The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-03-21
HOUSE.

WAsHINGTON, March 1S.-The following
bills were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. VANCE. Granting pension to
soldiers who enlisted out Of prisons; also
for the payment of certain Southern mail
contractors. This bill provides that no
claims shall be paid which have hereto
fore been paid by the Confederate Govern
ment.
By Mr.. SAMPSON. Proposing an
amendment to the Constitution providing
hat the President shall be elected by d.
rect vote Of the people.
By Mr.. CONGER. Repeating the law
sppropriating S375, 900 for the payment Of
certain Southern mail contractors
BY Mr.. EWING. To grant to the State
of Ohio the unsold public lands remaining
in that state.
By Mr.. cox, of n. Y. For the erection
-of monument over the grave of Thos.
Jefferson.
Mr.. SPRINGER moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill authorizing the
coinage of silver on the same terms as the
coinage of gold, ard without expense to the
holder Of bullion; also authorizing the is
sue of coin certificates on the deposit Of sill
yer bullion, similar to those now authorized
on the deposit of gold bullion.
On a viva vOce vote, the ayes were in a
decided minority, but, before a vote OF yeas
and nays could be taxed, the hour OF two
o'clock arrived and the House under the rule
proceeded to the consideration of the bus
mess of the District OF Columbia.
Mr.. MAYHAM, from the District Of
Columbia committee, reported a bill in
yesting the District Commissioners with
81 ,>o,-or of tho late PnarI of AntIt for
the purpose of issuing certificates on
claims passed upon and allowed by such
board, but for which no certificates have
been prepared; also provides that out
standing certificates issued by the Board of
Audit, or which shall hereafter be issued
| bv the Commissioners, shall be convertible
| into 3-65 bonds.
The bill was referred to the Committee
of the Whole, and then the House resolved
| itself into such committee for the purpose
of considering this bill.
Mr.. EDEN opposed the bill. He some
times heard about paving the Southern
| claims, but he never had seen a batch oil
claims that he thought 80 little OF as this
mass Of rotten claims which came up from
| the purlieus ef the old Washington ring.
After farther discussion, the committee,
| without action, rose and the House adj
journed.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-Mr. Phillips
gave notice that when the House began the
consideration of the bill in relation to pos
tai savings, he would offer, as a substitute,
a bill favorably considered BY the commit
tee on Banking and Currency on the same
subject.
Mr.. HARRISON, chairman OF the COM
mittee on Civil Service Reform, submitted
a majority report OF that committee on the
matter of the charges against Door-keeper
Polk. 1t declares Polk to be unfit for the
| responsibilities of the position and recon-
| mends the adoption OF resolution declar-
| ing the office OF door-keeper vacant and de-
| voiving its duties on the Sergeant-at-Arms
until the appointment Of new door-keeper.
| The minority report, signed by Messrs.
Cooks, Crayens, Garth and Henry, declares
that no corruption having been proven or
even charged against Col. Polk, 1t
would be a grievous wrong to adopt the
majority resolution. and Mr.. Harrison gave
notice that he would not call the matter up
before Saturday.
Mr.. DURHAM from the Committee on
Expenditures in the Department OF Justice,
reported back the bill fixing the cOmpensa-
ton of Jurors in U. 5. courts, and reducing
it from three dollars to two dollars. Pass
ed. Also, the bill liking the fees OF clerks
of said courts. 1t allows a charge of ten
cents for searching court records for liens
on real estate. and provides til. Il =
shall account for the same; 10 Shs blu
fixing the compensation of L. -s..-..s
and deputies il limits that OF Marshals to
=. 900: chief deputies to $500, and other
deputies to S5 day Passed.
MIR. SINGLETON reported bill regu-
lating the advertisement for mail lettings,
and pending action, the morning hour ex-
pired.
Mr.. SMITH, of Pennsylvania, from the
Committee on Appropriations reported
bill making an appropriation for the pay
ment OF invalid and other pensions. IL
appropriates $40 $500 Referred 10 the
Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. DURHAM, from the same commit
tee reported back the West Point Academy
bill, and, recommending concurrence IN
some of the senate amendments and non-
concurrence in Others
After some debate the House agreed to
report.
Mr.. HEWITT, of New York, offered
resolution calling on the Attorney Gener-
nj for information as TO whether foreclosure
proceedings are now pending against the
property and franchise Of the Kansas Pa
cihc Railroad, and the present condition
of the same; also as to the extent Of the
government interest affected or liable to be
affected by such proceeding and what steps
has been taken to protect such interests.
Adopted.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole on the general deficiency bill.
The total sum recommended by the bill is
81 .3S6. .465, and without any general debate
the Clerk proceeded TO read the bill by Sec
tons The clause appropriating $4,000
for the constructing, repairing, enlargina
and renting vaults and safes for the use OF
the Treasurer and assistant treasurers OF
the United States, presented ground for in
auiry by Mr. Hanna whether these vaults
were for the purpose of the boarding Of the
silver coin lately authorized, and, If 30, he
was opposed to it, because he wanted TO see
silver put in circulation instead of being
boarded.
To this, reply was made by Mr.. Chitten-
den, defendine;the course Of the Treasurer in
not paying out silver coin for the debts Of
the Government. The Secretary could not
| properly act otherwise, because silver was
receivable for customs duties and was now
within 1-16 Of per cent. Of the value OF
gold coin.
To thi. Mr. HANNA replied BY quoting
against Mr.. Chittenden, speech made BY
that gentleman characterizine the silver
dollar as "clipped dollar" If silver was
worth gold by whining 1-16 Of per cent. he
| would ike to know where the poor man
b ad been robbed7
Mr.. TOWNSEND, Of n. Y, threw in q
remark that nobody cared for the poor
man half as much as was pretended.
Mr. CHITTENDEN defended himself
from the imputation Of Inconsistency on the
subject Of silver. Facts were beginning 70
be developed, and the gentlemen would ind
that the silver bill would bring them re-
suits which they had not contemplated.
without finishing the bill, the committee
rose and the Senate bill appointing Gen.
Sherman as . regent OF the Smithsoni:n
L -..-.:.- ;,~f~>d of (SAoRu~ Rarcroft