Connecticut western news., 1879-05-14
UNITED STATES CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

Mir. Eaton (Dem., Conn. introduced the bill of the Democratic caucus to prohibit military interference at elections. He expressed the hope that the Senate would at once proceed to its consideration, but it was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Senate took up the bill to prevent the of contagious diseases, the question being on .the motion of MT. Hamlin (Rep., Me.) to recommit to the select committee with instructions to report code of rules to carry the act into effect. Recommitted by vote of 30 to l9.
 The bill to prevent the use of troops at the polls was reported from the Judiciary Committee amended. The difference between the bill introduced and as now reported is the insertion, by the Committee, of the words, " Protect the State against invasion," and the substitution of the words "when the Legislature cannot be convened" for the words "when such force is to be used."
 The resolution authorizing the Elec- tions Committee to take testimony in the Spoford- Kellogg contest was taken up, and MT. Carpenter Rep., Wis. argued that Kelloggs title was stronger than that of any other Senator on the ground that it was settled after full examina- tion of the facts. The duty of the Sen ate, he contended, was judicial, and the Senate ought to peform its duties in 8 judicial sense. The resolution ought not to pass because the Senate has no jurisdiction over a matter already de- cided. A number of amendments were offered and large number of Senators took part in the debate. The amend ments were rejected, all save that of MT. Hoar, of Mass, instructing the committee to inquire whether unlawful means were used to secure the alleged election of MT. Spoford, and the resolution authorizing the taking of tes- timony, with the amendment of Mir. Hoar was adopted by 23 to IF. All the votes were strictly on party lines. MT. Blaine submitted an amendment to the election bill providing that any person who shall carry concealed deadly weapon within mile of any place where held shall be punished with fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5, 1000 or with imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than five years, or with both.
 The Senate took up the House bill to authorize the annual enlistment of 750 boys in the Navy, and passed it.
 HOUSE,
 Under the call of the States, MT. Ladd (Dem. and Nat, Me.) presented the bill to prevent military interference at elec- tions, and it was referred to the Com mittee on Judiciary. Among the other measures introduced were bills by MT. Murch (Nat., Me. to establish Bureau of Labor Statistics; by MT. Lounsbery | Oem., N. Y. ), regulating the mode et counting the votes for President; by MT. Kelley Rep., Pal providing for re- tiring the trade dollar and for it's recoin- age into the standard silver dollar; by
 MT. Armfeld Oem., N. O., requiring all prosecutions for ofenses against the
 Revenue laws to be upon indictments
 by MT. Money (Dem., Miss. ), to facili'
 tate the delivery of letters and the speedy
 return of undelivered letters to the
 sender by Mir. Robertson (Dem., La.
 to establish mail steamship service be-
 tween the United States and Centra
 America by MT. De La Matyr (Nat.
 Ind ), for funding municipal indebted
 ness in United States paper money
 also providing for greenback currenc,
 to the extent of $1,000, ,000, ,O0O and by
 Mir. Springer Oem., I1.) proposing {
 constitutional amendment prohibiting
 special legislation.
 MT. Cox Dem., N. Y.) presented 1
 preamble reciting that the Governmen
 of the United States had endeavored tt
 effect an end to the Cuban rebellion ol
 the basis of the abolition of slavery, an(
 that it was proclaimed that the existence
 of the Cuban rebellion was the reason wh,
 the Spanish Government could not ire,
 the Cuban slaves, and demanding tha
 the President insist on the emencipatiol
 of the slaves. The bill to prevent tn,
 use of troops at elections was passed
 after several attempts failed at amend
 ments, by strict party vote of 124 yea
 to 90 nays. Eleven Greenbackers votet
 with the Democrats yea.
 MT. Chalmers Dem., Miss.) calle' mp h1s resolution for an investigation
 into his conduct at Fort Pillow. In tn attack on Fort Pillow he had been earl
 in the day in command of the Confede1 ate cavalry, but about nine o'clock Gen
 eral Forrest arrived and took command A number of the garrison making rusl
 for the gunboat had been fired at an , killed, but if any had been killed i violation of the usages of war, the mos l searching examination on the part of l Congressional committee had been un able to fix any responsibility for it, a 1 least on the general officers in command 3 He denied that any wounded men ha : been burned up in the quarters. Fort
 per cent. of the garrison were save t wholly untouched. A part of the Fec 3 eral troops had run out of the fort an 8 nearly all of those were killed or wound : ed. But large number of the garr : son, mostly white men, had remained l and they had gathered around Ger g eral Forrest and himself for prote,
 tion and had been protected. Tn statement that the Confederate took advantage of flag of truce in orde
 to gain better position was not tru' In reply to questions by Mir. Hawle 2 (Rep., Conn.) he said that the garriso numbered 577 men, of whom about per cent. were saved :; that about 3( were killed and wounded and about 25 on the Confederate side. MT. Coco , (Dem., Va reported bill directing th ' executive officers of the government
 carry out the Eight Hours Labor law ' 1869, and made brief argument in il ; favor. Mir. Murch (Nat., Me- said th . bill was in the interest of the laborin men, and on the Fourth of July, 187! - they would declare from one end of th
 country to the other that eight hou1 8 should constitute days work. Let | f one be alarmed by that remark, for th : declaration would be made peaceful, t The bill went over.
 The bill to enforce the Eight-Hou1 Law was taken up as the business of u 8 morning hour. A lengthy discussio e followed, and the bill was finally laid c