The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Senate,
TUESDAY. February &c

Senafe.
TUESDAY, February l2.-Christiancv
presented petition from citizens of Michigan in
favor of the sixteenth amendment comforting the
right CT suffrage upon women. ... Morrill, from the
committee on finance. reported favorably on the
house joint resolution declaring that the reduction
OF the tax on distilled spirits is inexpedent; he
also reported substitute for the senate bill 10 nro-
vide for commission on the subject of alcoholic
liquor traffic, and it was placed ON the calendar
Burnside, from the committee ON military affairs
reported, with amendments, Ghe senate bill to re-
all restrictions now existing in regard TO en-
hstment OF colored citizens in any army OF the
United States. Maxey and Cockrell announced
that they did not agree with the major
ity OF the committee..-..Tfe senate bill ap-
propriatlng S22 600 for the purchase of the Freed
mans bank building in Washington, now occupied
by the department of justice was passed . The
senate then resumed consideration of the silver bil
Mcdonald speaking in favor # the proposed meas
ure.. Al two O'Clock the senate proceeded to the
hall of the house of repreSei atves to participate
in the ceremonies 2ttendih .hs presentation o.
Carpenter picture of Lincoln reading tie enanci-
patton proclamation 10 his cabinet. Upon return-
ing TO its chamber the senate addressed by Nc
Pherson in opposition to the silver bill Merrimon
next took the floor, but yielded for an executive
session.
TUESDAY, February 12.-The house
went into committee of the whole, Blackburn in
the chair, on the military academy appropriation
bill. After the rejection of several amendments the
committee rose, and soon after the senate and
painting OF the reading of the emancipation procla
nation.
Senate.
WEDNESDAY,. February 13.-Kernan
presented memorial from the New York board Of
trade and transportation demonstrating against the
passage of the silver bill Hamlin, from the COM
mlttee on foreign relations, reported adversely
petition asking an appropriation from the Chinese
indemnity fund TO aid persons in the famine
stricken provinces OF China. Sargent reported,
NJ limo fhn thara 4
equip an expedition to the Arctic seas, known
the Howgate bill. Placed the calendar. In
savings in the popular loan, and to provide for
funding the national debt into home bonds con-
yertble into currency. Referred Morrill, of
Vermont, called up the hoHse Joint resolution de-
clarng that reduction of the tax on distilled spir-
its is inexpediert which discussed until the ex
piration ofthe morning hour, and then laid aside,
and the senate resumed consideration of the silver
bitl, Merrimon speaking in favor thereof. He was
followed by Sargent, Dawes, Maxey and voorhees,,
after whom Jones, of Nevada, took the floor
with the understanding that he would
continue his remarks tomorrow After the
debate il was understood by unanimous consent
that the vote would be taken on Friday next.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, February 13.-Rice re-
ported bill granting pensions account of wounds
etc, contracted in the service since March f. 1861
for the payment of arrears OF pensions and for
restoration 10 the rolls Of names of invalid PEN
sioners stricken therefrom account of dsloyaly.
Referred to the committee of the whole and made a
special order for the 9th inst The house then
went into committee of the whole the military
academy bill. After action on a few amendments,
hot debate sprung up, chiefly between Hewitt
and Aiken. The committee rose, reported the biz
TO the house, but it adjourned without final action
Senate.
THURSDAY, February l4.-After a
brief discussion the house joint resolution declaring
that reduction in the tax on distilled spirits is in
expedent was psssed-yeas 40, nays Bills in
treduced and referred To provide temporary
government for the territory of Lincoln; organ
ize the territory of Oklohama...... Voorhees, intro
duced resolutian instructing the judiciary COM
mttee to ascertain whether not the railroad COM
panies referred to by the acts OF congress approved
respectively July 25th, 10Th and 9th, 1866, grant
ing lands 10 aid in their construction, have issued
bonds.of any kind predicted upon by the condi-
tional land grants of the Indians of the Indian ter
ritory claimed by said companies under said acts;
and if it is found that such bonds have been issued,
to ascertain in whose possession they are and for
what purpose. Laid over. AT the expiration of
the morning hour jones, Of Nevada spoke in favor
of the silver bill. He was followed by Wadleigh,
at the close OF whose remarks the senate went into
executive session, and when the doors re-
opened Blaine submitted substitute for the silver
bill l....Ad jOurned.
House.
THURSDAY, February l4.-The speaker
laid before the house communication from the
secretary of the treasury stating that the internal
principally account Of the agitation in regard to
the tax on tobacco and whiskey, and recommending
the house TO take immediate action. A warm de-
bate sprung up, during which message was
ceived from the senate announcing that that
body had passed the house resolution declar-
ing reduction OF tax on whisky and
tobacco inexpedent. Finally the communi-
cation referred to the committee
ways and means...... The military academy bill was
taken up and passed The house then went into
committee of the whole on the state OF the union
and considered the bill granting pensions TO sol
diers of the Mexican and other wars but after dis
cussion rose without action. n......Adjourned.
Senate.
FRIDAY, February ia number of
bills and petitions of public importance were
presented, after which consideration resumed
of the silver bill, Ingalls, opening the debate with
a speech in favor thereof. Allison and Lamar fol-
lowed the latter presenting resolutions of the egis-
ature of Mississippi instructing their senators to
vote for the bill, and stating that he would not
withstanding, vote against the bill. The debate
having been closed, the question was on Morgan's
amendment, submitted some days ago, when Nor
gan and withdrew it,. The question then
CURED on the amendment Of Beck, striking out the
free coinage feature and inserting clause directing
the secretary OF the treasury to purchase not less
than s. 600 600 werth of silver bullion per month to
he coined into dollars Rejected-nays 40, yeas q.
Morrill, submitted an amendment providing that
not than % per cent. for the first year 80
per cent. for the second year of customs duties
shall be payable in silver. Rejected. Wal
lace submitted an amendment that $780,
900 in silver dollars shall be coined
during the first three years, and if the average
monthly price paid for silver bullion during
the best twelve months shall be less than 97-1O0 of
adolar, free coinage shall be suspended until furth
er act IN by congress Rejected. Edmunds sub
mitted an amendment as follows - But nothing
ing in lnis section shall be construed to interfere
with with the coinage OF gold and subsidiary coins
as now authorized by law" Rejected. The ques.
tion then recurred the, second section of
the bill, providing for international commission
to adopt ratio OF legal tender between gold and
silver. Adopted after the words legal tender
stricken out. Mcdonald submitted amendment
the clause, making the silver dollar legal tender
for all debs and dues except where otherwise pro-
vided by contract So to read instead of provided
"by express stipulation in contract" Agreed to
yeas 81, nays 35. Merrill substituted amend
ment as follows: 'And for all uncom pleted
tracts requiring money payments, such payments
shall be made on the basis OF value represented by
| United States notes of the date OF such con-
tracts" Rejected-yeas 20, nays a. Cameron. of
Wisconsin, Submitted an amendment that the silver
dollar shall consist OF 420 grains of standard silver
instead OF 4l212. Blaine submitted an amendment
to that of Cameron 50 as to have the silver dollar
consist OF 425 grains instead of 420. Rejected
yeas %, nays IS. Eaton submitted an amendment
to have the dollar coined OF 440 grains of standard
silver instead Of 41215 Reected-yeas p, nays "A.
Whyte submitted an amendment so to limit the
legal tender power OF the silver dollar to $40. Be
jected-yeas 20, nays 46 Burnside submitted an
amendment as to provide that silver dollars shall
he legal tender at their nominal value for all debts
and duties amounting TO sums over s., except where
otherwise stipulated. Rejected AT O'Clock the
]
I
Isas-Allison, Armstrong, Bailey, Beck, Booth,
Bruce, Cameron, of Pennsy ylvanla, Cameron, of
Wisconsin Chaflee, CockrelI Cook, Conover, Davis,
of illinois, Davis, of W. Va, Dennis, Dorsey,
Eustis, Ferry, Garland Gordon, Grover, Hereford,
Howe, ingalls,, Johnston, Jones OF Fla, Jones, of
I New, Kellogg, Kirkwood, McCreery, Mcdonald,
/ Mcmillan, Matthews, Maxey, Merrimon, Morgan,
/ Oglesby, Paddock. Plumb, salisbury, Saunders,
/ Spencer, Teller Thurman, Voorhees,, Wallace,
Window Withers-iS.
1 Nays-Anthony, Barnum, Bayard, Blaine Burn
side, Christiancy, Conkling, Dave, Edmunds
/ Hamlin, Hoar, Herman, Lamar, Mcpherson Mitch
ell, Morrill,, Randolph, Rollins, Sargent, Wadleigh
and Whyte-2l
Messrs Harris and Patterson, who would have
/ voted in the Affirmative, paired with Hill and
/ Butler who would have voted in the negative.
Ransom, who would have voted in the affirmative,
absent account of sickness......0n motion Of
Allison the title Of the bill amended to read
bill to authorize the col mage of standard sill
yer dollar and 10 restore its legal tender eharae
ter" Ate o'clock, after continuous joint ses-
sion of seventeen hours the senate adjourned until
Monday.
House.
FRIDAY, February l5.-At the e1pi-
rarior of the r,orninp hour tho house went intn