Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-02-07
CONGRESS-.

Thompson, of New York, was passed
yeas 43, nays Z. Mr.. Beck, of Ken
lucky, called up his resolution declar-
| ing it Unnecessary and ineXpedient
either to maintain or impose taxes for
the purpose OF: providing for $37, 1885,
045,04 asked for by the Secretary of the
Treasury for the sinking fund, and
directiHg the Secretary not to purchase
bonds for the reduction ofthe principal
| of the national debt till the further
orders of Congress. He argued that
the sinking fund contained two hun
dred and twenty millions in excess of
the amount required by law, and it
was right and duty of Congress to re-
lieve the distresses of the people by re-
duciug taxation.
The Bland Silver bill came up, and
Mr.. Wallace, of Pennsylvania, advo-
Gated its passage. Mr.. Bayard oppos
ed the bill; he could not support
measure for increasing the value of
silver ten per cent. iIy putting the
Government ST mp upon it. Dawes
followed in opposition to the bill. Mr..
Whyte, of Maryland, argued that the
bill proposed to pay our national debt
In silver dollars worth only ninety-two
cents, and was breach of contract, a
fatal stab at the public credit and, if
passed, would be foul blot the fair
fame of the country. Mr.. Cameron, of
Wisconsin, moved an amendment fix
ing 430 grains as the standard weight
for the silver dollar.
In the House General Butler present.
ed memorial from the Norfolk Con-
terence of Unitarians and other Chris
tian churches of Walpole, Massachu-
sets, decla4 ing that honesty was the
vital part of religion and protesting
against the Bland Silver bill, and took
the opportunity of fiinging brick in
response He procured a Bible from
the Clerks desk and red the passage
from st. John describing Christ driv-
ing the money changers from the
Temple and saying TO them, "Make
not my Fathers house a house of
merchandise" Complaint having
been made of improper admissions to
the floor of the House, the Speaker
gave notice that the rules would be
strictly enforced, and that he should
revoke all passes for admission.
" In the Senate on Wednesday there
was discussion in relation to the de-
lay in the business uf the Pension
1Offiee, Mr.. Hoar stated that in obtain
ing pension there was one necessary
step which caused delay of sixteen
months on account of the insufficient
clerical force in the Surgeon Generals
office. Mr.. Sargent showed that the
clerks in the Surgeon Generals office
had beed reduced from 1863 to 135. The
Senate resumed the consideration of
the Bland Silver bill. Mr.. Ch-istiancy
offered substitute providing for the
coinage of a silver dollar containing
434 grains and making them a legal
tender, the act to remain in force ONLY
one year, unless renewed or re-enacted
by Congress. He advocated his pro
position in long argument.
The House in Committee OF the
Whole discussed the bill extending to
July l, 1873, the time for the with
drawal of distilled whiskey from bond.
In its progress through the committee
it was amended on motion of Mr.. But.
ler, providing that the tax on spirits
Withdrawn from.bond shall be collect
ed at the rate required by law at the
lime of entry in bond. This was
adopted yeas-10S to 81. Mr.. Fosters
substitute for the original proposition,
declaring it inexpedient to reduce the
tax ON Whlskey, was adopted by vote
OF 13f to 80. The commmittee then
rose and the House adopted the SUBJ
lstltute-yeas 146, nays 112, and the
title was changed accordingly. Ad-
ljourned. -r0es...a
In the Senate on Thursday the
] House joint resolution extending the
thanks OF Congress to Henry M. Stan
ley, the explorer of Central Africa, was
unanimously agreed to. On resuming
the consideration of the Silver bill
Mr.. Bayard moved its further con-
Slderation be postponed until Monday
next, with the understanding that q
vote should be taken as soon as Iegiti.
mate debate be exhausted. Mr.. Nor
gan submitted an amendment provid'
1ug that the owner of any silver
bullion may deposit the same at any
United States coinage mint or assay
Office. in quantities of not less that one
hundred dollars in single deposit and
not to exceed one hundred thousand
dollars during any calendar month, for
coinage, and paid in silver dollars or
IN legal tender notes within sixty or
not more than ninty bays, under the
same rules governing the coinage of
gold. Mr.. Bayard's motion to post.
pone was carried, and the Senate ad-
Ijourned till Monday. f.1
In the House the bill fixing the pay
lof letter carriers in the large cities at
81 200 per annum for the tirst class and
$500 for second class was favorable re
parted was referred to the COMMITTEES of
the Whole. The Military Academy
Appropriation bill was considered in
committee. 1t appropriates S272, l55.
being a deciease of $l4, ,449 from that or
last year. Without action the com
mittee on Elections reported the Cali.
fornia contested case against Pacheco.
the sitting member, and in favor of
Wigginton. Mr.. Wait presented a
minority report, taking opposite
Grounds. 10 a,- B. =.
The Senate was not in session an Fri.
day, and the proceed ngs of the House
related almost entirely to the charges
50 long hanging over Mr. Polk, Door
keeper of the House, in appointing
siXty-three men, not authorized by
law, as employees on the rolls of the
of the House, and an investigation was
ordered by the Committee on Reform
in the Civil Service. -.
FEB. 4-SENATE-Bills : introduced:
Regulating authorization and use of
proxies in meetings of shareholders in
National banking associations; incor-
porating the National Pacific Railroad
and Telegraph company; providing for
eighteen additional Commissioners to
the Paris Exposition.
The Silver bill was then discussed
until adjournment.
J HoUsE-Bills .introduced: Autbori-
zing the payment of customs in legal
tender notes; providing that hereafter
bonds shall be payable, principal and
interest, in gold, silver or legal tender
notes; reducing the tax on brandy
made from apples, peaches or grapes;
providing for the election of President
by direct vote of the people; making
receivers of railroads amenable to pro.