The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

etc, were presented in the Senate asking for aid
in the construction of the Texas Pacific Railroad,
as also were various petitions of citizens OF Wis
consin asking for an appropriation in behalf of
the Wisconsin and Fox River improvement. The
report of the Committee of the Alabama Legisla-
ture, and the testimony taken by the Committee
in regard to the election of George Z. Spencer
United States Senator, were presented and re-
ferrcd bill was introduced to establish mint
for the coinage of gold and silver at Indianapolis
On motion of Mr.. Morton the papers purporting to
be the credentials of Mr.. Eustis, of Louisiana,
were referred to the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. The resolution providing for an in
vestigation of the books and accounts of the
Treasury Department was taken up, and Mr..
Davis spoke in reply to the remarks of Mr.. Bout
well on the subject, after which the resolution
amended 80 as TO refer the matter to the
Finance Committee, and the resolution
amended was passed. The bill TO provide for Il
commission on the subject of the traffic in alco-
hoiic liquors was debated. A large number of
bills were introduced in the House. the more
important Of which were the following: To
fund the legal-tender debt of the United
States; to provide for the cheap transportation
of freight between the Atlantic and the Ohio
and Mississippi Valleys; preparatory to the
redemption of United States notes and the re-
| sumption of specie payments; to provide means
of cheap transportation on the interior waters.
A resolution was adopted directing the Secreta y
of the Treasury to report to the House the amount
of specie in the Treasury on The 31st of December,
1873 and the amount of silver purchased under
the provisions Of the act of Jan. IA, 1875 provd-
ing for the resumption of specie payments.
Resolutions were adopted-iDstructing the Com
mittee on Civil Service Reform to inquire into
any abuses or frauds which may exist in the ad-
ministration and execution of existing laws af-
feeling any branch of the public service instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee to inquire whether
improper and fraudulent means were resorted to
to influence legislation on the Texas Pacific Rail
road bill of March 3, 1871.
On TIE 2jth petition was presented in the
Senate signed by large number of ladies, asking
for the establishment of a government in the
District of Columbia which will confer upon
women the right to vote. The bill to provide for
the appointment Of a commission on the subject
of the manufacture of and traffic in alcoholic and
fermented liquors was amended and passed. A
petition was presented from citizens of Wiscon-
sin, asking an amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States for the abolition of the Senate,
and transfer OF the powers of that body to the
House of Representatives. "A bill was passed
in the House providing that, except in case OF
permanent specific disability, no increase of
pension shall be allowed to commence prior to
the date of the Examining Surgeons certificate,
and repeating the law which makes bounty land
warrants personal property. The Centennial Ap-
preparation bill was taken up in Committee OF
the Whole, and, after debate and the adoption Of
an amendment requiring The pay ment in full to
the Treasury OF any balance that may be left in
The hands of the Finance Committee before any
dividends or percentage of profits be paid TO
stockholders, was reported to the House and
passed-yeas 1i6, pays 100.
On the 26th the Senate passed the House
bills transferring the custody of certain Indian
trust funds from the Secretary of the Interior
to the Treasurer of the United States, and
amendatory OF the Revised Statutes relating to
naturalization. A memorial in behalf OF Mr..
Eustis claiming the Senatorship from Louisiana,
and signed bv several members of the Senate of
that State was presented and referred to the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections. The House
Centennial bill was referred to the Committee
on Appropriations. Bills we're passed in the
Housc-prohibiting clerks or employees IN any
department of the Government prosecuting
claims or applications for patents; to amend
Sec. 4,sss of the Revised Statutes in relation to
the assignment of patents; providing that all
thrd-class matter may be carried in the mails in
each at the rate of one cent for every two ounces
or fraction thereof. The Military Academy APP
preparation bill ($si,24D was considered in
Committee of the Whole.
ON the 27th, in the Senate, Mr.. Bout
well presented a report prepared by the CHIEF
Clerk of the Treasury Department, and submit
ted to the Secretary in December, 1872 in reg, rd
to erroneous practices In accounting in the
Treasury, which have grown up in usage, or
have been authorized by law, and moved to
have it printed, which was agreed to. bill was
passed-H to 9-to confirm prc-emption and
homestead entries OF public lands within the
| limits Of railroad grants in cases where such
entries ad been made under the regulations OF
the Land Department. In the House bill was
passed prohibiting Government officers, clerks or
employees acting as counsel, attorneys or agents,
or being inter- csted in any form for prosecuting
either claims or pat nts, application for which
| was pending while they were such clerks or en-
ployes; also that any Government officer recog-
nizing such person in any such application shall
be ischarged from service. The Military Acad-
emy Appropriation bill wasfurther considered In
| Committee of the Whole.
ON the 18th memorial of the Legislative A.
sembly Of New Mexico, asking for the passage OF
an act to admit that Territory into the Union a.
State, on an equal footing with the other States,
] was presented In the Senate. majority report