The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-04
Congressional Proceedings.

FRIDAY.-The Senate was no, in session
yesterday, having adjourned from Thursday
until Monday next
In the House bill was passed exemnt;nq
IRON enroliments and admeasurements iii
vessels not propelled by steam or sail. except
vessels OF that character engaged in trade
with contiguous foreign territory. The Post
amendments.
SATURDAY.-In the House the Indian An
preparation bill was passed. It approDriates
81, az, 600. The Legislative. Executive and
Judicial bill, appropriating S14, 1886. 900. was
considered IN Committee of the Whole. Mr..
Atkins, OF Tennessee, spoke in explanation
OF the bill, saying that the amount was STA
600 less than that appropriated for the cur-
rent year. He said the committee had s.tried
to eliminate from the service all sunernnme-
rary and unnecessary public Offices. but reform
was not likely TO be accomplished under the
present management of public affairs The
salaries Of Senators and Representatives in
Congress were rot reduced, because s.the
people were entirely satisfied with the present
compensation, which had been settled by
the Forty -fourth Congress. In conclusion,
he dwelt at length on the finances and taxa
ton, opposing contraction, declaring the his
tory ofthe banks "a chapter determinations -
and favoring revival Of the income tax, the
reduction of the taxes on whisky and tobacco.
and reduction of the tariff After disposing
of part Of the bill, the House adjourned.
MoNDAY.-ln the Senate resolution was
adopted requesting the President TO commu-
nicate to the Senate eertaininformation touch
ing the surrender of Cuban insurgents. and
the future policy of Spain in the government
of the island of Cuba. House Joint resolution
appropriating $1,000 for the erection of a
monument over the grave of Thomas Jeffer-
son was passed, as was also bill appropria-
ting 900 to continue the public schools in
the District of Columbia until the end of the
present school year. A bill was introduced
incorporating the National Fair Ground As
ISOLATION of the District of Columbia.
In the House bill was passed, yeas III,
nays 30, forbidding the further retirement of
United States legal-tender notes. Mr.. Walsh
introduced bill to pay Jacob f. Grove, of
Maryland, S11 1925 for quartermasters stores,
turnlshedsby him to the States United army
IN 1862. The report of the conference COM
mittee on the naval appropriation bill was
agreed to. A night session was held for the
consideration of bills reported by the COM
mittee on public lands.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate an adverse report
was presented from the finance eommitte on
Mr.. Beck S concurrent resolution declaring il
lnexpedlent to either maintain or impose taxes
for providing a sinking fund, and directing
the Secretary of the Treasury not to purchase
any bonds for the reduction of the principal
of the national debt till the further order of
Congress. House bill was reported from the
military committee authorizing the President
to appoint James Shields brigadier general
IN the United States army on the retired list.
The conference report on the naval appro-
priatlon bill was unanimously agreed to. The
remainder of the session was spent on the
bill to repeal the bankrupt law, the opponents
OF repeal seeking to refer the bill, with House
amendments, to the judiciary committee, in
which they we're defeated.
In the House the legislative appropriation
bill was further considered, and during the
debate Speaker Randall took the floor, and
condemned the tendency of republican men,
bers to herd together in opposition to all
measures, which was vigorously denied by
Mr.. Garfield and others. But little progress
was made upon the bill.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the Senate Mr.. Garland
introduced a bill for commission to examine
into the subject of the tariff, with a view of
facilitating legislation thereon, and Mr.. Wal
lace introduced a resolution TO the effect that
legislation upon the subject of the tariff at the
present session of Congress is inopportune
and inexpedient. The bill for the repeal of
the bankrupt law, with House amendments,
was considered. An amendment was adopted
that the repeal should not affect rights and
proceedings growing out of or dependent upon
the bankrupt law, including all rights of
debtors and creditors; another amendment
was adopted, providing that the repeal of the
law should not take effect until January l,
1879. The bill was than referred to the judi
ciary committee to perfect the saving clause.
A bill was reported favorably from the mill
tary committee granting site to the city of
Baltimore for a dry dock.
In the House, the legislative appropriation
bill was further considered, but without final
action. A bill was reported from the com
mittee on Mississippi levees, appropriating
1851 ,-574 for closing crevasses and strength
ening the levees on the Mississippi river.
THURsDAY.-The Senate was occupied with
the bankrupt and specie resumption bills, and
the House in considering the appropriation
bill