The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-20
CONGRESSIONAL.


trict of Columbia, submitted Saturday, was
coneurred in. The bill, now goes to the
President. The bill to strengthen the founda-
tion of the Washington monument was
agreed to-yeas, 3S; nays, II. MIR. Spencer
moved to take up the resolution submitted
by him, Saturday, authorizing the appoint
| ment of special committee to inquire into
the alleged fir ,uds, in connection with the
recent Presidential election. The resolu-
tion was taken up, and Mr.. Sargent sub.
mitted an amendment to have the investi-
cation made by the Matthews Investigation
Committee. The resolution and amend
ment were referred to the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections.
| Consideration of the River and Harbor Bill
was proceeded with, Spencer in charge of
| the bill. In answer to a question he Sid
| the BILL as it now stood before the Senate,
appropriated S., ,252, 700. Asst came from the
House it appropriated $7,20O,000. Mr.. Sar.
gent called for the yeas and nays on the
amendment increasing the appropriation
| for improving the b rbor of harleston,
South Carolina, from 81, 900 to $20, 900, and
| it was agreed to-yeas Al, nays 8. Other
| amendments of the committee were agreed
to, as follows: Striking out the appropria-
ton of $4,000 for Port Clinton, o.; reduc-
| ing the appropriation for improving the en-
| $125,000 to $4,000; striking out of House
bill the appropriation of $25, 900 for Passo
Carallo inlet into Matagorda Bay, Texas,
| and that of BE, 900 for improving White and
st Francis Rivers, Arkansas, and to build
| sternwheel snag-boat for that river; increas-
| mouth of Red River, Louisiana, from $780,.
600 to $150,0OO 1900. In the House, debate
sprung up on the duty of government to
make generous appropriation for public
buildings, in order to give employment to
labor in hard times. Several members
\
| he would increase the expenditure
| for buildings at such a time, and would first
| take the sinking fund and apply it in this
way, and then the ten million of green
backs deposited to redeem fractional notes,
and then he would issue the seventy mill
| lions of greenbacks which had been retired,
| and would t, us raise the amount to four
| hundred and fifty millions. The result was
that the House raised the appropriation for
public buildings at Atlhnta, Ga, from
$4,000 to $4,000. The appropriations for
the Custom Houses at Cincinnati, Chicago,
and St. Louis will probably be raised from
1900, each to 100000 each.
In the Senate, June IL, the River and
Harbor bill was passed, which appropriates
in the aggregate about ss, ,5OO, 900, over a
million of which was added to the bill by
the Senate. Senators Conkling and Thur
man, and one or two others, withheld their
| opposition until the bill was to be put upon
its passage, when they made records for
themselves in words Of strong condemna-
ton of the measure. The bill passed by
a majority of more than dozen votes.
1t will now 60 back to the House.
Senator Matthews succeeded in having
tackled upon the bill the following amend
ment, which Mr.. Sayler was prevented fir m
offering in the House: "Fof the construc-
ton of harbor or harbors of refuge at
Cincinnati, to protect the river commerce
| 10 nf 90 in no
to be expended under the direction of he
Engineer Corps of the army. the
| House, an amendment to the Sundry
Civil Appropriation Bill, by Mr..
Banning, to increase the appropriations for
the new custom-house at incinnati from
100000 to 100000 was defeated by "a to
| rs. The appropriation for the building at
Evansville, Ind, was increased from $780,
900 to $45,000. The appropriation for the
| building at Grand Rapids was increased
from $4,000 to $47,0 coo. Mr.. Cole offered
and amendment increasing the appropria
ton for the st. Louis custom-house from
$300,0 to 100000. Rejected.
In the Senate June IL, the House bill,
authorizing payment of the claim of Ten
nessee for keeping United States prisoners,
| passed. Messrs. Davis of Illinois, Blaine
| and Thurman were appointed a Conference
Committee on the part of the Senate on
the bill providing for the distribution of
|
tween the United States and the Govern
ment of Mexico. Mr.. Dorsey, from the
Conference Committee on the Post-of6ce
| Appropriation bill, submitted q report,
| which was agreed to and the bill passed.
| A joint resolution declaring that laborers
in the government workshops should receive
as much for eight hours labor as mechanics
in similar establishments conducted by
private citizens receive for ten hours work
came up for consideration, and after long
debate, on motion of Senator Eaton, it was
postponed until the next session of Con-
gress by vote of 81 to 25. Among the
bills passed by the Senate was one author.
izing the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Ill.
inois to prosecute suits in the Supreme
Court to recover from the United States q
per cent. arising from sales of public lands,
which the government failed to ex
pend in public improvements f OIL
the benefit of those States.
Messrs. Wilson, Chalmers and Banks con
ferees on the Mexican Award Bill. The
House then went into committee of the
while, Mr.. Carlisle in the chair, on the
Civil Sundry Appropriation Bill. The sec
ton in regard to the coast survey having
been reached, Mr.. Young offered an amend
ment, appropriatiug $123,O for alluvia
out on point of order. Mr.. Stevens
moved 10 increase the appropriation
for Signal Service from $325,000 t.
S350,000. Adopted by 100 to 49
Mr.. Price moved, in regard to the Rocl
Island Arsenal, further appropriations ag
On motion of Mr.. Thompson, the paragraph
! providing for the sale of the arsenals q
, Pittsburg, Pa, and Pikesville, Nd, wa
stricken out The committee then rose
and the Speaker laid before the House
, message from the President recommending
/ an appropriation for Commission on tn
part of the United States in the Interns
, tional Monetary conferences. Referred. 4
night session was held for general business
) In the Senate, June 13 the House bill t.
t restore certain lands in Iowa to settlemen
, under the homestead law, and for othe
purposes was passed. Ut applies t, al
vacant appropriated lands heretofor
Railroad in that State.l At the expiration
, of the morning hour, Mr.. VOORHEES, move
, to take up the bill to repeal the speci
2 resumption act; which led to
discussion. The motion was agreed to-
I yeas 80; nays %. The bill after some cor
: Be it enacted, etc., T at from and afte
: the passage of this act United States note
= shall be receivable the same as coin in pay
e ment of the four per centum bonds mo-
| authorized by law to be issued, and on an
4 after October 1, 1873, said notes shall be r,
= Cci"auic ior uutics on imports. ......lu vi
Y House, there was great deal of confu>io
a as to the order Of business, Mr.. Ellis ell
+ deavoring to call up the contested electio
It case of Richards VS.. Rainey, of Sout
i Carolina, and Mr.. Reagan endeavoring I
e call up the river and harbor BILL for tn
It purpose of non-concarring in the Senat
e amendments. Finally both proposition
r. were voted down, and the House dete
j. mined to go into Committee of the Who
on the sundry civil appropriation bi
:, and closing all further debate on the hill an
amendments. Mr.. Williams, of Michigan, o
fered an amendment appropriating $t0,0(
for the Improvement of Yellowstone N
Il tional Park. Adopted. On motion of NJ
IS Sayler, the appropriation for the Hayde
" survey was increased from $4,000 to $75
n 00o. On motion of Mr.. Eden, the appr
!, priation for the Powell survey was increase
:. from $4,000 to $4,000. AT the svenir