The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-02-28
CONG X ESSI0NAL PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE.

In the house, on the lth, the speaker
announced the regular order to be a motion
to lay on the table the motion to reconsider
the vote by which the house on last Friday
refused to pass the bill for the relief of W.
ii. Newman and l., A. Van Hoffman, known
as the Alexander Mill bill. A motion to lay
on the table preyailed-yeas, 1876 nays, 10
which dispOses OF the bill.... Mr. Aiken
moved to amend 50 as to reduce the pay Of
cadets from $5l0 to $500. He criticised the
action of the appropriation committee in
several OF its appropriations. In conclusion
he said that West Point was an incumbus on
the people OF the country. If the people
knew for what the two hundred and seventy.
five thousan dollars was appropriated an
nualy, in less than thirty days the house
would be Hooded with demands to put West
Point under the hammer or give it to New
York. He was bold enough to say he would
vote for either proposition. The amendment
was rejected and without further action the
committee rose and the house adjourned,
The house, on the 18th, went into .
committee Of the whole, Mr.. Blackburn in
the chair, on the military academy apprcpri>
alton bill l....Soon after the committee rose
the senate and house met in joint conven.
ton and received Mr.. Carpenters Of "Siqn.
ing the Emancipation Proclamation" Mr..
Garfield made the presentation speech. The
vice president announced the object fer
which the two houses had convened having
been accomplished, the senate would retire
to its own chamber. The senate thereupon
retired, and the ceremony closed. Ad-
journed.
The house, on the 18th, went into
committee of the whole, Mr., Blackburn in
the chair, on the military academy appropri.
alton bill The debate closed, and the cons
paratively prOsy business of the bill was
resumed. Mr.. Reagan's amendment was
rejected and MIR. Clymer's agreed to, and the
bill was reported to the house, but without
final action the house adjourned.
In the house, on the l4th, consent
being given, the speaker laid before the
house communication from the secretary
of the treasury, inclosing a copy of letter
to him from the commissioner OF internal
revenue, setting out that the internal rev.
enue receipts for the current fiscal year, in.
Guiding yesterday, as compM ed with the
same time last year, have suffered a decrease
of 81 ,960, ,2lS and suggesting as a cause OF
this decrease the agitation OF the reduction
of the tax on spirits and tobacco. The secre-
tary urged upon congress, in anticipation of
the same rate OF decrease continuing during
the next fiscal year, q reduction OF the apprO.
priatiOns to be made for the service of the
government during that fiscal year, or an in
crease of taxation in such form rs il might
deem best. The letter from the commits.
sioner of internal revenue recommends the
passage of a resolution in regard to tobacco
similar to that passed some time ago, in
regard to the tax on distilled spirits and de-
al o valuation nf To ot finn IN that ortipla
inexpedient Referred to the committee on
ways and means -. The house then pro-
ceeded to act on the military aca deny bill.
All amendments reported from the commit
tee were agreed to, and the bill passed ...".
The house then went into committee of the
whole on the state of the union, Southard in
the chair, and took up the bill granting pen
sions to soldiers and sailors of the Mexican
var and other wars. Mr.. Herbert addressed
the committee in advocacy of the bill, and
Mr.. Powers spoke in opposition to it. Al the
close of Mr.. Powers speech the committee
rose ........Mr. Carlisle introduced Il bill to
prescribe the time for the payment of the
tax on distilled spirits. Referred. The house
then adjourned.
In the house, on the 10Th, at the ex-
piration of the morning hour the house went
into committee OF the whole, Mr.. Hooker
in the chair On the private calendar, the
second bill on the calendar was one which
applies the appropriation of S375000 made
by an act of congress to pay certain southern
mail contractors. Without action on the
bill the committee rose and the house ad-
journed.
SENATE.
In the senate, on the llth, large
number of petitions from all parts OF the
country in favor of the sixteenth amend.
ment to the constitution prohibiting the
states from disffanching persons on account
of sex were presented and REFEREED. At
the conclusion of the morning business the
senate resumed consideration Of the silver
bill and Mr.. Davis West Va spoke in favor
thereof. After action on few minor mat.
ters Mr.. Davis took the floor and spoke in
vor of silver reconciliation. When he
had closed the senate adjourned.
In the senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Burn
side, from the committee on military affairs,
reported, with amendments the senate bill
to remove all restrictions now existing in
regard to the enlistment OF colored citizens
in any arm OF the United States army. Placed
on the calendar. r...... During the morning hour
the following bills were passed: Senate bill
to constitute commission to consider and
report plan for providing enlarged aceom-
modst!ons for the library OF congress senate
bill directing the secretary of the treasury to
purchase certain property of the Freedmen's
savings and trust company for the use OF the
United States and for other purposes Ii
appropria,es 1925 900 for the purchase Of the