The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-01
Congressional Proceedings.

ed, and without concluding the bill the
Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr. Robertson, of La.
branded the charges contained in Secretary
Shermans letter against the citizens of the
parishes of East and West Feliciana as
vile calumny. The army appropriation
phi was taken up in committee of the
whole, and an amendment was adopted
liking the strength of the army at %. 600
men, as at present constituted, instead OF
10000, as proposed in the bill, the Texas
members and several other democrats vot-
Ing with the republicans in favor Of the
amendment. Another amendment was
adopted making the number of cavalry
regiments eight instead of six, and eighteen
infantry regiments instead of fifteen. An
evening session was held, but it being ap-
parent that the temper of the committee
was TO sacrifice various sections of the bill,
the democrats struggled for an adjourn
ment, which they finally secured, after
considerable iillbustering, before further
progress was made.
tRIDAY.-In the Senate, Mr.. WHITE
presented protest from citizens of Balti-
more against the passage of the bill grant
ing subsidy TO the proposed Brazilian
steamship line. Mr.. Edmunds from the
select committee, made a report, 10 the
form of bill, to amend the laws in refer
enee to the presidential electoral count.
Mr.. Burnside reported adversely upon the
House joint resolution for the enforcement
OF the eight-hour rule for government EN-
ployes. The Senate then resumed consid-
Grafton of the bill providing permanent
form of government for the District of
Columbia.
In the House, Mr. Henkle introduced
bill to aid in the construction of. the
Maryland and Delaware ship canal. The
bill gives the guarantee of the United
States to the payment of interest on ST.
100000 of FIVE per cent bonds. Bills
granting pension to totally disabled sol
diers and sailors of seventy-two dollars per
month, and granting a pension of s37 80
per month to such as have lost leg ut the
hip joint, were passed. An attempt was
then made to go into committee of the
whole on the private calendar, but the APP
prlations committee antagonized the mo-
ton with the army appropriation bill,
which the House determined to further
consider, but failing to make progress the
House adjourned at an early hour.
SATURDAY.-In the Senate. Mr.. Sar-
gents resolution looking to a mo iicatiol
of the treaty with China in the matter of
immigration was aadopted. The District
Government bill was considered, pending
which the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr. Goode, from the
Commute on Education and Labor, re-
ported the bill applying the proceeds of
sales Of the public lands to educational
purposes, and it was referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole. The Army bill was
considered, and, pending action on an
amendment offered by Mr.. Scales, of n.
O., transferring the Indian Bureau to the
War Department, the House adjourned.
MoNDAY.-In the Senate, Mr.. Beck,
of Kentucky, introduced a bill to repeal
existing taxes on the capital and deposits
of banks, and in lieu thereof to impose
taxes on dividends in excess of eight per
cent. per annum. 1t was referred to the
Committee on finance Mr. Blaine offer
ed a resolution, which was adopted, re-
questing the President to communicate to
the Senate all the correspondence relating
to the appointment of Mr.. Delfosse as one
of the Fishery Commission. The District
Government bill was passed. On motion
of Mr.. Ferry, the House bill to stop the
further retirement of legal-tender notes
was taken up-yeas, % nays 20.
In the the House, bills were introduced
under the call of States, among them one
by Mr.. Wood of New York, to establish
permanent sinking fund On motion of
Mr.. Banning, of Ohio, it was agreed to
adjourn over Thursday, in order to OBJ
serve Decoration Day The Army Appro-
priatiOn bill was finished in Committee of
the Whole and reported to the House,
when the amendment increasing the
strength of the army to $4,000 was re-
jected-yeas, l16, nays, 100. A motion
by Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, TO reconsid-
er the vote and then lay the motion on
the table, was carried-yeas, 12l, nays,
III. So the action of the House limiting
the army to 10000 men is made final.
Without further action the House adj
journe1.
TUEsDAY.-In the Senate a petition
was presented asking the passage of a
resolution in relation to the tobacco tax,
declaring it inexpedient to make any
change at the present session of Congress,
so as to do away with the present uncer-
tainty which is holding all the manufac-
turers idle. Objection was made to its
consideration, and it had to be laid aside
Mr. Hamlin, from the committee on For
eign Relations, reported the bill providing
for the payment of the fishery award |
The House bill forbidding the further re-
tirement of legal tender notes was taken |
up. Mr.. Bayard offered an amendment
providing that the notes when reissued [
shall be receivable for all dues to the /
United States except duties on imports. /
After debate this was rejected, and the
bill passed as it came from the House by |
a vote of yeas is, nays A. 1t now
goes to the President for his approval. |
In the House, the army appropriation
bill was further amended and finally pass
ed without division. Bills were reported
favorably from the the postoffice commit
tee to establish a postal savings 6eposito-
ry, and provide ocean mail steamship SER
vice between the United States and
Brazil. The bill for the repeal of the
bankrupt law was taken up, and Senate
amendment fixing the date Of repeal Sep
TENDER l, 1873, instead of January /,
1879, was concurred in.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the Senate. bill
was reported from the committee on claims
authorizing the solicitor of the treasury to
cancel certain contracts for the sale Of lots
Of land at Harper's Ferry, West Va, and
to resell the same, and to sell or lease all
other real estate and riparian rights now
owned by the United States at that place.
A bill to allow women to practice in Uni
ed States Courts was defeated-yeas %.
nays 26. The conference report on the
consular and diplomatic appropriation bill
vas presented and the bin passed. The
Senate then adjourned until Friday, Thurs
lay being Federal Decoration Day.
In the House Senate concurrent resolu-
ion providing for an adjournment on the !
10Th of June, was amended so as to fix ,
he adjournment ON tho 18th IF limo and