The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-27
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

lieved that 200, 900 Moslem volunteers to serve
against Russia could be raised without diff
Guilty. So -
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
SENATE.
Petitions opposing the transfer of tho life
saving stations to the navy department. were
presented in the Senate by Messrs. ConkHng,
Anthony, Blaine and Withers. ia favorable
report was made by the committee on military
affairs on the resolution authorizing the restor-
alton of ex-Surgeon-G General Hammond to the
army retired List. . . Mr. Beck's resolution de-
for the ss7, 900, 600 de4anded for the sinking
fund was discussed. chiefly by Mr.. Beck, who
desired it's passage, and was referred to the
finance committee. Adjourned.
Petitions demonstrating against the passage
Of the bill transferring the control Of the life
saving service from the treasury to the navy
department, and against the passage Of any
bill levying tax on income were presented. -.
The Senate resumed consideration Of the bill
to authorize a long bond forthe investment Of
savings. An amendment by Mr.. Blaine, max
ing the rate Of interest four per cent. instead
Of 3.65, was agreed to after which the bill WAS
passed. The bill, as passed, provides that In
lieu of that amount Of four per centum bonds
authorized to be issued by the act Of July IA,
1870, the secretary Of the treasury shall issue q
sum not exceeding 800, 000,0 600 Of coupon
bonds Of the denominations Of $25, $50, and
s100, redeemable in coin fifty years from the
~semi-annually, lat the rate Of four per centum
per annum. The bonds are to be disposed Of
for coin, or for United States legal tender
notes at their nominal value, and such legal
tender notes shall be reissued, and their pro-
ceeds and the coin received for such bonds
shall be applied to ther redemption Of outstand-
ing bonds of the United States which are re-
deemable and bear the highest rate Of interest
Of such bonds. Adjourned.
The Senate resumed consideration Of ths
Joint resolution relative to Chinese immigra-
ton, which requests the President Of the
United States to open correspondence immedi-
ately with the governments Of China and Great
Britain, With ayiew Of securing q change Of
abrogation Of all stipulations in existing
treaties which permit the unlimited immigra-
ton Of Chinese to the United States. MIR. Sar-
gent, Of California, spoke in favor Of the reso-
luton, after which it was laid on the table in
order to give his colleague, MIR. Booth, an op-
portunity to speak in regard thereto. Ad-
journed.
A large number Of petitions demonstrating
against the transfer Of the control Of the life
saving service from the treasury to the navy
department, protesting against the passage OF
any bill to impose q tax on incomes, and urg-
ing the appointment Of commission to inquire
into the alcoholic liquor traffic were presented.
go. The House bill making appropriations for.
the West Point military academy was reported.
Mr.. Conkling, from the committee on COM
merce, reported q bill in aid Of a Polar expedi-
ton designed by James Gordon Bennett.
MIR. Blaine addressed the Senate in regard to
the Halifax fishery award Of S5, 500, 900 against
the United States, urging that the award was
excessive and should not be paid. A bill pro-
viding for q commission on the alcoholic liquor
question WAS passed by q vote Of 20 to 10. Ad-
jourred.
Mr.. Maish, of Pennsylvania, offered q reso-
luton, reciting that while the Union Pacific
and Central Pacific Railroad Companies owe
the United States S28, 600, 900 Of accrued inter-
est on bonds guaranteed by the United States,
the earnings Of said companies have been con-
sumed by dividends declared on capital stock
in violation or their charters, and directing the
judiciary committee TO report whether it Is OK
pedient to enact such laws as will prohibit the
payment of dividends on said stock until the
Indebtedness to the United States is liquidated.
Referred. IA resolution was passed authoriz-
ing persons having claims against the Chinese
establish the Territory Of Pembina was adverse
" reported. . Mr.. Kelley, Of Pennsylvania,
made a speech upon the resumption act.
During his remarks he said "With $65, 000,
900 Of gold in the treasury, with none in the
hands Of the people, and with 300, OO0 10000 to
be redeemed, the resumption act is q measure
Of insanity. The enforcement Of 1t is driving
the people to pauperism, to lunacy, and to sui
eide, and is creating q moneyed ohgarchy,
whose wealth, compared with the body Of the
people, will be greater than that Of the money
ed oligarchy Of England. Instead Of business
reviving~ everywhere, prices continue to shrink,
wages to fall, employment for skilled or un-
skilled labor becomes more difficult to obtain.
This will continue and grow worse from month
to month, until that menace to confidence, the
resumption act, is repealed"
The fertilization appropriation bill was
passed. The bill appropriating $3.50, 900 for
q fre-proof building for the national museum,
was referred to the committee Of the whole. go.
A message was received from the President
vetoing the bill authorizing a special term Of
court, in. Mississippi, totry timber land plumber
ers. The message said there was not suffi-
Gent time to hold such special term snd that
the government could not prepare for trial,
because no funds were available. Mr.. Gar
field spoke in reply to an allusioD to him, made
by Mr.. Kelley in his speech Of the previous
day. Adjourned.
Mr. Springer, of Illinois, offered a resolution
authorizing the committees on expenditures IL
the several departments to employ each a CLERK
or expert pending Investigations, and the com
mittee on post Offices and post roads to employ
two experts. Agreed to by 1873 to 104. After
debate the House passed the deficiency appro'
~priation bill. It appropriates $4,000 for tenn
porary clerks in the treasury $4,000 fol
clerks to investigate fraudulent land entries
etc.; 1926, 900 for clerks in the general lane
Office to bring into the market the public lands
in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabams
and Florida ; and 81, 900 for lighting and heat
ing the pension Office. Adjourned.
The bill authorizing the issue OF a long bono
for the investment Of savings was referred K
the committee on ways and means T. bill
appropriating money for the payment o.
Southern mail contracts, for services rendered
prior to 1861. came Up and %,, R1o7 OK o M;o : pro
read from the Confederate archives to shoV
that eighteen Of these claims had been paid b!
the Confederate government. he also quoted
from a report by Mr.. Reagan, as Confederate
postmaster general, in which he credited him
self with $500. 900 paid on account of services
rendered prior to May 81, 1861. Mr.::Reagsn
of Texas, said that he had not seen any Of hi
gentleman from Michigan. Mr.. Willis, wa
right. he would concede to an amendment 81
as to exclude from payment such contractor
as we're paid by the Confederate government
Mr.. Blount, OF Georgia, felt it to be BIZ
bounden duty to say for his section that h
would not cast his vote to pay any gentleman
for carrying mails in the South who had hither
to been paid by the Confederate government
Without coming to a conclusion the House ad
journed.
Mr.. Ewing. of Ohio, offered a joint resolu
ton proposing to amend the constitution. 81
as to authorize the issuing Of an inde6nit.
amount Of treasury notes to be used to retir.
United States notes not bearing interest, anc
to reduce the interest bearing debt, and to b.
legal tender except where existing contracts
call for coin. 1. The diplomatic appropriation
bill was considered in committee OF the whole
when Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York attacked the re
cent fisheries award, and assailed the policy o.
President Hayes. I'D joint resolution fixing
tho time for paying whisky taxes was reported
from the committee on ways and MEANS.
The naval appropriations bill was reported. 1
appropriates S14, 04S, 684. IA resolution in
viting the President to recognize the Diai
government, in Mexico, was offered, but OBJ
lection was made. An evening session FOL
=. general debate was held and the House ad
journed ut $50 p. II.
The result of the attempt to restore
the models damaged in the late fire il
the patent office at Washington bidt
fair to more than realize expectation
About 5000 models have already beer
, restored, and from present indica'