Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-02-16
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE.

HOT 81,
In the Aouse, on the 4tb, among the
bills introduced and referred during the
morning hour is one by Mr.. S0uthard au-
thorizing the payment OF customs in legal
tender notes, and one by Mr. Mills providing
| that all bonds hereafter issued by the GOV.
ernment shall be payable, principal and ii.
terest, in gold, silver ur legal tender. BY
| Mr., Davis, of North Carolina; To reduce
| the tax on brandy made from apples peaches
or grapes, So cents. BY Mr.. Riddle For a
constitutional amendment providing ior the
election OF president by direct vote Of the
people. BY Mr., Sexton; Making receivers
| Of railroad corporations amen1able to pro,
cpsses and judgments of the courts o. the
several states through which SAID railroads
are run, Mr.. MacMahon moved TO suspend
the rules and adopt the resolutions recitng
| that in the present condition Of public dis
tress it is important that the wealth Of the
country shall bear fair proportion of the
burdens Of taxation, and instrucling the
committee en- ways and means to report
bill at the earliest practicable moment inn
posinp a gradual tax on excess of incomes
above a reasonable minimum to be fixed by
law, Defeated-yeas, l6j; nays, SS-less
| tUun lNO-lnlIub NOAihS III WV anu hlhNlNNs
The affirmative votes came chiefly from
democrats and the negative votes from re.
publicans. Adjourned.
IN the house, on the 9th, a bill to au.
thorize the construction of bridge across
the Mississippi river Mt Memphis, was taken
up and briefly discussed, and referred to the
committee of the whole on the state of the
union .........Mr. Knott, from the judiciary
committee, reported back the bill introduced
Yesterday by Mr.. Hooker, authorizing the
holding of special terms of the circuit court
for the southern district Of Mississippi al
Scranton, Jackson county, on the second
Monday in March for the trial Of cases
arising out of alleged depredations on gov.
eminent lands and the cutting of logs and
timber thereon. He explained that the
object of the bill was to afford accused par
ties n speedy, convenient and cheap trial,
which they could not otherwise have. If
ob,ection were made that this trial of the
cases in the immediate vicinity of the
accused would lead to the impanneling of
Jurors whose sympathies would be with the
defendants, the answe. to that was that the
court might direct the summOning OF jurors
from other parts of the district Mr..
Hooker described the utter prOstratiOn OF
business which had attended the seizure oil
the lumber mills in that region, the aggregate
business of which amounted to some 4,OOO,'
600 a wear. They had all been stopped
through the action OF the government, and
vessels engaged in the carrying trade there
have heen left idle or have gone into other
business. Finally the bill passed--yeas, l39;
navs lO2 The house then went into COM
,n;Itea of the whole, Mr.. Blackburn in the
chair and resumed consideration OF the
military academy appropriation bill. Mr..
Clymer intimated that there were far too
,n3nv professors at West Point. There were
: Of Them to every 81 ~ students, and thelF
nav, exclusive Of quarters, etc amounted TO
about 5000 more than the cost OF supporting
the $40 cadets There was something radl'
cally wrong in that The committee ON ap'
nropriations had not wished to recommend
The reduction Of the number OF professors,
lest they might be accused OF absorbing TOO
much liquidation, but he commented the
snbiect TO the attention Of the committee on
military affairs. Without disposlng OF the
nending amendment the committee rose and
the house adjourned.
Tn the house, on the 9th, Mr.. Bruce
pre,ented resolutions OF the Mississippi leg>
;slsture in favor of the passage OF OIL re,
muperating certain citizens, mil owners ana
iog men. for damages sustained by tnem on
account of the seizure of certain lumber ana
io0s In the lumber district by agents oil the
United States. Referred"",Ih senate pili
N remit taxes on insolvent savings banks
was called up by Mr.. Davis, OF Illinois, and
discussed until the expiration oi the morning