The Portland daily press., 1866-05-24
BY TELEGRAPH,
70 THE DAILY PRESS,
Thursday Morning, May "a. 1866.
xxx CONGRESS---1st Session.
WASHINGTON, May 20.

..---. WASHINGTON, May %.
aA SENATE. SIS efr
The morning hour was spent in the discus
sion of the bill to bridge the Mississippi at
Winoona, Minnesota. At l o'clock, II. NJ,
the reconstruction resolutions were taken up.
Mr.. Sumner urged delay, believing the coun-
try had gained much by the postponement al
ready had.
Mr.. Fessenden thought it should be consid-
cred now.
Some debate followed, during which Mr..
Sumner said he did not think the business OF
the Senate to be in such condition as to war
rant an adjournment before the latter part OF
July, and thought this ought to be reserved
as the last subject before the adjournment.
MIR. Conness opposed postponement.
The resolution was finally taken up, and
read, Mr.. Howard explaining the bill at
length.
Mr.Wade offered a substitute, that no State
shall make or enforce any law, abridging priv
eleges or immunities of citizens OF the Uni
ted States; nor shall any State deprive any
person OF life, liberty or property, nor deny
any person OF equal protection of the laws
No class of persons, as to the right of whom
to suffrage any discrimination shall be made,
shall be included in the basis of representation
unless such discrimination be on account of
disqualification or for participation in the re-
bellion, or other crimes. Section Sd ignores
the rebel debt and maintains the public debt
of the United States. The 4th section gives
Congress the power to enforce the law. 81
Mr.. Wade's substitute was ordered to be
printed. ses
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment that
Representatives be apportioned among the
several States, according to their respective
numbers, and if the elective franchise in the
State be denied to any male citizen of the
United States, above the age of twenty-one,
for any cause other than insurrection against
the United States, the basis of representation
in such State shall be reduced in proportion.
Ordered to be printed. il 1i
A substitute was also offered that any per-
son who has resigned or abandoned any place
. under the United States, and has taken any
part in the rebellion, shall be ineligible to any
Office under the United States, or any State
Government. Ordered to be printed. u
A substitute was also offered that no person
shall be Senator or Representative in Con-
gress, or hold any Office under the United
States Government, who, having previously
taken oath to support the Constitution, shall
have taken part in the rebellion. Ordered to
be printed I5i8.
A substitute was also proposed that debts
incurred in aid of the rebellion are illegal and
void, and also that no compensation shall be
made for loss OF slaves. 40 g
The above substitutes We're for different
sections of the House resolutions.
Without further action the Senate went in
to executive session and adjourned.
HOUSE. t5- ST.
The Senate amendments to the House bill
for the disposal of public lands sn Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas,
were concurred in and committee of confer
ence asked. F Aas $50 .ssls3
The Committee on Printing were directed
to inquire into the expediency of printing ex-
ira copies OF the agricultural report for 1884.
A bill was introduced legalizing marriages
in the District of Columbia. Referred. :
The bill donating lands to the American
Forest Tree Propagation Company, was ta-
bled.
The House resumed the consideration of
the bill reported yesterday relative to the
FIeedmen's Bureau. M
The 1st section was amended on motion of
Mr.. Eliot, by reducing the time for the con-
tinuance of the act, from tlaxees to- Eve years.
Mr.. Eliot explained the provisions of the bill.
Mr.. LIE Bond opposed the bill. The morn
ing hour expired before he finished and the
bill went over until tomorrow.
The House in committee of the whole con-
sidered the tax bill, commencing with the par
agraph on bank business.
An amendment was adopted requiring saw
ings banks to make their returns after july
next, on the first Monday of January and Ju-
ly of each year.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Blaine, tax
ing the average deposits OF National banks,
IL Of | per cent, annually, was rejected, af-
ter debate.
The amendment relating TO the income tax
caused much discussion and was amended ON
motion of Mr.. Pike, by re-enacting the present
law. by vote 81 to A. The only difference
10 the present law is that the limit of the
first 5000 is extended to $1,000 s
An amendment was offered to take the lat
ter provision and apply it to the present wear.
but it was rejected. Among the deductions to
to be made in estimating incomes, the follow
ing were added:
Losses actually sustained during the wear
arising from fire, shipwreck or incurred in
trade. and debts ascertained to be worthless.
but excluding all estimated depreciation of
values. i,is