The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-23
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, May 15, Mr.. johnson intro
duced bill to levy the Moffett bell punch
tax on liquors in all places in the district
where intoxicants are sold by the drink
Mr.. Morrill, presented petition of half
dozen mechanics of Boston favoring the re.
peal of the eight hour law. They declare
it is unjust to pay workmen employed
by the government as much for eight
hours work as other workmen re-
ceived for ten hours. Referred.
At the close of the morning hour the Post
Office Appropriation Bill was taken up. An
amendment increasing the appropriation
for compensation for Railway Postoffice
Clerks from $1,275,000 to $1.325, 900 was
agreed to- Other amendments increasing
the appropriation for route agents from
81, 100000 to 81 ,O3O, 900, and increasing the
appropriation to be paid out of the Treasury
from s., 4,1O6,274 to $4,960,274, to supply de-
fciencies should the revenue of the depart
ment be insufficient, were agreed to.
Pending discussion, the Senate adjourned.
...... In the House, Mr.. Lapbam introduced a
joint resolution favoring the enlistment of
volunteers, not to exceed twenty-five thou
sand in number, to repress the incursiOns
of Sitting Bull across the Canadian border
Mr.. Potter, on a question of privilege, in
troduced resolutions in regard to frauds in
voting at the Presidential election in Louisi-
ana. long debate ensued, in which
Messrs. Conger, Potter, Garfield, Hall,
the Speaker and others, participated.
The Republicans refusing to vote on the
previous question, the House was left with
out a quorum, and the question still pend
ing. Mr.. Stephens, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures,
reported a bill prohibiting further coinage
of three and five cent silver pieces, and de-
claring subsidiary silver coin legal tender
in amounts not exceeding $40. Passed.
| In the Senate, May IA, communication
| was received from Chief Justice Waite, of
the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institute, announcing the death of Professor
Henry, and the Senate agreed to a concur
rent resolution adjournlng both Houses,
| Thursday, at four o'clock. The House
amendments to the Senate bill were con.
Cured in, authorizing the citizens of Color.
ado, Nevada and the territories, to fell and re-
move timber on the public domain for mining
and domestic purposes, and the bill passed
The Postofice Appropriation bill, having
| been considered in committee of the whole
was reported to the Senate. The amend
| ments made in committee were concurred
in, and bill passed. Consideration was re
sumed of the bill to repeal the Specie Re
sumption Act, and Mr.. Coke read lone
argument in favor of repeal. Mr.. Harris
spoke on the same side. Mr.. Voor
hees gave notice that when the bill to re
peal the Specie Resumption Act should bt
taken up again, he would insist on its con
| sIderation from day to day till a vote should
be reached....-.In the House, on a call t.
order, not over one-haf the members wer.
in their seats. The Democrats collected to
gether in small knots and talked over tn,
situation. When the journal of YESTERDAY
was read, the regular order was demanded
Mr.. Potter endeavored to get the floor, t.
urge the Republicans to vote and make VI
quorum, but he was greeted with cries o
Irregular order" from the Republican side
The vote then recurred on seconding the de
mand for the previous question, on the Pot
) ter resolution, and the Democrts passe,
between the tellers and were counted. TIL
Republicans refused to vote, and this lef
the House without aquorum. A cali of tn
House was then ordered. After two unsue
cessful attempts to get vote on Mr.. Potter
resolution, the Democrats gave up the 6gh
and carried a motion to adjourn. The RI
publicans wanted to go ahead with othe
legislation but this the Democrats woul
not consent to. A motion to adjourn wa
/ carried by vote of 130 to 104. The Hcus
will adjourn Thursday, at four o'clock, t
attend the funeral of Prof. Joseph Henry.
In the Senate, May Is, Several bills wei
presented and referred. Mr.. Christianc,
from the Committee on Revision of Law
5 reported back the petition of Robert Inge
soil and others, asking the repeal or mod
, hcation of certain provisions of the revise
statutes forbidding transportation throug
the mails of certain matter, pictures, etc
s and moved to refer to the Committee O
|. the Judiciary. So ordered. This is p
!. tition presented some weeks since favoriI
q the repeal of the law forbidding the tran
portation of obscene literature throug
the mails. Mr.. Voorhees, presented a pei
n ton of the business men of Boston, favoriI
;. immediate and unconditional repeal of Il
- specie resumption act. Laid on the tabl
) Mr.. Morgan called up his resolution touc
. ing the relations between the United Stat
l. and Mexico, and spoke at length in fav
a thereof. The resolution was then referr,
to the Committee on Foreign Relations, al
the Senate went into executive sessio
e When the doors reopened the Senate a
a journed....... In the House, no business W
g. done, on account of the want of a quorul
10 and filibustering on the Potter resolution
q. In the Senate, May Is, Mr.. Butler,
!. South Carolina, submitted a concurre
- resolution providing for a commission, &C
N sisting of two Senators and three membt
,r of the House, and three officers OF the r,
n ular army, who have served not less tn
n ten years, to whom shall be referred t
"A whole subject of the reform and reorgani
;. tion of the army; the commission to asse
"a BILE as soon as practicable and report to |
TO next session of Congress, through the Pr