Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-01
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
TUESDAY, February 1.

| resolutions OF the legislature OF Iowa, asking
the repeal of increased postage on third-class
mail matter. Referred to Committee on
| Post Offices.
| Also. joint resolution of the same legisla-
! ture asking the repeal of the two cent check
| stamp tax. Finance.
Mr.. Oglesby presented a memorial of citi-
| Zens OF Bloomington, H., asking the repeal
OF the so-called resumption act, sc. FL
| Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
] nance, reported adversely on bill authoriz-
| ing the payment OF import duties In legal
tenders and national bank notes.
Also, nom the same committee, favorably
| on House bill to extend the time for STAMP
| ing unstamped instruments. Passed.
:, MI. Hamilton, from Committee on Pub
| lie Lands reported adversely on memorials
| from legislature of Michigan and from
| various persons asking that 500 bounty in
money be given in lien OF the 100 acres OF
| public lands heretofore voted TO the soldiers
| TO such soldiers as are PHI ysically disabled
| nom taking up said land or to their widows
| ana heirs: The memorials were then, on
motion of Mr.. Christiancy, referred TO the
| Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Sherman, from Committee on FL
| nance, reported favorably the concurrent
| resolution proposing common unit of
money and accounts for the Unit; States
| States and Great Britain, with the reasons
therefor. Ordered to be printed and recon-
Mr.. Maxey, from Committee on Post
| Offices, reported bill to abolish certain post
| routes in Texas. Passed.
MIR. Edmunds, from Committee on Jude
| larry. reported favOrably bill to remove dis
| abilities of Dan1 I. Chandler, of Baltimore.
| Mr. Paddock introduced bill TO provide for
sale OF part of mellow reservation.
| Mr. Morrill, OF Maine, from Committee on
| Appropriations, reported, with amendments,
| the pension appropriation bill.
Mr. Jones OF Florida, introduced biuto
| proylde for The erection Of public buildings
! at Jacksonville, Florida. Referred to COM
| mlttee on Public Buildings aud Grounds
| Also, a bill to authorize the Secretary of
| War TO purchase for the United States GER
tan pieces OF land In Key West belonging
| mittee on Military Affairs.
MI: ingalls, rose TO a point OF order. He
! said that the bill in reference TO the rights
within railroad grants had passed the Sen
| ate several days ago. A member of the
House had come to him last night and in
| quired why this bill had not been sent to
/ that body. He (NIr. ~ had this morning in
| quired at the desk and been informed by the
clerk that the bill had been withheld at the
| request of Senator who had voted for the
| bill, but said that he might wish to recon
| slder. What he Mr.. ID desired to know was
Whether IT was proper for bill to be de-
| quest of an Individual s n8tor.
| The Chair said that the rules allowed any
senator voting in the majority on measure
| 10 move 10 reconsider within three DAYS
| thereafter, and be understood that il was
| Always the custom TO retain bill for this
length OF time If the request To that effect
! was made by Senator. The Chair wOuId
| however, submit the question to the Senate
The bill in question had now gone 10 the
| House. " VIZ
Mr.. Conklirg said if the bill was not now
| IN possession or The Senate, If IL had gone to
| the House, then IL was mere abstract cues
tlo on they were now considering.
! stract question. II was q very important
| question, and ought to be dispo Sed OF Ii IL
was IN the power OF any one Senator by
private request made atthe desk to detain a
Dill here three days after its passage then
| at the close of the session, when In the last
three days, some of the most important leg
! islation of the whole seSs ion was enacted. Il
| would be IN thepower ofoae man to block Il
| all.
Mr. Conkling explained why 1t was not
| suggested by Mr.. Ingalls, was ever likely 70
arise.
Some further discussion took place on ne
| subject, and MI. Sargent submittei a m -
| on Rules.
Mr., Morton differed with Mr.. Conkliag,
| and thought that the custom which N
| seemed prevailed in this matter was very
susceptible of abuse and Inconvenience
MI. Hamlin said this rule as TO the time
advised to move reconsideration, ant the
custom which had been alluded to IA: a.
ways existed, and he had never known any
injury TO result from il. He thought, In fact,
that IL would be verv wise thing, except IN
the last three days or the session, to provide
absolutely that every bill should be retained
a. least twenty.four hours after its passage.
The Senator who had made the request in
the present instance had done what had been
done thousand times.
The motion to refer to the Conmirtae m
Rules was then carried.
Mr.. Edmonds introduced a bill for the pro-
lection OF game and birds and in reference to
dogs IN the District of Columbia. Referrei
TO committee on District of Columbia.
The unfinished business being the bill in
reference TO the payment of the Interest on
TIE DISTRICT 3C5 BONDS,
Mr.. Bayard spoke OF the enormous debt
plied up IN THIS District, equal almost to a
national ma debt under ordinary circumstances.
This community, he said, was most re-
markable one. Probably in no other com
munity in the world was there such a great
proportion OF consumers and SO small pro
portion OF producers. He then proceeded to
oenounce the operations of "Shepherd and
his confederates," and said the contracts
were Joooed out without the least regard to
the character or responsibility OF the par
Ties, and at such prices that large amounts
were simply gratuities.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
reading OF yesterdays Journal occupied over
half an hour.
The Speaker laid before the House a large
number OF executive communications, which
were referred.
On motion of Mr.. Cox IN. W, the House
took up aud passed the Senate bill to relieve
Geo s; Hawkins, of Florida, Of his political
The Speaker then proceeded to call the
committees TO. reports OF a general nature.
Mr.. Phillips (Mo.l }, from the Committee ON
A-i', LSp'ttNt " pAil 10 amend tlo act for
the refer OF the heirs of James Armstrong,
deceased, approved March 80, 1879 Referred
to Committee of the Whole.
sir. Bradley (Mich.) }, from same commit
tee, reported bill for the relief of William
Nessle. Referred TO the Committee OF the
Whole.
Mr.. Pierce (Mass), from Committee on
Commerce, reported bill to grant an Amer
lean register TO the Hawaiian bark Arctic,
owned by Brewer Co., of Boston. The re-
port in this case shows that the vessel was
built at New Bedford in $780, and was en-
gagged In carrying supplies from Boston to
the whaling feet In the Pacific ocean. In
1868 she was in danger of capture by rebel
cruisers In the Pacific, and as O. matter OF
| self protection she sailed under the Ha waiian
| flag. and now her owners ask return to the
American flag.l
Mr.. Wood N.Y. said there was q ques-
ton OF considerable importance underlying
this bill He had often thought that the
cause OF the decline of American Commerce
was in consequence of the system pursued
by ship owners OF denaturalizins them
selves, because of fear of rebel cruisers and
sailing under foreign flags. 1t was this that
lost us the carrying trade, and now that the
danger Is past these owners want TO get again
the advantage OF sailing under the Ameri.