Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-03-11
Forty. fifth Congress--Third Session.

CRAIGsvILLE, VA, 1879.
Forty-tifth Congress- Third Session.
: SENATE.-Monday, Feb. 24th.-The
e House pension appropriation bill was
: reported from committee and placed on
the calendar Consideration was then
3 resumed of the army appropriation bill,
and the railroad telegraph rider having
been amended so as to require the rail-
road companies to accept the restrictions
placed on the telegraph companies, the
bill was passed. The Senate insisted on
lts revenue Dill amendment, and con-
ference committee was ordered. The
! rest of the session was taken I'D with the
: consideration of the contagious diseases
bill.
HoUsE.-In the House the Senate
amendments to the revenue bill were
considered, and those providing for the
taxation OF retail and wholesale LIQUOR
dealers, striking out the clause abolish
Ing the tax on Matches and exempting
lnsolvent banks from taxation under
certain circumstances, were non-con-
Cured in and conference committee
was appointed. Resolutions were intro.
duced concerning the Rives usurpation
in Virginia, and to institute an in
vestlgation into the disposition of funds
belonging to the Confederate States
and remaining in the Bank of England
at the end of the war. The civil
sundry appropriation bill, which ap-
propriates $3.50, GEO.. was passed un-
der suspension of the rules.
SENATE. Feb. 25th.-The
United States Senate, which remained
in session all Monday night, adjourned
at 4:35 Tuesday morning, after passing
the bill to prevent the Introduction Of
contagious diseases, etc. At one o'clock
the Senate met again, and by vote of
% yeas to SO nays refused to take up the
resolution seating Corbin as Senator
from South Carolina. The rest OF the
session was consumed in considering
the deficiency appropriation bill, and
numerous amendments were adopted.
HOUsE.-In the House resolution
was reported from the committee on
elections declaring i. s.. Metcalfe, sit
ting member from the third Missouri
| district, entitled to his seat. In commit
tee of the whole on the legislative ap-
preparation bill, the question being on
the amendment repeating the law Great
ing the Office OF electoral supervisors,
&c, Mr.. Banning made vigorous re-
ply to Mr.. Garfield's charges of fraud at
| the time of the formers election in Gin
ed. Finally the amendment was adopt
ed in COMMITTEES, bare quorum voting,
and the committee having risen the bill.
with that aDd other amendments, passed
! by 143 yeas to lit nays
| SENATE.-Wednesda Feb. 26th.-
Mr. Edmunds presented a bill from the
judiciary committee Ito further protect
the constitutional rights of citizens and
to punish violations of the same" The
report of the conference committee on
the bill to amend the internal revenue
laws was presented and agreed to. The
deficiency appropriation bill, after some
discussion, was read third time and
passed, the Senate, in committee of the
whole, having refused, by vote "a yeas
to S5 nays to strike out the appropria-
ton to pay certain expenses incurred un-
| der the enforcement act of 1874. An
evening session was held for the consid-
Grafton of bills on the calendar, and q
number of a private character were pass-
ed.
| HoUsE.-in the House the census bill
was passed, after being SO amended as to
provide for the appointment of supervi-
sors OF the census by the President, by
and with the advice of the Senate, in
stead OF by the governors of the several
States. The bill modifying the tariff on
sugar was discussed at considerable
length. Pending discussion, Mr.. Tucker
presented the conference report on the
bill to amend the internal revenue laws,
and moved the previous question on it,
| but yielded to Mr.. Conger for five
minutes speech, during which he was
interrupted with motion for adjourn
ment, which was carried.
SENATE.-Thursday, Feb. 27th.-A
bill was reported from the committee on
! finance, authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury to sell 4 per cent bonds to the
amount of slS 100000, for the payment
of arrears of pensions. The Senate, by
a vote of Il to 25, refused to take up the
bill for reviving and continuing the
court of commissioners of the Alabama
claims, and for the distribution of the
unappropriated moneys of the Geneva
award. The bill for the payment of ar
rears OF pensions was taken up, and sew
eral amendments adopted. Pending
consideration of the bill the Senate ad-
journed.
| HOUsE.-The conference report on the
internal revenue bill was adopted by
vote of l47 to III. A resolution was
passed directing that George F. Seward,
minister to China, be brought before the
bar of the House for contumacy. An
evsning session was held for reports
y
SENATE. Friday, Feb. 2Sth.-The ar
rears of pension bill was further consid-
cred and several amendments adopted.
An evening session was held, at which
the pension arrears appropriation bill
was passed, with an amendment making
the law granting pensions to the soldiers
of 1912 applicable to those of the Mexi-
can war of 1916. The river and harbor
bill was then taken up and various
amendments agreed to.
HOUsE.-Mr. George f. Seward, min
lister to China, was arraigned before the
bar of the House for refusing to answer
certain questions He still persisted in
declining to answer, and motion was
adopted referring the matter to the jndi-
ciary committee, to report what action
should be taken. An evening session
was held, which was confined to the
consideration of pension bills, &c.