Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-07
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Aann1A.

senate.
Mr.. Plumb of Kansas, called up the Senate
bill aut horizing the secretary Of war TO nave
erected headstones over the graves of Union
soldiers who ha Q been inferred in private GEM
eteries. Passed. The bill to establish per-
manent government in the District Of Col
umbia was discussed without action. Ad-
journed.
MIR, Edmonds, from the select committee in
the counting of the electoral vote reported a
bill amending the present law in some respects.
:. The committee on education and labor re
ported adversely on the House joint resolution
constituting the eight-hour law, and prohibiting
reduction of wages by the government on &C
count of decrease in hours. The bill provid-
ing for an additional Judge for the second
New York; Judicial circuit was passsd. The
District of Columbia government bill was again
considered in committee OF the whole, without
action. Adjourned.
resolution calling for the unpublished por-
tons Of the correspondence relating to the fish
cries award was agreed to-. "A bill appropriate
ing $3.50 900 for fire-proof building for the
National Museum at Washington was reported.
49, The bill providing for government for
the District of Columbia was further amended
and passed. The bill provides for the appoint
ment of three commissioners-to be nomin-
ated by the President and confirmed by the
Senate-to manage the affairs of the District.
Adjourned.
The army appropriation bill was debated,
Messrs. Sparks of Illinois, Banning of Ohio,
and Caldwell of Tennessee defending the bill
and argued in favor of reduction in the army,
while Messrs. Phillips and Garfield were OPP
posed to such reduction. During the debate,
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, made speech
on the labor question, in which he advocated
the cause of the workingmen, saying there
never had been any legislation in behalf Of the
industrial classes, and that they were paid in
sufficient wages.
| Mr.. Beebe, of New York. offered resolution
calling for information as to Presidential par
dons of criminals since March, 1877. Adopted.
| la resolution vas submitted as question
Of privilege by Mr.. Harrison, Of Illinois, di-
recting the Potter special Florida election in
yestigation committee also to investigate al
| legged frauds in Oregan and South Carolina
and declaring that, as the Forty-fourth Con-
gress had counted the Electoral votes and
declared the result, is Is not now in the power
| OF Congress, nor is it the purpose of the
| House, to attempt to annul the action of the
Forty-fourth Congress The point being
raised whether the resolution was question
Of privilege, standing vote was taken, but
few voting. A vote was then taken
by yeas and nays, the result being
yeas H. nays so. But few of the Republicans
voted, and not nearly all OF the Democrats
The objection being made that no quorum had
voted, Mr.. Harrison (amid storm of calls to
order) withdrew the resolution stating that he
was not DESTROYS Of obstructing business. Mr..
Wilson, of West Virginia, then offered reso-
luton authorizing the elect committee to in
vestigate electoral frau in any State where it
should have probable cause to believe that such
frauds were practised. Mr.. Cox of New York
moved to refer the re ,)lution to the select
committee, and demanded the previous ques-
ton. The motion was defeated-yeas SO nays
115-and the resolution WAS adopted without a
division. The army appropriation bill was
discussed without action. Adjourned.
The army appropriation bill was taken up
and'after discussion the amendment increasing
the strength from 10000, as proposed, to 25,.
900. its present force, was adopted by lis to
1O7 The item for pay for the army was, on
motion of Mr.. Hewitt, increased from $780,.
600 to $9,090,000 to correspond with the in.
crease of the force from 10000 to % 1000 men
the item for subsistence was also increased in
the same proportion. :. On motion of Mr.. Rid.
die, of Tennessee, bill to amend the pension
act Of 18th June, 1874, wa taken from the cal
endar and passed. 1t increases to 1924 month
the pensions of all those pensioners who have
lost an arm below the elbow, or 80 near the
elbow as to destroy the use of the arm, or 8
leg below the knee, or so near the knee as to
destroy the use of the leg Adjourned.
Bills from the committee on pensions were
passed, as follows A bill repeating the sec
ton of the revised statutes which provides thai
no claim for pension not prosecuted to sue
cessful issue within five years from the date
of filing the same shall be admitted without
record evidence from the war or navy depart
ment bill increasing to $72 per month thu
pensions paid to soldiers or sailors who have
lost both arms, or both legs or the sight o.
both eyes, and bill making it unlawful fol
! any attorney or claim-agent to demand or re
ceive for his services in apension case a great
er sum than 80. The army appropriation
bill was debated without definite action. Ad
journed.
Mr.. Wood, of New York, introduced bill tt
: establish permanent sinking fund by appro
priating 80 ,00J,U00 annually to pay interes
on the public debt and buy and cancel sucf
bonds as can be bought at par, and, at the
same time, repeating the existing sinking func
law. The army appropriation bill was taker
up, and MIR. Scales amendment transftrrin.
the Indian control to the war department. wal
adopted by 113 to.107 Mr.. Knott moved tt
amend by prohibiting the use of any part o.
the army as q posse contitdtus or to enforce thu
laws except when expressly authorized b,
Congress- Adopted by 100 to 112. The bill
was then reported to the House, and vot'
taken on the amendment making the maximum
force 25 900 instead of 10000, which was de
feated by yeas, 116; nays, 100. A motion II
reconsider was laid on the table. The force i
thus limited to 10000 men. Adjourned with
out disposing Of the bill.