The Portland daily press., 1866-12-15

MIR. Kelson introduced bill to authorize the
purchase or construction of a military or pos
tai line of telegraph under the direction of the
Post Office Department. Referred to the Post
Once Committee and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, introduced bill
for the construction of a government telegraph
from Washington to New York City. Refer
red and ordered to be printed
Mr. Kasson's bill authorizes the construction
of telegraph line from Washington to Boston,
via Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and
Springfield, to be in operation in six months
under the management of the Post Office De-
partment, and open to the public use at reduc-
ed rates.
Mr.. Washburne's telegraph bill is similar to
Mr.. Kasson's, but extends the line only to New
York and charges the public half cent per
word, no message less than ten cents, the Gov
ernnent to have priority 1t appropriates $50
600 to carry out the act.
The vote on the suffrage bill for the District
OF Columbia was 118 yeas to 46 nays. There
was no excitement. The following are the
nays: Ancona, Bergen, Campbell Chanler,
Cooper, Dawson, Dennison, Eldridge Finck,
Glossbrenner, Goodyear, Harding, Harris,
Howe, Hogan, Hubbard of West Virginia, Hub
bell of New York, Hunter, Kerr; Kuykendall,
Latham, LeBlond, Leftwich, Marshall, Mckee,
Nlblack, Nicholson, NOEL, Randall of Penn
sylvania, Randall of Kentucky, Ritter, Rogers
Ross, Rosseau, Shanklin, Sitgreaves, Stillwell,
Strouse, Taber, Taylor of Tennessee, TAYLOR OF
New York, Thornton, Ward of Kentucky,
Whaley-46.
Mr.. Wentworth made an amusing review of
the Presidents speeches, and said he was will
ling, whenever they adopted the constitutional
amendment, to agree to universal amnesty
for universal suffrage, but not moment be-
fore. ls.au
The Committee on Pensions were instructed
to inquire into the expediency of amending the
pension laws so as to provide that in all cases
where it is proved to the satisfaction of the
Commissioner of Pensions that any soldier
during the rebellion died in any rebel prison, il
shall for all purposes of pensions in such
case be claimed pf-in,d fdcid evidence that such
person died of disease contracted in the service
and in the line of his duty.
Mr.. Sheilabarger presented a memorial from
the loyal people of Louisiana, asking Congress
to establish government under the care of the
United States Government for that State. The
memorial is signed by the Governor and seve-
raj thousand electors of Louisiana. Referred
to the select committee on the New Orleans
riots.
Mr.. Julian introduced bill providing for
civil governments for the States lately in revolt
against the Government of the United States
The bill provides for temporary territorial gov
ernments for all the late rebel States except
Tennessee, suffrage being given to all males
without respect to color, and all who have
borne arms against the United States or held
are to be illegible either to hold Office or tc
vote. Referred to the Committee on Recon
struction
The Committee ON Claims reported a join
resolution to pay Ober, Nausen & Co., mer
chants of New York, $60,0O0 for compound in
terest notes lost at sea. After discussion tht
| joint resolution was passed.
The House then proceeded to business or
the Speakers table, and concurred in the Sen
ate amendments to the deficiency bill.
The House took up the Senate bill givin:
| negro suffrage in the District of Columbia ant
passed it without discussion under the the pre-
vious question, by strictly party vote.
The House then went into Committee of tn
| Whole on the Presidents message and was ad
dressed by Mr.. Wentworth, after which th
House adjourned till Monday