The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
senate.

CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
SENATE.
Mr.. Morrill, introduced q bill-the duplicate
of one introduced in the House by Mr.. Gar
leld-to facilitate the reiunding OF The nationa
debt. MIR. Carpenter offered q resolution
declaring that resumption, the circulation OF
gold, silver and greenbacks as lawtdl money,
and the expectation that the finances would
not be disturbed by precipitate legislation,
had been followed by revived industry and
general prosperity; that the successful con-
duct Of business depended on q stable financial
policy; and hat in the opinion OF the Senate
any legislation during the present session
materially changing the existing system OF
finance would lie inexpedient. Adjourned
after an executive session.
Bills and resolutions were introduced: BY
Mr.. Hill, OF Colorado-Removing the Ute In
dams from their reservation. BY MIR. Hoar-
To establish a labor commission OF five per-
SONS L" to inquire and report as to the extent
to which machinery and labor.saving pro-
cesses have entered into the production and
distribution of the products in general and
consumption among the people to the dis
placement OF manual labor; also as to tile
condition Of the persons employed in agricul-
tural, mechanical, manufacturing and mining
labor in this country" etc. The commission
ers are to hold office for two years, receive an
annual salary OF $4,000 a year, be allowed to
travel, have authority to employ q secretary
and three clerks, and report 10 Congress
annually through the secretary OF the interior.
BY Mr.. Bailey-To encourage and aid the
education OF the colored race of the several
States and Territories by appropriating $780,
900 recently. covered back into the United
States treasury from appropriations TOR the
pay and bounties OF colored soldiers to q NUM-
Der of institutions for the education OF colored
people. By Mr.. Voorhees-A resolution de-
claring that the recommendation to change
the financial policy OF the country calls Tor
immediate aud unqualified condemnation.
Upon notice from the House OF the deEth OF
Mr.. 10y, the Senate adjourned alter appoint
ing a committee to make arrangements Tor
the deceased members funeral.
Mr.. Conkling presented a petition of a large
number of citizens OF New York, formerly
soldiers, praying tor the passage OF the equali-
zation of boun;ies bill. Mr.. Conkling also
presented a bill to prevent the dumping of
garbage in New York harbor Or any OF the
adjoining waters within five miles OF Coney
Island. =. Mr.. Morrill, offered O resolution
calling on the secretary OF the treasury tor
information touching the effect upon the rev.
enue OF the United States OF the act OF May l,
1872, repeating the duty OF tea and coffee. and
alao it's effect upon the cost OF said articles to
consumers thereof. Adopted. Mr.. Cock
reIl offered a resolution that the committee on
claims be instructed to consider the expedi-
ency of establishing a permanent tribunal
| which shall have jurisdiction OF the matters
| ordinarily referred to said committee, and to
report by bill or otherwise. Adopted. The
Senate resumed consideration oil the rtsolu-
| ton offered by Mr.. Davis, OF West Virginia,
calling on the secretary OF the treasury tor q
statement oil tho amounts paid out OF tho
treasury since 1864 on private claims growing
out OF the late war. Mr.. Davis accepted an
amendment by Mr.. Edinunds that the state
ment Le maGc 10 extend back to March 4,
1861. Mr.. Morrill, moved to add to the reso-
luton the following: "And also a like state.
ment OF NIL such claims which have beon pre-
sented TO, and rejected by the treasury depart
ment, and also which may now be pending
therein Rejected by q strict party vote,
the first of the session go. The House rcsolu-
ton to adjourn from December 10 to January
6 was passed. by a vote of SO to 2l....Mr.
Morrill, offered q resolution calling on the Sec
rotary OF the treasury tor q tabulated state
ment, showing by StaLes, the total amount of
llllku " oNtt vi - AheS "SN
to and rejected by the treasury department
from March 4, 1861, to March 4, 1879, and
also NIL like claims now pending. Laid over
underth rules. Adjourned.
House.
Mr.. Aiken presented a petition OF the ma
tional grange and patrons OF hnsbandry. ask.
ing for the enactment OF such laws as vii.
relieve the country from the unlawful exac-
ss--a - nNrn%nrIoo nunn uQH in
interstate commerce. Referred. Mr.. Gil
| lette offered a resolution declaring that Con-
gress is opposed to any reduction in the VOL
lime OF the United States legal-tender notes
now outstanding, but on the contrary IS in
mvor OF substituting greenbacks Tor national
bank notes. and that it IS in favor of tho tree
coinage oil the 4l2t grain silver dollar. Adj
burned.
In his prayer the chaplain alluded in a feel
ing manner to the death oil Representative A.
NJ. Lay, OF Missouri, who had been cut down
in the prime Of life and usefulness. 1mmedi-
ately after the reading OF the journal, Mr..
Clark announced to the House the death oil
his colleague, the Hon. Alfred NJ. Lay, stating
thai it was not his intention ut this time to
speak as the love he bore his late colleague
would prompt him, but mt some future time he
would 70. He then offered resolutions
pressing the regret which the House expert
enced at the death OF Mr.. Lay, and providing
Tor the appointing of n committee 10 consist
OF seven members and three Senators, to take
orders for experimenting the funeral cere-
monies. Alter tho appointment OF such eom-
mittee on the part OF the House, the House,
as u mark OF respect to the memory OF MIR.
Lay, adjourned.
Mr.. Weaver presented "A petition, signed, as
he stated, by 10000 persons, asking Tor tine
passage OF an act granting to soldiers and
sailors the differences between the value OF
the money with which they were paid and
gold, with six. per cent. additional. 80. Mr..
Burrows introduced a Joint resolution, which
was referred, proposing the following amend.
ment to the constitution, "~Polygamy shall
not exist Within The limits OF the United
States, nor my place subject to their ~jurisdic-
ton. Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation."....
The bill prohibiting political contributions by
federal officers or government contractors In
troduced during tho extra session, came mp on
the call tor reenlnr oder Of business, and after
a short discussion it was agreed that the bill
should be made Il special order for January I.
Adjourned.
The Harvest in England.
The London Times contains an ex-
haustive article. covering three of its
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