The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-16
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Senate.

SCnQISs
Mr.. Springer presented the memorial OF
j.. j. Wilson, claiming to have been elected II
representative from the Ninth congressional
district of Iowa on the fifth Of November, 1878.
Referred to the committee on elections &.
Consideration Of the army appropriation bill
was resumed. MIR. Tucker submitted IN umend-
nlent TO repeal section l,2l8 of the revised
statutes. This is the section which prohibits
the appointment to the army Of any person
who served in any capacity i'll the military,
naval or civil service Of the Confederate States.
Mr.. Conger raised n point of order against the
amendment on the ground thnt it was new leg
islation and not gcrmane to the bill. He alter
ward withdrew the point of order, but it WINS
renewed by Mr.. Sparks, and sustained BY the
chair. The consideration Of the bill having
been concluded, with the exception OF section
six, repeating the statutes allowing the military
to preserve the peace ut the polls, that section
was read. Mr.. Conger rose TO u point OF
order that the sestiou changed existing law
and did not retrench expenditures. After n
prolonged discussion the House II adjourned.
Among the measures offered in the SENATE
were bills by Mr.. Grover extending the time
for the construction and equipment oil the
Northern Pacific rilroad; by Mr.. Johnston,
to authorize the national board OF health to in
vestigate the infectious and contagious diseases
OF animals; by Mr.. Window, to repeal SO much
OF the last sundry civil bill rs authorizes the
secretary Of war to release the Moline water
works ut Rock Island; Il resolution by Nr.
Cameron, providing for IN inquiry into the ex-
pediency oil purchasing the portrait OF Cicilius
Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, by Van
dyke, and that OF Washington, by Peale; bills
BY Mr.. Whyte, limiting the removal Of causes
from State to Federal courts, and by Mr.. ker-
nan to authorize the secretary OF war to detuil
IN officer Of the army to take command of the
expedition fitted ont by Messrs. Morrison and
Brown, Of New York, to search for the records
of Sir John Franklin's expedition .... After dis
cussing q bill authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to contract for the construction of Il
refrigerating ship for the disinfection OF vessels
and cargoes, and appropriating 100000 for
that purpose, the Senate adjourned.
Mr.. Gordon having appeared for the first time
this session, the modified oath of office was
administered to him, and he resumed his seat.
1.-The Senate resumed consideration OF the
bill making an appropriation of 5000, 900 for
the construction Of n steel vessel, to be used
for the disinfection Of vessels and cargoes COM
ing from ports supposed to be injected with
yellow fever or other contagious diseases. MIR.
Harris offered a substitute to meet the objection
of Senators to the general bill, authorizing the
secretary of the treasury to contract Tor the
purchase or construction OF a vessel provided
with refrigernting apparatus for the purpose
named, or arrange with the navy department
for the use Of Il vessel. II the construction OF
a vessel shall be recommended by the national
board of health, the work shall be done under
an officer of the State engineering bureau OF
the navy department. Two hundred thousand
dollars are appropriated 20 carry the act into
effect. The bill was passed. Adjourned.
After the introduction OF. several bills and
resolutions, Mr.. Hoar's resolution declaring the
action of the last House and the alleged plan
of the present Congress in regard to approprin-
ton bills unconstitutional came up, and was
hid on the table by n vote Of 80 to 2O-a strict
pXty vote. ...M Mr.. Salisbury, from the COM
%mittec on privileges and elections, reported
adversely on the credentials Of Charles II.
Bell as senator from New Hampshire, and Mr..
Hoar presented the views Of the minority in
favor OF admitting Mr.. Bell. Executive scs-
sion and then nd adjournment.
House.
Mr.. Sparks introduced the army appropria-
ton bill. lie explained that it was substantial
" the bill that had passed the House in the last
session of the last Congress, with the provisions
in regard to tho reorganization of the army
stricken ont. 1t was also substantially the bill
which had been passed by the Senate, with the
provision inserted repeating the two statutes
allowing the use of troops at the polls. 1t was
really the bill which had been informally
agreed upon in the conference committee, e1-
cepting that portion repeating the statutes in
regard to the use Of troops ut the polls. The,
House then went into committee OF the whole.
Tho bill was read in full. 1t appropriatcs
S25, 797, 300. 1t limits the number of enlisted
men to q, 1000, including 1ndinn scouts and
hospital stewards. 1t contains the clause au-
thorizing railroad companies to do Il gen.
eral telegraph business. 1t amends section
2,002 of the revised statutes 80 rs to prohibit the
presence of troops at the place where any gen
eral or special election is held, unless it be
necessary to repel the armed enemies OF the
United States" 1t also amends section 1928
in the same sense, making it n penal offense
for any officer in the civil, military or naval
service to order or have troops ut any place
where n general or special election is held.
After disposing of nearly all the ordinary pro-
visions of the Dill and voting down IN amend
ment to reduce the army to $4,000 men, the
House adjourned.
Debate was continued on the clauso in the
army appropriation bill forbidding the presence
of troops at the polls. Mr.. Conger's point of
order thutshe clause was new Legislation and
not in the interest Of retrenchmcnt, WIS over
ruled by the chairman. Mr.. Conger appealed
from the decision, but the House sustained the
ruling by q vote of l25 to lO7. General Gar
field then took the floor and presented the
Republican case in a long speech. Messrs,
Stephens and Mcmahon were the principal
speakers on the Democratic side. Adjourned.
Mr.. Atkins reported the legislative appro-
~priation bill. 1t appropriates between $l5,000,-
600 and SIG, 600, 900. Under the judicial head
it contains a provision repeating the last clause
Of section 800 Of the revised statutes, which
applies to the State of Pennsylvania, and Sec
tons sol, 800 and 82l Of the revised statutes,
and providing that oil jurors, grand and petit,
shall be publicly drawn from a box containing
the names of not less than 800 persons possess
- L. <,,aEnaat;nns (which naunes