Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-05-31
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.


Mr.. MCMILLAN, OF Minnesota, from the COM
mite on claims, reported with amendments the
House bill making appropriations to pay claims
allowed by the Southern claims commission. e..
A number OF pension bills we're passed, among
others q bill granting pensions to Louisa ].
Guthrie, widow Of Capt John j. Guthrie I;
Ellen Ssxton, widow OF James Saxton ; Celia
Bell, widow of s ephen Bell and Roxana
Walker, widow Of Wills Walker, whose hus-
bands were drowned while attempting to rem
der assistance TO the crew Of the United States
steamer Huron. "A message from the Presi-
dent in regard to the Halifax fishery award was
laid before tue Senate and ordered to be print
cd. Adjourned.
Mr.. Whyte presented resolutions of the
Maryland Legislature in favor Of an appropri-
alton for the construction Of ship canal to
connect Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and
argued IN support Of the project -. An adverse
report was made from the judiciary committee
on the bill permitting women to practice be,
fore the Su RENE Court. The bill to repeal
the resumption act was taken up, and Mr..
Morrill,, Of Vermont, argued at length in favor
of specie resumption The bill authorizing
the President to appoint Gen. Shields briga-
dier-general in the army on the retired list was
then taken up in committee OF the whole. Mr..
Sargent offered an amendment providing that
| Gen. Grant be placed on the retired list, with
! full pay, and it was adopted, by 80 to %.
Adjourned.
The bill forbidding the further retirement Of
| legal tender notes was reported favorably by
the committee ON finance The bill giving
salaries to certain custom house officials in
stead Of allowing them moieties was reported
and placed in the calender The bill author
izing the appointment OF James Shields as a
| brigadier-general on the retired list was taken
up. Mr.. Thurman moved to amend by strik-
ing out the enacting clause and providing for
an increased pension to Gen. Shields, which,
after considerable discussion, was rejected, 81
to 33. The bill was then rejected 80 TO "a. 49,.
The bill to provide permanent form Of gov
eminent for the District of Columbia was then
called up and read after which the Senate
went into executive session, and then adj
journed.
House,
The deadlock which had lasted four days in
the House, arising out Of the presentation of
resolutions for an investigation into the alleged
Irregularities of the Presidential election in
Florida-such deadlock being caused by the
refusal of the Republican members to vote
upon these resolutions and the inability of the
Democrats to obtain quorum-was at last
broken after proceedings which we're charac-
terized by much disorder and confusion, with
controversies on points of order, which once OF
twice became quite personal. On the third at
tempt to vote on the demand Of Mr.. Potter fol
the previous question, lat Democrats Ga
the affirmative, while one, Mr.. Harrison, Of
Illinois, voted in the negative. The Republi
cans refrained from voti e. The demand
for the previous question being seconded, Mr.
Hale moved to lay the motion on the table
which was rejected by strict party vote. The
main question was then ordered by LAT to 1,
tn Republicans refraining from voting, and the
resolution was adopted by 145 to 2, Mills, Of
Texas, and Morse, of Massachusetts, voting il
the negative, and the Republicans again moi
voting. The House then adjourned.
A bill was introduced giving the guarantee Of
abe Government to the payment of five pei
cent. interest on bonds to be issued by various
canal and railroad companies to the amount Of
$189,000,000.. -. The Speaker pro tenn. (Mr
Sayler, of Obio,) announced the committee or
alleged frauds in the Presidential election, and
Mr.. Garfield presented cable dispatch from
Minister Noyes, at Paris requesting to be sub
penaed to appear before the committee =. Ii
Committee of the Whole Messrs. Kimmell an6
Humphrey spoke on the army appropriation
bill, after which the House proceeded to the
consideration of District Of Columbia business
Adj urned.
The army appropriation bill was debated
Messrs. Sparks of linois, Banning of Ohio
and Caldwell of Tennessee defending the bill
and argued in favor of reduction in the army
while Messrs. Phillips and Garfield we're OPP
posed to such reduction. During the debate
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, made a speech
on the labor question: in which he advocated
the cause of the workingmep, saying there
never had been any legislation in behalf Of the
industrial classes, and that they were paid in
sufficient wages