The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-13


their hands from the departments
to the constituents of congressman.
In his own case their expense up6n
matters coming to him from the
pension office alone had amounted
TO from five to seven dollars, and in
ono case TO ten dollars per month.
The subject was one of accommoda-
ton, not of the members but of
their constituents. Laid on the
table and ordered printed.
\ number of other bills were in
troduced and referred.
The morning hour expired. and
4 bill for the relief of Ben. Halh-
day was TO come up As unfinished
business without concluding the
debate the Senate. at four o'clock.
went into executive session. and
when the. doors were reopened, adj
iourned.
HoUSE-Under call of the states
the following bills were introduced
and referred:
BY Davis of California-To facili-
tate the appeals from the decisions
of the Committee on Patents.
BY Spear of GeOrgia-To exempt
from import duties all machinery
used in the manufacture of cotton
thread and cotton goods.
BY Price of lowa-Declaring sill
yer certificates to possess the same
legal tender 10 qualify as coin for
winch they are issued
By Carpenter of Iowa-To in
crease 80 per cent. duty on flax
seed or linseed and the manufac-
ures thereof: also proposing a con-
stitutional amendment providing
that all civil officers of the United
States except judges of the supreme
and inferior courts, ceads of de-
partments and officers whose duties
are temporary shall hold office for
the term of four years, and that
Congress may provide for an cleo
ton by the people of pOstmasters
and other officers whose duties
are to be performed within the limit
OF any state and such officers to be
subject TO removal by the president
only on other than political or re-
| ligious grounds.
BY Willis to prevent extortiOn
from persons in the public service
and bribery and coercion by such
persons.
BY Buckner of Missouri request
ing that the president open nego-
tiations with Mexico or the Central
American States for the purchase
and possession to the United States
of territory for the voluntary col
onization of the colored population
of the United States.
WAsHINGTON.Januar 11.--HoUsE
-Blackburne of Kcntuckey, stated
that some time during the session a
resolution had been adopted to call
ing on the Postmaster General for
information as to the abuses in the
transmission of matter through the
mails under the ranking of MEM
bers of the Senate and the House.
lie understood that there was vO-
luminous reply in the Speakers
hands, and he therefore offered
the following:
WHEREAS, Charges have been
made that the laws of the United
States have been violated by SEND
ing through mails under franks of
the members of the House and the
Senate not authorized to bo sent
without the payment of postage.
Therefore
ReSOIced, That select committee
of five be appointed by the Speaker
to examine into said charges and
all other abuses that may be
brought to their attention connect
ed with the transmission of~.lec-pz
ments, letters, etc, through the
mails.
The resolution was adopted, and |
the House at 12:45 went into a COM |
mittee on Indian appropriation bill. |
Pending the amendment there |
was one offered by Hancock |
appropriatng $4,000 for. the ex-
pense of the Indian commission. |
After some debate it was adopted,
as were also several other unimpOr-
tant amendments.
The committee the rose and re- |
ported the bill TO the House, when |
HancOck's amendment was reject
ed, and the bill passed. The Speaker |
then announced the names of the |
members appointed as the commit |
tee to investigate the abuses of the |
ranking privilege and laid before |
the House q message from the Presi- |
dent relative to the international |
congress of electricians to be held in |
Paris next September. Adjourned. |
STANDARDIZATION from committee |
on appropriations reported with one |
amendment merely on the addition |
of $500 for purchasing a Theodolite |
military academy. Appropriation
bill placed on calender.
Maxey, from Committe ON Militia
ry Affairs, reported with amendment |
bill for relief of Brigadicr General
E. o. G. Ord.
Bayard, from Committee on FL |
nance, reported favorably House |
Bill to amenu section of the Revised |
Statutes so as to authorize charges |
for melting silver and refined bullion |
when at or above standard.
Cameron from Military Commit |
tee, reported adversely bill to reor-
ganize and discipline military of the |
United States; and it was indefinite
ly postponed.
Wallace, from committee, reported |
favorably bill empowering clerks of
district and circuit courts TO adj |
minister oaths, take acknowledg. |
ments, etc, and in the same manner |
as commissioners of said courts in |
the District of Columbia.
An act for the punishment of va
grancy was then taken up and led to |
long debate.