The Osceola times., 1876-05-06
In the house, on the oath, the following
we're among the bills introduced and referred
Under the call of The statesi To reorsanise
he navy. Il proyides that there shall be on

were among the bills introduced and referred
tindcr the call of The states To reorsanise
the navy. II provides that there shall be on
commodores, fifty captains and scventy-6ve
commanders, ard that the promotions in
these grades sha. cease until those numbers
shall be reached. To permit the national
banks to issue circulating notes equal In
amount to one hundred per cent. Of the cur.
rent market value Of the bonds deposited by
them. Mr.. Sayler presented petition from
the tobacco manufacturers Of Cincinnati and
Covington, for reduction Of tax on tobacco
10 sixteen cents per pound. Referred. Mr..
Blaine took the floor, and proceeded to make
personal explanation In regard TO the news
paper charges connecting him with the Union
Pacific railroad. In refutstion Of the charge
that he had received In some indirect man.
ner, the large sum Of sixty-four tho and
dollars In 1871, which allegation WIS based
partly upon the authority Of Morton, Bliss
h Co., bankers, OF New York, through whom
a draft for sixty-four thousand dollars was
said to have bees negotiated for his benefit,
Mr.. Blaine presented letter from the frm
denying that any draft, nete or check had
ever passed through their hands In which he
was supposed to have any interest, direct or
indirect Other documentary evidence was
submitted to the same tenor, and in summing
up the senator denounced the charges, each
AID all, as without = shadow of truth. The
house then resumed consideration OF the dis
trict tax bill, but without action adjourned.
In the house, on the 25th, the leg
islative and Judiciary appropriation bill
was resumed, but was interrupted to allow
Mr.. Lord, chairman Of the impeachment
managers, to present the rejoinder to the
demurrer filed by Mr.. W. w. Belknap.
The paper was read, and is TO the effect
that the houe Of representatives, in the
name OF itself and all the people in the
United States, says that, first, the replication
to the plea Of Mr.. Belknap TO articles Of i'm.
peachment and matters therein contained,
are in matter and form sufficient in law for
the house to maintain its articles Of impeaeh-
ment, and that the senate as a court of i'm
peachment has jurisdiction to hear, try and
determine the same; and that as Belknap
has not answered such articles OF impeach-
ment, or in any manner denied the same, the
house Of representatives prays judgment
thereon according 10 law. As to the first
and second Subdivisions Of the rejoinder to
the second replication Of the house to the
plea of defendant, wherein defendant de-
manded trial according to law, the house In
behalf Of itself and Of all the people Of the
United States does like and as TO the third,
fourth, fifth and sixth subdivisions of the
rejoinder, the house asserts II ought not to
be barred from having and maintaining arti-
cles Of impeachment against the defendant,
because it denies every argument In such
rejoinder, which denies or traverses acts
or intents charged against the defendant,
and il reaffirms the truth Of the latter;
and, therefore, the house Of representatives
prays Judgment according TO law. The paper
was approved by the house, and the clerk
was ordered to Gle 1t with the secretary Of
state. Adjourned.
In the house on the 26th, Mr.. Gibson
offered resolution for the appointment Of a
select committee to make thorough inves-
tigation into the conduct and management
of the customhouse and other government
Offices, al New Orleans, and to suggest nee.
essary changes and reforms, with power to
sit in New Orleans, and to report at the
present session, and that the proceedings of
house then went into committee of the
whole on the legislative appropriation bill,
commencing with the appropriation for the
war department. After progressing as far
as page 50, leaving only eight pages to be
disposed of, the committee rose. Mr.. Wells,
from the conference committee on the def.
cheney bill, made report recommending
that the senate recede from three of its
amendments, and that the house concur In
three others Of its amendments, none OF
them of any importance. Report was con-
cured in. Resolutions were offered by
Messrs. Banning and Randall calling for in
formation as TO the sale Of commissary arti.
cles and as to the amount Of post funds at
the military academy at West Point Adopt
Ell. The house then adjourned.
In the house on the 9th, Mr.. Lapham
introduced an amendment to the constitu.
ton authorizing the president to approve or
disapprove Of separate clauses or provisions
Of a bill. Referred. Mr. Turney made a
conference report on the bill excluding Mis-
souri, from the act Of May 10, 1872, to pro-
mote the development Of mining resources.
The report adds this clause: "And all lands
in said states shall be subject TO disposal ~
agricultural lands" The report WAS agreed
to. After deciding to print all the testi.
mony taken before the committee on naval
affairs, the house went into committee Of the
whole, Mr.. Cox in the chair, on the legisla-
tive and executive appropriation bill. Mr..
Whitehouse offered an amendment to Sec
ton two, prohibiting any employe Of the
government from giving 10 or receiving from
any other persons, directly or indirectly, any
money or thing Of value for political pur-
poses. Adopted. Mr.. lioar moved an ad-
ditional section providing that whenever, in
the Judgment Of the head OF any depart
ment, the duties assigned to a clerk Of one
class ran be Ms well performed by clerk Of
a lower class or by female clerk, IL shall
he lawful for him to dismiss the number OF
clerks Of a higher TO increase the number Of
clerks Of a lower grade to the same extent
Agreed to. Mr.. Glover moved to insert m
additional section, prohibiting executive off,
GERS of the government from employing any
clerk, agent, engineer, draughtsman, mes
senger, watchman, laborer or other employees
in any Of the executive departments In the
city Of Washington or elsewhere, except
these for whom specific appropriations are
made in the bill. Agreed 10. Committee then
rose and reported the bill TO the house with
out voting on any OF the amendments. The
house then adjourned.