The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
FORTY-FoURTH CONGRESS
WAsHINeToS, February IA.
SENATE.

BEN -
A joint resolution of the Minnesota
legislature asking An appropriation for
the improvement Of the Red River Of
the North was referred.
The bill appropriating $3.50. 900 for g
fire proof building for the National Mu.
scum was placed on the calendar.
The petition OF the widow OF Rear Ad-
miral Wilkes, praying that her name
may be placed on the pension role, was
referred.
A bill removing the political dlssbili-
ties Of Joseph z. johnson, OF Virginia.
was passed.
A bill providing for the preparation
and publication OF new edition OF the
revised statutes of the United States was
passed.
Mr.. Conkling asked that the bill to
provide for the distribution Of awards
made under the convention between the
United States and Mexico be passed now,
but objection was made BY Mr.. Spencer,
who had q telegram from q constituent
saying that there was fraud IN the matter
and was now on his way to Washington.
Consideration was resumed OF the bill
To amend the Pacific Railroad acts.
Mr.. Dorsey introduced bill amends
tory of and supplemental TO the act Of
March 3, 1871, to incorporate the Texas
Pacific railroad, and the act Of July u.
1866, granting lands 10 aid In the con-
struction of railroad and telegraph line
from the States of Missouri and Arksn-
sas TO the Pacific ocean. Referred.
The bill is copy Of the so called COM
promise Texas Pacific bill recently re.
ported to the House of Representatives
by Mr.. Lamar from the Committee on
Pacific Railroads.
The Senate then resumed the consider
alton of the unfinished business, il being
the bill to amend the Pacific Railroad
Acts SO as 10 create q sinking fund Tor
the liquidation of Indebtedness due the
government by the Pacific Railroad
Company.
Mr. Boutwell, withdrew the amend
ment submitted BY him several days ago
TO the bill Of the Railroad Committee,
providing that payments of $3.50, 900 per
annum TO be made by the railroad com.
panles 10 the credi, OF the sinking fund
shs. DO in addition TO all the pay.
meuts or requirements from the COM
psnies uni Ter the original acts. instead OF
in lieu OF sll the payments or require
mene under those scts.
Mr.. Booth renewed the amendment.
He also submitted an amendment TO the
second sectien of the bill Of the Railroad
Committees so rs TO provide that the
Central Pacific and Union Pacific Com.
panies shall each pay into the treasury Of
the United States $4,000 per snnum,
in equal semi-annusl instalments, on the
first day Of April and October
in each year, commencing on the hrst
of October, 1877, in lawful money until
said sums with the interest thereon ss
heretofore provided shall be sufficient
when added 10 the credit OF the siI king
fund, TO pay and extinguish the govern
ment boLds advanced with six per
cent thereon from their respective dates
When they are so paid and extinguished
the interest on all sums placed " the
credit Of said sinking fund shall be added
thereto semi-snnuslly at the rate oil
per cent per snnum, pro-
vded, however, that il the iUre-
going provision shall prove IL.
sufficient TO eItinguish tho government
bonds and the interest thereon at ma
turity the seni.ann nusi payment shall be
increased 10 such sum as will be sufficient
for that purpose.
he also moved 10 strike out the fifth
section of the bill reported by the Com
mittee on Railroads, which provides that
each of the said companies shall be en-
titled at any time 10 anticipate sny or
all OF the semi-snnusi payments, DIS
counted at the rate OF six per cent. per
snnum, but the sum so paid shall not be
less than sl0,O0O,OOO at any any one
time. He also submitted an additional
section ofthe bill, providing that Con-
gress shall have the power At any time
70 amend or repeal the act.
Mr.. Harvey submitted an amendment
providing that nothing in any Of the
Pacific rsidroad arts should be construed
90 as 10 exempt from taxation, BY the
State authority, lands which the CON-
panies have earned by the construction
of their roads.
The question being on the amendment
Of Mr.. Booth, providing that the $780,
600 70 be paid by the companies " the
credit Of the sinking fund shall be in ad-
di,ion 10 other pay menr, instead Of in
lieu Of other payments and requirements.
Agred TO by % 70 20.
Pending discussion the Senate went
into executive session. When the doors
were re-opened the railroad bill was laid
aside with the understanding that IL
should be unfinished business to-sOrrow
The Senate bill approprisiing $4,000
TO pay the expenses Of the Electoral
Commission passed.
Mr.. Sargent, from the Conference
COMMITTEES on bill sppropristing $3.50,
900 10 supply the deficiency in the sp
preparation ftr public printing and bind
ing during the current fscal year, made
a report which wss sgreed ~ and the
bill passed. Ii provides that
from and after the present s1stion Of
Congress the CoogressIOn.i prIntsr shall
no, oay . price exceeding 50 cents per
1909 ems for conpOsiIlon and ~ cenis
an hour Tor time work 10 binding. g..
Mr.. Window, from the Comm htes on
Approprla,ions, reported back the legs-
IAiive Judicial and executive apprOpris-
ton bill with sandry amendments. Placed
OF the calendar.
Recess till IoA. n. tomorrow.