| |
|
|
|
Harper's Weekly 02/12/1870
CONGRESS.
January 24.
In the Senate, the credentials of Mr.
Morrill, of Maine, re-elected for the late Mr. Fessen-
den's unexpired term, were presented. Mr. Sherman's
bill to provide a national currency of coin and notes,
and to equalize the distribution of notes, was dis-
cussed at length, but no action was taken.—In the
House, the Senate Virginia bill was adopted, after a
warm personal discussion, in which General Butler
took a leading part, reviewing with great severity the
course of Mr. Bingham and Mr. Farnsworth in regard
to reconstruction. Mr. Farnsworth replied very sharp-
ly.
January 25.
In the Senate, Mr. Sherman, from the
Finance Committee, reported a substitute for the
House bill relating to the income tax of 1870, which
provides for amending the act of 1864, so that the Du-
ties on incomes, dividends, and salaries imposed by
sections of the act, 116 to 123 inclusive, shall continue
for and during the entire year of 1870, and no longer,
and 'those taxes not paid, or payable in that year,
shall be collected in 1871.—No business of import-
ance was transacted in the House.
January 26.
In the Senate, the credentials of Mr.
Howeli of Iowa, elected to fill the vacancy made by
the resignation of Mr. Grimes, were presented. Among
the petitions presented was one signed by 3200 citizens
of New York in favor of woman Suffrage the
House, General Butler replied to the speech of Mr.
Dawes on retrenchment. He declared that the fig-
ures given by Mr. Dawes were not correct, and that
economy was practiced in all the departments. An-
other debate occurred on the bill transferring the
Navy-yard at Philadelphia to League Island, and the
bill was finally tabled.
January 27.
In the Senate, the House joint resolu-
tion to prohibit the giving of presents to persons in
office was passed. The credentials of the Senators
elect from Virginia were read, and one of them, Mr.
Lewis, appeared, and took the oath of office.—In the
House, several members of the Virginia delegation
were sworn in and took their seats. Mr. farnsworth
reported a bill for the total abolition of the franking
privilege, to take effect July 1. The bill was immedi-
ately put upon its passage, and after an hour's de-
bate passed by a vote of 174 to 14.
January 28.
In the Senate, Mr. J. W. Johnson was
admitted as Senator from Virginia. Mr. Sumner in-
troduced a joint resolution directing the payment of
bounties to colored soldiers and sailors regardless of
a former condition of servitude.—In the House, a bill
was reported to abolish the office of Public Printer,
and to provide for the election of a Superintendent of
Public Printing, on a salary of $4000 a year. Bills
were introduced to organize the Territory of Lincoln;
to consolidate the Indian tribes under one Territorial
Government; and to provide a Territorial Govern-
ment for the District of Columbia.
|
|
