The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-03
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Senate.

= I
Mr.. Thurman, from the committee on the
judiciary, reporteda bill prohibiting members
Of Congress from becoming sureties for govern
ment contractors. Mr.. Conkling called up
the Senate bill In aid Of q Polar expedition,
designed by James Gordon Bennett, and re-
ported from the committee on commerce on
the previons day, and it was! passed unani-
mously without debate. It authorizes the
secretary Of the treasury to issue 8 American
register to the vessel purchased by James
Gorden Bennett, under the name Of Jeanette,
and also authorizes TIE President Of the United
States to detail, with their own consent, COM
navy, not tn exceed ten in number to act as
officers of said vessel during her first voyage to
the Arctic seas provided, however, that such
detail shall be made Of such officers only as the
President is satisfied can be absent from their
regular duties without detriment to the public
service. 800. The bill creating 1.-THE United States
treasury q sinking fund to pay the debts Of the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad COM
panies was debated. After executive session
the Senate adjourned.
The House bill making appropriations for.
forti6cations and other works Of defense was
reported. MIR. Kellogg introduced q bill to
establish a mint at New Orleans. .. "A bill ap-
propriating $50, 600 for damage done to the
property Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, during the war WAS reported favorably.
....A letter from the secretary Of the interior
in regard to the timber depredations was read,
and MIR. Blaine made q speech criticising the
course Of Secretary Schurz in collecting one
dollar per cord, stumpage, in Montana. The
West Point appropriation bill was passed with
some amendments. Adjourned.
Mr.. Voorhees,, of Indiana, introduced q bill
providing for the payment Of all customs
duties and all other debts due the United
States in legal tender notes at par, exception
cases where it is otherwise expressly stipulated
on the face Of the obligation or contract. Re-
ferred to the committee on finance. After
further discussion Of the Pacific railroad sink
ing fund bill the Senate adjourned.
Numerous petitions against the revival Of
the income tax were presented. The bill to
permit women in practice in the highest court
Of any State to practice in the supreme court
of the United States was reported upon ad-
versely. The bill prohibiting members OF
Congress from becoming ~sureties for contrac-
tors was passed. The Notifications appropri-
atoms bill WAS passed without amendment. 1t
appropriates $275, 600. The bill granting an
American register to 8 foreign built vessel for
q scientific expedition around.the world was
discussed without action AFTER receiving
several amendments to the bill organizing q
life-saving and coast guard service and discuss
ing the Pacific railroad sinking fund bill the
Senate adjourned. .
The committee on railroads reported Texas
Pacific and Southern Pacific railroad bills. IA
bill to protect American purchasers Of foreign
acting plays and dramas WAS introduced bymr.
Blaine. This bill granting American register
to e vessel for the Woodruff scientific expedi-
ton was passed.. The bill to amend tho
act relating to the cultivation Of timber was
debated and then laid aside 80. The
Pacific Railroad sinking fund bill was
discussed for som time without action.
The bill authorizing the employment Of tenn
porary clerks in the treasury and interior de-
partments was debated for some time, and MIR.
Blaine spoke upon bis amendment providing
to force the collection Of taxes on wood and
lumber used by actual settlers taken from
government lands which have not been sur
veyed or offered for sale, attacked the secre-
|tary Of the interior, who was defended by
Messrs. Dawes, Hoar, Christiancy, and others.
.... The West Point bill was received from
the House, and the Senate insisted on its
amendments and asked for q conference COM
mittee. Adjourned.
..& IL House.
The consular and diplomatic appropriation
bill came up for discussion. An amendment
estoring the pav.of frst-class missions to the
original amount was rejected .:....Mr. Reagan,
Of Texas, made, an explanation in regard to the
subject Of proposed payment Of mail route
contractors in the South for services rendered
previous to the. war. He stated that he had
forgotten about the legislation in the Con.
federate Legislature regarding the matter, and
hoped the House would not consider he had
been dealing unfairly with it. Mr.. Conger, OF
Michigan disclaimed any intention TO reflect
upon Mr.. Reagan in the matter. Dill
granting an American register to the Pandora
for the Bennett Arctic exploring expedition
was passed. Adjourned.
The bill to extend the time for paying the
tax on distilled spirits in bonded warehouses
was discussed and amended go as to require
that the tax paid shall be the same as when
put in bond. Adjourned. :,
Mr.. Springer moved to suspend the rules and
pass a bill authorizing the coinage OF gold and
silver on tho same terms, and the issue OF Ger
ti6cates of deposit on them. Action was de-
]ayed by opponents Of the bill until the hour
for other business and the matter went over.
Bills were introduced by Messrs. Vance
and Elan providing for the payment OF GER
tain Southern mail contracts, and by Mr. Con
ger, repeating the law aapproprlating $500 Oo
for the payment OF certain southern mai con-
tracts. Adjourned.
Bills we're passed reducing the pay OF United
States Jurors from So to 80, and limiting the
DIV of United States marshals to 5000, Of
Grief deputies to 81, 500, and other deputies to
IS a dav.. The Pension bill, appropriating
$40, 2s9, 900, was reported. The West Point
Academy bill was reported back, with recon-
mendation to agree to som and dissent from
others Of the Senate amendments. The report
was agreed to-. The General Deficiency bill
was discussed in committee Of the WHOLE.
The Senate bill appointing General Sherman a
reoant of the Smithsonian Institute, instead of
George Bancroft, resigned, was taken up and