Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-02-03
The Week in Congress.

On Tuesday in the Senate a memOr
ial was presented from the Women
National Suffrage Association praying
Tor the establishment Uf women suffer
age in the District of Columbia. The
bill to provide tor the appointment Of d
com mission to investigate the alcoholic
liquor traffic was passed-ayes 81, nays
-. A DILL for the protection OF settlers
ON public lands Was introduced aud All.
vocated Oy several Western Senators,
but pending discussion the Senate went
into executive session.
In the House resolution was adopt
ed calling on the Secretary of War IOr
copies of the orders and instruction.
under which General MeigS is acting
during his absence from the country.
An adverse report from the banking
committee was preSeniei and adopted
on sundry bills rtpediius the ten pei
cent. tax Oh Dduks AMI Dau slng aSSocla'
tions. The morning hour having eX-
pired, the centennial appropriation bill
was called up, and number Of speech
Is were made for anu against il. Al
the conclusion of the general debate
Mr.. HOLMES moved as a test vote u
strike out the enacting clause of the
bill, but the motion was lost by a vote
of I0l ayes to l26 nays. One amend
ment, not materially affecting the bill,
was adopted, after which the bill was
put upon its passage, and it passed by a
vote of I46 ayes to 130 nays. The Vir-
ginia and West Virginia delegations
with the exception Of Mr.. StOwall,
Repu bIican, from the former state, J
voted solIdly against the bill.
In the Senate ON Wednesday. the
House bill in reference TO the payment
of the interest on the District $50 bonds
was reported with amendment. On
motion of Mr.. Dennis il Was ordered
that the papers in the case of the claims
of the State of Maryland against the
United States for arms and ordnance
furnished during The late war be with
drawn from the files of the Senate.
The bill for the protection of settlers on
public lands was taken up and further
discussed, motion to refer it to the
Judiciary committee having been with
drawn. Bills were passed transferring
the custody OF certain Indian trust
funds from the Secretary OF the Interior
to the United States Treasurer, and
amending the naturalization law.
The remainder of the business transact.
ell was unirnpOrtant.
In the House a number of bills of an
unimportant character were presented
and referred. The bill of Mr.. Clarke,
of Missouri, providing that all mailablt
matter of the third class not exceeding
four pounds in weight shall be charged
at the rate of one cent for each two
fr.f nfi
without division. The House then
took up the West Point appropriation
bill, which was opposed by Messrs.
Hale, of Maine, Huribut, of Illinois,
and Chittenden, Of New York. The
bill was advocated by Mr.. Hamilton,
OF New Jersey, who contended there
was large room for retrenchment.
Without action on the bill the House
adjourned.
tn the Senate Thursday letter was
presented from the chief clerk of the
Treasury Department covering state
ment of the system of accounts in the
Treasury, and also bill on the subject.
The House bill for the payment Of In
terest ON the three-sixty-tive bonds of
the District of Columbia was called up
and debated by Messr5. Morrill,, Dawes,
Sargent and Allison, the drift of the
discussion beiOg to the effect that the
District commissioners have misappre-
hended the law under which they were
created by increasing the debt of the
District far beyond the authority of
law, but in favor of providing for the
interest on the three SiXty-tive bonds.
The bill to protect the title of settlers
on the public lands included within
railroad grants Was slightly amended
and passed.
In the House Mr.. Knott made per-
sonal explanation, defending Nj.
Adams, the clerk, from remarks made
by Mr.. White rejecting on hiuI. A
DILL providing penalties for sending
abscene matter through the mails was
discussed, and finally committed to
the com:nittee on postoffices and post
roads. A bill was adopted prohibiting
officers and employees of the govern
ment, under penalty of discharge, from
acting rs counsel, attorney or agent, or
being interested in any form in prose-
cutting claimes or patents, application
for which was pending while they
were such clerks or employees. The
military academy appropriation bill
was further discussed, but no action
was taken.
In the Senate, on Friday, the Dis
trict of Columbia, bonds WAS called up
and discussed. Pending action on the
first message was received from the
House of Representatives announcing
the death of Mr.. Stark weather and its
action thereon. The Senate, as Il mark
fx,r k,.N # al
ed then adjourned until Monday.
In the House, lively debate was
held on the Military Academy approp-
ration bill and occupied nearly the
whole day.
In the llouss, On Saturday, there
Was Il slim attendance Of mem bers, and
the session Was devoted entirely to
speech making on the finances.
In the Senate on Monday, bills were
introduced: To exempt vessels navi-
eating the Mississippi river above New
Orleans trOm entrance and clearance;
to extend the jurisdiction Of the United
State Circuit and District Courts; tc
$1,000 for the removal of the
remains of Minister Wing from Ecu
dor, and Resolutions proposing consti-
tutional amendments providing Tor the
election of President, Vice President
and United States Senators by the peo-
pie, were referred.
In the House bills were introduced
To revise aud simplify the tariff 10 APP
ply portion OF the proceeds OF public
and to provide for the more
endowment and support OF
National colleges; organizing national
railway company for the constrction OF
IA double-trsck, cheap freight road from
the Atlantic 10 Chicago, st. Louis and
Council Blqffs, with branches.
The Secretary of the Treasury was
called upon for statement of the act
ual cash in the Treasury and depOsitar
les Oh the 25'h of January, specifying
iracIional currency, notes, COLA, etc.
y resolution was adOlted instructipg
the committee on Banking and Curren-
ry to inquire whether the Interests OF