Connecticut western news., 1878-02-14
Our Weekly News Summary.
 1INTTEn STATTa rnNf,prco
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
SENATE.


 SENATE.
 Petitions were presented for and re- monstrances against the passage of the Silver Bill in large numbers. Petitions were presented both for and against the passage of the tariff bill.
 MT. Cameron (Rep., Pa. had read petition of manufacturers of Pennsyl- vania favoring the creation of Depart ment of industry, the head thereof to be a Cabinet officer, with bureaus of agri- culture, manufactures, and commerce. They also remonstrate against changes in present tariff duties.
 MT. Eaton Oem., Conn had read resolutions of the Connecticut Legisla- ture condemning any attempt to post pone the resumption of specie payment, and remonstrating against the passage of the Bland Silver Bill.
 MT. Beck Dem Ky.) submitted an amendment to the Silver Bill, providing that hereafter all silver half dollars and smaller change shall contain the same amount relatively of pure silver as the dollar.
 MT. Teller (Rep., Col submitted the following amendment to the Silver Bill :: That the holders of silver bullion may deposit with the Treasury, or any Assls- tant Treasurer of the United States, such silver bullion in amounts not less than 1000 ounces of 900 fine, and receive therefore certificates of not less than $lOO each, computing dollar of 4124 grains. The bullion so received may be coined by the Government of the United States, or retained in the treasury for the payment of such certificates on pre- sentatlon at the treasury where issued. II. the bullion so deposited shall be coined by the Government, such certain certii- cates shall be paid in bullion of like standard fneness and weight, or in coined dollars, or part in bullion and part in coin, at the option of the Govern ment. The bullion so received shall not be included in the amount of silver to be coined, each month under the provisions of the first section of this act. Such cer tificates shall not be legal tender for the payment of any debts whatever.
 ne The chaplain, in his opening prayer, said {" o God, the silver and the gold are Thine, and the cattle upon thousand hills Suffer not, we beseech thee, God of our fathers, this, our nation, to lan- guish before Thee.'
 A large number of petitions, remon- strating against changes in the Tariff, and asking the appointment of 8 com mission to inquire into the alcoholic liquor traffic, were presented.
 The bill to remit taxation on insolvent savings banks was passed by the Senate
 A resolution authorizing the President to appoint eighteen additional Paris Elk position Commissioners, at $1 200 each per annum, was presented and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
 Bills were introduced and referred for a constitutional amendment providing for the election of President by direct vote of the people directing the Ses- retary of the Treasury to make all bonds hereafter sold by the Government paya- ble, principle and interest, in gold, silver or legsI tender notes; and resolution of the Minnesota Legislature, asking fol an extension of time for the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
 MT. MacMahon Dem., O. moved to suspend the rules and adopt resolutions instructing the Committee of Ways and Means to report bill at the earliest practicable moment imposing a gradu- ated tax on the excess of incomes above @ reasonable minimum to be fixed by law. Defeated 165; nays, 88 less than two-thirds in the affirmative.
 MT. Hewett Dem., N. Y.) presented two petitions, one from New York and one from Boston, asking Congress to help relieve the famine in China. He said that there were now in China g. COG, 900 of people in state of starvation, and their children were daily sold fol food. He understood that the balance of the Chinese indemnity fund now in the State Department amounted to over { million dollars. To this money the peo pie of this country had no just claim, ,anc it should have been returned to Chint long ago. It should now be returned without condition in the most gracious and efficacious manner possible. Mir Cox (Dem., N. Y. said that he was sat isf1ed beyond doubt that the United States had no right whatever to the fund He knew it was the duty of Congress tc alleviate sufferings at home, but he would bespeak in advance the favor of tht House for bill returning the money tc China. MT. Wright Dem. Pa. ): If we ar, indebted to the Chinese Government, i is our duty to pay that debt. But I fint that plea is made for national and in dividua1 contributions in aid of the suf fering people of China. To that I ob ject. These memor1alists say that ther, is famine in China. say that we hay, 8 famine in this country. We have a this moment 2,000,00O of men out o employment, and if there is any indi vidual or national charity to be bestowe, we ought to look first to our own house hold. Business IS destroyed, and abso lute want stalks through the land. Ther IS not gentleman on this floor wh does not see it every day. Let me asl this House whether 1t expects to adiourl without doing something for the allevia tion of the suffering of the people o this land. Members dare not return t their districts without having at leas made an effort to do something. Tn memorials were referred to the Commit tee on Foreign Affairs.
 The resolution reported by a maiorit of the Committee on Elections, declarin Wiggington, the contestant, from Cal fornia, entitled to the seat, was adopte Yeas, 136; nays, 125; and he WE sworn i'll.
 MT. Bright Oem., Tenn. reported bill appropriating $132, ,617 for the pa, ment of claims allowed by the accoun ing officers of the Treasury. Passed.
 Mir. Harris (Dem., Va. ), from the Con mittee on Elections, reported in tl Louisiana contested election case tn, MT. Darrall, the sitting member, was nc entitled to the seat, and that Joseph F Acklin, the contestant, was entitled to
 Henry Clews the noted banker , New York was kidnapped from his offic by aChatauqua county sheriff and save by writ of habeas corpus after the trai