National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-21
FORTY.FIFTH CONGRESS.
District Matters Before the Two
Houses.
Blll tor the Settlement of District Claims
Passed - Resolutions Inoubntcd by IL
Democratic Caucus Submitted to
the Senato-An Avalanche of
House Bills-Mr. Potter
Wants More Money.
SENATE.


municatlon from the Secretary OF War transmit
ting the report Of Major Godfrey wetzel, Engineer
Corps IN regard to the suporntendence, manage
mcnt. aud repair OF the Louisville and Portland
Canal during the year ending June 80, 1873. Re.
ferrcd.
Mr. Dorsey presented the petition Of Dr. G, G.
Cox, president Of the Capitol Till and East Wash.
ington Improvement Association complaining of
the condition of the streets inadcquacy of the
water supply, &C. Referred.
Mr.. SARGENT presented n petition Of male and
female residents Of Philadelphia in favor Of six
tecnth amendment 10 the Constitution the United
States, prohibiting the states from DISTINGUISHING
persons on account of sex. Referred.
Mr.. kERNAN presented the petition OF tho trustees
Of he Corcoran Art Gallery Of Washington, D. G.,
asking compensation for use of the building by tho
Government during the war. Referred.
bills were introduced Us follows and referred:
SUPPORT Of The government Of lie district Of Co.
lumbia for the fiscal year ending June 10. lSsD.
G 20 e b ,9r n Of %S o1mbS OF
Also to amend the act of June H. 1875, providing
apermancnt form ofgovernment for the District Of
BY Mr.. HARRIS: To empower the Commission.
ers of the District OF Columbia TO revise correct,
or.aunul special assessments upon the written ap;;
plicaon OF any person whose real property Inv said
District has been assessed providing for an appeal
to the supreme Court Of the District OF Columbia
from the action of the Commissioners in respect to
such application by any person feeling nggrieved
thereby
MIR. HARRIS said he introduced the bill by re.
quest, and knew nothing of It's merits. He there
lore was not committed To It,
BY Mr.. GROVER: 70 ascertain and report the
losses of citizens Of Oregon aud the Territories of
Idaho and Montana OF account Of tie destruction
VI property by hostile Indians during the year 1878
BY Dlr, CocKRFLL TO provide uniform national
currency TO retire the notes of the national banks
and prohibit their incorporation and their issues of
notes to utilize silver aud silver coin and provide
for the Issue of coin and bullion certificates; 10 pro-
vide for the redemption payment of the bonds of
the United States and the issue of bonds bearing n
lower rate of interest and to provide for expansion
~
business Interests aud wants Of The people. Laid
OH the table, TO be called up hereafter by Mr. Cock
re for the purpose Of submitting remarks in favor
Mr. HARRIS from The Committee on the District
Of Columbia, reported mvorahy on Senate bill con-
corning street railroads in the District Of Columbia
1T directs the various street railroad companies
81 the District Of Columbia ~ receive each others
Nckeisl
lie also reported. from the same committee, FL.
yorably on the bill recently introduced for the re-
lief of the Louise Home. Placed on the calendar.
1T releases the Home from tho payment of all
,axcs.
Messrs. CoNKGlNd and HERMAN presented pre-
amble and resolution of the New York Legislature
opposing the passage of the bill TO reorgauize the
army or ut least that portion Of II relating to the
Ordnance Department, United states arScnals and
ordnance stores. Laid on the table, the bill having
been reported to the Senate.
Mr.. BRUCE from the Committee on Pensions. re.
ported ayorably on the bill tn increase the pension
NJ DR.. Mary T. Walker. Placed on tho calendar,
tlt increases her pension to so per month";
favornbly on the House bill granting pension 10
Eliza b. Anderson, widow Of General Robert An.
ccrSOn. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. VOORHEES,. from the same committee, report
ed adversely on the bill granting pcusion To
Georgine Thomas. widow of General Charles
Thomas, and 1t was indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. MoRGAN submitted the following resolutions,
Intended to he offered MS q substitute for the resolu-
tons of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Edmunds);
"PeSOlred as The judgment qf he Senate, That the
thirteenth, fourteenth. and fifteenth amendments
to the Constitution OF the United States MS valid
that the people OF the United States have u com
mon Interest in the enforcement OF the whole Con
luti9h IN every state ana IN the Territories OF the
United states, aud that it Is alike the right and
duty of the United States so far rs the power has
been delegated 10 them, TO enforce said amend
mCnts and 10 protect every citizen in the exercise
Of all the rights thereby secured.
"RcsO'rcd, That the Government Of the United
States and e Govirnmenis OF The several States are
distinct. and each has citizens Of its own who owe
II allegiance, and whose rights within its iursdiC
lion II must protect; that the Government of the
authority Is defined and limited by the Constu
ton. All powers not granted 10 IL by that inslru
men nor prohibited by to the states are reserved
10 the States respectively or to the people, and thai
no right can be acquired under the Constitution Oi
secured through the laws of the United States, ex
Cept such MS The Government of the United States
has the authority 10 grant or secure
"hcsOlted, That the Constitution Of the United
States has not conferred the right Of suffrage upon
any one, and the United States have no voters O
their own creation in the States; but the fifteenth
amendment OF The Constitution has invested TN,
uOnal right, which is exemption from discriminO
ton in the exercise Of The elective franchise OF
account OF nice, color Or previous condition o
scNltudc, and 1t is within the jurisdiction Of th(
Government Of the United States. which Congress
may exert by appropriate legislation TO prevent tn,
denial Or ablidsment by state Of The right of
citizen TO vote, when such denial or abridgmcnt Il
gn account Of the race or color or previous con
alton of scrytude of the voter
"kcsOlyCj That when such right 10 vote is denied
pr abridged by the conduct OF person who is no
ioacting by the authority and in obcdance to TN
avs of II state, decentralization to punish such con
duct Is in he state government aud is not in th'
Government Of the United States"
Laid on the table for the present.
The above resolutions were agreed upOu by tn
Democrats In caucus, and Mr.. Morgan was author
tied 10 present them To the SCuatcl
Mr. ANrHONY submitted resolution that, at tho
conclusion Of the morning business each day ate
This dNy the Senate viii proceed 10 tho considerA
lion Of The calendar, ana continue Sucl consldora
lion until hali-past one O'clock; that bills not Oh
lcctcd 10 shall be considered epCh Senator bcn
Untitled 70 speak five minutes. Ageedto.
MI EDMuNDS, from the Judiciary Committee, re-
ported (!or Mr. Chrlstiancy, detained at home b.
tickneSSl, with amendment senate bill to proyid
Tor challenges to jurors in trgls, for bgalny am
puiyBomy IN the 1cuiuy of Utah and 10 amen,
section of the act OF June n 1871, in relation
rourts0nd Judicial officers IN the Tertiary Of tab
The morning hour having expired the scnut
resumed consideration of the unfinished bushes,
Ing question being on the amendment of Mr. Davi
lllJ: THAT II shall not be lawful to grant any re-
lssuc OF any patent for any invention except TN
patent"
AMER q brief discussion it was agreed to-yea.
80. nuys,O.
Mr.. WApLEIGH submitted an amendment author
izug the Commissioner OF Patents TO prescribe tn
qualifications Of agents and attorneys pTGcticn
before the Patent. Office. Rejected
Various unimporant amendments hGrCtofor
submitted were discussed briefly aud rejected.
Mr., WINDOW called up the amendment which HI
unlimited several days ago and II was rejected
yeas, ii nays, q.
The bill having been considered In Committee o
Me Whole was reported to the Senate and tn
question being on concurTnB In amendments mad
IN committee,
Mr.. WISDOM moved to lay the bill aside tempo
raTily ana take up The naval appropriation bill.
In explanation OF his motion Mr.. Window sal
his object was 10 procure time TO prepare an amend
mCnt which would make the bill uiOre acceptabl
10 his constituents.
Pending discussion, the Senate on motion of Mi
EdmundS. ut hnl-pust two went into eXecutiv
session, and when the doors We're reopened Ut SO
p. m,
The Vice. President laid before the Seunte
communication from The Acknowledgement in an
Mer TO Senate resolution OF March 49, ISIS MS /
whether certain lands granted to the state of In
diana by Congress 10 authorize the State 10 one
RCana through the public lands To- connect Nh
navigation OF the Wabash and Miami Rivers nm
Lake Erie have reverted to the United States nnt
II so, what action IS necessary 10 enable the 90,
eminent to obtain possession thereof The Auol
nGyGenelui suggests the appointment Off COMM,
suner to examine said canal and report whether
has been abandoned and no longer used rs a mi
lie highway. Should be report In the aliTmaliy