Jasper Republican, Volume 2, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1876 — CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

On the 17th the petition of P. G. T. Beauregard, for the removal of his political disabilities was presented in the Senate and referred. Bills were* introduced—to amend the acts to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, approved Joly 1; 1868, and July 2,1874; to recover from the Central and Union Pacific Railroad Companies the bonds and coupons issued to them in excess of the amount prescribed by law; in relation to lands heretofore granted to railroad companies; to amend the laws relating to silver colds. A concurrent resolution was submitted proposing a common unit of money and accounts for the United States and Great Britain. A petition of dtisens of Massachusetts was presented, asking that a law be passed making each member of Congress directly responsible to the electors of his district, the minority of whom, if he does not meet their expectations or justify their confidence, may at any time recall him and appoint a successor. ... Several bills were Introduced in the House, among which were the following: To prevent traffic in spirituous or intoxicating liquors in the Centennial buildings or grounds during the Exhibition: to repeal the act providing for a redistribution of National Bank currency; to reduce the salaries of all the executive and legislative officers of the Government, except the army and navy, over $1,600, 20 per cent., and to fix the salary of the President at $25/00; to repeal the act for the resumption of specie payment; by Mr. Banka, for the removal of all political disabilities. An amendment to the Constitution was submitted by Mr. O’Brien —as an amendment to Mr Blaine’s propositionproviding that no State shall make any law respecting the establishment or prohibiting the free exercise of religion, disqualifying ministers of the Gospel from holding any office of trust or emolument, either State or National, and providing that no public moneys raised for school purposes shall ever be under the control of any religions sect. Mr. White moved to suspend the rules and bring the House to a vote on the Amnesty bill introduced by tarn, and from the benefits of which Jefferson Davis was excluded, and also to vote on an amendment striking out that exception, which motion was lost for want of the requisite two-thirds—yeas 185, nays 110. A motion to suspend the rules and adopt a resolution declaring in favor of the repeal of the Resumption act was lost—yeas 112, nays 158. A resolution was adopted calling on the President for copies of all correspondence with Spain in reference to the island of Cuba. A constitutional amendment was Introduced and referred limiting the Presidential term to four yean. The proposition was agreed t 0—166 to 102—to amend the rules governing the offering of-amendments to the general appropriation bills so as to make the rule read: “No appropriation shall be reported in such general appropriation UII, or be in order as an amendment thereto, for any expenditure not previously authorized by law, except in continuation of an appropriation for snch public works and objects as are already in progress; nor shall any provision in any such bill, or amendment thereto, changing existing law, be in order, except such as, being germane to the subject-mat-ter of the bill, sbal) retrench expenditure.’’ On the 18th the credentials of James B. Eustis, claiming a scat m Senator from Louisiana, were prMoptffi} |b fb* option being

I made to their reception on too ground of irregularity for want o< We Governor's they I were ! » id over. The memorial of the lyi»ud referred. A bill wA passed to secure attendance and payment of Wttneaees before military covite. The resolution for the appointment of a special committee to investigate the books and accounleof the Treasury Department was taken up and Mr. Boutwell entered into a lengthy explanation of the manner of keeping accounts in the diferent ofltoea of that department. After the oflering of amendments and remarks by other Senators the matter went 0ver....1n the Honse a proposed amendment to the Conrtltution was reported from the Judiciary Committee to the effect that no person who haa held, or may hereafter bold, the office of Preaident shall ever again be eligible to said office; notice of * substitute was given by the minority of the committee. An advene report was made on the bill to abolish capital punishment. Bills were passed—to extend the time for stomping unstamped instruments to the Ist of January, 1877; to extend for three months the time for claimants before the Alabama Claims Commission to prove their claims. Several bills were introduced. The Centennial Appropriation bill wae considered in Committee of the Whole. Mr. Williams, of Wisconsin, offered a proposed amendment to the Constitution, supplementary to the amendment proposed by Mr. Blaine, providing that no money raised by taxation in any State shall be appropriated for the maintenance of any sectarian school or sectarian institution.

On the 19th twenty-one petitions from citizens ot Ohio were presented in the Senate asking for aid in the construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Davis’ resolution for a special committee to investigate the books and accounts of the Treasury Department was taken upend further debated, the nendingquestion being a motion to amend by referring the subject to the Finance Committee. A bill was passed amendatory of the act of June 20, 1874, amending the charter of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company and for other purposes. Mr. Morton spoke at length in favor of his resolution relative to the Mississippi election .... A constitutional amendment was introduced in the House providing against the enactment by Congtess of any special or local law, where a general law can be made applicable, in regard to granting pensions, bounties; lands, relief to individuate, etc., and leaving to the courts to determine whether any special Jaw could be embraced in a general enactment, The Centennial Appropriation bill was further considered in Committee of the Whole, Messrs. Phillips of Kansas, Harrison, Kelley, Reagan of Texas, and Frye speaking in support of, and Messrs. Cochrane and Tucker in opposition to, the measure. Ox the 20th various petitions vfere presented in the Senate asking for a repeal of the tax'requiring a two-cent stamp to be affixed to bank checks. Mr. Morton continued his remarks on his Mississippi resolution. Bills were introduced—to amend the Pacific Rcilway acts of July 1 and July 2, 1864; to provide for challenges to jurors tn trials for bigamy and polygamy in the Territory of Utah, and to amend Sec. 4 of the act in regard to courts and judicial office in the Territory of Utah, approved June 24, 1874; in regard to postal routes, Postofflees and post-roads. The resolution to continue in force the joint rules for the government of the two houses of Congress, except the twenty-second rule, in regard to counting the votes for President and Vice-President, was discussed and adopted. ..In the House an adverse report was made on the bill to reduce the postage on first-class mail matter to one cent for each half ounce. The Centennial Appropriation bill was further debated tn Committee of the Whole, being advocated by Messrs. Townsend of New York, Jones ot Kentucky, Banks Und Swan, and, opposed by Messrs. Stenger of Pennsylvania,'’ Felton and Cook.

Ox the 21 st the memorial of Stanley Matthews and a committee of the National Bailroad Convention recently held in St. Lonie, setting forth the advantages of certain thoroughfares, and Making aid for the Southern Pacific Railroad, was presented in the Senate and referred. Mr. Boutwell announced the death of Vice-President Wilson, and, after a graceful eulogy, offered the usual resolutions of respect; eulogies were also delivered by Messrs. Hamlin, Ingalls, Bogy and Anthony. Adjourned to the 24th. ..A MU was passed in the House—l4'3 to 100—for the retirement, on full pay, of Judge Wilson McCandless, of the Western District of Pennsylvania, la consequence of physical disabilities, notwithstanding he has not attained the age of seventy years. Action was taken on the resolutions in honor of the memory of the late Vice-President Wilson, unanimous consent being given to extend the privilege of the floor to a deb gation of Indiana editors during the eulogies to be delivered. Eulogies were pronounced by Messrs. Warren, Harris (Mass.), Kelley, Knott, Aymer,

Kasson, Banks, Lynch, Hurlbat, Lawrence, Lapham, Reagan, Joyce and Blair, after which the resolutions of respect were adopted. On the 28d the Senate was not in session.. The House adopted resolutions—directing the Committee on Appropriations to inquire into the expediency of making any appropriation for the support of the Sioux Indians, and also into the right of having white men excluded from the Black Hills country; requesting the President to impart to the House any communications which may have passed between the Government of the United States and any European Government besides Spain, in regard to the Island of Cuba. The Centennial Appropriation bill was further considered in Committee of the Whole.