The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-04-03
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY,
Senate.


A large number Of petitions demonstrating
against the transfer of the control of the life
saving service from the treasury to the navy
department, protesting against the passage of
any bill to impose tax on incomes and urg
ing to appointment of a commission to inquire
into the alcoholic liquor traffic, were presented.
-. The House bill making appropriations for
the West Point military academy WAS reported.
-. Mr.. Conkling, from the committee on COM
merce, reported bill in aid Of q Polar expedi-
ton designed by James Gordon Bennett. .
Mr.. Blaine addressed the Senate in regard to
the Halifax fishery award Of So, 500, 900 against
the United States, urging that the award was
excessive and should not be paid. A bill pro-
viding for commission on the alcoholic liquor
question was passed by vote of 20 to 10. Ad-
journed.
Mr., Thurman, from the committee on the
judiciary, reported bill prohibiting members
of Congress from becoming sureties for govern
meDt contractors. Mr.. Conkling called up
the Senate till in aid of a Polar expedition,
designed by James Gordon Bennett, and re-
ported from the committee on commerce on
the previous day, and it was passed unani-
mously without debate. 1t authorizes the
secretary of the treasury to issue an American
register to the vessel purchased by James
Gordon Bennett, under the name OF Jeanette,
and also authorizesthe President Of the United
States to detail with their own consent, COM
missioners, warrant, and petty officers of the
navy, not to exceed ten in number, to act as
officers of said vessel during her first voyage to
the Arctic seas provided, however, that such
detail shall be made of such officers only as the
President is satisfied can be absent from their
regular duties without detriment to the public
service -. The bill creating in the United States
treasury sinking fund to pay the debts of the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad COM
panies was debated. After executive session
the Senate adjourned.
The House bill making appropriations for
Notifications and other works of defense was
reported -. MIR. Kellogg introduced bill to
establish q mint at New Orleans A bill ap-
pIopriating $780, 900 for damage done to the
property of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South during the war WAS reported favorably.
ga letter from the secretary Of the interior
in regard to the timber depredations was read,
and Mr.. Blaine made speech critici' ing the
course OF Secretary Schurz in collecting one
dollar per cord, stumpage in Montana. The
! West Point appropriation bill was passed with
some amendments Adjourned.
MIR. Voorhees,, of Indiana, introduced bill
providing for the payment of all customs
duties and all other debts due the United
States in legal tender notes at par, except in
cases where il is otherwise expressly stipulated
on the face OF the obligation or contract. Re-
ferred to the committee on finance. After
further discussion on the Pacific railroad sink
ing fund bill the Senate adjourned.
House.
NJ Springer, of Illinois, offered resolution
authorizing the committees on expenditures in
the several departments to employ each q clerk
or expert pending investigations, and the COM
mittee on postloffices and post roads to employ
two experts. Agreed TO by 1873 TO 104. After
debate the House passed the deficiency appro-
priation bill 1t appropr4ates $1,000 for tenn
porary clerks in the treasury $4,000 for
clerks 10 investigate fraudulent land entries,
ETC.; $25 900 for clerks in the general land
Office to bring into the market the public lands
in Arkansas, Louisiana Mississippi Alabama
and Florida and $4,000 for lighting and heat
ing the pension Office. Adjourned.
The bill authorizing the issue Of long bond
| for the Investment OF savings was referred to
| the committee on ways and means. .The bill
appropriating money for the payment of
Southern mail contracts, for services rendered
prior to 1861, came up and provoked pro-
| longed discussion. Mr.. Willis, Of Michigan,
read from the Confederate archives TO show
| that eighteen of these claims had been paid by
! the Confederate government He also quoted
from a report by Mr. Reagan, as Confederate
| postmaster-gen in which he credited him
self with 1902, 900 paid on accouuJ of services
rendered prior to May 81, 1861. Mr.. Reagan,
OF Texas, said that he had not seen any OF his
reports since the end Of the war. but if the
| gentleman from Michigan, Mr.. Willis, was
/ right, he would concede TO an amendment so
81 to exclude from payment such contractors
as were paid by the Confederate government.
/ Mr.. BlOunt, OF GeorRia, felt it to be his
/ bOunden duty to say for bis section that he
/ would not cast his vote TO pay any gentleman
for carrying mails inthe South who had hither-