The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-10
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY
Senate.

o6uatcs
The bill amending the timber cultivation
laws was passed. It provides that every per-
son who plants, protects andkeeps in o healthy
growing condition for ten years ten acres Of
timber the trees thereon not being more thar
four feet apart each way, on any quarter sec
ton OF public lands, shall be entitled to patent
for q quarter section. IA resolution to inquire
whether Judge Whitaker, Of Louisiana, who
presided at the trial or General Anderson, 1s a
defaulter to the government was introduced by
Mr.. Howe and ordered to be printed. "a res
dent to furnish information regarding the
terms Of surrender Of the Cuban insurgents.
Laid over and the Senate then adjourned.
The Senate bill to form the Territory OF Lin
coin out Of Q part Of the Territories of Dakot :.
Wyoming and Montana was discussed and raid
aside. -. The Senate resumed consideration OF
the bill making appropriation for detecting
trespass on public lands and for bringing into
market public lands in certain States, and tor
other purposes, tho pending question being on
the amendment Of Mr.. Beck to that OF the
committee on appropriations, prohibiting the
use Of money to collect any charge TOR WOOD or
les of the United States for the use Of actual
settlers in the Territories, and not for export,
30 as to provide that the timber shall not be
exported from the Territory where it grew and
provided further, that in the event It shall be
exported from the Territory it shall be liable
to seizure by the United States authorities
wherever found. Secretary schurz was de-
nounced by Mr., Spencer, Of Alabama, and by
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, for ordering the seizure
of timber, and was defended by MIR. Matthews,
of Ohio. Adjourned without action.
The bill authorizing the employment OF tenn.
porary clerks in the treasury department, and
rrnr;I;rn for tho pr1niuhrnQ nf Of fimhQF land
trespassers, wal taken up and after long dis
ussio n, was passed. The Senate went into ex-
cutive session and then adjou ned.
The Consular and Diplomatic appropriation
bill was reported in the Senate, with amend
ments. :. Mr.. Wallace submitted an amend
ment to the bill to repeal the resumption act,
making greenbacks legal tender tor all debts,
public and private, and providing the exchange
Of six per cent. bonds, held by banking associa-
legal tender notes at par, and the cancellation
Of such bonds as part Of the sinking fund.-.
Mr.. Howe, Of Wisconsin, called up the resolu-
ton relating to the defalcation Of Judge Whit
taker, of Louisiana, and made q speech ar
raigning the policy Of tho Administration.
He spoke for three hours in criticism OF Presi-
dent Hayes policy of Cancellation toward the
South and the civil service practice OF the Ad-
ministration, charged that the President had
abandoned his duty toward Louisiana, and re-
viewed the political career of MIR. Schurz,
attacking that officer. After an executive ses-
sion the Senate adjourned.
House.
The bill regulating the advertising Of mail
lettings, was taken up. It provides that notices
shall be published in one or more papers in
each State interested, that proposals for mail
lettings will be received at q certain date, and
that all information pertaining thereto can be
obtained on application to the second assistant
postmaster-general. An amendment prohibit
ing the subletting Of mail contractsfwas adopt
ed, and the bill as amended was passed. The
deficiency appropriation bill was passed. Ad
journed.
A bill for the reorganization Of the life saw
ing service WAS reported from the committee
on commerce. The bill to establish a postal
savings depository as a branch OF the post
Office department was reported from the COM
mittee on post offices and post-roads and OF.
dered printed. The naval appropriation bill
was passed. It appropriates S14, 048,8 1854 for
naval purposes. Adjourned.
Mr.: Stephens, Of Georgia, chairman Of the
committee on coinage, reported q bill to amend
the laws on the subject Of coinage, to perfect
the double metallic standard, to provide for
issuing gold and silver bullion certificates, and
to retire certain silver coins now in use.. Or
dered printed and recommltted. 1T PROVIDES
that the coinage Of gold and silver bullion shall
be on an equal footing, prohibits the further
coinage Of twenty cent. five cent and three
cent pieces, makes the fractional silver coins
legal tender to the amount Of twenty dollars,
authorizes its redemption at the treasury in
sums Of 800 or over, and calls for the further
coinage Of trade dollors, exclusively for foreign
trade, limiting the amount to $3.50 900 q month.
....A bill was passed %pensioning the widow
and minor children Of Capt. Guthrie, and the
surfmen who were drowned In the Metropolis
disaster. Adjourned.
Bills we're introduced declaring it i~nexpedient
to change the tariff, to issue Post Office bonds,
to reorgauize the army, and other bills. Mr.;
~springer's motion to suspend the rules and
pass a bill authorizing free coinage Of silver
was lost, not receiving two-thirds Of the votes;
MIR. Goode, Of Virginia, moved to suspend
the rules and pass the bin s~uspending for Ave
years the operation Of the Sinking Fund act,
which requires the annual payment or purchase
Of one per cent. Of. the debt Of the United
States. Negatived-yeas, 1913; nays, 112; not
two-tbirds in the affirmative. Adjourned.