Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 48, Number 7388, 8 December 1874 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

Senate. "Washington-, December 7tb. The Senate was called to order promptly at uoouby Viee-Piesident Wilson, and afterprayer by tbe Chaplain the usual resolution of notification to the House was adopted. Also, a resolution fixing tbe hour of meeting of the Senate at 12 m. until otfcerwise ordered. The order providing that the hour of meeting be at noon daily until otherwise ordered was agreed to. Conkling and Tburman were appoiuted a committee to wait on the President, in conjunction with the House committee, to inform Him that tbe Senate was iv session and pre pared to receive any communication be desired to make. The Committee on a form of Government for the District of Columbia submitted a report providing for placing the District under a Board of three Regents, to be appointed by the President and confirmed by tbe Senate. The following are among the bills introduced and ordered printed and to lie on tbe table until tbe appointment of standing committees: By Sherman — Bill fortevision ot tbe laws tor collection ot customs duties. It provides for a commission of seven persons, to be constructed as follows: One member of the Senate, to be designated by the President of the Senate; two members elect of the next House of Representatives, to be designated by the Speaker of the present House; and two officers in tbe customs service, and two citizens familiar with customs law, to be appointed by the President, ihe commission to terminate on the iirst Monday of December ; and in the meantime it shall report to Congress througt tbe Secretary of tbe Treasury a revision of all the customs laws, together with such facts as they can elicit by examination and inquiry pertaining to the trade, industry, commerce and taxation ot the country, with the view to making changes of rates and cla.-sitication aud modes of collecting duties, in order to promote the public interests. The commissioners are also to report as to tbe relations ot foreign trade to domestic industry; and the mutual adjustment ot customs and excise systems of taxation, with the view to securing the requisite revenue with the least inconvenience to the development ot the resources of fhe country; and also as to the manner in which customs officers perform their duties. In order to conduct this investigation the commissioners are empowered to examine tbe books, papers and cccounts of any customs officer, and to administer au oath ; the members ef the commission to be allowed their traveling expenses, but they are not to receive any compensation.

Sargent introduced a bill to protect persons of foreign birth against forcible restraint tor involuntary servitude. Ingalls introduced a bill for the relief of sufferers by grasshoppers on the Western frontier. It allows pre-emption settlers a year's absence from the claim, and provides for a distribution of disused army clothing among the sufferers. Ingalls submitted a resolution instructing the Committee on Indian Affairs to inquire into the recent disturbances ia the Indian Territory, aud report what measures are necessary to put a stop to them, and whether the best interests of the United States dun't demand the immediate establishment of Umted States Courts in said Territory, as promised by the treaties of 16G6.

At 1:35 the President's message was received and read, and at the conc!u>iou the usual resolution to print was adopted. The Chair laid before the Senate tbe reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Controller of Currency ; which were ordered printed, and the Senate adjourned. HoHse.

Washington, .December 7tb. In the House, congratulations having been interchanged, the House proceedings were opened by prayer. The roll was called, and showed 238 of 301 members present. Four new members took the oath. Dawes, Hale of New York, and Beck were appointed a committee to join the Senate committee to inform the President that the House was in session and ready to receive any communication. • The House, at 12:35, took a recess of 3U hour. At the end of which time the President's message was received, and read to the House. The reading of the message was concluded at 2:45, and it was ordered printed. V Gartield, of the Committee on Appropriations, reported the legislative, executive, and appropriation bill. Made the special order for Tuesday next week. Hale of Maine, of the same committee, reported the naval appropriation bill. , Made the special order for Wednesday of next weec. Wheeler, of same committee, reported the army appropriation bill. Special order for Thursday of next week. Louithbridsre, trom the same committee, reported the Indian appropriation bill. Made tbe special order for Friday of next week. Starkweather reported the fortifications bill. Made the special order for December 22d. The amounts appropriated by these several bills are as follows: Legislative bill,-$19,653,---434; navy, ; 16,976,006; army, $27,701,100; Indian, 14,861,507 ; fortifications, $650,000. Tyner, from the same committee, reported a bill appropriating: $30,000 for the purchase of scales for the use of the Postoffice Department in executing : the required prepayment of postage on newspapers. '.■'■"." ■ Cox wanted to offer an amendment excepting from the operation of the law cases where the subscriptions were taken prior to January Ist, 1875, and allowing postage in those cases to be paid at tbe place of destination. • Tyner declined to allow tbe amendment to be offered or to be spoken to by Cox. ■ The bill then passed. Cox thereupon introduced a bill to carry out the object indicated by him. Referred. Phelps gave j notice that he would next Monday, if be got the floor, move to suspend the rules and pass a bill which he sought to introduce and pass to-day, to repeal the press-gag law. Adjourned. «