Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-02-26
CONGRESS-.

I a
House of Representatives was Occu-
pied in considering the bill to re0r-
ganize the judiciary and establish
ing Courts of Appeal to review cases
involving less than 900, and to
consider judgments in criminal cases.
All the amendments to change the
locality of the Courts of Appeal were
rejected, except those changing the
locality from Albany to New York,
and Louisville to Cincinnati, which
were passed.
| FEBRUARY 19.-The Senate was
not in session. In the House, speeches
on the financial question were deliy-
cred by Mr.. Chittenden, OF New
York, and Mr.. Kelly, of Pepnsylva-
MIA.
FEB. 21.-In the United States
Senate the concurrent resolution de-
claring Washington's birth day this
year a legal holiday, was received in
a message from the Honse, and the
Senate concurred. The bill provid-
ing for the sale of timber lands in
California, Oregon and in the Terri
tories was taken up, and after de-
bate passed. The Senate, after an
executive session, adjourned till
Wednesday.
In the House the bill to reorganize
the Judiciary was passed. On mo-
tion Of Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
resolutions were adopted calling
upon the Treasury Department for
the correspondence with the Bank OF
England relative to the transfer to
this country of the proceeds OF
United States bonds sold in London,
and also the correspondence between
the State Department and the Brit
ish Government relative to the
transfer to this country of the Gene
va award. The Pacific Railroad
Committee was instructed to inquire
whether the Pacific Railroads had
entered into an arrangement for the
transfer of the Pacific ocean COM
merce from American built vessels
to English built ships sailing under
the British flag. Mr. Springer, of II
linois, made a personal explanation
regarding remarks made in the New
York Herald and Philadelphia Times
in relation to the amendment offered
by him and engrafted in the Centen-
NAL Appropriation bill. In conclu-
sion he desired to offer a resolution
directing the Secretary of the Trea-
sury to withhold the appropriation,
and wanted the resolution referred
to the Judiciary Committee. Mr.
Kelley, of Pennsylvania, denied Mr.
Springer's allegations that the APP
preparation was job, and said that
MI Springer's amendment had given
the Centennial Board more than was
asked from Congress. If it was a
Job it was job which the mover OF
that amendment was the workman.
The House tnen adjourned till We'd
day, Tuesday, Washington's birth
day, being a legal holiday.
FEB. 23.-In the United States
Senate petitions were presented
from New York demonstrating
against the repeal of the Bankrupt
law, but asking for certain amend
ments, and the petition of Robert
Small, of Charleston, S. c., asking
compensation for the capture the
steamer Planter at Charleston in
1852. The Senate debated the bill
confering exclusive jurisdiction
over Indian reservation to the u
nited States Courts and for the
punishment of crimes committed
by and against Indians. Mr.. Pad
dock offered an amendment which
would exclude the gold hunters
now in the Black Hills, which led
| to further debate, but without ac-
ton the bill went over.
In the House Mr.. Kerr resumed
his functions as Speaker, much
improved in health. Mr.. Ban
ming, Of OHIO, introduced bill to
promote the efficiency of the army,
and providing for its gradual re-
duction. 1t reduces the cavalry to
eight and the infantry to twenty
three regiments, and that there
shall be no further enlistments I'M
til the number is reduced to twen-
ty thousand men. Referred. A
bill to prevent the useless slaughter
of bufaloes in the Territories was
debated and passed. The House
went into Committee ofthe Whole
on the bill amending the pension
laws. The bill was amended so as
to include those who served in the
army five days in the war OF 1912,
and restoring to the rolls the names
! stricken off for participating in the
rebellion. Mr.. Baker, of Indiana,
4 moved to strike out the latter pro-
vision. Mr.. Hale remarked that
the Democratic side of the House
had cut down necessary appropri-
ations, turned out of Office hum
dreds of deserving men and wo-
men, and it was suspected that ev-
cry dollar thus saved was to be ex-
pended in claims ofone sort or an