The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-05-02
BY TELEG RAPH
ToraE
Portland Daily Press.
xxXVIu O0NGREss---first Session
WASHINGTON, April 30.

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MIR Sumner Introduced bill for the greater
efficiency OF civil service. Ordered to be
printed.
The House bill for the relief OF settlers on
land claims in California, was, on motion of
Mr. Harding, taken up and passed.
The Senate bill, granting lands for railroad
purposes, as amended by the House, was
passed.
The Senate then took up the special order,
viz, the National currency bill
The amendment of the Senate committee
taxing banks, was passed without amendment.
The bill was then reported to the Senate.
The principal amendment of the Senate
Finance Committee TO the bill, as reported, is
the following to the 4lst section of the House
blil In lieu OF all other taxes, every asso-
citation shall pay to the Treasurer of the
United States, in the months of January and
July, duty OF one half per centum each half
year from and after the first day OF Jan 1864,
upon theaverage amount of its notes in cir
culation, and a duty OF one-qnatter of one
per centrum each half year upon the average
amount of its deposits, and a duty of one
quarter Of one-half per centum each half year
as aforesaid on the average amount of its cap
ital stock beyond the amount invested ia t.
;. bonds. After prescribing the manner of
collecting the tax, and afiixing a penalty of
$500 for each default of payment, il is proyid-
ed that nothing in this act shall be construed
TO prevent the market value of the shares in
any OF the said associations held by any per-
sons or body corporate from being including
IN the valuation OF the personal property of
such persons or corporate in the assessment
OF all taxes imposed by or under State au-
thority for State, county or municipal pur-
poses, but not AT greater rate than Is as
sessed upon other moneyed capital at the
hands of individual citizens of such States.
and all the remedies provided By the State
laws for the collection Of suck taxes shall be
applicable thereto. Provided, also, that moth
Ing in this act shall exempt real estate of the
associations from either State, county or mu-
nicipal taxes TO the same extent, according to
its value, as other real estate is taxed.
The Senate then adjourned, finding itself
without quorum.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Garfield introduced the resolution TO
which MIR. Ancona objected yesterday.
Mr.. Holmes, OF Indiana, suggested that the
committee consist OF nine members, with leave
to report at any time. Agreed to.
The resolution was then adopted.
Mr.. Stevens, OF Pa. reported from the Com
mittee on Ways and Means the Senate amend
ment to the army appropriation bill. Among
the amendments was one, which was adopted,
appropriating $4,000 for the purchase of ar
tificial limbs for soldiers and sailors
The next amendment was read. which the
committee recommend a concurrence, and is
as follows That eolored persons mustered
into the military service shall receive the
same uniform, clothing, arms, equipments, ra-
tions, medical and hospital attendance, pay
and emouments as white soldiers from and
after the lst of January, 1864, and every per-
son of color hereafter mustered into the SER
vice shall receive a bounty not exceeding 500.
Mr.. Elliot made a statement, TO show that
many eontrsbands were earning more than
was required Tor their support
The Speaker here announced the following
gentlemen as the select committee TO inyesti-
gate the charges against the Treasury De-
partment, viz:-Messrs. Garfield, Wilson,
Dawson, Brooks, Davis, Stewart, Fenton,
jerks and Steele.
The consideration Of the army appropriation
bill was then resumed.
A protracted debate ensued, which was par
ticipated in by Messrs. Elliot, Holman, Clay,
Pryo, Stevens and Kelley.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment to in
crease the pay Of soldiers 10 see per month
after Jan. !. 1864, with a corresponding In
crease OF pay to non-commissioned officers.
Mr.. SteveUs said that the amendment was
pertinent to the pay Of the regular army.
The Speaker sustained the objection.
Mr.. Holman took an appeal from the decis-
ion, when the Speaker was sustained by lay
ing the appeal upon the tablo-yeas %, nays
70.
Mr.. Sehenck offered an amendment TO the
pending Senate amendment, making the
equalizations of pay commence on the LIST OF
May, instead of January. Disagreed to
IS against Co.
Mr. Holman moved to strike out the word
pay Rejected-52 against IS.
The House then agreed TO the Senate's
amendment about equality Of pay, etc, by
yeas 81, nays 40.
The Senate's amendments to the bill were
agreed to.
The House, at l-2 O'Clock, took u recess
until O'Clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The evening session was devoted to speech
making. The attendance was very slim.
Messrs. Thayer and Yeamau spoke. Adj
journed.