Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-17
FORTY-sIITH CONGRESS.
WEpNEspAy. December II

WEDNESDAY, December Il.
SENATE.-The Vice President laid before the
Senate the annual report of the joint commits
sion on the completion of the Washington mon
ument, showing the amount expended thereon
during the present fiscal year. Referred.
Mr.. Thurman presented memorial OF citi-
zenS of Ohio, largely interested in stock raising,
asking the appointment of a commission to in
veStigate the subject of contagious diseases Of
domestic animals, and to adopt and enforce un-
der the sanction of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury, rules for the prevention or treatment OF
such diseases. Referred
Mr.. Davis, Qll.,) from the committee on the
judiciary, reported adversely on the bill to es-
tablfSh United States circuit court for the
state OF Texas, and it was Indefinitely post
poned.
Mr. Davis w.va.l introduced a bill to repeal
ferred.
Mr.. Morgan offered the following resolution:
1hat the continuance OF the existing valume of
U. S. Treasury notes with their legal tender
preserved and the maintenance of their equiva-
lency in value with coin is demanded by the
present necessities OF trade, commerce and in
dustry, and that the full restoration of silver
coinage to an equality with gold is necessary to
secure to the people Of the United States suf-
nclent and permanent supply of money to main-
tain our national prosperity. Mr.. Morgan, in
speaking to his resolution, said it might be un-
wise to proceed too rapidly toward the consum-
nation Of policy which was theoretically ac-
la ceptable: our present prosperity was likely to
largely abroad we would need all the good
sound money we possessed and probably more.
1t was unwise to withdraw any OF the currency.
Mr.. Morgan declared, among other things,
that the greenbackS were kept at par by the
known power and will of the people to pay
them in gold. Ii there ever was time when
they should have been deprived of their legal
tender quality it was when they were below
par. The present movement for their demone-
tnatfon was In the interests of capitalists. and
it was likely that attempts would be made to
coerce great political party into aiding the
movement under the threat that otherwise the
capitalists would throw the great money cities
and states OF the Union into the camp of the
party who had always supported monopolies
against the people.
Mr.. M0gan introduced joint resolution, pro-
vfdng that within 60 days after its enactment
all the lands granted to aid in the construction
OF railroad and telegraphfc lines which have
failed to comply with the requirements of their
charters shall revert to the United States.
proposes to declare forfeited are those of the
Atlantic and Pacific, Northern Pacific, Texas
Pacific, st. Louis and Iron Mountain, Little
Rock and Fort Smith, and oregon Central Rail-
roads. The resolution was laid on the table.
At 1:50 pm. the Senate went into executive
session.
At 2:10 pm. the doors were reopened. and the
bill to authorize the Secretary Of the Treasury
to purchase land adjacent to the custom house
at Providence was passed.
The bill for the relief of SOmerVille & Davies
was taken up and passed. 1t relieves them from
payment OF certain duties on importat1ons.
The bill exempting from duty competitive
prizes won by American citizens In foreign coun-
tries was passed, and at 2:l5 the Senate ad-
JOurned until tomorrow.
HOUSE-Mr. Martin (N. C.) introduced bill
for the establishment Of national steamship
service. Referred.
Mr.. Wilson offered a resolution of inquiry as
to what legislation is necessary on the subject
of Chinese emigration. Referred.
DR.. BallOu introduced bill restoring legal-ten-
Referred.
The text of the bill is as folews:- it enacted,
&C., That section 3,5ss OF the Revised Statutes
making United States notes a legal-tender in
payment OF all debts, public and private, except
for duties and Imports and interest on public
debt, is hereby repealed, and that hereafter gold
and silver coin only shall be a tender in pay
ment Of debts; also repeating the stamp tax on
bank checks. Referred.
Mr.. Buckner, chairman of the committee On
banking and currency, reported resolution a'l-
thoriZing that committee to continue its inveS-
tigation into the affairs OF the Ocean National
Bank. Adopted.
Young (Tenn.) introduced bill for the con-
struction Of railroad and telegraph line from
Fort Smith. Ark. to Arkansas city. Referred
The regular order being demanded, the bill
pending in the morning hour, for the establish
ment OF return letter offices, was referred to
committee OF whole.
Jones from committee on post offices and
post roads, reported bill exempting postal en-
plOyees from serving on juries. Passed.
ported bill authorizing the holding OF terms Of
United States District Court for the district OF
West Virginia at Martinsburg. Passed
MI. Knott also reported back concurrent reS0-
luton for the appointment of joint committee
Of three Senators and five representatives to in
yeSt1gate the present system Of salaries, fees,
raj T. s. ceurts to ascertain whether any abuses
exist therein, and granting such committee
power to report at any time. Agreed to.
Mr.. Hurd from same committee reported bill
DfOViGinp for prc1lit and district
United States at Columbus, Ohio, and transfer
ring certain counties from the northern to
southern district Passed.
Mr.; Robinson, from same committee, reported
bill for an additional judicial district in the
state of Georgia. Passed.
Mr.. McCoid, FROM the committee on manufac-
ureS, reported back joint resolution proposing
the following constitutional amendment: Ar
tfcle -. Congress, for the promotion of trade
and manufacture, and to carry into effect in
ternational treaties shall have power to grant,
protect and regulate the exclusive right to adopt
and use trademarks.
Sec 2. That this amendment shall be valid
of the states.
There appeared to be a strong opposition to
the resolution on the democratic side, and the
yeas and nays were taken on ordering the main
question, and resulted-yeas ia, nays r5; so the
main question was ordered.
Mr.. McCoid spoke in favor OF the resolution.
substance of the resolution, but that it was
made because the resolution had not come from
the judiciary committee. He did not believe
that to be necessary. 1t had received the
unanimous approval of the committee on manu-
factureS. 1t was important that the resolution
should be agreed to speedily, inaSmuch as 2l
legislatures would be in session this winter,
some Of which would not meet again for two
years. The government haG received 100000
for granting trade marks, which had now fallen
10 the ground, and in justice and equity would
have to refund that money to the parties from
whom it was obtained.
The yeas and nays were called on ordering the
main question.
There was strong opposition to the resoltl-
tion on the democratic side
The main question was ordered and the reso-
luton was discussed at some length, and finally
referred to committee on judiciary with leave to
report at any time.
The consular and diplomatic appropriation
Dill was reported to the House; ordered printed
and recommited.
The House then went into committee of the
whole On the military academy appropriation
bill
PERSONALS. W. Small f'Old ST." of the At
lanta Constitution, is in town, staying at the
National wv. P. Noble well-known and
popular artist of Cincinnati, died in that city