The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-28
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS

WAsHISGroN JAM 81, 1877.
Mr.. WRIGHT, (rep) OF Iowa, called up the Senate
bill to extend for years from the 10th Of March
next the act establishing the Board OF Commissioners
Of southern claims. In explanation OF the bill Mr..
Wright SAID that there we're large number OF cases
before the Commissioners In which testimony had
been taken and they were now awaiting adjudication.
Ii the time Of tho commission should be extended he
had doubt that all claims could DO disposed of.
In answer to a question OF Mr.. Thurman no said 1t
not proposed 10 allow any new claims to be filed;
the time of The commission only TO be extended to
adjudcate claims before it,
Mr. WRIGHT then submitted amendment provid-
ing that nothing IN the bill shall be so construed
extend the time for fling claims before said commits
son. or to enlarge its jurisdiction authorize the
fling Of new claims. Agreed to-
Mr. THURMAN, (dem.) Of Ohio, opposed any extension
Of the duration OF the commission. II hsd already
been in operation years, and should have disposed
oil all IT'S business by this time.
Mr. WRIGHT said the whole number Of claims filed
before the commission % $685. OF these H. aiO
yet undecided and In $50 of them evidence had been
taken.
Mr. JOHNSTON ldem.) OF Va, submitted amend
ment providing that no now evidence on the part of
the claimant shall be received and all cases in which
no evidence has been filed shall be stricken from the
docket. Rejected.
Tho bill was then read a third time and passed.
ELECTORAL BILL.
At twenty minutes alter eleven Mr. Adams, tho
Clerk OF the House oil Representatives, appeared the
bar vi the Senate with tho Electoral Count bill and
announced us passage by the House subsequently
second message received from the House
nouncing that the Speaker had signed the BILL and II
was presented TO the President of the Senate for his
signature. Mr. Ferry immediately signed IL, and 1t
was handed to the Committee on Enrolled bills TO DO
delivered TO the President of the United States.
PACIFIC RAILROAD AND INDIANS.
The morning hour having expired the CHAIR laid be-
fore the Senate The unfinished business, being the bill
reported By the Committee the Judiciary the last
session. create sinking fund for the liquidation of
Indebtedness duo the government by Pacific Railroad
companies.
on motion OF Nr. ALLISON, (rep) OF Iowa. the bill was
land aside informally, with the understand ing that
bill to ratiiy agreement with certain bands or
the Sioux nation OF lndians and also with the North.
Arrnpuboc and Cheyenne Indians, which dis
briefly and passed.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF the un1n-
ished business being The bill IN regard to Pacific
Railroad sinking lund.
Mr. THURMAN called for a reading Of the bill and
the report oil the committee, ana SAID he under.
s.ood the chairman OF the Committee 90 Railroads
lr West would submit as q substitute for the bill re.
ported by the judiciary Committee that reported by
the Committee on Railroads, both bills being Tor the
creation OF sinking fund, nut differing details.
Mr.. WEsr, trcp.l OF La said as the bill and
report oil the judiciary Committee should be read he
would call the reading OF the bill and report the
Committee Railroads, that both bills might be before
the Senate ut the same time.
The bill Of tho judiciary Committee having been
read Mr. Thurman said he would not press tho matter
further to-day.
The Senate then, al twenty minutes past one. went
into executive session, and when the doors were
opened adjourned.