The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-12
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Senate.

lately dismissed from the army Joe COnuucC
unbecoming ON officer, was introduced
Adverse reports were presented on the bill
to increase the pensions of wounded soldiers
OF tho war of 1872, and on the bill to repeal the
law prohibiting planters from selling leaf
tobacco at retail.
The bills appropriating $200,O00 for q
public building at Denver, Sl50,00 for q
public building at Montgomery, Ala, and
$40, 900 for o marine hospital at Memphis
were passed.
The bill a~ppropriating 800, 900 for a monu-
ment and $40, 900 for a celebration at York
town, Va, was laid aside.
A ioinl resolution accepting nom the heirs
of Thomas Jefferson the desk on which the
Declaration OF Independence was written was
passed. ., -,
In debate on the army appropriation Dill
Mr.. Blaine's motion to strike out the section
prohibiting the use OF troops at tho polls was
defeated by O vote OF % nays 10 ~ yeas-a
marty vote. OF Ter amendments OF q similar
tenor by Messrs. Edmunds, Kirkwood and
Blaine were defeated by nearly the Same
vote.
The army appropriation bill with its "rider'
prohibiting the use of troops at the polls was
passed by a party vote.
Mr.. johnson offered a bill to provide for
the suppression Of infectious aud contagious
diseases of domestic animals.
Mr.. Bailey spoke in favor OF and Mr.. kellogg
opposed the resolutions declaring Henry M.
Spofford entitled to the seat in the Senate
now held by William Pitt kellogg.
The post route appropriation bill was taken
up a third time and passed.
A petition was presented from the commits.
stoned officers OF tho army tor legislation that
will entitle all who have served fourteen
years in the grade OF lieutenant to the rank
and pay OF captain.
To the bill authoriziuga retired list for non.
commissioned officers oil the army, Mr.. Allison
offered an amendment that in addition 10 the
number of cadets at the West Point academy
now authorized by law, the President shall
each year appoint two colored cadets at large.
While discussing the amendment the morning
hour expired and the bill went over.
The resolution declaring Henry M. Spoford
entitled to the seat in the Senate now held by
William Kellogg was further discussed by
Messrs. Blaine, Butler, Bayard, Bailey, Cam.
eron, OF Wisconsin, and others.
Mr.. Eaton reported, without amendments,
the House bill making appropriations TOR the
naval service. ,.r
Mr.. Burnside reported adversely the bill
authorizing the secretary OF the navy to detail
officers and furnish supplies to the Polar
cxpedition fitted out by Messrs. Morrison and
Brown to search for the remains OF Sir John
Franklin.
The bill to authorize and equip an expedi-
ton, known as the Howgate expedition, to
the Arctic seas, was passed.
Mr.. Davis, OF West Virginia, submitted thu
majority report OF the committee to lnvesti'
gate the account OF the treasury department
He said all his allegations had been proven
Differences OF ninety or one hundred million
dollars had been found, but whether the
figures represented actual cash differences
was another thing. Most Of the discrepancies
were made between 1860 and 1871. Mr.. In
gals submitted a minority report on the same
subject. He said the minority could not agree
with Mr.. Davis's report, and that the IatteI
had spent two and o hall years, at a vast OK.
pense, with a corps of trained assistants, and
had not developed a single tact not known to
the country since 1871. There were nc
changes made in the original entries i'll the
treasury department, and only necessary
changes made in statements to correct errors
and omissions, and no charge OF fraud cam
from any source.
Tho House accented from the heirs OF
Thomas Jefferson tho desk on which tho
Declaration OF Independence was written.
The naval appropriation bill was passed.
Mr.. Garfield called attention to a copy
righted poem by Mr.. Downey, OF Wyoming.
occupying fifteen pages OF the Record, pur-
porting to be IN argument OF his bill appro-
priating 800, 900 for paintings upon the walls
OF the capitol illustrative Of the life Of Christ.
Mr.. Garfield said he supposed that members
had a perfect liberty to speak in verse OR
prose, but the question was raised whether n
gentleman had a right to avail himself OF the
privilege to print a copyrighted book. Hc
moved that tho first fifteen RACES OF the Reco'a
be referred to the committee on rules, with
instructions to inquire whether they should
become a part OF the permanent record. MIR.
Downey said that he md been told by the
librarian OF Congress that there was no qnes-
ton OF his right to copyright an argument
which would appear in tho Record. He had,
however, no objection to the motion made by
Mr.. Garfield, and it was passed by liz yeas to
los nays.
The Joint resolution for the abrogation OF
the CLAYTON .Bulwer treaty was referred to the
committee of the whole.
A Joint resolution directing the secretary OF
war 10 furnish the governor OF Missouri with
500 tents Tor the benefit OF the tornado sui
fererk WAS passed. ,
The sneaker announced ths appointment OF
the following members as a select committee
to investigate the alleged corruption in regard
to the contested election case OF Donnelly
against Waahburn: Messrs. Carlisle, Bick.
nell, Reagan, Lounsberly, O'Neil, Updegraff
and Butterworth.
Mr.. Thomas, of Illinois, has init oduced a
bill to amend the internal revenue avs SO as
TO impose q tax upon every package Of oleo.
margarine or imitation OF butter equal to ten
cents for every pound, and authorizing tho conf
missioner of internal revenue to provide spe-
cial stamps, and to issue the proper instructions
and regulations in regard to the same. The
bill also provides a penalty OF 100 per cent.
additional tax and q fine not exceeding 81 1000
for evasion or noncompliance with the law
imposing the tax. =.
The resolution requesting the President, ii
not incompatible with the public interests, to
transmit TO the House copies OF the corrce-
pondence with the English government lelat-
ing to the alleged interference with American
fishermen in Fortune Bay in January, 1873,
was agreed to.
The bill to appoint a commission TO no
gotiate a reciprocity treaty with Canada was
.pIuced on the calendar.
The bill %instructing the President to procure
nh carly abrogation Of the articles OF the nshery
treaty OF 1871 was ordered printed.
The bill to equnliZe the bounties OF Sol.
diers ofthe war OF Of the rebellion was placed
ON the Calendar.
The bill to continue the chronological com