The Osceola times., 1878-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE,

In the house, on the 23rd, Mr.. Ellis.
worth introduced bill relieving bond de.
posts from internal revenue tax. Referred.
THE house committee on appropriations
heard the secretary of the interior, the com.
missioner OF general land office, and the
assistant attorney general for the interior
department in advocacy Of the appropriation
of $45 900 to continue operations against the
depredators on public lumber lands. Repre-.
sentatives Hooker and Jones Gala } opposed
the proposed appropriation. They claim
that many OF the recent actions of the gov.
ernment in regard to timber seizures in the
gulf states. had been harsh, oppressive and
| Illegal. THE house then considered the
boat bill. Having disposed Of all but foui
pages Of the bill, it was laid aside, and tn,
speaker presented the resolutions adopted
by the senate in honor OF the late Senator
Bogy. Eulogies were pronounced by Messrs
Cole, Hatcher, Waddell, Phillipps, Knott
Sparks (lll.), Throckmorton, Clarke mo.
Ellis, Rea aud Crittenden; after which tn,
resolutions were adopted and the house ad
journed.
The House, on the 24th, proceeded t.
the consideration of the bill amending ih,
laws concerning commerce and navigation
and the regulation OF steam vessels. 49,. Mr.
Lockwood moved an amendment to the sec
"
tors, classifying them 81, ,700a year at New
York and New Orleans down to 500 al
Puget Sound, Appalachicola and Oswego
Pending discussion on this amendment the
house, having disposed of all but the last
paragraph in the bill, adjourned.
In the house, on the 25th, Mr.. Storrs
for the Southern Pacific railroad company
contended that the Texas company had NOT
completed its railroad as the law required
and it was now competent to adopt measures
to secure Its speedy completion. This could
he more etfectually done by granting author.
ity to the Southern Pacific company TO con-
tinue on east to the Rio Grande at FL Paso,
and transfer so much of the former land
grant as 1t should earn by so building. lie
also claimed that the Texas company had no
right to build a railroad across California,
not having the suthority of that State. He
also contended that the Southern Pacific had
the right to construct bridge across Color
ado river, and the Texas Pacific had not. -.
The house considered the bill revising the
steamboat laws. Mr.. Harrison offered an
amendment declaring that officers, pilots
and engineers of all steam vessels aud that
none but citizens OF orpersons actually re-.
siding In the United States shall be licensed
as pilots and engineers. lie said over fifty
thousand had petitioned TO the house to pro.
tect poor men from being defrauded of
their rights by foreigners not residing in the
country. Large numbers Of men were idle
to day In the lake parts while Canadians
were employed by owners of vessels
Adopted. The bill was then passed. Yeas,
i73; nayes, S0......The bill extending the
tine for the Withdrawal Of distilled spirits
now in bond until July /, 1878, having been
reached, Mr., Tucker proceeded to explain
10 oot baf -.
tation throughout the country on the
question OF reduction the of tax
on whisky. The question was, should
the house, during that agitation, save from
bankruptcy and ruin the golden geese who
were to-day laying golden eggs for the gov.
ernment. He thought the bill was a very
good one. IL had been drawn up by the
commissioner Of internal revenue, who had
agreed that some action should be taken by
congress......M Garfield alluded to the bill
as being class Legislation, and thought it not
wise to give any advantage to one interest
when 30 many were suffering throughout the
country. The eplain English Of the resolution
was that the whisky men should be allowed
to keep their whisky in bond until congress
should release the tax and permit them to
walk of with millions which rightfully be.
lopged to the government in their pockets.
He was opposed TO reducing the tax on whis.
key, and was in favor OF addiuga section to
the bill under consideration, declaring that
no reduction would be made BY which
mans revenue would not be reduced, and
whisky men would be put out of the agita-
tion in which they now were. If this bill
was passed. would not the iron men come
here and asked to be saved from the danger
threatened by the reduction Of the tariff on
iron? Would not all other interests come,
and thus make the revenue laws a series Of
plasters and patchwork In the midst OF
great confusion the amendment reported by
The ways and means committee was read and
adopted, which amendment is to add the
words "And acknowledge gther liability
under the terms OF said bond for the period
for which said extension is granted" as. il
the same was inserted in the body of said
bill ..... After further scenes Of confusion
and excitement, the committee rose without
any further action on the amendment. and
the house adjourned.
II tie house, on the 2Sth, Mr.. Baker
[fnd.l moved % suspend TIE rules and adopt
= eall-s1bsl1y fesolution. Adoptsd-yess,
lSot myoa, 6o. Il declares that n the iudes
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