The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-01
bin. al /, P. nj. the senate took q recess tltl.
I'll 8 f,3niortr


til 3 o'clock. ~ Sc. ss -
There ii 4 probability OF q very Int session
TO PASS the approximation bitls. = :. 80
Mr.. Morrill,. OF Vermont, from the Census
sl.ommittee. reported back the bill to pro-
vide for taking the tenth and subsfquene
censuses, as amended by the House, and
recommended thatthe Senate non.concur In
the House amendments and ask. Tor COM
miltee Of conference.
i Mr. Conki;ng, OF New York, said some OF
The amendments improved The bill. Upon
his motion It was ordered that the amend
merits be printed ana further consideration
OF the bill postponed till orrow. I s.. !.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the course OF short debate as to the
priority OF business MIR. Atkins, oil Tennes-
see, chairman, and Mr.. Hale, OF Maine,
member OF the Committee on Approprtas
tons, made statement as to the condition
OF business to the effect that only four APP
preparation bills had passed into laws.
There were eight more TO be completed, OF
which two-the fertilization and army bills
were In conference. The post.office bill was
ready to be reported by the House ADpro-
priation Committee.
Mr.. Blount, OF Georgia, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported back the
post-office bill with recommendation, which
was agreed to, that the Senate amendments,
with two eXceptions-the Braziltan subsidy
and the classification Of mail matter-.be now
concurred in, in gross. -.
The committee also recommended that
those two amendments be not now con-
Cured In, but desired that they should be
voted upon separately, and some time al
lowed for debate upon them. .....ss
The postal appropriation bill, with the
Senate amendments, were reported with the
recommendation that they be uon-concurred
in, in gross, reserying only two OF them Tor
separate notes.-the Brazilian. subsidy and
mail-classification amendments-andt that as
to these they be also non. concurred IN. a
debate OF two hours ensued on the Brazilian
subsidy. after which vote was taken and
it was defeated by a vote of l57 to 80. Inc
remainder OF the. Senate's amendments 10
the post-office bill were non-concurred III:
A committee of conference was ordered and
recess taken.
The, evening session was confined to the
consideration Of the pension bills and the
bill for the removal Of political disabilities.
This afternoon the Sergeant-at- Arms ap-
neared at the bar OF the House, having in
custody Minister George F. Seward. He
was addressed by the Speaker, who inform
ed him that he was presented for breach
OF the privileges Of the House in refusing
to answer certain questions propounded to
him by committee OF the House, AND, for
failing to produce certain books; and he
was further asked il he was ready to answer
the questions and produce hebooks.
Mr.. Seward replied by presenting state
ment in the nature OF written legal arSu-
ment, the pith OF which was that the wit
ness is protected by sacred guarantee ofthe
Constitution (article 5 of amcndments]. lie
claims the protection OF that guarantee,
avowing the most sincere respect for the
House, and the belief that his just rights as
citizen and an officer will not be wlfully
or willingly infringed. He submitted that
he was not in contempt, and asked to be
discharged. >"
After further proceedings. in which Mr..
Seward said bis books would not be deliv-
cred at the instance OF his enemies, the mat
ter was referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee 70 renort what action should be taken ;
and Mr.. Seward was discharged Oh his own
recoguiZance.