The Portland gazette., 1819-02-09
18th Congress. I'd Session

MOND W, IAN. 2S.


'prolecutions and suits, in which the Uni
tel States, or their officers, &c are par.
ties, &c. uader the iupervision of the
Attorney General, and whether il is not
expedlent TO provide for the appointment
of an AsSiltant- Attorney General, sc.
The committee on the fubject, repor-
ted. that it is not expedicnt to prohibit
the expectation of gold, silver and cop
per coins of the United States.
A bill to continue in force the act
regulating the currency of the gold coins
of Great Britain. France, Portugal, and
Spain, and the crown and five, franc
pieces Of France, was read first time.
The 1919 Military Appropriation Bill
was read, amended, and passed.
FGa- Ihi. bill, it will be recollec ted
contains specific appropriation of 10,
600 dollars. 10 pay the extra labor OF the
army on public roads, considered by many
as internal Improvements. The President,
it is also known, has protested against
the constitutionality of the power of
Congress to grant monies for internal i'm
provemsnts and therefore, it has been
intimated, that he will find some Difficult
ry in approving this bill with this specif-
nc appropriation in it. The question in
the Senate. on the continuation of this
section in the bill, passed by only the
casting vote ot the Vice President of the
u. States ;--who previous to directing
the Secretary to record his vote, explain
ed, at some iergh, th c motives which
induced it lie did not. he said, consider
it rs inyolving the cons 'itutional question
on the subject ;-that the Legislature
had repeatedly conferred the authority of
applying the labor of the army and gen
eral appropriations to the Objects contcm-
plated in the section and ,hat The en-
ploymen, of the atmy in the conStruc-
ton and repair Of milsary roads, in his
opinion. was judicioas and legal
On motion of Nr EPpEs, the military
committee was instructed TO report bill
to regulate the pay and allowance made
to officers and soldiers employed on ia
tigue service.
Tbs 1919 May /Pprotriatisn5 Bill
passed amended
Bak-au horizirg the distribution of
sum Of money among the representa-
tives of Com PRbBLE, and the officers
and crew of the brig Syren ;.Farther 10
extend the Judicial System TO extend
tie Jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts to
patent cases, were all ordered to third
readings.
MIR MELLEN, of Mass. submitted the
following motion for consideration
Ruotvss, Thai The conmttee on finance be 10.
stiucted 10 IL q lire whsther is Is expedIent 10
make any alsera sou Of or addition 10 the pas-
sed on the Sth Jan. 1915, ent tied an act TO
provide additional revenues for defraying the eE
penses of government aud maintaining the pubic
credit by laying direct tax upon the United
States, and 20 provide for ss,s,seg and collecting
the same Adj urned
TUESDAY, JAN 26 A bill TO regulate
,he pay of the army when employed on
fatigue duty, was reported and read.
n bill authorizing the purchase of live
oak timber for naval purposes, was re
ported, and read third time.
WEDNESDAY, jan. II The committee
on Foreign Relations communicated cop
les Of three acts of the British Parliament,
respecting tire West India trade, which
were ordered TO be printed.
IHURsDsy. IsN 28.
Amendment Of Constitution,
The atnendu.1u, TO the resolution
proposing b amend the Constitution Of
the u 5 % as to produce an uniform
moce OF choosing Electors and Repre-
sentatives, were taken ~ and agreed to.
Tie amentmea's we're fret, aftef providing
shs, the distnr.s shal. ne formed OF contiguous
te. ri,orv aud contain, as nsa iy o. may he an e
quar- rumser Of pee. ons entitled by the consti'u-
tion he reprs ed, 80 ,asert o. gpf''oHf qaa1
ifed to 0sse fo mambss q 'bs mef rHms'o1' b'o"sb y
f6s Fate Leri Isrps Second % ado at The sad OF
the sec len tie fniiswiPg And IT hel egsi b.
ture of any State shall fail to provide fos the eiec
ton of Representative ss hereb' requires Con-
gress shal, have power to provide for 'he lame IN
the manner prescfited by 'hi. arucie.
A report of the names and salaries of
the Clerks in the Department OF State,
was communicated.
MIR. ITCH NOR gave notice of his in
tention to offer bill TO provide for the
better organization Of the Treasury De
partment.
The bill to prescribe the mode OF com
mencing, prosecuting and settling con
troversies between two or more States,
was further discussed in committee,