The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-12-05
Congress at Work

WAsHISGTOX, Dec. 3.-Mr. Paddock,
of Nebraska, submitted a resolution
instructing the Committee on Finance
TO inquire into the eXpediency Of ma
king the trade dollar a legal tender for
all debts, public and private, aud pro-
viding for the suspension of the coin
age # the standard silver dollar ofil2l.
grains, and their recoinnge into the
trade dollar Of i2O grains, and for the
additional coinage Of the trade dollar
AS the needs of the country demand.
Laid over under the rules.
Nj. Morrill,, of Vermont, introduced
a bill to authorize the issue Of c%ertii-
Gates of deposit. Laid on the table TO
be referred to the Committee on Fl
nance, when appointed. Ii authorizes
the Secretary OF the Treasury to issue
in exchange for United States notes or
coin, certificates of deposit Of the de-
nomination of ten dollars or any null
tiple thereof, not exceeding 500, bear
ing interest at the rate Of $50 per
cent. per annum and convertible at
any time within one year into four per
cent. bonds described in the funding
act, and the money so received shall be
applied to the payment of the $50
bonds in tho mode prescribed by said
act; and he is authorized to prescribe
said rules and regulations in conform
ity with this act.
Caucuses were held this morning by
both Republican and Democratic mem
beers of the Senate, to determine their
respective courses of action upon Mr..
| Blaine's resolution, submitted yester-
day, which provides for an inquiry by
! the judiciary Committee concerning
the alleged violation Of the right OF
suffrage at the recent elections, and the
propriety of enacting additional legts-
lation for its more perfect security III
all the States of the Union. The Re
publicans decided to press the resolu-
ton for adoption after amending to
provide that the investigation shall be
made by a special committee instead OF
the Committee on the Juciary. 1t was
also determined in the Republican cau-
Gus that a resolution shall be offered
shortly for discussion and action in
the Senate declaring the entire Validity
of the constitutional amendments and
asserting the propriety or enforcing
them by appropriate legislation. The
Democratic Senators with unanimity
decided to take the position that the
Blaine resolution should be amended
so as to refer to the alleged violations
of the laws OF Infringement of the right
of suffrage in both Northern and South
ern States, instead of emitting refer
ence to a specific part of the country,
and that as thus amended they will
vote for its adoption.
House.
The House is in Committee Of the
Whole on the Military Academy APP
preparation bill, which appropriateS
IS. 766,470, a reduction of 100000 be
low the appropriation for the current
year.
The House passed the Military Acad'
envy and the fortifcation appropriation
bills with very little debate. There
was no amendment to the latter and II
is identical with the bill of last year
This passing of two of the general APP
priation bills on the second day of thC
session is unprecedented in The history
Of the House.
The House Committee on Banking
and Currency had a meeting to-day
and determined to oppose the adoption
of the Senate substitute for the lloust
bill to repeal the specie resumption
act, which bill, with the Senate amend
ment was left on the Speakers table a
the close of last session. The Chairman
was therefore authorized to move it
reference to the committee whenever
is reached in the calendar of business
Oh the Speakers table. The Senat,
substitute provides for the reception 0
United States at par for customs due
and bonds from and after the first o
last October, and for the reissue anC
maintenance, with full legal tende
powers, of all United States notes re
deemed in coin on and after the frs
Of January next.
Mr.. Rainey introduced a bill in tn
House to-day in relation to election
frauds. 1t imposes a fine not exceed
ing one thousand dollars and imprison
ment not exceeding two years for usin,
ballots other than one printed III plail
white paper, and provides that ever!
ballot found in the box with a distin
puished mark shall not be counted un
der a like penalty. Similar penaltie
are imposed for interfering with, in
timidating or preventing voters frOr
casting ballots. All ballots foun'
folded together are to be thrown on
and not counted.