The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-02-02
Congressional Proceedings.

FRIDAY.-In the Senate the bill renting
taxes on insolsent savings banks was consid-
cred and laid over at the expiration Of the
morning hour. The Matthews resolution
then came up, and the amendments were
voted upon and rejected. Mr.. Conklings
amendment making II a Joint resolution $50
as to send II to the President for his sigma
ture) was lost, by % yeas to 80 nays The
other amendments were rejected, and the
original resolution was passed-yeas AZ, nays
%. The Bland Silver bill then came up IN
order, and Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, took the
floor. He yielded to a motion for an Execu-
tive Session, and the Senate soon after adj
journed until Monday.
In the House bills were introduced by Mr..
Waddell, of North Carolina, to establish
national savings bank in connection with the
Post Office Department, and by Mr.. Maish, of
Pennsylvania, to establish the metric system
in our coinage and in the Post-o Office Depart
ment. The steamboat bill was passed-yeas
173, nays so. Mr.. Knott, OF the Judiciary
Committee, presented report in the case of
Smalls, declaring that his arrest was no breach
of the privileges of the House. The report
was ordered printed, andthe House adjourned.
SATURDAY.-The Senate was not in session.
In the House nothing was done but speech
making. Messrs. Durham, of Kentucky,
Bright, of Tennessee, Deering, of Iowa, Hum
phreys, of Wisconsin, and Upton, of Illinois,
occupied the time in favoring the remonetiza-
ton Of silver, until at 4. Is p. NJ, the House
adjourned
MoSDAY.-In the Senate the House bill APP
propriating $4,000 for the removal of snags
in the Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and
Red rivers, was passed. Mr.. Beck gave no
tice that he would call up the resolution de-
elaring it inexpedient to continue the imposi-
ton of :axesfor the sinking fund. The Bland
bill came up at the expiration of the morning
hour, and was opposed by Mr.. Morrill, of VI.
Mr.. Wallace, of Pa, obtained the floor, when
the Senate adjourned.
In the House, number of bills we're intro
duced under the call of States, among them
one by Mr.. Buckner, retiring the National
bank circulation aud substituting therefor
Treasury notes, receivable for all Government
dues, including customs duties. Also one by
Mr.. Banning, of Ohio, 10 reorganize the army
and reduce the cost of its support. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Baker, of Indiana, the rules were
suspended and a resolution adopted-yeas
ia, nays 85-declaring against further sub
sides. Mr.. Ewing then moved to suspend
the rules and take up and pass the Matthews
resolution. The motion was carried by more
than two-thirds vote, the yeas being lS7,
the nays 70. The House then adjourned.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate the House joint
resolution accepting Carpenters painting of
President Lincoln and his Cabinet, the gift
of Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, of New York,
was concnrred in. Mr.. Beck, of Kentucky,
spoke in advocacy of his resolution, suspend
ing the operation of the Sinking Fund. The
Bland bin came up as unfinished business,
and was advocated by Mr.. Wallace, of Penn
sylvania, and opposed by Messrs. Bayard, of
Delaware, Dawes, of Massachusetts, and
Whyte. of Maryland. Pending consideration
of the bill the Senate went into executive
session, and soon after adjourned.
In the House, various petitions were pre-
sented, and Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, intro
duced bill to make importers use the metric
system of weights and measures. A bill was
reported and referred to the Committee of
the Whole, making appropriations for the
detection of trespassers on the public lands.
The bill to recognize the Woodruff Scientific
Expedition granting an American register to
foreign VESSEL was passed, 167 to 100. The
House then adjourned.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the Senate letter from
the Commissioner of Pensions was read,
stating that the delay in acting upon pension
claims is caused by the insuficiency of the
clerical force in the Surgeon Generals Office.
1t gave rise to a discussion, which lasted
during the morning hour. Mr.. Hamlin,
of Maine, introduced a bill authorizing
the Postmaster General to contract for
ocean mail service. The silver bill then
came up, and Mr.. Christiancy, of Michigan,
offered substitute providing for silver dollars
of 534 grains, which shall be legal tender
for all debts, except when otherwise provided
for by law or contract. The act is to remain
in force only one year. Pending considera-
ton Of the bill the Senate went into Execu-
q. I n
In the House Mr.. Hayes of ILL.,, introduced
a bill prohibiting any further destruction of
greenbacks and making them receivable for
customs duties. The bill extending the time
for the withdrawal of whisky from bond was
considered, and Mr.. Fosters substitute de-
claring it inexpedient to reduce the tax on
whisky was agreed to-yeas lag, nays 112.
Adjourned.
THuRsDAY.-In the Senate, House resolu-
ton was unanimously passed extending the
thanks Of Congress TO Henry NJ Stanley, the
African explorer. A bill was also passed
appropriating 100000 for the erection of
suitable posts for the protection of the Rio
Grande frontier. The silver bill was called
up, but on the motion of Mr.. Bayard its fur
Their consideration was postponed until Mon
day next, to which day the Senate then
adjourned.
In the House. Mr.. Waddell, from the com.
mittee on postofices, reported back the bill
TO fix the pay of letter carriers, and also bill
to regulate the compensation Of postmasters,
and both were referred to the committee of
the whole. The House then went into com
mittee of the whole on the military academy
bill, which was debated at considerable length
Mr.. Harris, from the committee on elections,
reported in the California case against
Pacheco, the sitting member, and in favor of
Wigginton, the contestant. Mr.. Wait pre-
sented the minority report, taking opposite
grounds.