The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-13
CONGRESSIONAL.

relates is concerned, was passed with all the
amendments proposed by the Senate Com
mittee. Another feature which was adopted
was that providing for change in the mode
of computing the compensation for the
transportation of the mails, so as to pay for
space instead of weight. The proposition
to restore the franking privilege was de-
feated by tie vote, 29 against 20. The
Senate then entered into debate upon the
proposed subsidy to two lines of mail
steamers to Brazil, one from New
York and the other from New Orleans......
In the House, after the introduction
and reference of several bills, on motion of
Mr.. Giddings a bill was passed appropria-
ting $4,000 for continuing the improve
ment of Galveston Harbor. The House
then proceeded to the consideration of the
bill amending TIE Internal Revenue laws,
Mr.. Carlisle, of Kentucky, in the chair. Mr..
Vance offered an amendment preventing
the renewal from the State to Federal
Courts of suits for violation of the State
laws against any internal revenue
office. Adopsed-106 to g3. No further
progress was made on the bill.
In the Senate, June 4, the President pro
tempore announced that he had signed the
bill to repeal the bankrupt law. It now
goes to President Hayes for his signature.
The Select Committee, to inquire and
port on the condition OF affairs between the
United States and Mexico, was contihued
during the vacation. Mr.. Burnsides from
the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
back, with amendments, the Joint resolu-
ton providing for the appointment of a
commission to consider and report upon the
whole subject matter of reform and reOr-
ganizatiOn of he army, and moved Il be re-
ferred to Il e Committee on Appropriations
to be considered as an amendment to the
army appropriation bill, and also that it be
placed on the calendar to be considered as
an independent measure in case it should
not be acted upon DIS an f1ehdnient to the
army bill. So ordered. Mr.. Blaine, from the
Committee on Appropriations, reported the
army appropriation bill with amendments.
Placed on the calendar. The Committee has
unanimously agreed to strike out all the Sec
tions by which the House proposes the re-
organization of the army and the reductions
in the number of officers and mef, and In
rank and pay of officers. The House clause
prohibiting the use of the army as posse
comitatus was stricken out by parry vote,
but the sections providing for the transfer
of the control of the Indian affairs to the
War Department was agreed to to 2
Windem and Allison...n.1n the House,
Mr.. Knott, Chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported bill for the relief Of pur-
chasers of land sold for direct tax in iLsrr-
rectionary states. Referred. 1t provides
that the Secretary Of the Treasury shall pay,
without interest, the proceeds of the sale of
lands sold for direct taxes in the insurrec-
tionary States to the owners thereof, pro-
vided that the owner shall execute 8 COM
plete cuitclaim conveyance. The tariff bill
was lead. The reading was interrupted by
a proposition of Butler to have square
vote tomorrow at twelve o'clock, by yeas
and nays, on a motion to strike out the en-
acting clause. The Committee rose, and the
House took a recess. Evening session to be
for debate only on the Mexican award bill.
In the Senate, June 8, Mr.. Sargent, from
the conference committees on the pension
appropriation bill, made REPORT, which was
agreed to, and the bill passed. In explana-
ton of the report, Mr.. Sargent said the Sec
ond. section of the bill had been stricken
out. By that section the House proposed
to vacate all the pension agencies on the 1st
oe July, and Fl l them with disabled soldiers.
The senate amended the. section so that
in case of vacancy .hese offices should
| be flied by appointment of disabled
| soldiers, and the conference committee
compromised by striking out the section.
| After several Intellectual attempts, the Sem
ate succeeded N reinvesting itself with the
frahking privilege. Should the amendment
be agreed to in the House, members of Con-
| gress may send communications of two and
half ounces weight through the mails free !;
| but they cannot receive pacs ages free, nor
can they exceed the limit of two and a half
ounces n sending. Senator Mathews
arose to question of privilege, and made a
personal explanation. He recit d the
testimony of Anderson before the Potter
Committee, and said It affected not only his
own reputation but hat of the Senate. He
knew OF no frauds practiced in Louisiana,
and no wrongs except the one committed
by Anderson, which Anderson acknowl.
edged to him and professed repentance. An
derson, in confessing wrong act done,
placed in his Matthews'1 hands certain
papers as an evidence of his repentance,
which he [Matthews] held in order to pre-
vent public scandal. He interested him.
self in Anderson's appointment because he
devoted his time to advancing the Republi.
can cause in Louisiana and have incurred
conclusion, Mr.. Matthews novea the ap
pointment of special committee oi
seven to take testimony touch
ing tie election held in Louisiana in
1876. The motion was agreed to..-.....In
the House, consideration of the bill amend
ing the internal revenue laws was resumed
At the appointed titt.e for taking up the
tariff bill the internal revenue bill was laiG
aside, and without going into Committee oi
the Whole a vote was taken on striking ou
the enacting clause and it was agreed to
134 yeas to 100 nays. The Mexican aware
bill, after an amendment, was passed. 1h'
bill amending the internal revenue laws was
|
was reduced to sixteen cents.
In the Senate, June 6, during the morn
! ing hour, Mr.. Voorhees, spoke in favof of th
early consideration of the bill to repeal tn
! specie resumption act, and said the Senat
! ! might as well look this matter in the face
,, If it was not going to repeal the act, let
say so by its vote. At the expiration of tn
! morning hour, ard after long discussion
the Senate yeas, So; nays, e3-took up tn
army appropriation bill. By unanimou
; consent the i've minute rule was applied t
: al amendments except that in regard t
= tine transfer of the Indian Bureau, an
forbdding the use of the army as poss
= comitatus. Mr.. Allison submitted an amend
: ment to strike out of the House bill tn
! clause intending to permanent y hx tn
- number of enlisted men in the Army
!, Agreed to. After debate the amendment
q q the Committee on Appropriations, increa
: ing the army to % 900, was agreed to--yea
{ SO; nays, IS. number of amendment
increasing appropriations for various pu
poses were also agreed to. Mr.. Burnsid
) from the Committee on Military Affair
: submitted an amendment, providing IL
- the appointment OF q commission, to co
= sst of two members of the Senate Cor
mittee on Military Affairs, three membe
of the House Committee on Military Affair
= and three officers of the regular army,
consider the whole subject matter of refor
y and renrganizing of the army, and report
= the next session OF Congress. Agreed
- without discussion...........In the House,
f. amendment reducing the tax on tobacco
=, sixteen cents, and fixing the tax on ciga
Il Il at five dollars per thousand, was adopted
- ~ yeas, 1877: nays, 103.
~ In the Senate, June Z the army bill W
:, under consideration for considerable pC
70 ton of the day, but no definite action W
y, ,e taken, the subject discussed being the u
w of the army as a posse comitatus......In In 4
7" House, the members, in Committee of t
Whole, made several amendments in t
General Deficiency Bill, increasing t
a appropr alton for ayment of claims.
" In the Senate, June s, Mr.. Spencer offer
l; resolution in favor of full investigate
N of all matters connected with the electi,
~ and the count for President in the Lou
IN ana settlement. Laid over and order
ne printed. The Army appropriation Bill wi
~ ~ Senate Committee amendments, was passt