The Osceola times., 1878-04-20
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE.

In the house, on the 9Th. Immediately
after the reading of the journal the speaker
said the first question In order was whether
the resolution presented Friday last by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Butler) pre-
sented the question Of privilege. The house
by viva voce vote, manifestly decided II
did. But Mr.. Conger thought, as the action
of the house would be a precedent, it would
be better to make the vote by yeas and nays
and they were therefore ordered and re-
sulted-yeas, 2l9; nays, 4. The negative
votes we're: Bland. Mills, Throckmorton and
Young. The speaker stated that the house
having Just decided the resolution to be a
question Of privilege, the resolution was be,
fore the house. Ii Is in these words Re.
solved, That the house proceed to the
election Of doorkeeper, and that the true
union manned soldier, Gen. Jas. Shields, OF
Missouri, be chosen to that Office Mr.
Clymer asked Mr.. Butler to allow him to
offer a substitute for the resolution and
offered the following Resolved, That the
house proceed to the election OF doorkeeper.
The vote was then taken, and resulted: For
CHARLES w. Field, 1913, all cast by democrats
for James Shields, l01, all but one cast by
republicans, and that one being cast by Mr..
Springer; for John fl. Trent, 8, cast by
Messrs. Erret, Blaine, Evans, O'Neill, White,
Hermer, Randolph and Bagley ...... Mr.. Clark
asked for unanimous consent to introduce
for present consideration bill authorizing
the president to appoint James Shields a
brigadier general of the U. 8. army on the
retired list, his pay to commence from the
time of the passage OF the bill. The bill was
passed, yeas 22s, nays s, the negative votes
being cast by Messrs. Randolph, White
PENN ONeill, Jones, Cox (Ohio) and
Acklin......M Mr.. Butler moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill introduced by him
some time ago to provide for the issuing OF
fifty and twenty-five cent fractional cur.
rency, and one, two, three and five dollars
United States legal tender notes, pending
which the house adjourned.
In the house on the 9th, the unfinished
business Of the Pacific railroad funding bill
was considered, and Mr.. Edmunds advocated
the bill OF the judiciary committee. .. The
house then went into a committee of the
whole, Mr.. Saylor in the chair, upon the
tariff bill......A Mr.. Wood, chairman of the
committee on ways and means, then made a
long speech in explanation and advocacy Of
the bill. Mr.. Banks obtained the floor to
speak in opposition TO the bill, but yielded
to a motion that the committee rise. Com.
mittee thereupon rose. Adjourned.
The house, on the 10th, went into
committee OF the whole, Mr.. Garfield in the
chair, on the pension appropriation bill.
The bill sppropriates 500 2s6, ,074, and pro.
vides that after July J, 1873, pensions shall
be paid by the treasurer OF the United
States, under the direction o. the secretaries
Of the treasury and Of the interior. The
committee arose without taking any action
on the bill, and the house adjourned.
The house, on the llth, went into com.
mittee Of the whole, Mr.. Garfield in the
chair, on the pension appropriation bill.
Messrs, Chittenden, Fort and Hewitt, OF
New York, advocated the bill, and Messrs.
Hanna, Foster, Thompson and O'Neill op.
posed it.........Mr. Rice offered a resolution
that from and after July, 1878, the offices OF
pension agents shall be filled by wounded
or disabled union soldiers. The amendment
was adopted amid enthusiastic applause and
shouts of laughter. The committee then
rose and reported the bill concurred in. Ad
burned.
In the house, on the 18th, the bill
authorizing the secretary Of war to relinquish
the position of Fort Harsuf, military res
ervation in Nebraska, to homestead and pre-.
emption settlers passed. Also the senate
bill authorizing the construction and sp.
proach within Fort Riley, military reserva.
ton in Kansas......The house went into com.
mittee of the whole, Mr.. Knapp in the chair,
on the private calendar, and soon after ad.
journed.
SENATE.
In the senate, on the 9th, Mr.. Morrill,
reported from the finance committee bill
to repair and put in operation the mint at
New Orleans. Placed on the calendar. .....
The Union Pacific sinking fund bill was
taken up. Messrs Sargent and Chsffee,
stating tnat it was evident that all amend.
ments were TO be voted down, Withdrew
their respective amendments, and the ques.
tion then recurred upon the passage of the
nays, l9......On motion OF Mr.. McCreery, the
senate took up the bill repeating the bank.
rupt act, and pending its consideration the
senate adjourned.
The senate, on the 10th, resumed con-
sideration Of the bill to repeal the bankrupt
act, which came up as unfinished business
from yesterday. Senator Matthews offered
as a substitute for the bill his own bill to
establish a uniform law on the subject of
bankruptcy. He agreed with Senator
MCreery that the present law contained
but little that was good, and that little is SO
embarrassed by delays and vexations az to
be hardly worth consideration. He then
proceeded TO explain the pre- visions of his
bill, comparing it with and pointing out the
differences between its provisions and ex.
planning the law. He contended that the
bill proposed by him came up to the consti-
tutionai requirement Of being strictly in
relation to bankruptcy and uniformity in
its operation. There never had been a
period when there was so much debt, so
much bankruptcy, as at present and in
prospective, and he felt that something
should be done that would afford relief to
the unfortunate bankrupt, while at the same
time protecting the interests OF creditors.
For this reason he had ventured to offer the
substitute now presented. Senator MCreery
rose to reply. but yielded to Senator Sar.
gents motion for the consideration of exec.
utive business, which was agreed TO, and the
senate went into executive session, and when
the doors re.opened adjourned.
In the senate, on the llth, Mr.. Nit.
chell presented the following cablegrsm
from the United States consul at Tientsin
China: Famine spreading; cannibalism
exists no rain worse next year will in.
demnity bill pass % Cablegram was referred
to committee on foreign relations, where the
bill providing for the return Of the Chinese
indemnity fund to China is pending....... Al
the expiration Of the morning hour consid
Grafton was resumed Of unfinished business
being the repeal Of the banking act Mr.
DAVIS, Of Illinois favored amending the
present law II the senate should reject the
bill to repeal, and said he was authorized Ia
say that Mr.. Edmunds took the same view.
The bill was then laid aside 1.-THE senate
proceeded to consider the deficiency appro
priation bill. After considerable discussion
the bill passed .........Mr. Wallace introduced
bill to authorize the issue OF passports "a
colored citizens going TO Brasil free ol
charge. Referred. Adjourned I'll Monday,
Mss
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