The Osceola times., 1876-04-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

In the senate, on the 18th, there was
unusual activity preparing for the impeach-
ment trial of W. W. Belknap, late secretary
of war. After the journal of Thursdays pro-
ceedings mad been read, various petitions and
memorials were presented, but at half past
twelve o'clock legislative business was sus.
pended, and the senate proceeded to the
consideration of the articles Of impeachment.
The secretary was ordered TO notify the house
that the senate was ready TO proceed with
the trial, and that seats had been provided
for the members. AT fifteen minutes TO one
o'clock ex-Secretary Belknap, with his coun-
sci, entered and proceeded to the table pro-
vided for them. The managers Of the i'm
peachmeDt and members of the house ap-
pearcd at one o'clock when the minutes Of
the session Of the senate as q court OF i'm.
peachment, held on the 5th inst, were read.
The return on the writ served upon the sx-
secretary having been read, Mr.. Carpenter
read and had filed plea denying the juris.
diction OF the senate to try Belknap on the
articles of impeachment, as he was not an
officer of the United States at the time such
articles were found and presented to the
| senate. Mr.. Lord, on the part of the man.
| ayers, asked that time be allowed them until
the 10Th instant to consider what replication
shall be made to the plea of Belknap, and it
was so ordered. Mr.. MITCHELL from the com.
mittee on privileges and elections, to which
was referred the question as to the proper
| amount of compensation TO be paid p. B. =.
Pinchback, late contestant for a seat from
Louisiana, reported resolution to pay Pinch
back the sum equal to the compensation and
mileage of a senator from the beginning of
the term for which he was contestant to
| the termination of the contest by the senate.
Ordered printed and to lie on the table. The
| committee on appropriations reported the
house deficiency appropriation bill with
| amendments, includin the following: To
| pay the expenses OF transportation, custody,
exhibition and return Of United States prop
erty to be exhibited at the centennial $l5,.
600 for the interior department, $1s,5O0 for
the war department, $4,000 for the treasury
| department. S2l 900 for the Smithsonian in
| stitute, 5000 for the United States commits
sion of food for fishes, and S25,OOO for the
Black Hills commission. The unfinished
business being the bill for the requirement. of
Pennsylvania avenue, it was resumed, and
pending the discussion the senate went into
executive session and soon adjourned.
In the senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Sher.
man reported favorably on the senate bill to
amend the laws relating to legsl-tenders OF
silver coin. He gave notice he would call it
up Thursday. The bill reported and recon-.
mended for passage by the finance commit
tee, in its full text, is as follows: There shall
he coined at the mints Of the United States a
silver coin OF the weight Of 4i2 $40 grains
troy Of standard silver, the emblems, devices
and inscriptions OF which shall conform Ia
those prescribed by law for gold and silver
coins of the United States, with such modii.
cations thereof as may be necessary to render
said dollar distingushable from the trade
dollar and in the coinage and delivery there
OF the same deviations from standard weight
and ineness shall be allowed as are pre-.