The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-04-04


Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. d. c. March 80, 1873.
CONGRESS
during the past week has been con-
fined mostly to routine business, and
We note the following:
IN THE SENATE
the joint resolution of the Maryland
Legislature asking that pensions be
granted to Mexican war soldiers, and
the widows of said deceased soldiers.
was introduced, as also bill to abol-
ish the District of Columbia Police.
Board. The bill appropriating money
for the detection of trespassers upon
the public lands in certain States into
open market was called up, slightly
amended and passed. Mr.. Howe. Re-
publican, delivered himself Of pero-
ration criticising the policy of Mr..
Hayes in very harsh terms. House
bill making appropriations for the
Consular Service was reported with
amendments restoring the pay Of con-
suls to that given them by previous
laws. The House bill extending our
Diplomatic Service in South America
was concurred in by the committee on
appropriations of the Senate. A bill
creating fund for educational pur.
poses and appropriating the proceeds
of public lands therefor, was intro
duced. A bill reimbursing Messrs.
Ray and McMillin in the sum of $1,000,
each, for expenses in contesting the
seat made vacant by the resignation of
Kellogg, Of Louisiana for the term
ending May 4th, 1873, was pass-
cd. The Funding bill Of the Pacific
Railroad, was then called up, when
several speeches were made against
the bill presented by the Judiciary
Committee. the House bill upon the
Consular Service above referred to
was taken up and passed with the
Senate amendments. A bill to con-
struct q narrow guage railroad to the
Black Hills, from Bismark, and one to
incorporate the National Pacific R. r.
and Telegraph Co., were reported
from Committee on Railroads.
IN THE HOUSE.
A bill amending the laws on coinage
introduced by Mr.. Stephens, after
which quite number of private PEN
sion bills were passed. A bill was
presented regulating the value of sill
yer coin in it's subsidiary capacity,
which makes legsl-tender of silver
to an amount not in excess of $40, and
also requires the Secretary Of the
Treasury to issue legal-tender money
therefor in amounts of 500, when so
called upon. Upon q motion to sus-
pend the rules, and pass the bill equal
izing the coinage of silver and gold,
and to permit deposits in the Treas.
ury for this object, the House by =
vote Of 40 to 1O2, declined to suspend
the rules, and the bill must conse.
quently take its regular turn. A bill
preventing the Introduction into the
United STATES of contagious and in
fectious diseases was passed. In the
Dean. Field contested case the resolu.
ton of the minority declaring Field,
Republican, entitled to his seat, on a
vote of ayes, l20, nays 1l9. was lost by
the Speaker casting his vote with the
nays thereby making a tie vote, as
we'll as defeat of the resolution. A
vote on the majority report giving the
seat to Dean, Democrat, resulted in
the seating of Dean, and he was there
upon swore in. The House refused
by vote of 1O7 to 1913 to take up the
case of Doorkeeper Polk. A report
from the committee on ventilation was
received, recommending the removal
of the desks of members from the
House.
THE ATTACK UPON ADMINISTRATION
by Senator Howe was listened to by |
we'll filled galleries of anxious hearers,
The floor of the Senate being also
largely patronized by Republican men,
bers from the House, among them we
noticed Packard and several other
Louisiana Republicans of note. The
speech which covered over 100 pages
Of manuscript, being prepared with
great care was delivered in the pecu-
liar uninteresting, dry style which
characterizes the would-be orator.
His denunciations were listened to by
} larger Attendance than ever greeted
the old man before. Even Senators
paid him the rare respect of occupy.
ing their seats during the delivery.
The old man complained of every act
II Mr., Hayes, e. 9. his Cabinet ap-
'ointments, Southern Policy, the
abandoning Of Chamberlain and Pack.
'rd, Civil Service Reform, and psrtic-
llarly the appointment of Democrats j,
o Office. He pitched into Secretary
'churz, heavily and ridiculed Schurz,
Utmost to degree of frenzy. The
dea Of foreigner holding Office don't
It all agree with the Republican ap-
'etite. His mock-serious appeal for
oleration and mercy from our DEM q
'cratic friends when they come into s
'ower next March was quite affecting {
y farcial. Mr.. Hayes and friends :
leem his effort too weak to be noticed. F
whilst the radical Republicans are c
luite delighted at what they are pleas !,
ID to call it, ga powerful arrangement