Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1874 — FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

Thursday, February 12.— Senate.— The credentials of James S. Harvey, as Senator from Kansas, and 11. R. Bruce, as Senator from Mississippi, were presented, and they were sworn in.... A resolution passed unanimously by the South Carolina Legislature, in favor of the passage by Congress of a Civil Rights bill, was presented and referred... .The bill to equalize the distribution of the currency was taken up, and the amendment to substitute $75,000,000 in place of $25,000,000 was withdrawn and a substitute for the bill reported by the committee was offered, providing that “$46,000,000 in notes for circulation shall be issued to the National Banking associations now organized, or which may be hereafter organized, in addition to the present circulation, under the same rales and limitations as now prescribed by law,” and after considerable debate on the question of finance the Senate adjourned. Haute.— Bills -were passed—to authorize the sale at public auction of the military reservation of Fort Reynolds, in Colorado Territory, containing about twenty-three square miles, and the Government buildings thereon; governing leave of absence to army officers; the Fortification Appropriation bill; Senate bill authorizing theSecretary of War tor ascertain the amount of expenses incurred by the Territorial anthorities in Dakota for arms, equipments, military stores, supplies, and all other expenses of the volunteer force in the Indian war of 1862... .The bill to repeal the stamp duty or tax on matches was considered in Committee of the Whole, and a lengthy discussion ensued on the question of revenue..;.At the evening Session several amendments were made to the blllcodlfying the statutes. Friday, February 13.— Senate.— The resolutions of the Wisconsin Legislature were presented and referred, instructing the delegation in Congress from that State to vote for the passage of a law reducing the pay of all eivll and military employes of the Government to a scale commensurate with the duties performed.... Petitions were presented and referred —one signed by 16,638 citizens of California, asking the Senate to pay some attention to the condition of the treaty between the United States and China, with a view of having some modification made therein, to prevent the evil of Chinese Influx to this country; of ex-soldiers of Indiana, asking an equalization of bounties... .The bill to equalize the distribution of the currency was taken up, and the substitute offered the day before was withdrawn and a new one was offered and debated, providing for the tsssue of $46,000.0 0 of National Bank currency. In addition to that now in circulation, to be issued to banks now organized of Bbreafter to be organized, and distributed to the several States in accordance with section 1 of the act of July U, 1870, which section pro- . - - - ’ « ir-'.: •: ■' ■

vldes that the money should be issued to those Stateshaving less than their proportion.... The Chair announced Mr. Dorsey as a member of the Committee on Appropriations, in place of Mr. Ames, resigned; Mr. Harvey as member of the Committee of Mines and Mining, in place of Mr. Crozier; Mr. Pease as member of the Committee on Enrolled Bills, in place of Mr. Ames, and Mr. Harvey as member of the Committee on Mississippi Levees, in place of Mr. Crozier....Adjourned to the 16th. House.— Several private bills were disposed 0f... .The bill for ascertaining the losses sustained by citizens of Southern Oregon and Northern California by reason of Indian depredations in 1872 and 1873 provoked a quite excited discussion in Committee of the Whole, the enacting clause being stricken out —79 to 68 —which action was reported to the House and was concurred in—los to 85— thus defeating the bi 11.... A resolution was agreed to directing the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish copies or all contracts, schedules, correspondence and orders of the department, and also a statement of the amounts paid in under each contract, by whom paid in, ana under which contract.... Adjourned, the session on the 14th to be for debate only. Monday, February 16.— Senate. —Memorials and petitions were presented—from the officers of the National Banks of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, protesting against the passage of a bill for the withdrawal of currency from'New England; from colored citizens, asking that the Government detail a vessel to carry them to Liberia and bring back produce, and also asking tpe aid of the Government for the construction of a railroad into the interior of Liberia; from the Illinois Legislature, citizens of Chicago and others, asking for an increase in the volume of the currency... • The joint resolution of the lowa Legislature, asking for an appropriation for the improvement of Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, was presented and referred.. . .A bill was introduced and referred to revive and continue in force certain land grants in the State of Minnesota To aid in the construction of the St. Paul & Pacific Railway.... The bill to equalize the currency was taken up and a substitute was offered for the committee’s bill repealing all the acts of Congress which limit or restrict the amount of notes for circulation, providing that all associations organized to carry on banking shall be free to establish National Banks with circulation, subject to all the limitations now provided by law, except the limit of-capital, which is hereby repealed; after considerable debate on this proposition, a motion was made and discussed to recommit the bill to the Finance Committee... .Adjourned. House.— Among the bills introduced were—town, New London and Washington; to increase taxation on whisky; to abolish the revenue marine service; to abolish certain custom houses, and to discharge useless officers; to revive the grants of land for the several lines of the St. Patil & Pacific Railway; to abolish Pension Agents and provide for paying pensions by Postmasters and Collectors of Internal Revenue, thus effecting an annual saving of $500,000; to amend and codify the laws in regard to the payment of pensions so as to secure efficiency and economy... .A joint resolution of the Missouri Legislature was presented, asking Congress for such legislation as will secure to the people there equal advantages as to rates, time, and transportation on the Union Pacific Railway, and the several branches thereof, which are reserved and guaranteed as a chief part of the consideration to be given by the company for grants of lands and bonds made by Congress. ...A bill was passed, forbidding the Secretary of the Treasury to refund any duties upon the reversal of his own rulings. Tuesday, February 17.— Senate— A. petition was presented from the bankers and business men of St. Louis, deprecating any increase in the volume of the currency, and favoring a speedy return to specie payments.... A substitute for the bill to increase the pay department of the army was reported from the Committee on Military Affairs... .Bills were introduced—directing the Secretary of the Interior to place on the pension roll the names of all persons heretofore dropped therefrom because of participation in the recent rebellion; to further protect the polls in the election of President and Vice-President and members of Congress, by securing the use of the safety ballot-box, at a cost not to exceed fifteen dollars per box; to authorize the issue of a supply of arms to the authorities of the State of Nebraska The bill to equalize the distribution of the currency came up, and the question of recommittal was defeated .... Adjourned. House.— A bill was passed transferring the military prison from Rock Island to Fort Leavenworth, Kan... .The contested election case from the Third Congressional District of Arkansas was taken up, the majority report being that W. W. Wilshire is entitled, primaf(Ute, to a seat, and that of the minority being to recommit the matter, with instructions to the Committee of Elections to make a report on its merits. After three hours’ debate the resolution of the minority to recommit was rejected—yeas 116, nays 117. The resolution declaring Wilshire entitled*, prima facie, to the seat was then adopted—yeas 118, nays 96. A motion to reconsider and lay on the table having been made, in order to make the last vote final, dilatory motions wefe made in order to have the question go over. Motions to adjourn were made and voted upon, and finally the yeas and nays were taken and adjournment was carried—s 7 to 81. Wednesday, Feb. 18.— Senate. — The resolutions of the Legislature of Kansas, charging misconduct on the part of the Union Pacific Railway Company by reason of alleged discriminations against the Kansas Pacific Railway, were presented and ordered printed.... Bills were introduced—amendatory of the Soldiers and Sailors' Homestead law; to extend the time for the completion of the Wisconsin Central Railway...., A lively debate occurred on the bill to equalize the distribution of the currency, after which an amendment providing for the redemption of the whole volume of the national bank currency in specie or interest-bearing bonds of the United States was defeated—yeas 28, nays 30; other amendments were offered and rejected.... Adjourned. House — The motion to reconsider and lay on the table the vote declaring Wilshire, of Arkansas, entitled, prima facie, to the seat was laid on the table—l3s to 129—and he was sworn in, taking .the Iron-clad oath... .Bills were passed—providing that any person who shall be convicted of the crime of manslaughter in any United States conrt, in any State or Territory, or in the District of Columbia, shall be imprisoned not exceeding twenty years, and fined not exceeding $1,000; making the punishment for extortion by officers, or persons acting under authority of the United States, a fine not exceeding SSOO, and imprisonment not exceeding three years; providing that where occnpanta of public land having color of title have made valuable improvements tnereon, and their title be found afterward not good, they shall be entitled to all their righto and remedies as Is provided in such cases in their respective States or Territories; providing that in the trial of all Indictments, tnformanons, complaints and other proceedings in United States courts, and in trials by conrto-martial and courts of inquiry, the person charged shall, at bis own request, but not otherwise, be a competent witness, the law to apply to all prosecutions now pending; to provide for holding terms of the Western District Court of Missouri, one court to beheld at Jefferson City and the other at Springfield.... An adverse report was made from the Judiciary Committee on the memorial for the acknowledgment of the Almighty God and Christian religion in the Constitution of the United States.... A bill reported by the Postofflce Committee in regard to the distribution of public documents came up, and a discussion followed as to the effects of the abolition of the franking privilege. It being contended by some members that nothing had been saved by snch repeal.... An evening session was held for the consideration of the bill to revise the statutes. —There is a most ingenious Marshal in Flushing, L. 1., a gentleman who is remarkable for the success of his little games on people. Just before New Year's a little girl gave him two dollars to get her a pair of gloves in New York, for a present. The Flushing Marshal got tjje gloves for a dollar and a quarter, told the little girl they cost one dollar and threequarters, gave her a quarter change, put the half dollar in his pocket, and nearly chuckled himself into a case of apoplexy over the success of his operation. New Year’s morning his wife presented him apairof gloves, and explained how she had secretly arranged for their purchase with a little girl. The Flushing Marshal put the gloves in. his pocket, smiled lightly, and narrowly escaped fainting dead away.— DanburpNews. » —ln preparing boned chicken, one cracker pounded very fine and added to the Water the chickens were boiled In, and mixed thoroughly with the choppea meat, is a decided improvement. For two medium-sized chickens there should not be more than a cup of water. Season with salt and pepper.