The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-07-20
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, July 19.
SENATE

eu 70 Lak6 the required OatA OF once,
with an amendment as substitute, as
follows:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be, and is hereby authorized
to pay a reasonable compensation to
persons he has employed for the pur-
pose and who have been actually en-
gagged in collecting revenue within the
States in instruction, Notwithstanding
the failure or inability of such persons
to take the oath of Office required by
law; provided, that such compensation
shall not be greater in any case than
provided for by law for officers of rev.
enue performing such service; and
provided, further, that this act shall not
be deemed to authorize the continuance
of such persons in such employment.
This resolution was ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Grimes introduced bill to re-
organize the navy department and fix
the pay of its officers, which was re-
ferred TO the Committee on Naval AZ
fairs.
Mr.. Morgan, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported the bill to fix the
compensation of certain collectors of
customs and for other purposes, with
amendments to strike out naval officers
and surveyors and insert a section Civ
ing such officers in the ports of Boston,
New York, New Orleans and San Fran
cisco s., 500 per annum each. 1t extends
the provision of the act of April 90. 1864,
increasing the compensation of Inspec-
tors OF Customs, to July LIST, 1866. The
bill was ordered printed.
Mr.. Stewart, from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported bill granting
the right of way to ditch a canal across
our public lands, in the States of Cali
tornia, Oregon and Nevada, with an
amendment as substitute, to protect
miners in such right of way in the
rights of priority of possession, as re-
cOgnized by the local customs and de-
cisions of courts in these mining dis
trictS. The bill was ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Ramsey, from the Committee on
Postotfices and Post roads, reported
the House bill establishing certain
post routes, with verbal amendments.
The bill was postponed until tomorrow.
Mr.. Morrill, offered resolution set
ting aside Friday, the Goth inst, for
the consideration of bills from the Dis
trict of Columbia, which was amended
SO as to order an evening session for
the purpose named and then adopted.
Mr.. johnson called up the bill for
the relief of the sufferers by the late fire
at Portland, as originally reported.
The bill provides that the President
shall authorize the purchase of pro-
visions, &C., for the sufferers.
Mr.. johnson offered a substitute for
the original bill. directing the President
of the United States to tender to the
Governor Of Maine $4,000 in the name
for the relief of sufferers by the fire, to
be used in such manner as he NAV
deem advisable.
Mr.. Trumbull opposed the bill. He
did not know where authority came
from to pass such measure; when
was this kind of legislation to stop, and
If the sufferers by the fire at Portland
were to be relieved by Congress, why
not those who have suffered by fire
elsewhere. He moved that it be re-
ferred TO the Finance Committee.
Mr.. johnson said that Mr.. Trumbull
had advocated the Freedmens' Bureau
bill, which would cost, not $50, 900, but
before the Senate was not the first of
the kind ever passed by Congress.
Some years ago $1,000 were appr0pria-
ted for the relief of sufferers by a fire
in Alexandria.
Mr.. Trumbull said there was no
analogy between the Freedmens' Bu-
reau bill and the one now under consid-
Grafton. The first was bill for the
safety of the national welfare of a whole
race; the pending measure was one of
pure charity.
Mr.. Davis said he should feel COM
PEELED to vote against the bill, but he
should do so with great reluctance.
Mr.. Fesseden said if the bill was to
be referred he would prefer its refer
ence to some other committee than that
of the finance of which he was chair
man.
Mr.. johnson referred to two cases in
which Congress had appropriated mon
ey for the relief of citizens whose pro-
perty was destroyed by earthquakes.
NJ - III.
analogous.
Mr.. Grimes asked why not.
Mr.. Trumbun said earthquakes were
the act of God.
Mr.. Grimes asked if fires were not as
much the work of God as earthquakes.
Mr.. Trumbull said that fires were not
in the same sense visitationS from God
as earthquakes were.
Mr.. Wilson said the nation would be
no poorer for the appropriation and he
hoped it would be made.
Mr.. Fessenden said that from 1900
to 5000 people had been rendered
homeless by the fire.
Mr.. Henderson could not see WHY
Congress had not as much right to APP
propriate money for the relief of the
Portland sufferers, as to appropriate for
the relief of the Irish during a famine
in Ireland.
Mr.. Davis said if Mr.. Henderson
could point to even a seeming authori-
cation by the Constitution he would
vote for it.
Mr.. Henderson said he would find in
an older work than the Constitution;
he found it AN book which said, He
that giveth to the poor lendeth to the
Lord"
Mr.. Buckalew referred 10 the destruc-
ton of Chambersburg, Pa, by the reb-
els, and said it was a case which called
for oh a ri lnnI1r-
yet Congress had done nothing for the
relief of the people of Chambersburg,
who were impoverished by what might
be called negligence and fault of the
Government of the United States.
Mr.. salisbury stated the reasons
which should influence his vote
against the bill. He sympathized with
the sufferers as much as anybody could,
but he could not find in the constitu-
ton any authority for such legislation,
The bill then passed by a vote of %
yeas against Is nays.
The tariff bill which passed the House
yesterday, was referred to the Finance
Committee.
The Senate insisted on its amendment
to the pension bill, and agreed to the
Conference Committee asked by the
House.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson the Senate
agreed to the House amendment to the
Dill reVlVlnS the grade of General
The bill now goes to the President.
The House resolution to adjourn on
the 18th inst. was announced.
The bill for the equalization of boun-
ties was then made the special order for
to. morrow.
Mr.. Sherman called up, by unani-
nous consent, the bill to reduce the
rate of interest on the public debt and
for funding the same.
Mr. GFinaS hn
amendment as an additional section:
That all acts or parts of acts authnriz-