The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-05
Congressional Proceedings.

Z - hNAtNS hhAS bt Nuulu YAH u uD Oll
Monday. Mr.. Morton, from the Commit.
tee on Privileges and Elections reported
back the papers relating to the claim Of
Eustis to seat as Senator from Louisiana,
with a report declaring that there is no
vacancy, =. b. 5. Pinchback having been
elected United States Senator for the term
commencing March 18th, 1873. MessrS.
salisbury, Merrimon and Cooper, the
minority Of the committee, dissented from
the report. The resolution relating to the
/ payment Of interest on the 3.65 bonds of
the District OF Columbia was considered
but not finally disposed of, A message
was received from the House announcing
the death of Representative Starkweather
Of Connecticut, and, after the usual marks
OF respect, the Senate adjourned until
Monday.
In the House, the Select Committee on
the "Real Estate Pool and Jay Cooke in
debtedncss' was announced, with Mr..
Glover, of Mo. as chairman. The Consu
lar aud Diplomatic Appropriation bill was
reported and made the order for Wedn. IS
day. The West Point Appropriation bill
was considered. After taking appropriate
action in reference TO the death of Repre-
sentative Starkwcathcr the House ad-
journed
SATURDAY.--The Senate was not in
session.
The House was in session for general
debate only, Speeches on the finances
were made by Mcssrs, Scheicher of Texas,
Ward of New York, aud Campbell of
Illinois, and against the protective tariff by
Mr.. Mills of Texas.
MoNDAY.-In the Senate Mr. Wright
offered amendments to the Constitution
providing FIR the election Of President,
Vice President and United State Senators
by direct vote of the people. They were
referred to the Committee on Privileges
and elections. The bill to provide for the
payment Of the interest on the District of
Columbia 3G5 bonds, came up, and led to
a long debate, but without action, on mo-
ton Of Mr., Bayard, the Senate adjourned.
In the House large number of bills
were presented aud referred underline call
of the States. \ bill was presented TO
reimburse Pennsylvania for money to pay
losses incurred by her citizens during the
late war, followed BY another, to reimburse
Virginia for advances made during the
war of 1872. Mr. Stone, Of Missouri,
presented bill to organize national rail-
way from the seaboard to St. Louis, Chi
cago and Council Bluffs, with branches.
Resolutions were also offered, including the
misunderstanding the District of Column
bia Committee to inquire into frauds that
had swolled the bonded debt of the Dis,
trict from eight to fifteen millions; direct
ing the Judiciary Committee to inquire
whether the Pacific railroad companies
had not forfeited their land subsidies by
failing to comply with the requirements of
the law, This resolution was adopted A
resolution was also adopted instructing the
Committee on Banking and Currency to
inquire whether the public interests do
not require that the retirement of the
legal tender notes should cease, and that
United States notes shall be substituted
for national bank paper Mr.. Page,
California, offered a resolution denuncia-
tory of the Mormons, and directing the
Judiciary Committee to report bill to
remove the foul blot of polygamy from the
civilization Of the nineteenth century.
The House refused to suspend the rules in
order to adopt this resolution. A resou-
ton was adopted instructing the Judiciary
Committee to inquire whether the Union
Pacific Railroad had not forfeited its char
ter. Mr., Wallace, of Pennsylvania, offered
a resolution instructing the Ways and
Means Committee to consider the propriety
of increasing the import duties. Without
acting on it, the House considered the
Military Academy bill in Committee of
the Whole. After some debate the com
mittee rose, and the bill Was passed. 1t
fixes the pay of cadets at $50 without
rations.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate the Commit.
tee on Finance reported adversely on n
bill, introduced by Mr.. Bogy, authorizing
the payment of duties in legal tenders or
national bank notes. MIR. Sherman re.
ported back the concurrent resolution pro-
posing common unit Of money and
accounts between England and the United
States, with reasons why it should pass.
On his motion the matter was recommittcd
to the Committee on Finance. The Senate
resumed the consideration of the joint res
olution directing the payment of the inter
est of the District of Columbia bonds.
Mr.. Bayard spoke at length detailing the
corrupt practices that had piled this enor.
nous load Of debt upon the District, and
advocated the House bill that nothing in
the resolution should involve the Govern
ment Of the United States in any obliga.
ton to pay the principal. After much
debate, Mr. Eaton gave notice that he
would move to refer the whole matter to
an investigating committee.
In the House, the special order, the
proposed amendment TO the Constitution
reported by the Judiciary Committee, came
up for consideration. 1t provides that no
person who has held, or may hereafter hold
the Office of President shall ever again be
eligible to said office. Mr. Frye of Maine,
offered his substitute, providing that from
and after tho 4th of March, 1885, the
Presidential term shall be six years, and
that any person having been elected or
who for two years has held the office, shall
be ineligible to a reelection.
WEDNEsDAYe--Iu the Senate, after the
transaction of some unimportant business,
the consideration of the bill for the pay
mcnt of the interest on the 365 bonds Of
/ the District of Columbia was resumed, Mr.,
Sargent leading Of in a lengthy defense 81
the commissioners. Without disposing OF
the bill, the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. 0'Brien, of Mary
land, offered a-resolution which was adop.
ted, instructing the committee on foreign
affairs to inquire into the expediency Of
requesting the President to negotiate a
commercial treaty between the United
States aud the republic of France. The
amendment to the constitution reported
from the Judiciary committee providing
tina 'no person who has held or NAV here