The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-11
Congressional Proceedings.

ula, dSheu ledFe W present. prOteSG Vi ceT-
tain workingmen against the proposed
tariff bill, but Mr.. Wood, N. T., objected,
declaring that "those machine-like appli-
cations ought to be put in the petition box
under the rules-they were being got up
by wholesale contracts" The House
then in committee of the whole, resumed
consideration of the legislative appropria-
alton bill, and amendments were adopted
as follows: Increasing the compensation
of the different officers of the agricultural
department to the amount allowed by law;
providing for four assistant attorney gen.
erals instead of three, as under the bill;
reducing the rent of the Freedman's bank
building in Washington from S14,0 to
$4,000. The reading of the bill was
then concluded, and the committee rose
and reported the bill to the House, hut
no action was taken thereon. An even
ing session was held for the consideration
OF pension bills.
SATURDAY.-In the House, Mr.. Ste
phens, from the committee on coinage,
reported bill to retire the five and three
cent silver pieces and to stop their further
coinage; also providing that the fractional
or subsidiary silver coin shall be legal-ten-
der to the extent of $40, and shall be
exchangeable at the treasury for other
legal-tender money when presented in
sums of $40 or over. The Legislative ap-
preparation bill was then taken up, and
the House proceeded to vote on the vari-
Gus amendments agreed to in committee
of the whole. The amendments increas-
ing the clerical force in office of the sur
geon- general was defeated by tie vote;
the amendment increasing the salaries of
the principal clerks in the agricultural
department was rejected; an amendment
requiring agricultural seeds to be distrib
uted proportionately, among congressional
districts was agreed to. The amendments
appropriating S185,O00 for the re.estab
lishment of the New Orleans mint was
agreed to. The bill, as amended, was
then passed. There being no other ap
preparation bills ready for action Mr.
Wood made motion to take up the tariff
bill. This was opposed by the Pennsylva-
MIA members, who antagonized it with
motion to adjourn, which was carried on a
yea and nay vote.
MONDAY. In the Senate, Mr.. Whyte
introduced bill to provide for paying the
advances made to the United States by
the State of Maryland in 1870, subse-
quently the bill to repeal the bankrupt
law was taken up and considered, but
finally laid aside, and Mr.. Gordon of
Ca, spoke at length against the contrac-
tion of the currency and in favor of the
repeal of the specie resumption act. He
also denounced communism in vigorous
language. The House bill forbidding the
further retirement of U. S. legal-tender
notes was received and read by title for
reference Mr. Cockrell, of Mississippi OBJ
iected to the reference, and moved that it
be read a second time, with a view to its
passage. Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, OBJ
iected to this, and the bill was laid aside.
In the House motion was made to
suspend the rules and pass the bill reduc
ing the tax on snuff and chewing and
smoking tobacco to sixteen cents a pound,
but the motion was not agreed to-yeas
120 nays 115-two-thirds not voting in
the affirmative The remainder of the
session was spent in considering the bill
establishing a permanent form of govern
ment for the District of Columbia.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate, resolution
was adopted authorizing the special COM
mittee on the census to act concurrently
with the whole committee of the House.
The pension appropriation bill was debated
at length, and then passed. The bill to
Of
States legal-tender notes was passed to
second reading by yeas "a, nays %,
In the House the District of Columbia
Government bill was passed. Mr.. Wood,
New York, moved to go into Committee of
the Whole on the Tariff bill. On stand
ing vote, the yeas were 70, nays 80, and
vote by tellers resulted in "a yeas to 81
nays. Finally, on a vote by roll call,
absent members being hunted up, and at
least four of them induced to change their
votes, the motion was carried by 100 to
1O8. The House then went into Commit
tee on the Tariff bill and Mr.. Banks of
Massachusetts, spoke in opposition to the
measure The Committee then rose, and
conference report on the bill to reg
ulate the advertising of mail lettings
was agreed to. Mr.. B. F. Butler intro
dued a bill providing for Tariff Com
mission.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the Senate Mr..
Morgan of Ala, introduced concurrent
resolution touching the relations of the
United States with the republic of Next
co. The bill to forbid the further retire
ment of the United States legal-tenders
was referred to the committee on finance.
Iu the House a resolution from the
committee on elections was adopted, de-
claring Cain, from the second district of
South Carolina, Chalmers from the sixth
district of Mississippi, and Williams, of
Oregon, sitting members, entitled to their
seats. The tariff bill was then taken up,
and motion by an opponent Of the bill
to limit debate to two hours was voted
down-yeas 10Y, nays 1872. Speeches
in favor of the bill were then delivered by
Messrs. Tucker, of Va, and Robbins, of
N. G. An evening session was held,
which was devoted to general debate.
THURsDAY-In the Senate, the bill to
provide for the distribution of the awards
made under the convention between the
United States and Mexico was slightly
amended and passed. The Indian appro
priation bill was slightly amended and
passed. The bill to repeal the bankrupt
law being called up, Mr.. Whyte, of Mary
land, spoke in favor of the absolute and
immediate repeal of the law.
In the House a joint resolution was
passed providing for the enforcement of
the eight-hour law; it provides that eight
hours shall constitute a days work, and
forbids any reduction in the wages of
workmeu, laborers and mechanics employ
ed by the United States. The tariff bill
was taken up, and Mr.. Kelley, of Penn
sylvania, spoke in opposition.