The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL PaOCEEDINBS,

In the Senate, February 10, Senator Matt
Carpenters credentials were presented and
filed. The bill authorizing the issuing of
certificates of deposit for $40, in aid of re-
funding the public debt, was passed, with
az amendment increasing the interest 10 be
paid to four per cent.....Iu the House, a
motion To suspend the rules and pass the
bill repeating the test oath to jurors was
defeated under the two-thirds rule. The
House went into Committee of the Whole
on the Legislative. Executive, and judicial
Appropriation Bill, and, after discussion,
adjourned.
In the Senate, February II, the report of
the conference committee on the Naval Ap-
preparation Bill was agreed to, and the bill
finally passed. 1t appropriates 14,029 .96S.
number of bills for the removal of politi-
cal disabilities were passed. A number of
private bills were introduced and appropri-
ately referred......In the House, the confer
ence report on the Naval Appropriation Bill
was agreed to. The Legislative Appropria-
ton Bill was discussed in Committee of the
Whole, most of the debate being ON the
proposition to transfer the public land sur
veys to the coast survey, but no action was
taken.A The River and Harbor Appropria-
ton Bill, as agreed upon by the Committee
on Commerce, was reported, ordered
printed, and recommended.
In the Senate, February II, a bill to regu-
late applications for restoration to the act.
i've list of the navy was passed. number
OF petitions, memorials, and reports were
presented and appropriately referred. The
House bill restricting immigration of Chi
nese was called up, SO that is would be con-
sidered unfinished business, and the Sem
ate adjourned I'm the House, the con-
ference report on the bill to abolish the vol
unteer navy was agreed to. The Legislative,
Judicial and Executive Appropriation Bill
was considered in Committee OF the Whole,
and number of amendments agreed upon,
This occupied most of the day. After the
committee rose, the question of night
session for the business of the Committee
on Public Lands was discussed and defeated,
and the House adjourned.
In the Senate, February IS, the bill from
the Committee of Finance authorizing the
conversion of national gold bonds was
passed, but afterward reconsidered, on
motion Of Mr.. Conkling, on account of an
error. The House bill to restrict the i'm.
migration of the Chinese was taken up, and
it was advocated by Messrs Morgan and
Sargent and opposed by Mr. Matthews.
motion to adjourn, without action on
the bill, " IS carried by a vote of 20 to 23....
In the House, Mr.. Cobb, of Indiana, moved
to take up for consideration the contested
election case of Finley vs.. Bisbee, from the
First District of Florida. A letter was re.
ferred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, from the Secretary of the Treas
ury, stating that there will probably be
a deficit in the revenues of the Gov.
ernment next fiscal year of $27, ,000, 600, and
asking authority to issue four per cent.
bonds to cover such a deficiency. The
House soon afterward went into Committee
of the Whole as to the Legislative Bill. At
ter disposing of sixty-three pages of the
bill, the committee rose. The remainder of
the days session was devoted to memorial
services to the late Julian Hartridge.
In the Senate, February IA, the creden-
tials of Senators elect, BENJAMIN F. Jonas,
of Louisiana, and James B. Groome, of
Maryland, and z. B. Vance, of North Caro-.
lima, were read and placed on file. The
Cumberland road in Ohio was made free
road. Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee on
Finance, submitted motion that the House
of Representatives be requested to return
the bill to authorize the issue of certificates
of deposit in aid of the refunding of the
public debt, passed a few days ago. In ex-
planation of the motion, he said the object
in having the bill returned was to amend it
SO that the proceeds may be applied to
something besides the 500 bonds. The
motion was agreed to. The bill to re-
strict Chinese immigration was taken
up. Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Mitchell ad-
yocated the bill and Mr.. Matthews sub.
ing the Emperor of China notice that the
present treaty regulations and the immi.
grafton of the Chinese are not
satisfactory to this Government,
and that if certain notifications
were not adopted by January 1880, the
President should notify the Emperor that
this Government abrogate the existing treaty
from and after the first of July thereafter
Mr.. Thurman opposed the amendment of
Mr. Mafthouc aruuipo hot tho of
abrogating treaties rested in Congress. He
was opposed to Chinese immigration, and
further mixture of races. Mr.. Sargent sub
mItted several verbal amendments which
were agreed to. He also submitted an amend
ment as an additional section, providing
that the act shall not apply to persons
officially connected with the Chinese Gov
ernment, or any embassy thereof, or to per-
sons rescued from shipwreck during the
voyage of, and by a vessel bringing the
same within jurisdiction of the United
States. Agreed to. An amendment to Mr..
Matthews substitute was submitted by Mr..
| Conkling, and opposed by Mr.. Thurman as
the Chinese Government. Pending a
| speech in opposition to the bill by Mr..
Hamlin, the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. Bragg, from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, reported a bill
authorizing the President to appoint James
Shields, of Missouri, as Brigadier General
on the retired list, such appoi intment to be
in lieu of the pension which he now re-
ceives. After considerable confusion, the
bill was referred to the Committee of the
| Whole. Members had warm discussion
in Committee of the Whole, on the Wal
Claim Bill to pay John J. Armstrong
of Virginia, S1,S40 for rent o.
wharf in Alexandria during the war, anG
without action the Committee rose, and the
| q nf, do
bate only.
In the Senate, February Is, the discussion
of the bill to restrict Chinese immigration
was resumed, and Mr.. Hamlin spoke il
opposition. Mr.. Conkling made an elabo
rate speech in favor of his amendment t,
postpone action until next winter, anG
meanwhile serve notice on the Emperor o
China of the intention to pass the pend
ing bill, and during its delivery had q sharl
passage with Thurman. Conkling's amend
ment was voted down by the close vote o
33 to 81. ConEling, in advocacy of post
ponement, took substantially the sam
grounds as Senator Matthews, that it wa
violation of faith to pass the bill with
out serving the required notice pro
vided for in the Burlingame Treaty. Tn
bill was passed by yeas 80, nays ~. As tn
Senate passed the bill in precisely the sam
shape it received it from the House, it no,
only awaits the Presidents signature II
3 become law. An Intellectual effort wa
, made to hold night session on the bill t
amend the internal revenue laws, but Will
the bill was being read, the Senate ad
journed......In the House, the Legislative
, Judicial, and Executive Appropriation Bi
:. was considered in Committee Of the Who'll,
l An amendment was adopted to di
a pense with the biennial examination
n pensioners, the Commissioners havin
4 power to order special examinations whe
4 deemed necessary. The Committee rot
y without finishing consideration of the bill
A deficiency bill was reported, and ordere
9 printed and recommitted.
e Cipher Investigation.