The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-25
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.

On the 18th, Mr.. vorhees presented a
petition from 1000 ex-soldiers and sailors
asking Congress to pay them in greenbacks the
difference between tho value of green backs, in
which they were paid for services to the Gov
ernment, and the value of gold at the time of
payment; laid on the table. bill was intro
duced asking for an appropriation for the i'm
provement of Big Sandy and Elk Rivers, in
West Virginia, and for continuing the improve
ment of New River and the great Kanawha
River in that State. Mr.. Butler Dem. of S. C.)
presented an amendment to Mr.. Bayard's
Senate joint resolution, which makes it read !:
"That from and after January 1, 1885, Treas
ury notes of the United States shall be rsceiv-
able for all dues to the United States except
duties on imports, and shall not be otherwise
legal tender; and any of said notes that shall
thereafter be issued shall bear this superscrip-
ton - referred. The Postmaster General
| asks for a deficiency appropriation of $780, ,212
for exigencies of service caused by extension
of star routes and for other deficiencies. A
bill was passed appropriating $4,000 to enable
| the Secretary of War to purchase land to en-
| large and protect the United States Arsenal at
San Antonio. After short executive session
the Senate adjourned.
On the 10th bill was passed donating twelve
condemned bronze cannon to the Francis P.
Blair Monumental Association of St. Louis.
| A bill was ordered printed and laid the
| table appointing a commission of five to in
| quire into the cause of the negro exodus from
North Carolina to Indiana. The following
! bills were passed. House bill authorizing an
allowance for loss by leakage or casualty OF
| spirits withdrawn from distillery warehouses
for expectation bill amending Article 1O3 Of
| Rules and Articles of War, providing a limit
to prosecution for desertion.
On the 18th joint resolution was introduced
| by Mr.. Morgan Dem. of Ala restoring to the
public domain lands appropriated to railroads
| which have not been earned under land grants
Should this resolution become law, the num-
| Der of acres of land that would be forfeited by
railroad companies is not less than 135 900 900
| The following was offered by Mr.. Morgan
Resolved, That the continuance Of the ex-
| listing volume of the United States Treasury
notes, with their legal tender preserved, and
the maintenance of their equivalent in value
with coin, is demanded by the present necessi.
ties of trade, commerce and industry, and thai
the full restoration of silver coinage to an
equality with gold is necessary to secure to thu
people of the United States sufficient and per
manent supply of money to maintain oul
national prosperity" On this resolution, whicl
materially differs from the Bayard BILL a Ion,
debate followed. A bill was reported for tn,
free transmission of the tenth census reports il
tho mails from different points of the country
to Washington.
On tho 18th the resolution of Mr.. Voorhees,
Dem. Of lnd.) was taken up. The resolution
calls for the appointment Of a committee to in
vcstigate into the cause leading to tho negr
exodus to Indiana. Mr.. Hill spoke against tn
resolution. In Georgia, he said, SIS, 900 900 il
real property was owned by the negroes. The.
were no longer a ward, but had right to g
where they plensed. vote on the resolution
resulted in q yeas and IL nays.
On the 10th there was little business done i
the Senate. The Vice President appointe
| I'll
and Blair committee to investigate into tn
) causes of negro emigration from Southern |
Northern States, after which he Senate ad
journed for the holidays.