The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-31

mlttee to ascertain the amount OF gold and
| silver coin and bullion owned by the United
been sold by the Secretary of the
| Treasury for coin, the amount of gold
and silver coin, Eank notes and
| legal tenders held by banking institu-
tions, and such other facts as will tend to in
form the House when and by what method
it will be practicable and consistent with
public welfare to resume specie payments.
Adopted. Mr.. VIII is, of New York, from
the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a
Dill authorizing Rear Admiral John ]. Amy
10 receive decoration from the King of
the Hawaiian Islands. Passed-yeas 146,
nays loi. The bill to equip the expedi-
ton to the Arctic Sea was committed. Mr.
Monroe, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, reported bill authorizing Spencer
+. Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smith
sonian Institute, to receive from the King of
Sweden diploma constituting him mem.
Der of the Norwegian Order of Saint Olaf.
Passed. The Senate joint resolution accept
ing from the State of Maine the statue of
William King to be placed in the old hall of
the House of Representatives was taken up
for action. After several speeches, the joint
resolution was passed, and the House ad-
journed.
In the Senate, January %, large number
OF petitions were presented by Senators
from the Workingmen in various parts of
the country. demonstrating against the re-
duction of duties on certain goods, and the
restoration of duty on tea and coffee. Re-
ferred. After the morning hour, the Senate
resumed the consideration of unfinished
buiness, being the resolution of Mr.. Mat
thews to pay the interest and principal
Cockrell continued his remarks in
favor of the resolution. Mr.. Blaine
introduced bill to coin a silver dol
lar of SO many grains, as the director of the
mint shall from time to time prescribe, to
be legal tender in the sums of five dollars,
and beyond five dollars the tender shall be
half in silver and half in gold. Ordered
printed and laid on the table for the present.
Mr.. Blaine suggested that the Senator from
Ohio (Matthews) postpone his resolution
until after the silver bill should be acted
upon. This resolution stood right across
the path of practical legislation. Mr..
Matthews declined to postpone his resolu-
ton. He was anxious to have vote upon
it, and was willing to undergo as much in
convenience as any other Senator. He
therefore gave notice that if the majority Of
the Senate would stand by him, he proposed
to have the session continued on Friday
until the resolution and pending amend
went into executive session, and
when the doors reopened adjourned.......
In the house, Mr.. Franklin presented a
resolution of the merchants of Kansas
City, in favor of reconciliation of silver.
Referred. Mr.. Ellsworth introduced bill
relieving bank deposits from internal tax.
Referred. The steamboat bill was read,
except four pages, few amendments made,
and then it was laid aside, and the Speaker
presented the resolution adopted by the
Senate in honor of the late Senator Bogy.
Eulogies were pronounced by Messrs. Cole,
Hatcher, Waddell, Phillips, Knott, Sparks,
of Illinois, Thockmorton, Clarke, of
| MiSSanri Ellis Roa and CriftpnHQn after
which the resolutions were adopted and the
House adjourned.
In the Senate, January "a, Mr.. Hamlin
submitted a resolution directing the Com
mittee on Appropriations to examine into
tie affairs and management of the Freed
mems Hospital in the District of Columbia
Agreed to. Mr.. Burnside submitted reso
luton directing that the Judiciary Commit
tee notify Col. B p. Runkle, when his cas-,
is taken up, and providing that he ma!
appear personally or by counsel before thu
committee and be heard in regard to hi
case. Mr.. Edmunds stated the practice o
the Judiciary had always been to allow par
ties to file written briefs stating their case
After some debate, it was decided that tn,
Judiciary Committee would not hea
oral statements from parties or counse
in either the Runkle or Draper case
, At the expiration of the morning hour tn
Senate resumed consideration of the resolu
ton of Mr.. Matthews to pay the interest ant
principal of the bonds in silver, and Mr.
Lamar spoke in regard thereto in opposi
, tion to the resolution......In In the House, tn
time was occupied in discussing the bill
amending the laws concerning commerce
and navigation and regulation of steam yes
sells. Several amendments were offered o
: an important character in regard to the liza
' bility of steamboat oficers and pending
the discussion the House adjourned.
In the Senate, January 25, at the expira
, 1 Of 41n sAnr 10,
e was resumed of the resolution of Mr.. Nj al
a thews declaring the right of the Govern
, ment to pay bonds in silver. The amend
, NEXT of Mr.. Conkling making the resolu
ton joint instead of a concurrent one, wa
rejected. The question being on the amend
!, ment of Mr.. Edmunds to the resolution Q
D Mr.. Matthews to provide for the paymen
i, of the bonds in gold coin or its equivalent
, and that any other payment, without tn
! consent of the creditor, would be in violation
l of the public faith and in derogation of hi
rights, it was rejected, yeas Is, nays A. Tn
e question then recurred on the amendmen
: of Mr.. Morrill,, submitted on the 18th inst
to the effect that it would be detrimental t
the economical interests of the Government
> and the people to pay bonds in silver, an
Mr.. Morrill, spoke in support thereof. Re
jected-yeas IA; nays Al. The question
being on the passage of the resolution, a
submitted by Mr.. Matthews on the 9th G
: nays %. The question then recurred upo
= = the preamble as submitted by Mr.. Matthew
= = on the 9th of December, and it was adopte
y without amendment-yeas 42, nays 20. Th
> preamble and resolution having bee
= passed, Mr.. Allison moved that the Senat
u take up the House bill to authorize fire
: coinage of the standard of the silver dolls
: : and to restore its legal tender characte
The Vice President said that cam
:, up by prior order........In the Hous
g g Some bills having been introduce
u u and referred, the House considered Ii
q q bill revising the steamboat laws, whic
: was passed. The bill extending the tim
L for the withdrawal of distilled spirits no
. in bond until July 1, 1878, having bee
. reached, Mr.. Tucker proceeded to explai
e the bill. A long and rather exciting di
u u cussion followed, without any action. NJ
: Swami presented petition of the Tobace
:, Trade of Baltimore, in opposition to an
q Congress cessation of agitation ON TIL
q question. Adjourned The session t.
- ~ morrow will be for general debate only.
.r In the House, January &c, the session WI
% for debate only, as if in Committee of IL
% Whole, and Mr.. Mayham, by appointment
d occupied the Chair. Mr.. Durham then too
,e the floor and made speech in favor of Il
N reconciliation of silver and the repeal
O. the resumption act. In the course of
X speech Mr.. Durham said he would vote Fl
70 the Matthews silver resolution, and for al
of bill which would propose reduction of Il
ct tariff. He woul d also lend his aid in repe,
4. ing the bankrupt law. Mr.. Bright al
IS. spoke in favor of the reconciliation
ne silver, and called attention to the fact til
os he was the first person in 1875 that h
v. brought that question before Congress.
IS. Deering favored return to the dout
10. standard of value. Mr.. Humphreys spoke
dis the same strain, and denied that there was
d. particle of the spirit of Reputation in t
m West. Mr.. Upton said the people were
NJ manding the immediate passage of the
he monetization and repeal measures, and tn
nv were it not done, the West would send to I
by Forty.slxth Congress men who would not
y satisfied with the passage of those bills, b
,rs who would also repeal the national banki
IN. law. Adjourned.
of
m THE distillers have been in Washir
in ton lobbying for reduction of t
| h.. .nla Nf