The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-25
Congressional Proceedings.

Congressional Proceedings.
FRIDAY.-In the Senate, the Honse
Post Route bill was reported, with amend
ments, and placed on the calendar. The
House bill making an appropriation to pay
claims allowed by the Southern Claims
Commission was reported, with amend
ments, and placed on the calendar. After
an executive session the Senate adjourned
until Monday.
In the House, the Senate amendments
to the Indian Appropriation bill were nom
concurred in. MIR. Reagan, from the Com
mittee on Commerce, reported substitute
for the bill regulating Interstate COM
merce, and it was ordered TO be printed
and recommitted The regular order, be-
ing the demand for the previous question
on the Potter resolution, then came up,
and after another long struggle, the Dem
ocrats having secured quorum, the reso-
luton was adopted by vote of l45 to z,
the Republicans not voting. The negative
Democrats were Mills, of Texas, and
Morse, of Massachusetts.
SATURDAY.-In the House Mr.. Steph-
ems, of Georgia, stated that but for being
paired he would have voted against the
resolution to investigate the alleged cleo
toral frauds in Florida and Louisiana as
it stood The army appropriation bill was
called up, and Mr.. Hewitt, of New York,
smoke at length in explanation and sup
mort of the bill, during which he declared
that communism would never have foot
inc in this country unless Congress should
undertake to police the country with
standing army. Mr.. Sayler, of Ohio, was
elected Speaker pro tempore to supply the
Mace of Speaker Randall, who will be alb
sent portion of the week.
MoNDAY.-In the Senate Mr.. Whyte
presented resolutions of the Maryland
Legislature favoring government aid in the
construction of ship canal to connect the
waters of the Chesapeake aud Delaware
bays, and spoke of the Importance TO COM
meree of such canal. Mr.. Thurman,
from the judiciary committee, reported the
bill providing for the admission of women
to practice before the Supreme Court of
the United States adversely, on the ground
that no law was necessary. Mr. Morrill,,
chairman of the finance committee, spoke
at length against the bill to repeal the
snecie resumption act The bill to place
Gen. Shields on the retired list OF the
army, with the rank and pay of briga-
der general, was called up, when Mr..
Sargent offered as amendment an addi-
tional section placing Ulysses S. Grant on
the retired list, with the rank and pay OF
general. The amendment was opposed by
the democrats on the ground that Gen.
Grant was not, like Gen. Shields, in want,
but the amendment passed, Mr.. Lamar
democrat, voting with the republicans for
it. and MIR. Oglesby rep. with the demo-
Gratis against it. The bill as amended was
then debated to the hour of adjournment.
In the House the Speaker pro TEN, Mr..
Sayler, announced the appointment by the
Speaker of the select committee on alleged
frauds in the late presidential election, as
follows :-Messrs. Potter, of New York;
Morrison, of Illinois; Hunter, of Virginia;
Stenger, of Pennsylvania; McMahon, of
Ohio; Cobb, of Indiana; Blackburn, of
Kentucky; Cox, of Ohio; Butler, of Mas
sachusetts; Reed, of Maine, and Hiscock,
of New York. In this connection Mr..
Garfield had read cable message from
Minister Noyes, at Paris, asking to be
subpenaed to appear before the committee.
Mr.. Kimmel, of Maryland, spoke on the
army appropriation bill, his speech being
mainly directed to the dangers of stand
ing army. Mr.. Swami presented resolu-
tions of the Baltimore Merchants FIX
change against subsidy to the Roach
line of steamships to Brazil, and similar
resolution was offered in the Senate by
Mr.. Whyte.
TUEsnAY.-In the Senate, House bill
to forbid the further retirement OF United
States Iegal-tender notes was reported from
the finance committee, with recommen-
dation for It's passage. The bill to place
General James Shields on the retired list
of brigadier generals, amended on Monday
SO as to place General U. S. Grant on the
retired list as general, was called up and
defeated-yeas 80 nays "a, most OF the
democrats voting in the negative because
of the amendment. Mr.. Teller entered
motion to reconsider the vote by which
the bill to replace General Shields on the
retired list of the army was rejected.
In the House, the army appropriation
bill was under consideration, Mr.. Hewitt
having given notice that after Tuesdays
session he would move to close all general
debate upon the bill. Messrs. Banning,
Sparks and Caldwell spoke in favor of the
bill, and Mr.. Phillips in opposition. An
evening session was held, at which the
army appropriation bill was further con-
sidered. Mr.. Butler, of Mass, made
speech, in which he recited the distress OF
the laboring class, and contended that the
evil was two-fold, the insufficient employ
ment of labor and the insufficient wages
paid those who have employment. The
bill was further discussed by Messrs Car
field, Bragg and others. -
EDNEsDAY.-In the Senate bill
was passed for the relief of settlers on the
public lands under the pre- emption law
MIR. Lamar addressed the Senate in advo-
cacy of the Texas Pacific railroad bill.
The bill providing a permanent form OF
government for the district Of Columbia
was taken up, and the first section, recog-
nizing the District as municipal corpora
ton, was adopted. ;,
In the House resolution was adopted
calling for information as to presidential
pardons of criminals since March, 1871.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Wilson, OF
West Virginia, was adopted, authorizing
the select committee on the alleged cleo
toral frauds in Florida and Louisiana to
investigate electoral frauds in any State
where it has probable cause to believe that
such frauds were practiced. Areport was
submitted from the committee on expen-
ditures in the State Department setting
forth articles of impeachment against q.
B. Bradford, consul general at Shanghai,
China, with a resolution that he be i'm
peachcd at the bar of the Senate. The
whole subject was referred to the Judiciary
committee. The House then considered
the army appropriation bill until the hour
of adjournment. An evening session was
held. at which bill was reported from the
committee on counting the electoral vote