Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1877 — FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

Monday, Oct. 22.—Senate. —A number of bills were introduced and referred, among others She following: By Mr. Jones (Nev.), to authorize the coinage of a dollar of 412 W grains, standard silver, and for other purposes ; by Mr. Back, to repeal section 3 of the act to provide for the resumption of specie payments, approved July 14, 1875; by Mr. Hereford, to repeal the act to provide for the resumption of specie payments ; by Mr. Howe, to amend the Revised Statutes relating to the transportation of live stock; by Mr. Ingalls, to establish a pension agency at Topeka, Kan.; by Mr. Paddock, to divide the State of Nebraska into two judicial districts. House.—The Colorado case was debated, but no action taken... .Mr. Schleicher offered a resolution for the appointment of a select committee of eleven members to consider the subject of the civil service of the United States and measures to promote its efficiency. Adopted.... Mr. Southard offered a resolution for the appointment of a select committee of eleven members to take into consideration the state of the law respecting the ascertainment and declaration of the result of the election of President and Vice President, and to confer with a like committee on the part of the Senate. Adopted.... Mr. Oox offered a resolution directing the Secretary of the Navy to report to the House what action had been taken, if any, in the navy-yards of the United States in regulating the hours of labor, and whether such action has been in'derogation of or in compliance with Sec. 3,738, Revised Statutes, which requires that “ eight hours shall constitute a day’s work for all laborers, workmen and mechanics who may be employed by or on behalf of the Government of the United States.”... .Mr. Cox presented a petition for increased compensation to letter-car-riers.. . .Adjourned to Wednesday, Oct. 24. Tuesday, Oct. 23.—Senate.—Bills were introduced and referred: By Mr. Coke (Tex.) — Amending the Revised Statutes of the United States in regard to the militia; it makes an annual appropriation of $1,000,000 for .he purpose of providing arms and equipments for the whole body of militia, either by purchase or manufacture. By Mr. Ingalls, to enable Indians to become citizens of the United States. By Mr. Wallace, to provide a lawful note and coin currency for the United States, and a bill to authorize a long bond for the investment of savings; this bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue in Heu of an equal amount of 4 per cent, bonds authorized by the act of July 14,1870, a sum not exceeding $100,000,000 of United States coupon bonds in denominations of $25, SSO, and SIOO, in equal sums, each denomination redeemable in coin of the present standard value after sixty years from the date of their issue, and bearing interest payable semi-annually in such coin at the rate of 3.65 per cent, per annum, these bonds to be exempt from all taxation. By Mr. Ingalls, to equalize the bounties of soldiers who served in the late war for the Union. House.—Not in session. Wednesday, Oct. 24.—Senate.—Not in session.

House.—Consideration of the Colorado case was resumed, and Mr. Harrison made an address advocating Patterson’s right to a seat. Mr. Garfield supported Belford as having the prima facie right.... Mr. Brentano introduced a petition of the central body of trades unions of Chicago, which was also signed by 10,000 persons in different Western States, asking for an amendment to the Homestead law, in order that the poorest people may better enjoy its advantages. One of the requests of the petition is that the United States shall give the actual settlers small sums of money at low rates of interest for ten years, until the land is improved. Thursday, Oct. 25.—Senate.—Mr. Conkling presented the petition of citizens of Now York against the repeal of the Bankrupt law, and praying that it be amended... .Mr. Mitchell submitted a resolution authorizing the Committee on Privileges and Elections, in the cases of Messrs. Kellogg and Spofford, claiming a seat from Louisiana, to send for persons and papers, and administer oaths and that the committee may decide upon the merits of the title of each contestant.... Bills were introduced and referred: By Mr. Garlann, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to adjust and settle the debt due the United States by the State of Arkansas. By Mr Beck, for the relief of distillers of spirits by refunding and repayment of moneys expended or paid and deposited by them for Tice meters. By Mr. Kernan, establishing the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, and for a redistribution of the unappropriated moneys... .Adjourned until Monday, Oct. 29. House.—The Colorado case was disposed of by referring the papers to the Committee on Elections. This was carried by a strict party vote—--137 to 130.... Mr. Garfield presented a petition of 210 colored men, asking assistance from Congress to enable them to go to Liberia. It sets forth the difficulty under which the colored people labor in sustaining families in the face of competition from white labor, and asks that an allowance of SIOO each be made to emigrants to Liberia under the auspices of the Colonization Society. Mr. Cox thereupon presented a petition of white mechanics and laborers protesting against the unjust discrimination made in fixing by law the compensation of Government clerks, and leaving that of mechanics and laborers to be estabHshed at the whim of individuals. Referred.. Mr. Wright presented a petition of 21,000 workingmen of the Twelfth Congressional district of Pennsylvania for a Government loan to aid settlers on the public domain. Referred. Mr. Kelley—l desire to present the petition of a citizen of the United States asking Congress so to change the financial system of the countfy [interruptions by laughter] as that laboring people shall not appeal to the Government for means of expatriating themselves and their posterity, and that they may continue to live in homes of their choice, and pursue the calUngs to which they have been trained. [Laughter.] The Speaker—Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor. [Laughter.]