The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-16
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
In the Senate, May 6, most of the House
Pension Bill was acted on. The proposition
in regard to salaries of agents was agreed to-
1t makes the pay of all uniform at 81, 900,
and gives to each in addition fifteen dollars
for each one hundred vouchers made out
The clause requiring all Pension Agents to
be selected after July 1 fro disabled
soldiers. which would have diplaced nearly
all the present agents, was amended so as
to provide that the terms of all present
agents shall expire January next, and there
after ali agents shall be either disabled
Union soldiers or the wives and daughters of
Union soldiers. The Bankrupt Act
and the bill to repeal the Specie
Resumption Act were both discussed $50.
In the House, Mr.. Shelby, at the request of
Messrs. Robbins and Tucker, moved to sus-
pend tue rules and pass the bill reduc-
ing the tax on snuff, and chew
ing and smoking tobacco to sixteen cents a
pound, on cigars to five dollars per thous-
and, on cigarettes weighing not more than
three and one half pounds to the thousand,
one dollar and quarter per thousand, and
weighing over three and one half pounds,
five dollars per thousand. The motion was
not agreed to-yeas: 100; nays, 115-not
two thirds voting in the affirmative. The
House then proceeded to the consideration
of the bill establishing permanent form
of government for the District of Columbia.
The bill in it's amended form removes the
property qualification in regard to Commits
sioners and members of Council, and
abollshes tne poll tax. Without disposing
of the question the House adjourned.
In the Senate, May Z, the bill preventing
the flu ther cancellation of greenbacks was
ordered to a second reading, and then re-
ferred to the Committee on Finance. The
Pension Appropriation Bill, after some dis
cusson, was referred from Committee of
the Whole to the Senate, vario.s amend
me ts from that tommittee concurre in,
the bill was read third time, and passed.
The amendment requiring all vacancies
in the office of Commissioner of Pensions to
be filled by disab ed Union soldiers. was
among the number adopted. The Indian
Appropriation Bill was taken up, and pend
ing discussion, tue Senate went into eXecu-
tive session, and when the doors reopened,
adjourned..... In the House, the District
of Olumbia Government Bill was pa sed.
After three ballots, the Tariff Bill was
| taken up, in Committee of the Whole, and
Mr.. Banks spoke against it.
In the Senate, May s, the bill to forbid the
further retirement of United States notes
was called up and eferred to the Commit
| tee ON Finance. Consideration of the In
dian appropriation Bill was resumed and a
| number of amendments favoring reduc
| ton of appropriations and the salaries of
| employees in certain agencies were adopted.
| ......In the House, after the morning hour,
| in which no important business was trans
| acted members went into Committee of the
| Who'll on the Tariff Bill. MIR. Tucker, mem
Der of the Ways and Means Committee, took
the floor and spoke in support of the bill.
| The Committee rose without action. Mr..
Ellis introduced a bill to incorporate the
| Ocean Navigation Company, and to restore
| the shipping interests of the United States.
| The House then took a recess to 7:30 p. m,
the evening session to be for general debate
only.
In the Senate, May 9, Mr.. Davis, of ILL.,,
| called up the Senate bill to provide for the
distribution Of the awards m de under the
| convention between United States of Amer.
lea and Mexico, concluded the 4th of July
1868 A discussion ensued in regard to
certain alleged fraudulent claims OF
Renjamin Well and the Loabrs
Silver Mining Company. MIR. Edmunds
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee
said there were some things in the possession
of the committee in regard to these claims
which the senate should know, and moved
that the doors be closed. Agreed to, anC
the doors were closed for secret Legislative
business. During secret session the debat,
was in regard to information as to the claiml
mentioned before the judiciary Committee
| which, II is SdlU HOG De mdu0 puDllC
as it might defeat the ends of justice
When the doors were opened, the Indiar
Appropriation bill was discussed. Variou
unimportant amendments were agreed to
and tie bill having been considered il
Committee of the Whole, was reported t.
the Senate, the amendments ade in com
mittee cOncurred in, and the bill was read
third time and passed The bill to repea
the Bankrupt Law was considered, an,
there was considerable debate on the dat
clause, some desiring the immediate repea
of the law. Before the question was sci
tled, motion to adjourn was carried
In the House, the joint resolution re
and Labor for the enforcement of the eigh
hour law in all the departments of the GOV
) ernment gave rise to a lively discussion, i
, course of which Mr.. Banks denounced tn
disregard of law by the government O
!, scandalous and Infamous, and Mr.. Butler, G
{ Massachusetts,, advocated a penalty for il
disregard, and said toere was more powde
and ball wanted in the administration
: the laws. The joint resolution passed. Th
bill authorizing the cutting of timber o
{ tie public lands for domestic use wa
passed, and a long debate was had in Con
mittee of the Whole on the Tariff Bill.
In the Senate. May 10, the date for repe,
l of the Bankrupt Act was fixed at the 1st
Sc. tember, although an amendment for in
: ayes to "a nays. The Committee on Judiciar
n had fixed the time for repeal at the 1st
next January, and it has been thought th'
' the Conference Committee between tue tw
houses would agree upon the lit of October
!. bu there was such a strong feeling in tt
d Senate in favor of immediate repeal th
: Thurman proposed the Is of Septembe
;, which was adopted by a vote of :
ii ayes to 20 nays. The North Carolina Sen
}. tors saved the bankrupt act from immed
g ate repeal by their earnest request that
n might remain for a time to meet pressiI
:, necessity in their State .........In the Hous
y , elimination and recrinination, charges III
i counter-charges, accusations and denial
6 vigorous waving of the bloody shirt, fgh
n ing the battles of the late war over agai
It and confusion and excitement general
characterized the proceedings in Commits
of the Whole. 1t grew out of bill to p,
a to the executor of John Heator, decease
l. late of Loudon County, Virginia, the su
h of three thousand three hundred and sixt
% five dollars for the value of stores and u
\ plies taken by the United States Army. T
~ bill was finally passed.
u In the House, May II, the following bi
~ were passed: TO restore to the market c,
ut tain lands of Utah, for the relief of settle