Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-14
CONGRESS.

the House, was read third time and passed with
out amendment, being the first appropriation bill
which has been passed this session.
II The Senate then took up the bill for the relief
4 of John p. Skinner and the legal representatives
of Isaac Green, being the unfinished business of
THURSDAY.
The parties for whose relief this bill provides
were the suretIes of pension AGENT (Thornas EN-
ersonJ who failed while in debt TO the Government.
The ground upon which they ask for relief is that
by the neglect Of the Government to institute the
proper proceedings at the time Of his failure, his
property was sacrificed to other creditors, and they
were compelled to pay the debt
| Mr.. Colqultt opposed the BILL upon the ground
that the object Of the Government in exactng Sc
curity not only to prevent loss but to obviate
the necessity of bringing suits against delinquent
agents. He argued that If the suretics had at
once paid over the money to the Government upou
the bond, they might have availed themselves of
4 the priority to which the u. S. entitled.
/ Mr.. Phelps gave a brief statement of the facts
and said that the suretios upon bond, after paying
4 it, could not have the same remedy as the Govern
ment against the principal Except in the case of
custom house bonds,) which are specially provided
for by law without an assignment of the bond by
! the u. States, and that no such assignment could
be made without a special act of Congress.
Mr.. Sewer said he had given some little time
10 the examination of this case, and found that tho
Government had brought suit at the earliest day it
could after being requested to do 50 by the surcties
1t di not appear TO him that the claim could be
urged with any degree of proprety upon the ground
of neglect on the part of the Government.
MI. Phelps explained that it was necessary in
Vermont, where these parties resided, to issue an
attachment well as to bring suit, in order to
secure the priority Of the United States. Had the
officers of the Government laid an attachment, as
they could have done, the debt would have been
secured and the sureies discharged from its pay
ment.
Mr. McDufie opposed the bill. No indulgence
granted to the principal could release the sureties
on bond, unless contract made
Mr. Davis supported the bill and hoped that the
Senate would be governed by the equity Of the
case.
i Mr. Haywood said that the Senate was all wrong
as TO the facts Of the The U. s. had not
only brought suit, but had issued an attachment
which, from mistake on the part of the officer
! who served it, with which the Government had
nothing to do, was served as a summons and not
an attachment. The same case was before Con-
gress in 1912, and the parties were then released
from the payment Of balance on the judgment
against them They then asked TO be released
from the payment OF some $4,000 which they had
paid upon it, but Congress refused. This it is
which they ask for now. Mr. II. went into eX-
animation of the laws bearing upon the subject.
i After some farther debate The bill was passed,
ayes 90, noes 10.
HousE.-The House was thiny attended, and
not much disposition was manifested to 60 earn
estly to work.
r u
President to inform the House whether any soldier
OF officer of the United States army in Texas has
been shot for desertion, while attempting to de-
sert, and if so, when and by whose order, The
resolution was adopted
u TUESDAY, May ).
/ SENArE.-The Judiciary Committee reported
bill TO extend the maritime jurisdiction of the
Federal Courts over all the lakes and navigable
waters of the u. S.
HousE,-The Speaker announced that the bill
to repeal that part of the tariff act of 1872 which
imposes duty of twenty per cent. on Java coffee,
and to refund the discriminating tonnage duties
levied on Spanish vessels Except those from Cuba
and Port Rico) by the act of July 18th, 1882, was
the special order for today
Mr.. Mckay hoped the bill would be passed by
, for today. 1t was highly important that some OF
the appropriation bills should be acted upon at
once. The military appropriation was exhausted
and he had been informed by General Jessup that
he was now procuring supplies for the army in
Texas upon his individual credit Mr.. Mex then
moved that the special order be postponed until to-
morrow.
The motion prevailed, and the House resolved
itself into committee Of the whole, and resumed
the consideration of the bill for supplying def
ciehcies in the appropriations for the fiscal year
ending 30th June, 1916.
Among the amendments was one increasing the
appropriation for the secret service fnnd from So
900, at which it had been fixed by the Senate, to
$500. The estimates of the Secretary of State
called for $4,000 Mr.. Winthrop drew the atten-
ton OF the House to the large amount of money
asked for by the Secretary OF State from the com
mnee on foreign relations. An amendment to
meet the expenditures of Florida, while territory
was rejected. An amendment was adopted appro-
priating $4,000 for the mileage and per diem OF
+ new Senators and Representatives.. Also, $780,
600 toward the execution Of the provisions of a
late treaty with Great Britain.
The bill was then disposed of and sent to the
Senate for concurrence.
The House went into Committee of the Whole,
and took up the bill for the support of the Post
e Once Department for the year ending June 80,
l047.
The amendment appropriatlng $4,000 towards
the carrying OF the mail to Cowes and Bremen was
agreed TO- by which the contract with Mr.. Edward
Mills is confirmed.
An amendment to strike out the proviso by
which postmasters are authorized to receive the
same compensation as under the old law was pend
ing when the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, May G.
SENArE.-'AIr Speights resolution for the SEN
ate to meet at eleven o'clock, was rejected-ayes
Ii, noes %.
The bill to settle the claims of New Hampshire
for militia service, was taken up and advocated by
! Mr. Atherton
HousE-The House took up the bill relative to
the act Of 1912, which imposes duty Of twenty
! per cent, ad valorem on Java coffee.
! Mr.. Winthrop made an able speech against the
| bill. lie said it was not needed; the construction
OF the Treasury Department had been wrong un
der Mr.. Bib, but he said it was now right.
| THURSDAY, MAY z.
! SENATE.-In the Senate Mr. Speight moved
| reconsideration of the Florida judiciary bill, as
passed yesterday. The bill to settle the claims Of
New Hampshire for military services was inform
ally laid aside, no quorum voting on it's ayes,
10 noes. Mr., Johnson of louisiana reported back
with amendments the bill providing for an ADJUST
ment of suspended Presumption Land Claims AT
ter considering private bills, the Senate adjourned
| ill Monday.
! HoUsE.-The House refused to go into Com
mittee on motion of Mr.. Mckay. Mr. Adams mo-
we'd to suspend the rules to offer resolutions calling
on the President for further information respecting
dese:lions in the army, authorizing the President