Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-02-13
House.

Mr.. Warner, from the committee on coinage
weights and measures, reported back, with
amendments, the bill to stop paper imitation,
and providing tor the needed increase OF the
volume OF currency by the free coinage Of gold
and silver and the issue OF gold and silver GER
tificates. Ordered to be printed and recon-
United.
The bill declaring all public roads and high
ways post roads was passed by l34 yeas to 81
nays.
Mr.. Knott, chairman of the committee on
the judiciary, reported the bill removing the
political disabilities of William b. Talliafelro
OF Virginia. Mr.. CoDger opposed the bill on
the ground that in his petition the petitioner
referred 10 the late war as the "war between
tho Southern States and the United States"
instead of as the "war of the rebellion" The
bill was finally passed by a vote of l72 yeas
to So nays.
Mr.. Shallenberger has introduced q bill
directing the commissioners OF agriculture to
attend in person or by deputy the Intsrna-
iional Sheep and Wool Show, to be held in
Philadelphia in September next.
Bills were passed removing the political
disabilities OF J. s. Maury, j. Wilkinson and
&. @. Semmes, OF Virginia.
A bill introduced by Mr.. King provides tor
the appointment OF a commission of military,
naval and civil engineers, to examine and re-
port upon the routes of interoceanic cohimuni-
cation. 1t authorizes the President to appoint
one engineer from the army, one from the
navy, and one from civil lie, who shalr inform
themselves in relation to the surveys of the
canal routes known as the Nicaragua and the
Panama canal routes, and obtain such infor-
nation as may enable them to properly ex-
anime those routes. They shall then proceed
to Nicaragua to make reconnaissance OF the
region living between the harbor OF Greytown
and the river San Francisco, and also to ex-
anime the Laios river route. They shall then
proceed to Panama and make personal inspec-
ton OF such surveys as they may deem ex-
pedient. They shall take into consideration
the relative and positive merits OF the two
routes, the probable cost of construction, etc.,
and submit their report to the President at the
earliest moment possible.
Mr. Bland introduced bill for the free
coinage of the standard silver dollar. 1t pro-
vides that the minis OF the United States shall
be free and open to the coinage OF the standard
silver dollar on the same terms and conditions
as now or may hereafter be provided for the
coinage of gold bullion. Sal silver dollar
shall have the same legal-iender capacity and
certificates shall issue thereupon in the same
manner as now provided Tor by the act OF
February 49, 1878.
Mr.. Thompson introduced bill providing
that the accounting officers of the government
shall not disallow any claims of citizen whose
State did not go into rebellion on account of
disloyalty, unless such proof as will convict
the claimant OF treason shall be made against
the claim.
Mr.. Browne introduced bill proposing a
constitutional amendment providing that the
House OF Representatives shall be composed
OF 300 members, to be apportioned among the
several States as provided in section Of article
IA OF the amendments to the Constitution.
he bill relative to the service Of jurors was
passed. It provides that no person shall
serve as a petit Juror in any United States
court for more than three weeks during any
one year; provided that Jurors may sit as
long as may be necessary to decide causes the
trial OF which may have been begun before the
expiration of such terms OF service. The act
is to take effect within one month after its
approval.
Mr.. Cox has introduced bill to declare
forfeited certain public lands conditionally
granted TO aid in the construction of railroad
and telegraph lines. 1t provides for ascer-
tanning what companies have not complied
with tho conditions of their grants, and for
prompt subsequent proceedings by the at
torney-general.