Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.


At twelve o'clock the Senate was called to
order and the Vice-President said the Senate
was now in regular So ssion under the require
ments of the constitution.
The Vice-President presented the annual re-
port of the secretary of war. Soon sfterward
the private secretary of the President delivered
the annual message and it was immediately
read by tn secretary. Then the Vice-President
laid before the Senate the reports of the secre-
talY of the interior, secretary of the treasury
postmaster-general, encouragement. etc
A bill was introduced by MIR. Dorsey, to or
ganize the territory Of Tishmingo, and for
other purposes.
Mr. Matthews introduced resolution de-
clarng that United States bonds may be paid
in silver coin. and at his request it was ordered
to be laid on the table,
The resolution of inquiry as to what legal
impediments exist which prevent the President
from executing the laws in regard to the Union
Pacific railroad company was adopted.
The House bill for the relief of the sufferers
by the wreck of the Huron WAC passed with an
amendment providing for the payment to the
heirs of those lost on the Huron IL months
sea pay ; to the heirs of Capt Guthrie, of the
lifesaving service, one years salary, and to
the heirs of those of the B. & ]. Bakers crew,
who were lost in attempting to save life, 300
each.
The House concurred in the Senate resolu-
ton declaring it to be the Judgment Of the two
Houses that the special session expired at IL NJ.
The SPEAKER called the House to order, and
the regular session of the forty-ffth Congress
was opened with prayer by the chaplain, after
| which the roll was called and showed the pres
| ence of 221 members. The Presidents NESS
age was then received, read and referrt d to the
committee of the whole on the State of the
! Union.
Mr.. Baker, of Indiana, presented joint reso-
luton, prohibiting the payment of any claims
for damages growing out of the taking, use or
destruction of property during the civil war.
The bill which strikes from the statute books
the law prescribing the taking Of the " cast
iron oath was passed.
Mr.. Har zel of Illinois, presented bill sub
ituing greenbacks for the issue of the Ma
,ional Banking Association.
MIR. Dibrell, of Tennessee, presented bill
providing for tax of three per cent, on all
amounts of income over $4,000.
Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois, from the COM
mittee on patents, reported a bill to repeal ex-
listing statutes for the renewal of patents, and
declaring it unlawful hereafter for the commits
sloner OF patents to renew or extend any patent
for any design whatever. He said that the OBJ
ject Of the bill was to take away from the statute
book law that was dead and imperative, the
commissioner of patents not having now the
right to make renewals. After some discussion
the bill was passed.
Mr.. Harrison, of Illinois, introduced a bill
that proposes to levy upon the incomes of oil
United States citizens which may be over 81 ,0OC
and under So 600 annually, tax of one pei
cent. ever ~, 600 and under 81, 000 one and q
quarter per cent; and a graduating scale up tc
and including 1913, 900 over $2S, 600 and under
$50, O00 a tax of three per cent. over 1856, 00(
and under $50, 900, four per cent and five pei
cent on all incomes in excess of $500 Re-
ferred to the ways and means committee.
Two resolutions were offered making in
quries in regard to the Cuban instruction, but
were objected to.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, chairman Of the
election committee, submitted the majority re
port in the Colorado contested election case
declaring 7. N Patterson (Democrat) elected
Mr.. Wait, of Connecticut, submitted minority
report declaring J. b. Bedford (Republican
elected and Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, presented
third report declaring that no election in Col
orado had taken place.
The Senate amendments to the bill for thu
relief of the sufferers by the loss Of the Huron
were concurred in and the bill passed.