The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-21
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, March II, a resolution was
agreed to appointing General w. T. Sher.
man member of the Board of Regents of
the Smithsonian Institute, In place Of
George Bancroft, resigned. A. resolution
was agreed to requesting the President to
furnish copies Of Correspondents 5etweeh
Great Britain and the United States in rela-
ton to the appointment of third Com
missioner to settle international claims. A
bill in aid of the contemplated Polar Expedi-
ton was presented. A bill providing for an
Alcoholic Liquor Traffic Commission was
passed. A HOUSE bill was reported back
favorably, making persons charged With
crimes and ohenses, competent as witnesses
in Cnited Statas or Territorial Courts.........
In the House, Mr.. Ewing presented joint
resolution proposing greenback amend
ment to the Constitut: on. A bill was pre-
sented providing that certain stocks, bonds,
and other Government securities may be
taxed under State laws. After discussion
the House adjourned for an evening session
for discussion, at which a number of
| speeches were delivered before a small
attendance.
In the Senate, March 12, resolution was
agreed to instractihg al induity Tits ths
expediency of prosecuting certain claims
! against the Government in Circuit Courts
| for the districts in which they originate.
| a bill il aid sf the Polar expedition, de;
signed by James Gordon Bennett, was passed
/ NlbuOub ucUdtC......s..Iu 1uC
House, most of the day was occupied in de-
bate that resulted in no action.
In the Senate, March 13, bill was pre-
sented for the relief Of book agents of the
M. q. Church Sottth, appropriating $150,0O0
to compensate parties in Nashville for dam
Various appropriations were agreed to, in
cluding the passage of the Military Bill. A
Senate bill passed continuing till February
/, 1879, the Commission to hear claims re.
lating to the Government reservation
at Hot Springs, Arkansas; authorizing
the lease to tile Hot Springs Noun
tain Water Company of bathing sites
a reservoir to supply the town with water.
House bill passed making persons charged
with crimes and offenses competent wit
nesses in United, States and Territorial
Courts......In the House, bill passed max
ing changes in the duties of foreign Consuls,
and in the salaries of the same, and foreign
Ministers. The Senate bill passed in aid OF
the Bennett Polar Expedition.
In the Senate, March IA, a number of pen
sion bills were passed during the morning
hour, among them one granting fifty dollars
: month to the widow Of Rear Admiral
Charles Wilkes: Consideration was ther
resumed of unfinished business, being the
bill in regard to the Pacific Railroad Sink
ing Fund, and Mr.. Matthews spoke in favol
| of the bill reported by the Committee OF
3 Railroads. The day was spent in debate ant
theSenate adjourned till Monday .u.. In th'
House, bill passed restricting the numbe
of assistants to District Attorneys to one fo
: each, and limiting the fee to $1,000. 1
n Greenbaek bill was reported by Mr.. Voor
0 hees. A bill was passed limiting the com
pensation of Clerks of the United State
District and Circuit Courts to $500 whel
d d one person holds the two offices. The Hous
d bill passed, extending to three years tn
4 | for ho Uifbdro oil from houd of n Is
r titled spirits A bill providing for an ar
p preparation of $4,000 Contingent Hous
> Fund, passed.
= In the House, March Is, Mr.. Robin.
. from the Committee on Ways and Means, RI
It ported substitute for the bill to promot
n the deposit OF savings in the Treasury: an
E. the fetunding of the National debt, whic
d was referred to the Committee of tn
! Whole. The bill provides that for the pul
- pose of refunding the outstanding six-pe
n cent. bonds into bonds bearing a lower rat
}, OF interest, any person may deposit at an
postal money order Office lawful money {
the United States, in sums not less tina
r. one dollar, and shall be entitle
he to receive therefor postal none
,g order on the Treasury, and that when sue
,g money order shall be presented to the Trea
n. ury at Washington, they shall be entered
: the credit of the depositor, and when sue
~ deposits amount to fifty dollars they shal
OF BILE into four per cent. bonds. On motto
NJ of Mr.. Springer, to-mOrrow's session was s
he apart for private business. The contest.
- election case of Dean VS.. Field, from Il
=. Third District of Massachusetts,, was thu
no considered. The Speaker announced Il
ID death, in Havana, of yello " fever, of Ho
ng J. E. Leonard, of Louisiana, and the Hou
al adjourned out of respect to his memory.
so. In the House, March 16, Mr.. ONeill I
, fered resolution directing the Attorn
na General to inform the House whether
all his opinion, the annual appointment OF t
,ar cadets at large made by the President
ed. spectively to the Military Academy and
al. Naval Academy, have been made in p'
suance of law, or by custom, and ii by c.
tom, how long it has been construed as
tablishing such power of appoinime
ia Adopted. At the conclusion of the mo
- ing hour, Mr.. Bright moved the House
ne into Committee of the Whole on the priv
to calendar, the bill being one making ay
a able for the payment of certain antebell
d mail contractors the $375,00 already
lat propriated, and also moved that all deb
be limited to ten minutes. The Republics
objected to the limitation OF time, and
80 yeas and nays were ordered on that mott
10 The Committee of the Whole, without
VIII cussion, struck out the enacting claus
has the bill for the relief of certain South n
ee, contractors, aud reported its action to
House, which effectually defeats the bill