The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-06-04
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Senate.

CUNUnESSlUNAL SUMHlAhIs
Senate.
A Joint resolution was il'rolIccd by Mr..
Cockrell authorizing and requesting the Presi-
dent to open q correspondence with France on
the subject OF a commercial treaty. Referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Beck explained the provisions OF the Leg
~islative Appropriation bill as it had been
amended. MIR. Thurman proceeded to discuss
the bill, and in a long speech argued in favor
Of the repeal of the test oath and the laws
appointing supervisors OF Federal elections
Adjourned.
Mr.. Ingalls, introduced a resolution, which
was agreed to, asking the Secretary OF the
Treasury to report to the Senate the amount
of the legal-tcnder notes of the United States
that have been redeemed in coin since January
l. 1879, and also what amount OF gold coin he
considered himself authorized to keep in the
Treasury to maintain specie resumption under
the act OF February II, 1875. Debate on the
Legislative Appropriation bill was participated
in by Messrs. Eaton, Conkling, Voorhees, and
Herman. Adjourned.
The President pro tenn. laid before the Senate
a communication from the Secretary OF the
Treasury in reply to q resolution calling Tor
information with regard to the direct tax i'm
posed on the States md Territories in 1861.
Mr.. Bell explained briefly his reason for calling
for the information. He said the whole amount
of the tax was $40, 600, 900, OF which there is
now due and uncollected the sum OF So, 600, 900
from a portion OF the States and Territories.
He said that some speedy and ~effectual method
should be adopted forthe recovery Of the same.
The report OF the Secretary shows that the
amounts due and uncollected from the eleven
States which participated in the late rebellion
aggregate $2,725, 104, and that the balances
due from all other States and Territories
amount 10 $455,22S. The principal items form
ing this latter total are $207, 685 for Wisconsin;
So, 648 for New Mexico; S62, 1882 for Kansas;
$35, al for Oregon, and $26,9S2 for Utah.
Ofsetting war claims have been presented, but
not yet adjusted, from the States OF Wisconsin
and Kansas. The amounts reported as still
due from the eleven States are about rs fol-
lows: Virginia, $3.50, 900; North Carolina,
Sl99, 900; South Carolina, Sl53, 900; Georgia,
$500, 900; Alabama, $529, 900; Mississippi,
$343, OO0; Louisiana, $1,000; Tennessee,
S288, 900; Arkansas, $l0S, 900; Florida, SILL
900; Texas, STA 900. Secretary Sherman OH
transmitting this report says: "There can be
no doubt that the Secretary OF the Treasury is
charged with the duty Of collecting this direct
tax under the provisions of existing laws. 1t
remnins for Congress to decide whether the
collection shall proceed under the methods
provided by existing statutes, or whether adj
ditional legislation is necessary.".... further
communication from the Secretary Of the
Treasury in regard to the redemption Of legal
tenders and the amount ofgold in the Treasury,
stated that " there has been redeemed in coin
since January l, 1879, oflegal-tcnder notes an
amount Of 81, 1873, 5l3," and that " to issue GER
tain bonds OF the United States the coin re-
serve OF the Treasury has been increased to
$l3S, 900, 900, that being about forty per cent.
of the notes outstanding to be redeemed, and
believed to be the smallest reserve upon which
resumption could be prudently commenced and
successfully Mountaineering fully set forth in
my last annual report. This reserve arose
from the sale OF S9j, 800, 900 bonds, and from
surplus revenucs as authorized by law, and it
must under existing law be maintained unim-
paired for the purpose Tor which it was created"
go. Mcssrs. Blaine, Eaton, Bayarl, Vance and
Logan debated the Legislative bill. Executive
session and then adjournment.
After debate on the Legislative Appropria-
ton bill, the motion CT Mr. Edmunds to strike
out the clauses repeating the statutes relating
to the test oath was lost yeas, &c; nays, 81.
Mr.. Edmunds then moved to strike out the
clause establishing a mode of drawing United
States jurors. Lost-yeas, 81; nays, 81. Hc
then moved to strike out tho clauses repeating
the statute relating to United States deputy
marshals and supervisors of elections. Lost
yeas, 81; nays, 81. He then moved to strike
out the clause repeating section 1922 OF the
Revised Statutes, which Furnishes interference
with or obstruction OF deputy ;narshals and
supervisors Of elections in the performance OF
their duties. Lost by yeas, u; nays, 81. Tho
bill was then read n third time and passed;
yeas, 81; nays GA strict party vote. The
bill then went to the President for his signature
or disup;roval. Adjourned.
House.
Alter n spirited debate provision was made
for n committee of nine which shall consider
the numerous petitions regarding the traffic In
liquor. Mr.. Cannon, OF Illinois, from the
Committee on Appropriations, reported u bill
making additional appropriations tor the SER
vice OF the Postofice Department Tor the fiscal
years ending June 30, 1879, and June 80, 1850.
Ordered printed and recomInItted. The bill
approprintes $13l, 300 for the payment OF let
ter-carricrs Tor tho fiscal year ending June 80,
1880, and 'S25, 900 for the additional salary OF
letter. carriers for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1879. 1t provides TINT in cities OF less than
Is, 900 inhabitants the SALARY OF letter-carriers
shall be $500, and in cities of more than 10000
inhabitants letter-carriers shall be divided into
two classes -one to receive $500 and the other
$500 per nnnum 1t also authorizes the en-
ploynent OF lctter.carriers in cities OF not less
Than 80, 900 inhabitants, provided the free de-
livery in cities where it is now established
shall not be affected thereby. After further
discussion of the Warner silver bill the House
adjourned.
Mr.. Belrord's amendment to the Warner
silver bill, combining the privilege OF tree
to silver mined in the United States,
was defeated by u vote of 10 to 81. MIR.
Ewing offered IN amendment providing that
the Secretary OF the Treasury shall issue and
deliver to the ~depositor OF silver bullion certifl-
Gates to m amount equal to the value OF such
bullion and that the silver dollars coined from
such bullion to the extent OF forty per cent. OF
such certificates shall be held for the redemp-
ton thereof and the remainder applied to the
payment of the interest and principal OF the
public debt. The certificates, so issued, are to
be received ut par for Ill dues to the United
States and TO be used in payment OF the cur
rent expenses OF the government, anu are 10
be redeemnble in standard silver dollars Alter
discussion the vote was thken on MIR. Ewing
amendment, and i: was a~dopted-yeas, !oo;
nays, lU0 -tne OpedkeF GNsliAS ~ ooo
vote. Mr.. Springer amendment, as amended
by Mr.. Ewing, was then rejected-ycas, 80;
NAYS, l7l-and the House then adjourned.
The bill introduced in the House by Mr.. Cox,
New York, to provide tor holding an inter-
national exhibition OF arts, manufactures ana
products of the soil and mines, in the city OF
Now York, provides that II commission, to con-
sist OF one delegate from each State and Terri
tory OF the United Suites, shall be constituted,
to be known rs the UNITED States 1nterna-
tional Commission" whose duty it shall be to
superintend the execution OF n plan tor hold
ing the exhibition. 1t further proposes thai
whenever the board of finance shall have col
lected subscriptions to its capital stock OF not
less than ST., 500, 900 in cash, and shall have eN-
pended the sum for the purpose cited, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to said
board ST, 500, 900, in six equal installments OF
$3.50, 900, rs the same may be required, to meet
the expenditures OF said board, the sum so
paid to tho United States out OF the proceeds
and property OF said corporation before any
dividends are paid to the shareholders or any
portion of the capital stock is refunded, alter
payment, however, OF all other liabilities OF
said corporation. Attic close OF the exhibition,
the board of finance are required to submit, III
a rcport to the President OF the United States,