Omaha daily bee., 1877-11-14

cey L. Riley postmasteId III St' LOU
Mo.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr. Ingalls,, from the committee
on Indian affairs, reported, with
amendments, the Senate bill to en-
able Indians to become citizens OF
the United States. Placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Conover introduced q bill to
grant additional hOmesteads to set
tiers upon public lands in the states
OF Alabama, Mississippi, louisiana
and Florida. Referred.
AT the conclusion of the morn
Ing hour, Mr.. Msxey called UP
the resolution submitted by him a
few days ago, i%nstructing the com
mittee on military and naval affairs
to inquire into the expediency of
constructing a system OF defensive
works on the Rio Grande frontier of
the United States, and spoke at
length regarding raids from Mexico
into Texas and the necessity for
such defensive works.
MI. Window, from the commit
tee on appropriations, reported with
amendments the Eouse bill making
an appropriation for support of the
army, and it was placed on the Cal
endar.
The vice president laid before the
senate a communication from the
president enclosing the report Of the
secretary OF state in reply to the
senate resolutiotion of the 9Th inst.
in regard to ressu Of prisoners by an
armed band from Mexico from the
Jail in Starr county. Texas, In Au.
gust last. Referred.
HcUsE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Wright offered a resolution
instructing the committee on bank
ing and currency to inquire into the
proprlety OF amending the banking
laws as to require In the election of
directors the principle of cumula-
tive voting in States where such
laws may exist, and also as to the
propriety of amending such laws as
to limit the efficiency Of proxies of
two months. Referred
Mr.. Brogdan offered a resolution
instructing the judiciary committee
to inquire into facts of imprison-
ment of Robert Smalis, colored
member of the house, of South Car.
olina, and to report whether such
imprisonment is or is not a violation
OF constitutional privileges of the
house.
Mr. Butler offered IS a substitute
2 resolution giving the judiciary
committee power to send for persons
and papers in making investigation.
Adopted.
Mr.. Wood, chairman of the com
mittee o ways aud means, reported
back the resolution for final ad.
purnment Of Congress on the 22d
inst, at o'clock. He said he would
not cali for present action, bat
eallit up ia a day Oh two.
The House then resumed consid-
GRAFTON OF the. bill for the repeal OF
the resumption act
Mr.. keif-r offered an amendment
that no b ng ia the resumption act
shall be construed to authorize or
require the secretary of the treas
ury 10 retire or cancel legal tender
notes that may be redeemed on
and after the lst Of January, 1879,
Or may then be la the treasury
uncsncellei or that may az
forwards come into the treasury
otherwise than oy redemption, but
that such notes may be used IN pay
ment of all debts against the United
States or IN exchange for coin or bull,
liOp.
Mr. Desiring offered an amend
ment to postponed the year of re.
tn nption from 1879 to 1880. Also to
authOrizs the reissue OF legal tender
notes and to make them legal tend
er for all debts, public and private.
Mr.. Ward offered an amendment
that nothing IN the act shall affect
the payment Of debts due on the LIST
of January, 1879, in payment OF
wages or In debIs that may become
due after that for payment of wages
Of labor, buJ that such debts shall be
legally payable only ia such coin or
notes as shall be legal tender.