Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-06-24
CONGRESS-.

ate Mr.. Windon reported BACK the In-
dian Appropriation bill with sundry
amendments. The Chair laid before
the Senate message from the President
transmitting copies of all the correspon-
dence with the State Department not
heretofore published relating to claims
upon which judgments have been enter
ed or hat may be pending before the
Court of Commissioners OF Alabama
Claims arising out of captures by the
robel cruiser Shenandoah. Legislative
business was suspended and the Senate
resumed the consideration OF the articles
of impeachment against VIM. W 4elk-
nap, late Secretary of War, and al he
close of the proceedings the Senate adj
journed.
In the House Mr.. Willis, from the
Naval Committee. reported a bill for
the sale or exchange Of a piece of land
belonging to the Brooklyn Navy Yard
to the City of Brooklyn, which was
agreed to. The House then vent into
Committee or the Whole on the Army
Appropriation bill, ard alter considera-
BILE discussion the House adjourned
without action, it being found that there
was not a quorum Of members present.
JUNE 17.-In the Senate the Chair
presented a communication from the
secretary of the Interior transmitting a
protest of the leading men of the Usage
indian Nation against the establishment
of a territorial form of government for
the indian country, which was ordered
to be printed and referred to the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs. The Chair
also laid before the Senate a message
from the President calling attention to
the near approach of the new fiscai
year and the failure of Congress, SO far,
to make pr ~ovision for the ordinary ex-
penses of the Government, a joint reso-
luton to remedy the same; ordered to
be printed and laid on the table. After
the transaction of some unimportant
business the consideration of the articles
of impeachment against ex-Secretary
Belknap was resumed. After adjou RI
ment of the Impeachment Court the
Indian Appropriation bill was taken up,
but a count of the Senate showed that
a quorum was not present, and an ad-
iournment was taken until to-day.
In the House the Speaker presented
a message from the President in refer
ence to the appropriation bills, which
excited considerable debate, participated
in by Mr.. Randall and Mr.. HOLMAN,
who took the ground that the message
was extraordinary and uucalled for, and
by Messrs. Hurlbut and Kasson, who
defended the action of the President and
charged the Appropriation Committee
with unnecessary delay in providing for
the expenses Of the Government for the
coming fiscal year. The message was
finally referred to the Committee on
Appropriations. The Honse went into
Committee of the Whole on the Army
Appropriation bill, and disposing of nine
of the eightneen pages of the bill, Mr.
Hurlburt made the point of order that
there was not a quorom voting, when
the Committee rose and the House ad-
iourned.
JUNE 19.-In the United States
Senate that body insisted on it's
amendments to the post-office appro-
priation bill and agreed to a COM
mittee of conference.asked for by the
House. The impeachment case of
w. w. Belknap was resumed. The
Senate went into consultation on the
question of postponing the trial,
which was decided in the negative,
and the Senate adjourned as a court
of impeachment until July 6.
In the House Mr.. Cox was appoint
ed Speaker pro tenn. in the absence
of Speaker Kerr. A large number
of bills pertaining to the District of
ColumbiaWere considered andpassed,
a joint resolution was also passed
providing for a commission to frame
a permanent form of government fol
the District of Columbia.
JUNE 20.-In the United States
the naval appropriation bill was re.
ported back from the committee
with amendments. House joint res.
olution was reported back favorably
from the finance committee, author
izing the Secretary of the Treasury
to issue $40 ,000, 900 in silver coin il
exchange for legal tender notes
House bill to repeal the bankrupt
law was postponed until the first day
of the next session. The Indian APP
preparation bill was considered, and
a number of amendments to House
bill adopted.
In the House, Mr.. Douglas, chair
man of the committee on the Freed
mans Bank, made a report in refer,
ence. to a communication from the
Secretary of War, of June z, 1876
as to the payment due to colored sol
diers and sailors. The report charges
grossly fraudulent conduct on the
part of Gen. o. O. Howard, late
commissioner of the Freedmen's
Bank. The sundry civil appropri,
alton bill was reported. 1t appropri.