The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-26
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TOrHE
Portland Daily Press.
XxXVIII OoNGREss---Pirst Session.
WASHINGTON. Feb. %.
SENATE,

EtD. 20.
SENATE.
Ailer the presentation of several petitions
and memorials, on motion of Mr. Fessendep,
the Senate reconsidered the vote adopting the
conference committees report on the revenue
bill, and appointed a new committee to confer
with that appointed by the House.
The bill relating to Assistant Paymasters in
the navy was called up by Mr.. Hale, and after
amendment was passed.
Mr.. Powell introduced bill repeating all
acts granting bounties on tonnage of vessels
engaged in the cod-hshery. Referred.
The bill regulating the pay of naval pay
masters clerks was rejected.
The bill relating to appointments in the
naval service was taken up, and amended by
striking out the clause discharging within 80
days after the return of the vessel, and add
ing an additional section empowering court
martia!s to reduce to seamen's rates such
officers as absent themselves from their COM
mands. As thus amended it passed.
The bill equalizing the pay of soldiers was
then taken up, the question being on the
amendment to include all persons enlisted I'M
der the call of Oct. 1863 in the bounty proyis-
ion.
An amendment to this amendment was
adopted, providing that all persons whose pa
pers show that they enlisted under the act of
1861 shall receive the pay and bounty provid
ed in the statute.
An amendment, extending the bounty to
free persons, was debated when the subject
was postponed until tomorrow.
The Military Committee were instructed to
inquire into the expediency of extending the
bounty to April.
The billsconsolidating Surveyor Generals
districts was passed.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion.-Adiourned.
Mr. Spaulding, OF Ohio, introduced a bill.
granting pensions to the soldiers of the war of
1872. Referred to the Committee OH Pensions
The House then moved the consolidation of
the bill to establish bureau of freedmen's
affairs.
Mr.. Davis, of Md, defended the validity of
the late Maryland elections, and spoke of the
progress of emancipation there, saying they
We're under small obligations to President
Lincoln for what had been done. Mr.. Davis
concluded by speaking against the colonial
ton of the freedmen as incompatible with
true policy and humanity.
Mr. Washburne, Of H., then succeeded in
procuring the appointment of a committee of
conference on the disagreeing amendment to
the Lieut.. General bill.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pa, from the Commute of
Ways and Means, reported a bill, providing
as follows That of the 5000, 600 900 loan au-
thorized by the act of March Is, 1863, in
IO'4o S, S2OO,000,OO0 be put in the market, re-
deemable in not less than five years nor more
than forty years. Mr.. Stevens asked for the
immediate passage of the bill.
by common consent, action on the bill was
postponed until the bill could be printed
The naval appropriation bill was then taken
up.
The clause appropriating s215, 900 for tho
Philadelphia Navy Yard was discussed, and
stands as reported by the committee
After a long debate, Mr.. Stevens, of Penn,
moved new section, providing for the cree
ton of floating docks for monitors at New
York and Philadelphia. Agreed to.
The bill then passed.
The bill extending time on withdrawal of
goods from public stores and bonded ware
houses was taken up, and amended by chang
ing the time from the LIST of June to the 1st
of September, and then passed.-Adjourned.