The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-03-16
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.



senate.
BILLS INrRoDuCED:-An amendment to the
deficiency bill, appropriating $S5OOO Tor ex-
r,epses necessarily incurred by the Committee
On Elections in the investigation Of Southern
Appropriating 100000 for fire-proof
Abiding for National Museum.
"A bill, which is the copy Of the so-called
(,ompromise Texas Pacific bill, recently re-
ported to the House from the Pacific Railroad
Committee.
BILLS PAssED.-A substitute for the Senate
bill to secure the rights OF settlers upon GER
tain railroad lands and other purposes.
Removing the political disabilities of
Joseph Johnston Of Virginia.
For the publication of the new edition of
the revised statutes.
Appropriating $1,000 to pay the expenses
OF the Electoral Commission.
Appropriating $350,OOO to supply the de-
ficiency for public printing during the cur
rent fiscal year. It provides that from and
after the present sessions of Congress, the
Congressional Printer shall not pay over
fifty cents per thousand ems for composition
and forty cents per hour for time work, etc.
The House bill for the District of Columbia
for the year ending June, 1857 considered.
Various amendments by the District Com
mittee were agreed to-.
Discussion continued at great length, the
pending question being Kernan's amend
ment exempting from taxation property ac-
tually occupied and used for educational
purposes. Some opposed exempting relig-
iOus and educational institutiOns-from taxa,
ton, and others favored it. Hit amendment
was agreed to-thirty three to1nineteen, and
the bill passed-twenty-nin TO twelve.
House amendments to the Consular APP
preparation bill were concurred Land thebill
passed
RESOLUTIONS PAssEp:-Calling upon the
residanf N transmit N the Senate a ren6rt
of the expenditures of the Department. of
State from 1889 to 1876, and also expenditures
same period. ~
A concurrent resolution extending the
yme for the report of the Silver Commission.
e PETITION PREsENTED:-From the Illinois
Legislature for the amendment OF the pa
tent laws so as to secure to inventors ade-
quate compensation.
or the widow of Rear admiral Wilkes, that
her name be placed on the pension roll. \
MISCELLANEOUS. Early in the week the
Senate resumed consideration OF the Pacific
Railroad bill, creating Sinking Fund, etc.
Various amendments were introduced, one
to provide that the Central and Union Pacific
Companies each pay into the United States
Treasury three quarters OF million dollars
annually, in semi-annual installments, until
said sums shall be sufficient to pay oil and
extingush Government bonds advanced. AT
~
as to provide that Congress shall at all times
have the power to alter rs well as to repeal
the Act, and provided that the Act should be
construed AS final settlement between the
Government and the companies, If within
four morths after its passage 1t be accepted
/. by the companies, and provided said COM
panies shall faithfully comply with the
provisions of the Act, and shall not be In
default of any installments when due. 1t
was still further amended by allowing the
company to anticipate their semi-annua
ipayments discounted as the rate OF six per
cent IA thus amended the bill Is expected
to pass. c,
elect from South Carolina, signed by Gov
ernor Chamberlain, were read and filed.
house.
BILL INrRODUCED:-AuthOri the es-
Enlistment oil u Commission for scientific ex-
ploration of the northern States Of Mexico and
tersitory OF the United States adjoining the
same.
BILLS PAssED:-TO encourage American
European telegraphic competition.
The Senate bill for the relief Of certain
claimants under the donation land law OF Ore
gon.
Relating to indemnity school lands in Cali
fornia.
Removing the political disabilities OF
Joseph 4. Johnston.
The Speaker presented the Presidents
message vetong q bill for revision OF the
United States laws, Directing TO the section
which directs the Clerk of the House to Sc
lect one newspaper in each State and Ter
ritory in which all treaties and United states
laws rs may be ordered for publication shall be
published. The veto was sustained-2ll to l
and the bill was then reported back, with the
objectionable section eliminated, aud passed.
The Senate bill to ratify agreements with GER
tain bands Of Sioux Indians, also with north
ern bands Of Arrapahoes aud Cheyennes, was
amended, providing that nothing In the Act
should be construed as authorizing the sioux
indians to enter Indian Territory, ana SO
passed.
RESOLUTION OFFERED:-So amending the
rules Of the House that, pending the count
OF the Electoral vote, when the House Is not
engaged therein 1t shall, on assembling every
calendar day after recess from the day pre-
ceding, proceed ut noon with the business as
though the legislative day had expired by
adjournment.
|. The Senate resolution that each calendar
\day should be considered ~ a Legislative day,
sud the journal Of the day before should DC
SO dated.
the House . message from the President,
transmitting q memorial from the citizens
Of New York, asking for the passage OF = law
uuth0rising the proper Department 70 SET
apart suiicient ground ON either bediow or
Governors Island, in the Har60r OF New
York. ss Z ate for the statue Of Liberty en-.
tightening the World, which has been donated
70 the United States by the French people.
PETITION PREsENTRD:-Of the COLORADO
Legislature, asking Congress to authorize
coinage 1t the Mint ut Denver. In that STATE
ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND THE JOINT
SESSION or Boru HOUSES. Field offered The
following:
Ordered, that the counting Of the Electoral
vote from Florida shall not proceed In con.
formity with the decision Of the Electoral