The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-23

though taken at their nominal values
these properties aggregate some fifty
millions, yet at a fair appraisement
for the purposes of taxation it is not
believed that the amount would ex-
coed twelve or fifteen millions. The
suit on which the decisions was made
was brought under the act of 1872
taxing the gross receipts of railroad
cOmpanies.
THE SILVER BILL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-The sill
yer bill, with the Senate amend
ments. was returned to the House Of
Representatives Immediately after
the commencement of the session to-
day, and now lies upon the Speakers
table with other accumulated bust
ness, which has precedence. After
the reading of the journal the roll
was necessarily called upon a private
bill which came over from last Fri
days session, under an order for the
yeas and nays. The regular Mon
day call of States for bills and joint
resolutions was interrupted at 2
o'clock for the consideration of re-
ports from the Committee on the
District of Columbia, in accordance
with the standing rule of the House
which assigns the third Monday of
each month for that purpose. This
rule cannot be suspended without the
consent fthe committee. Therefore
there is no probability of any action
being taken on the silver bill to. day
but it may be reached to morrow by
a majority vote to set aside all pre-
viOus business on the Speakers table.
A conference of the friends of the
Silver bill will be held Immediately
upon the adjournment of the House
this afternoon to consider the bill in
its present form, and determine what
action should be taken with regard
to it.
A STORMY DAY IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 13.-The
House was turned into bear garden
during the greater part of oday's
session, and for sometime every
thing was confusion, and the excite
ment was worked up to fever heat.
1NLo r,nl, Of onp,,,,apool ,ritb N e., ~, =
lily quarrel among the Democrats, in
which! Mr.. Hewitt and Mr.. Aiken
were the principal actors. but it soon
branched off into a noisy and tumult-
u0us discussion of the Electoral con-
troversy, the Louisiana prosecutions
and various other political topics.
Mr.. Aiken is one of the Southern
Democrats who take great delight in
girding at Mr.. Hewitt, chiefly be-
cause of his intimate connection with
Tilden, and as Mr.. Hewitt is very
irritable it requires little to arouse
his temper. The West Point bill
was under discussion, and in reviv-
Ing the tilt VIII 'ch these two gentle
men and Mr.. House, of Tennessee,
had last week over Mr.. Aiken's talk
of selling the Military Academy, the
latter twitted Mr.. Hewitt as partly
responsible for the Democratic party
losing the Presidency. This started
the New York member off at fever
heat, and he reiterated the stale nom
sense concerning offers to sell the
Presidency, but could produce no
evidence beyond his own testimony
given before the Investigating Com
mittee last year. Mr.. Aiken turned
the batteries of his ridicule upon
Hewitt, and the Republican mem
hels hugely enjoyed the Democratic
family quarrel, one gentleman sug-
gcsted to the wordy warriors that it
was only eight miles to the Blad-
ensburg duelling ground. Laughter
and applause occasionally silenced
the voices of the speakers, and the
House being in Committee of the
whole, extraordinary license was
allowed. For a while the Republi.
cans had nothing to do but enjoy the
riot on the other side, but they soon
became involved in it, and Mr.. Gar
field made sharp speech, in which
he defended the compromises that
secured acquiescenc in the decision
of the Electoral Commission, and
denounced the prosecution of the
Louisiana Returning Board. Mr..
Foster retold the story of his appear
ing upon the floor as a soreof mouth
piece for Mr.. Hayes, and making
! certain guarantees to Southern men
last March. AS Hewitt had intima-
! ted i'm renlv to reflections unon Mr.