The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-12-12
CONGRESS...EXTRA SESSION.


Mr.. Thurman argued against the bill to en-:
able Indians to become citizens Of the United
States. He said there was nothing in our laws
now to exclude an Indian from becoming nat
uralized, the word "white" having been
stricken from the constitution: Messrs: Conk-
ling, Maxey, Christiancy, Beck and Coke also
we're opposed to some Of the provisions Of the
bill and suggested that more time be given for
it's consideration.
Messrs. Davis, Beck, Allison, Ingalls,. and
Cameron we're appointed q special committee to
examine the books and accounts Of the treasury
department in regard to alleged discrepancies.
The House joint resolution in regard to the
Paris exposition was referred to the committee
on appropriations.
committee on privileges and elections from
further consideration Of the credentials OF MIR.
G.. Butler, claiming to be q Senator from South
Carolina. was taken up and discussed. MIR.
Hoar moved to lay the resolution on the table,
but before q vote could be taken MIR. Thurman
moved that the Senate go into executive ses-
sion, which was carried by. q vote Of 80 to 20.
MI. Hoar's motion to lay on the table the re-
solution to discharge the committee on privi-
ton Of the Butler credentials was defeated by
q vote Of 80 10 80, Mr.. Davis Independently
and Messrs. Conover and Patterson (Republi-
cans) voting With the Democrats in the mega
tive. The question then being on the adoption
Of the resolution. Mr.. Edmunds moved to 30
amend it as to discharge the committee from
the further consideration Of the credentials of
W. P. Kellogg, Of Louisiana, instead OF MI. @:
Butler, ofSouth Carolina and this amendment
was also lost by q vote Of 80 to 81, MIR. Conover
not voting and Mr.. Patterson voting with the
Democrats. Mr.. Conkling then moved that
the committee on privileges and elections be
directed to report in the Kellogg and Spoford
case and that the South Carolina case be post
poned, which was lost by yeas, 80 :; nays, 50.
Mr.. Edmunds' amendment to discharge the
committee from further consideration Of the
credentials of Messrs. Kellogg, Spofford But
Ter and Corbin was rejected by the same vote.
A motion by Mr.. Edmundsi that the Senate
adjourn resulted in a tie vote, MIR. Conover vot-
Ing with the Republicans in the affirmative
the Vice-President also voting that way, the
motion was carried by q vote Of 50 to 81.
House of Representatives.
The Paris exposition bill was passed after
further debate by q vote Of 199 to 1874. The
bill appropriates $3.50, 900 for expenses and
the President is authorized to appoint a COM
missioner general to represent the United
States and twenty additional commissioners
no two Of whom shall be appointed from one
State-thatth three Of such commissioners shall
be practical a~rtizans, three shall be skilled rep
resentatives Of and manufactures,
four shall be practical agriculturalists and nine
shall be scientific experts.
The deficiency Appropriation blu was taken
was agreed to, appropriating. s17,5 500 for CON
tinuing the work Of propagating and distribute
ing shad and other food fishes.
The deficiency bill was passed by the House
after which MIR. Ewing made q speech In favor
Of the bill to repeal the resumption act.
A vote was taken on the fourteen different
amendments to the anti-resumption bill. MIR.
Forts amendment repeating all that part Of
the resumption act which authorized the secre-
bonds and to redeem and cancel the greenback
currency was agreed to. All the other amend.
ments were defeated by large msjorities ex-
cepting Mr.. Wards amendment to add a new
section to the bill providing that debts for
wages shall be payable only in coin or in legal
tender notes, which w%aslost by yeas, 1927 nays,
1923. The speaker then announced that the
next vote would be on the bill amended, that
is, Mr.. Forts substitute for it. The vote re-
suited in yeas, 1873 nays, 100. The following
is the text Of the bill as passed:
A bill to repeal all that part OF the act ap-
proved Jan. "A, 1875, known as the resumption
act, which authorized the secretary Of the treas
ury to dispose OF United States bonds and re-
deem and cancel the greenback currency.
That all that portion Of the act approved Jan.
IA, 1875. entitled San act to provide for the
resumption Of specie payments" which reads
as follows, to wit: "And whenever and so
often as circulating notes shall be issued to
such banking association, 80 increasing it's cap
ital or circulating notes, or 30 newly organized
as aforesaid, it shall be the duty Of the secre.
tary Of the treasury to redeem the legal tender
United States notes in excess only of $500, 0OO,-
600, to the amount of 80 per centum Of the sum
Of national bank notes 30 issued to any such
banking association as aforesaid, and to con-
tinue snch redemption as such circulating
notes are issued until there shall be outstand-
ing the sum Of $500, 000, 900 Of such legaltender
United States notes, and no more and. on and
after the LIST day Of January, A. D. 1879, the
secretary Of the treasury shall redeem in coin
the United States legal tender notes then out
standing on their presentation for redemption
at the Office of the assistant treasurer Of the
United States, in the city Of New York, in sums
Of not less than $50 and, to enable the secre-
tary Of the treasury to prepare and provide for
the redemption in this act authorized or re-
quired, he is authorized to use any surplus
revenues from time to time in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated, and to issue, sell, and
dispose of, at not less than par, in coin, either
Of the descriptions Of bonds Of the United
States described in the act Of Congress, up.
proved July IA, 1870, entitled an act to
authorize the refunding Of the national debt
with like qualities, privileges, and exemptions,
to the extent necessary to carry this. act into
full effect, and to use the proceeds thereof for
the purposes aforesaid" be and the same is
hereby repealed.