The Osceola times., 1876-04-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE

committee to employ clerk or stenographer
| and to send for persons and papers 10 take
evidence Agreed TO. Mr.. Morrill, reported
favorably on the bill aprropriatng $40, 600 to
defray the expenses Of the special committee
appointed to inquire into the late election In
Mississippi. House bill TO provide for the
deficiency in the printing and engraving
bureau OF the treasury department, and for
the issue of the silver coin Of the United
States in place of fractional currency, was
taken up Mr.. Sherman explained the pro-
visions of the bill and amendments proposed
by the senate finance committee at length.
In his opinion there were but two things
more needed to make this perfect financial
measure, and they were to authorize any
holder OF greenbacks to convert them into
four per cent. forty year gold bonds and to
exchange our six per cent. bonds for four
per cent. ones; then specie payment would
come without cipple. He said il was very
important that the first and second sections
of the bill be passed Immediately, leaving
out the third and fourth sections, with the
understanding that the committee on finance
would consider the subject embraced in them,
and report it as an independent measure.
Mr.. Sherman then, by unanimous consent,
Withdrew the third and fourth sections of the
bill. Mr.. Morrill, moved an amendment to
the first section, appropriating $4,000 TO
provide for engraving and printing Of na-
tional banks, to be disbursed under the Sec
retary of the treasury. The amendment was
agreed to- Mr.. Sherman submitted an amend
ment as follows: "And fractional currency
redeemed under this act shall be held to be
part of the sinking fund provided for by
existing law, the interest to be computed
thereon as in case of bonds redeemed under
the act relating to the sinking fund" Agreed
to. The bill was then read third time and
passed. II is as follows: That there be and
hereby is appropriated out Of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated the
sum Of S163,000, to provide for engraving,
printing and other expenses Of the making
and issuing of United States notes; and, fur.
ther, the sum OF $4,000 to provide for en-.
craving and printing national bank notes to
be disbursed under the secretary of the
treasury. That the secretary of the treasury
is hereby directed to issue silver coins Of the
United States denomination of ten, twenty,
twenty-five and fifty cents, of the standard
value in redemption of an equal amount Of
fractional currency, whether the same be
now in the treasury awaiting redemption, or
whenever it may be presented for redemp-
tion, and the secretary of the treasury may,
under the regulations of the treasury depart
ment, provide for such redemption and
issue by substitution at the regular SUBJ
treasures and public repositories until
the amount Of the fractional currency out
standing shall be redeemed, and the frac-
tional currency redeemed under this act
shall be held to be a part Of the sinking fund
provided for by the existing law the interest
to be computed thereon as in case of bonds
redeemed under the acts relating to the sink
ing fund. After executive session the senate
adjourned.
In the senate, on the 1lth, Mr.. Howe
introduced 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
men of Cincinnati and ,'ovington, KY, in
favor of the reduction of the tax on tobacco
to sixteen cents per pound. Referred. The
senate resumed the consideration of un6n-
ished business, being the bill fixing the rate
of postage on third-class mail matter. The
pending question was on the amendment Of
Mr.. Merrimon 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 or otherwise injure the contents
OF mail bags or person of any one engaged in
the postal service. The amendment was re-
je6ted. 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, 600 to $40, 900,
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 30, 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
that a package of goods should be sent
| 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.. llamlin de-
| Tended the bill reported by the committee.
Mr. Sherman thought il 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
| he restored entirely, but il 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.c 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
| Al
| Harvey 10 restore the old rate OF postage, il
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 imprisen.
ment and transfer of United States prisoners.
Passed The bill providing fot separate
entry of packages contained in one importa.
tons passed. The senate then proceeded to
consider the bills on the calendar not oh.
jec;ed to, and the following passed Senate
bill authorizing the construction Of q pontoon
bridge across the Mississippi river from some
point in Lacrosse county, Wis, to some point
in Houston county, MINI. 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.
pred, the senate resumed consideration OF
unfinished business, taking up the bill au.
| thorizing the requirement. Of Pcnnsylvania
avenue. Pending the discussion, house bill
making appropriation to supply deficiencies
in the appropriations for the year ending