The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

In the senate, on the 11th, Mr.. Howe
| introduced a bill, by request, to provide for
| cheap transportation of freight between tide
| water at or near the Atlantic ocean and the
Ohio and Mississippi valley railroads. Mr..
| Stevenson presented petition of the tobacco
1 men of Cincinnati and t'ovington, KY, in
| favor of the reduction of the tax on tobacco
| to sixteen cents per pound. Referred. The
| senate resumed the consideration of unfin-
| ished business, being the bill fixing the rate
| of postage on third-class mail matter The
pending question was on the amendment of
Mr.. MerrinIon to strike out of the first section
| the clause allowing in mails all articles not
above weight prescribed by law which are
not, from their form or nature liable to de-
strOy, deface otherwise injure the contents
of mail bags or person of any one engaged in
the postal service. The amendment was re-
jected. Pending the discussion, Mr.. Morrill,
called up the bill making an appropriation
to continue the work of improving the capi-
tol grounds and the amendment of the house
reducing the amount from S25, 900 to $4,000,
was agreed TO and the bill passed. After
executive session the senate adjourned.
In the senate, on the 18th, Mr. Allison
reported favorably on bill to amend section
10 of the Indian appropriation bill for the
year ending June so, 1876, in regard to sur
cites of Indian agents, requiring agents to
keepa book of itemized expenses etc. Placed
on the calendar. Mr.. Window reported fav-
orably on house bill to extend the time of
pre-emptors on public lands Placed on the
calendar. After the consideration of unfin-
ished business, the bill fixing the rate of
postage on third-class mail matter was re-
sumed, the question being on the substitute
of Mr.. Harvey to restore the old rate of post
age on that class of matter. Mr.. Howe
argued that it was not for the public good
nf chn b.a
through the mails. Mr.. Window said he
would vote for the substitute of the senator
from Kansas in preference to the bill re-
ported by the committee. Mr.. Hamlin de-
tended the bill reported by the committee.
Mr.. Sherman thought it best to establish a
uniform rate of postage per ounce. The
only difficulty about this proposition was
that it would raise the rate of transient news
papers, and that he did not want to do. He |
did not think the old rate of postage should |
be restored entirely, but it should be restored |
as far as light circulars were concerned. Mr.. |
Dawes moved to amend the second section of |
the bill so that it would read "The postage |
on mail matter of the third-class shall be at |
the following rates: For all distances one /
cent for each ounce or fractional part there |
of" etc. Agreed to without division. The |
question then being on the substitute of Mr.. |
Harvey TO restore the old rate of postage, it |
was rejected. The bill was then reported to
the senate and the amendments made in
committee of the whole agreed to. The bill |
was then read the third time, and passed
without division. The senate then took up
the bill to repave Pennsylvania avenue in
Washington. Pending discussion, the senate
went into executive session, and soon after
adjourned.
In the senate, on the 18th, Mr. Wright
called up the bill providing for the imprison.
ment and transfer of United States prisoners
hill N ean,,.,4o |
entry of packages contained in one importa-
tiOns passed. The senate then proceeded to
consider the bills on the calendar not OBJ
jected to, and the following passed: Senate
bill authorizing the construction of a pontOon
bridge across the Mississippi river from some
point in Lacrosse county, Wis, to some point
in Houston county, Minn. Senate bill TO
amend the laws relating to the legal-tender of
silver coin, on motion of Mr.. Sherman, was
recOmmitted. The morning hour having ex-
pired, the senate resumed cOnsi Heration of
unfinished business, taking up the bill au-
thOriZing the requirement. of Pennsylvania
avenue. Pending the discussion, house bill
making appropriation to supply deficiencies
N the appropriations for the year ending
June 30, 1876, and former wears, was referred
10 the committee on appropriations. After
= short executive session, the senate adj
ourned until Monday.
In the senate, on the 18th, there was
activity, preparing for the impeach-
nent trial of w. W. Belllnap, late secretary
If war. After the journal of Thursdays pro-
,eedings had been read, various petitions and
were presented, but at half past
welve o'clock legislative business was sus-
pended, and the senate proceeded to the !
of the articles of impeachment
The secretary was ordered to notify the house
hat the senate was ready to proceed with
hn rIal and fl,afc Ir.l
or the members. At fifteen minutes to one
''clOck ex-Secretary Belknap, with his coun-
el, entered and proceeded to the table pro.
yided for them. The managers of the inn
Deachment and members OF the house ap-
)eared at one O'Clock, when the minutes of
he session OF the senate as a court of i'm ;
Deachment, held on the 9TH inst, were read. |
The return on the writ served upon the eX- |
secretary having been read, Mr. Carpenter |
-ead and had filed plea denying the juriS-
fiction of the senate to try BeIknap on the
articles of impeachment, as he was not an
,fficer 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
he 18th instant to consider what replication |
hall be made to the plea of Belknap, and it |
A as so ordered. Mr.. Mitchell, from the COM ;
nittee on privileges and elections, to which
vas referred the question as to the proper
imount of compensation to be paid Z. b. S.
late contestant for q seat from | ,
Louisiana, reported a resolution to pay Pinch :
pack the sum equal to the compensation and ,
Mileage of a senator from the beginning of |
he term for which he was a contestant To
he termination of the contest by the senate. I
ordered printed and to lie on the table. The
on appropriations reported the (
house deficiency appropriation bill with !
includinf the following: To
1ay the expenses OF transportation, custody,
exhibition and return of United States prop
'rty to be exhibited at the centennial; $15,- I
400 for the interior department. S1S,500 for
he war department, $14, 900 for the treasury I
department., $21 900 for the Smithsonian in
titute, $4,000 for the United States commits
ion of food for fishes, and S25, 900 for the |
Back 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.
HOUSE.
In the house, on the 11th, Mr.. Kehr |
eported bill to authorize the construction |
If bridge across the Missouri river at or |
lear Sioux City, Iowa. After explanation
he bill passed. Mr.. Wells, from the COM {
nittee on appropriations, reported the def | ,
,iency bill, and said he would try and get
lction on it tomorrow. The bill appropriates
S652 4S6. The house then proceeded to the
consideration, as special order, of the bill
reported by Mr.. Reagan concerning COM
nerce and navigation and regulation of steam
7essels. The bill was amended in various
respects, and passed. The senate bill appro- ,
Driating $4,000 for improvement of the cap ,
tol grOInds was amended by reducing the
amount to $4,000, and passed. The evening
session was given to the consideration of the
legislative appropriation bill. Discussion and
action on the legislative bill were confined :
10 the reduction of special treasury agents.
limited to ten; to proposition of Mr.. White
TO relieve small private distilIers from tax
alton, which was voted down, and to a vari-
ETY. of minor matters connected with officials
of the internal revenue, their numbers and
After little progress with the
bill, the house adjourned.
In the house, on the 18th, Mr.. Hoar
offered a resolution instructing the judiciary
to inquire what steps have been
taken for properly representing the interests
Of the United States in the suit instituted