The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-03-18
Congressional Proceedings.

fS'fsSet eh"outtieo VI Ocus Cauuet coop
or, Of Va, was passed. After the trans
action Of some unimportant business the
Senate adjourned until Monday.
In the House Mr.. Cox offered a resolu.
ton reciting discrepancies in the state.
ments Of coin aud bullion In the treasury
for the past two months, and directing The
committee on ways aud means to ascertain
the cause Of these fluctuations, and Il need
be make an examination. Of the books Of
the treasury. Speeches on the financial
question were made in committee Of the
whole by Messrs. Philips, Hoskins and
Willis. Mr.. Bass, n member of the com.
mittee on war expenditures, made a per.
sonal explanation, in which he stated,
among other things, that he had protested
in committee against the discharge of the
witness Marsh, but was overruled by Mr..
Clymer, chairman of the committee.
Messrs. Clymer and Blackburn, in reply
declared that Mr.. Bass did not make OBJ.
lection to the discharge of Marsh.
SATURDAY.-The Senate was not in
session.
The House, at an early hour, resolved
itself into committe of the whole, and
speeches on the financial question were
made by several members. Mr.. Townsend
spoke against the legislative appropriation
bill, and was replied to by Mr.. Randall,
chairman Of tho appropriation committee.
MoNDAY.-In the Senate, an adverse
report was made on House bill for the re-
lief Of the trustees Of Antietam Cemetery.
A bill was introduced to remove from the
streets of Washington city the tracks Of
all railroads using steam power. The bill
to provide for and regulate the counting
of the electoral votes for President aud
Vice-President was taken up, the question
being on the amendment Of the twenty.
second rule. Speeches were made BY
Messrs. Morton, Bayard, Whyte, Thur
man, and others, when without action, the
Senate adjourned
In the House, resolution was adopted
calling upon the Secretary Of the Treasury
for list Of internal revenue collectors
who are indebted to the government, with
their names, etc. Mr.. Baker, of Indiana,
offered an anti.State rights resolution, con i.
Guiding with the. declaration that the late
war for the dismemberment of the Union
was causeless and indefensible, and moved
that the rules be suspended and the reso-
luton passed. The House refused to sus-
pend the rules, ayes 81, nays ", two
thirds not voting in the affirmative. Mr..
Cox then offered series Of resolutions to
the effect that the people Of the United
States constitute nation to the extent and
for the purposes defined in the federal
constitution that the rights and powers
OF the United States government are de-
fined, limited by the federal constitution,
and cannot be enlarged or diminished
except by an amendment Of the constitu.
ton; that the rights of the States have the
same sanction and security in the consti.
tuition as those Of the federal government;
that local domestic government by the
several States is absolutely necessary for
the liberty Of the citizens and the contin-
uance Of republican government, and that
the doctrine Of secession is in conflict with
the constitution, and was forever extin.
guished by the result Of the late war. The
resolutions were adopted by vote Of ayes
$50, nays AZ.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate, the bill
reducing the salary Of the President of
the United States to $4,000 was passed
by vote of 26 yeas to go nays. Mr..
Christiancy entered motion to reconsider
the vote, but declined to press it. The
vote on the adoption of the bill was not
strict party vote, a majority Of those voting
in. the affirmative being Republicans.
In the House the bill to transfer the
Indian bureau to the War Department was
made the special order for two weeks from
Thursday next. Mr.. Glover, from the
committee on the District real estate pool,
submitted report concerning the refusal
of Hallett kilbourne to answer certain
questions, and offered 4 resolution, which
was adopted, directing the sergeant .at-arms
to arrest him and bring him before the
bar Of the House. The sergeant-at-arms
afterwards appeared with the recusant
witness, who submitted a written argu-
ment, after which, still declining to answer
the questions Of the committee, he was
recommitted to the custody of the sergant-
alarms, to be kept in the common jail Of
the District Of Columbia until he shall
purge himself.
WEDSEsDAY.--In the Senate, on mo
ton Of Mr.. Sargent, Of California, the
Secretary Of the Treasury was requested
to furnish the report of Special Agent
Morris upon the Territory Of Alaska, and
the collection Of customs therein. Mr..
Allison, Of Iowa, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs, reported bill providing
for an agreement with the Sioux Indians
in regard to portion of their reservation,
etc.
In the House, Mr. Lapham presented
resolutions Of the New York Legislature
against railroad and other subsidies. Mr..
Faulkner, Of west Va. offered resolution
instructing the Committee on Foreign
Affairs to inquire into the powers conferred
on A, b. Steinberger as Special Agent
or Commissioner to the Samoan Islands
The Legislative Appropriation bill was
considered in Committee of the Whole.
THURsDAY.--In the Senate resolution
was adopted calling on the Secretary Of
the Treasury for statement Of the annual
product Of gold and silver in the United
States from lS45 to 1875, and the actual
amount of gold coin in the treasury after
deductiug the demands thereon. The bill
to regulate the counting Of the vote for
President and Vice President was further
discussed, after which the Senate adjourn
ed until Monday.
In the House resolution was adopted
calling on the Attorney General for all
papers, &C., asking for the removal Of
Judge Bedford, Of Colorado, and asking
for the appointment Of Judge Stone 10 his
place, The bill making an appropriation
Of sl63, 600 for deficiency In the bureau
Of engraving and printing, aud to provide
for the issue Of silver coins, was discussed
at length without action. rt,
New Mexico.
The action Of the Senate in passing tho