Mem phis, Tenn., to $400, ,O0O. After diecussion the bill was passed. Yeas 174 nays ST..
 MT. Hardenbergh (Dem. ), of New Jersev from the centennial committee, reported a bill recommending the people of the several States to assemble Iu their respective counties or toWnp on the approaching centenn' al anniver- sary, and to cause tn be delivered historical sketch of the county or town from it's forma- tlon copies Of which are to be filed in the county clerks office and in the library of Con- gress, so that complete record may thus be had of the progress of the republic Passed
 Mir. Foster (Rep.), of Ohio from the com mlttee on appropriations, reported the bill transferring the GUS tody of certain Indian trust funds from the secretary of the interior U the treasurer of the United States.
 Mir. Randall (Dem.). of Pennsylvania, re- ported blli appropriating $163 GOO to provide for engraving, printing, and other expenses of making and issuing United States notes, and directing the secretary of the treasury to issue silver coins of the denomination of ten twenty, twenty-five, and fifty cents in redemption of aa equal amount of fractional currency, and to provide for such redemption until the whole amount of fractional currency is redeemed. Ordered 70 be printed and re- committed.
 MT. Sayler (Dem.), of Ohio reported & bill declaring valid all suspended entries of public lands in which the commissioner of the general land office has decided that patents shall issue aud which have been confirmed by the secre- tary of the iuterior and the attorney-general. and repeating section 2,452 of the revised star tes. Passed.
 MT. Sayler also reported bill to amend the act of March 18th, 1874 to encourage the growth or timber on the Western prairies. Passed.
 Under the call of States the following bills were introduced and referred
 MT. Randall (Dem.) of Pennsylvanis, to de- clare the immunity of witnesses for the United States It provides that a witnesses shall not be liable to arrest st any time after he has been nf 0Sf fack Dl Al~ol