Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-04-11
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

not yet been reached.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
In the Senate on the 1st, Messrs. Beck and
Coke made elaborate speeches on the Pacific
Railroad funding bill. In the House, q
large number of bills were introduced, among
them, one by Mr.. Stephens for the financial
relief Of the country and to facilitate resump
tion without injurously affecting the com
mercial business of the people. 1t directs
that when coin and bullion in the Treasury
exceeds one hundred millions, to redeem le
gal tender, when presented in sums Of 81 ,00(
and upward, with coin of full standard value
The Joint resolution IF the California leg
islature was presented requesting recognition
of the Daz Government Hartzeill, Of Hi
nois, introduced resolution proposing q
constitutional amendment forbidding pay
ment growing out of the destruction of prop
erty in States engaged in rebellion. Re
ferred.
In the Senate OIL the End, Mr.. Burnside
called up as the special order, the bill to re
peal all restrictions now existing in regarc
to the enlistments of colored citizens in any
arm Of the United States army. He explain
ed that there we're but two sections in the
Revised Statutes that placed restrictions up
on the enlistment of the colored men, ano
the military committee had therefore propos
ed substitute for the BILL He advocated the
passage of the bill as removing from the
army, restrictions that had been removed
from every other branch of the service. AT
ter debate, the Senate resumed the consider
alton of the Pacific Railroad funding bill
which came up as unfinished business
and several speeches we're made. In the
House, Mr.. Caldwell, of Tennessee, intro
duced bill to provide for the auditing and ad
iustment of claims against the Post-ofice
Department. Referred. Mr.. Stephens, Of
Georgia, introduced bill to provide for the
free importation of works of art in certain
cases. Referred. Mr.. Foster, Of Ohio, from
the committee on appropriations, reported q
bill appropriating $4,000 to examine and
secure the foundations of the Washington
monument, and after discussion, it was pass
ed. The House then proceeded to the con
sideration of the report of the committee on
civil service reform in relation to doorkeeper
Polk. The report recommends that the office
be declared vacant, and that the duties be
performed temporarily by the Sergeant.at'
Arms. The report was discussed, and pend
ing its consideration, the House, at AS, ad,
journed.
In the Senate on the 3rd, the entire session
was devoted to discussing the Pacific Rail.
road funding bill. In the House, discus
sion of the charges against Door-keeper Polk
occupied the day.
In the Senate on the 4th, Mr.. Morrill, offer.
ed resolution providing for the selection Of
committee of seven to consider the propre'
ty of taking the tenth census. He said
arrangements had to be made during the
present Congress for taking the tenth census,
and as the next session would be short one
preliminary steps should now be taken.
Agreed to. The Pacific Railroad funding
bill consumed the day. In the House, the
entire day was devoted to discussion Of the
charges against Door-keeper Polk, which re.
suited in declaring the Office of Door-keeper
vacant, and temporarily devolving the duties
of that officer on the Sergeant alarms
In the Senate on the 5th, the naval appro,
priation bill was passed and goes to the
House for concurrence. Senator Bruce, Of
Mississippi, introduced bill for the endow-
ment of the Lowery Industrial Academy, for
the education of the colored people, at Hunts
Vile, Ala The bill provides for the perma-
nent investment of 100000 from the sale Of
public lands The Pacific Railroad funding
bill was then discussed to the hour of sdj journ.
ment. In the House, Ben Butler offered a
resolution as question of privilege, that the
House proceed to the election of doorkeep.
er, and that Gen. James Shields, of Missouri,
be declared elected. Gen. Shields is a life.
long Democrat, soldier of the Mexican and
the late civil war, and is a prominent Demo
ocratc asprant for the Office. The Demo.
Gratis, however, did not take kindly to the
idea of having the question forced upon them
from the Republican side, and STAYED off the
resolution until Monday. The House then
adjourned until Monday.
In the Senate on the 9th, the Chair pre-.
sented the credentials of George H. Pendle
ton as Senator from Ohio, from March 4
1879, and they were laid on the table. The
Secretary of War asked for an appropriation
of $4,000 to defray expenses of printing the
records of the Confederate States. The dis
cussion of the Pacific Railroad funding bill
was then resumed and continued to edjourn
1nent without vote. Ia the House, immedi
ately after reading the journal, Buffers reso
luton, nominating for door-keeper General
Shields, was called up. A long and exciting
debate followed, at the conclusion Of which
the following candidates we're nominated fol
door.keeper: G. W. Field, of Georgia F; JAS
Shields, of Missouri; John H. Trent, of Ten
nessee The vote being taken, resulted as
follows: For Field, 1928; for Shields, 101
for Trent, 8. Gen. Field was thereupon de-
clared elected, and was sworn in, taking the
modified oath. Mr.. Clark moved to suspend
the rules and pass the bill authorizing the
President to appoint James Shields briga