Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1874 — FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

Monday, January 5. — SeAate —The report of the Secretary in reply to the resolution calling for information as to the amount of compensation received by Senators since the organization of the Government, was received and laid on the table... The House bill to repeal the Bankrupt law was reported from the Judiciary Committee, with sundry amendments.... Several resolutions of inquiry and instruction were adopted.... A bill was introduced and referred to regulate and facilitate commerce across navigable rivers forming the boundaries of States... .The House Salary bill was taken up, together with the reported amendments striking out the first three sections and substituting therefor the seclion repealing the act of March 3,1873, and fixing the salary as it was prior to the passage of that act, and further providing that the compensation of the several heads of the departments be SB,OOO per annum; after debate, an amendment was offered and discussed, providing that Seuators, Representatives nnd Delegates of the Forty-third Congress who have received their compensation since March 4, 1873, at the rate of $7,500 per annum, shall hereafter be paid In Buch monthly installments as will make it aggregate for the whole Congress at the rate of $.>,000 per annum... .Discussion was had on the question of finances.... A message from the President transmitting the correspondence is regard to the Virginias, was received, laid on the table and ordered printed.... Adjourned. House —Among the bills introduced and referred were—for the appointment of a commission of three persons on the snbject of wages and hours of labor, and the division of profits between laborand capital In the United States, and the social, educational and sanitary condition of the laboring classes, etc.; for a uniform system of railway transportation in the United States; to provide a uniform currency; repealing all the acts imposing taxation on State hanks and bankers; to create a National Board of Trade and prescribe its duties; to legalize a pontoon railway bridge across the Mississippi River at Prairie du Cbien, Wls. .. The Army Appropriation btttr appropriating $28,449,916, was reported and made tno special order for the 13th.... The Supplementary Civil Rights bill was debated at considerable length... .The message from the President in relation to tbo steamer Vlrglnltiß was read and referred... .Adjourned. Tuesday, January o.— Senat bill for free banking was taken from the table aud referred to the Finance Committee....A resolution instructing the Finance Committee to report ahlll abolishing the oftlce of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and to piovide for the collection of taxes by States, was indefinitely postponed. ..The House joint resolution authorizing Edward Young to accupt a present from the Emperor of Russia was passed....A hilt was introduced and referred authorizing the President of the United States to request the Republic of Hayti to indemnify Antonia Pcllitier for his imprisonment, spoliation a»d damages, amounting to $613,8*0,. . The hill to repeal the Increased Salary act, was further debated, Mr. Carpenterstating that he intended to vote for the repeal, not because he thought the” increased pay excessive or unjust, but "because its repeal was demanded by the people. Messrs. Conkling and Edmunds would vote for and Mr. Flanagan (Texas! would vote against the repeal... .Executivesession and adjournment. Home.— A bill was introduced and referred for the construction of ship canals around Niagara Falls and at the mouth of the Mississippi. ... .A joiat resolution wag introdneed and referred reciting that well authenticated reports stated that in certain localities of the Sonlh the people were in a condition of starvation, owing to the failure of their crops, and directing the Secretary of War to issue army rations in such quantities as might be required....A resolution of the Virginia Legislature protesting against the passage of the Supplementary Civil Rights bill was read and referred.... A lengthy debate was had on the Supplementary Civil Rights bill, the principal speeeh being by Mr. Elliot (colored) of South Carolina, who advocated the passage of the bill. His speech is reported to have been very eloquent and was listened to .with marked interest aud attention by members on both sides of the House and by crowded galleries, and at its close he was very generally and loudly applauded.., .The Naval Appropriation bill, appropriating $16,500,8.6, was reported and made the special order for the 15th.... Adjourned.