The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-04-25
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the senate, April 10, Mr.. Sargent SUBJ
mitted an amendment to the House bill to
place the name of James Shields on the re-
tired list of the army, with the rank of
Brlgadler General, SO as to strike out all
after the enacting clause, and insert in lieu
thereof provision authorizing the Presi-
dent to p ace on the retired list of the army
a large number of officers named, with the
full rank held by them when mustered out
of service. Among these names are the
following: Generals U. S. Grant, John A.
Dix, George B. Mcclellan, n. P. Banks, B.
F. Butler, A. E. Burnside, John A. Logan,
Carl SchurZ, A. P easonton, James SHE ls,
j. A Garfield. Charles Devens, J. d. Cox
and some fifteen or eighteen other we'll
known officers in the late war. Referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr..
Maxey called up the Senate bill appropri
improvements on the Galveston (Texas)
Harbor. Passed. The Senate fairly sur
prised itself to-day by disposing of
the bill to repeal the Bankrupt
Law. 1t had been expected that several
days would be consumed in debate upon
this measure, but nobody showed any in
clinaiion to prolong the discussion to-day,
so vote was taken and the bill passed in ex-
actly the form and language in which it was
reported by the Judiciary Committee. SEN
ator Matthews withdrew his proposed
amendment, it being evident that the Senate
was in favor of totally repeating the law.
Ony six Senators voted against the
Judiciary Committee,s BILL, namely, An
me%0 sheTY soh and saandera Bu5nsde
Senators voted to repeal .........
In the House, there was breeze when the
Blair Presidential resolutions were pre-
sented by Mr.. Kimmell, of Maryland. Mr..
Garfield objected to their reception or refer
ence to any commi tee. This made sensa-
ton, showing how sensitive the members
are on the subject. A parliamentary snarl
participated in by Messrs. Garfield, Cox,
Thompson, Stephens and others. The
morning hour expired before the matter
was finished, and it will be taken up at
a future day. In the evening the House
met for debate on the Tariff Bill.
In the Senate, April 16, Senator Howe's
resolution calling upon the President for
Judge Whitaker, was adopted. Then much
broader resolution, offered by Senator
Davis, making similar inquiry of the Sec
retary of the Treasury as to all cases of de.
falcation that have been standing unprose-
cuted, was adopted Immediately after
wards. A bill to incorporate the
National Pacific Railroad and Tele.
In the House, on motion of MIR. Stenger,
the Senate bill authorizing the issue of pass
ports free to colored citizens going to Brazil
was passed. The House spent the princi.
pal part of the day in Committee of the
Whole on the Postoffice Appropriation
Bill. The House spent an evening session
in the passage of pension bills. On the pri.
vate calendar a number of bills were re-
ported, including one by Mr.. Mackay for
the relief of the heirs of the late James Mon.
roe, an officer in the Revolutionary Army
and subsequently, President of the United
States.
In the Senate, April 16, Mr.. Wheeler being
| absent, Senator Ferry was elected President
pro tenn. Mr.. Window, Chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, submitted a
concurrent resolution directing the Presi
dent of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House to declare their respective Houses ad
jeurned without day the 10th of June, al
twelve o'clock m. Agreed to unanimously
After brief discussion, by vote # yeas
3S, nays II, Mr.. Burnside's bill, to remove all
| restrictions in regard to the enlistment o.
colored citizens in any arm of the United
States army, was indeti itely postponed. 500.
In the House, the bill from the Committee
| on Banking and Currency was reported, re
pealing the act authorizing the coinage o.
| the twenty-cent silver piece, and Mr.. Phil
| lips from the same committee, reported
bill providing for the deposit of savings in (
| popular loan, and for funding the Nationa
debt in home bonds. 1t provides that any
person may deposit money in any sum no
tess than twenty-five cents in any posta
money order Office, and when such deposit
reach ten dollars the Postmaster shall issu'
to the depositor a postal order on th
United States Treasury, who shall issu
from all taxation. Referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole. At the expiration o
the morning hour, a MESSAGE was received
from the Senate announcing that that bod
had adopted resolution for final adjourn
nent of Congress on the 10th of June. TIL
announcement was received with applause
A motion to refer the same resolution to tn
Committee of Ways and Means, was dt
feated, and the House adjourned withou
action on it.
In the Senate, April 1S, Mr.. Garlan
called up the Senate bill, supplementary t
the act Of March 3, 1877, in relation to tn
Hot Springs Reservation, Ark, and it wa
passed. The bill authorizes the PresideI
to appoint three Commissioners to hol
their Office for one year, to have the sam
power as the Commissioners authorized
the act of March 2, 1877, to determin
claims presented under that act, which
continued in force and appropriates til
unexpected balance of $4,000 to col
tinue the work of the commission
House bill to prevent the introduction
, contagious or infectious disease in tt
United States was passed, and also Sena
bill authorizing citizens of Colorado, N
vada, and the territories to fell and remo'
timber on public lands for domestic pu
poses s-.In the House, little business
: importance transacted. The Senate a
! journment resolution was brought up, al
!, pending its discussion, resolution IN 1
! gard to the death of Representative Leonar
7 of Louisiana, was called up.
y In the House, April 10, a motion to POI
pone consideration of the Senate adjour
y ment resolution till May Is was carrie
Pensions, reported back the Senate bill
creasing the pension of General jam
4 Shields from $50 to $50 month. Mr.. Mil
e of Texas, moved to amend by increasi
i the pension to $780,: Agreed to and the b
. was passed. A bill for the free entry
+ articles imported for exhibition by societ
n established for the encouray ement of I