Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-10
FORTY.sIxTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY, December 10,


SENATE.-The Vice President laid before the
Senate communication from the Secretary Of
war transmitting special report from Lieut..
Col Col Casey, OF the corps Of engineers. concern
Ing the progress made up to the present time in
the &C Instruction Of the north wing of the War,
state ana Navy department building. The re-
port shows the necessity for special appro-
pr1atlon OF 900 in addition to the amount
estimated for In his last annual report as neceS-
sary for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1881.
This amount is necessary to enable the work to
go on continually. Without it, work must stop
during several months during the time named
unless the appropriation is made, and will
probably be delayed fully one year. The Secre-
tary of War recommends the passage of said ap-
propliation. Referred to the committee on ap-
preparations.
MIR. Conkling presented the petition of a large
number of citizens Of New York, formerly SOL
diers, PRAYING the passage OF the equalization
Mr.. Blaine presented memorial of citizens Of
the United States praying for the appointment
of commission to inquire into the alcoholic
liquor traffic, its relation to revenues, taxes,
public health, morals, &C.; also, OF the results of
license and of restrictive legislation. Referred
to the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. HILL of Georgia, by request, presented the
petition OF soldiers who served In the Union
army on the subject OF pensions. Referred to
the Committee on Pensions.
The Senate adopted resolution offered by Mr..
Morrill,, calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
for information as to the effect upon the reve-
nueS and upon consumers from the repeal of the
duty on tea and coffee in 1872.
The Senate took up the resolution heretofore
offered by MIR. Davis CIV. Va.), calling on the
Secretary OF the Treasury for a statement Of
private claims growing out of the late war paid
since 1864. Mr.. Davis accepted an amendment
by Mr.. Edmunds changing the date to March 4,
1861. The resolution as amended was then
The House concurrent resolution to adjourn
from December 10 to January was taken up
Mr.. Davis W.Va-l moved its passage.
Mr.. MaXey moved its reference to the commit
AUTHORIZATIONS 0OnOSp0
resolution. This motion was lost and the reso-
luton adopted-36 to 81.
Cameron (Wis.), Coke, Conkling, Eaton, Ferry
Garland. Hamlin, Jonas, Mcdonald, Mcmillan
MaXey, Morrill,, Paddock, Pendleton, Rollins
Slater, Teller, Vance and voorhees,.
AT pm. the Senate went into executive SeS-
sion.
At 1:1O pm. the doors were reopened and the
Senate adjourned
PROVISIONING to the large number Of bills
morning was very long, and its reading was not
completed until 1855.
Nj. Weaver presented petition signed as he
of an act granting to soldiers and sailors the
difference between the value of the money with
which they were paid, and gold, with six per
cent. additional. Referred.
tMr. Burrows introduced a Joint resolution,
Which was referred, proposing the following
amendment to the constitution: Article-Po-
lygamy shall not not exist within the limits of
the United States or any place subject to their
jurisdiction. Section 2.-Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by appropriate leg
isation.
Mr.. Gillette introduced a bill establishing
government for the District of Columbia. Re
ferred.
The regular order being demanded, the
Speaker announced that the regular order was
the consideration of the bill prohibiting pOliti-
cal contributions by federal officers or govern
ment contractors.
After short discussion, the consideration of
the bill was postponed until January 7th.