The Portland daily press., 1867-01-18
xxx CONGRESSIONAL SESSION
WASHINGTON, Jan. II.

SENATE.
After presentation of the usual petitions
Mr.. Ramsay, from the Committee on Post Off
ces, reported the House joint resolution author
izing the procuring of site for the New
York Post Office, with an amendment OF lit
lie consequence.
Inc amendment was agreed to and the bill
goes to the House for concurrence.
Mr.. Ramsey reported the House bill fixing
salaries of post route agents at not less than
nine or more than twelve hundred dollars
After debate it was passed.
Mr.. Chandler called up the bill of last ses-
sion to establish ship canal around Niagara
Falls. After discussion it was made special
order for tomorrow.
The bill allowing the Baltimore g. Ohio
Railroad to extend their tracks into the Dis
trlct of Columbia was taken up and passed
Mr.. Morrill, from the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia reported the bill to prevent
illegal voting in the District, with amend
ments.
The bill to regulate the appointment of pen
sion agents came up.
Mr.. Fessenden spoke against it until the ex-
piration of the morning hour, when the bill to
regulate the tenure of Office came up.
Mr.. McDougal spoke against it.
The bull regulating the tenure Of office was
then taken up, the question being Mr..
Summers amendment
Messrs MeDougal and others spoke against
Mr.. Doolittle said in the course of the de-
pdtc, budi dt time Qe expected
prove that the policy of the Administration was
the policy of MIR. Lincoln and from which the
Republican party had departed.
Mr.. Howe said that the gentleman (Mr. Doc
Ittle) had spent considerable time trying to
show that, but thus far the people had failed
to see it.
Mr. Doolittle said he could demonstrate it
from his colleagues own speech ON the ques-
ton of admitting Arkansas TO representation.
Mr.. Sumner in the course of the debate said
he fhn11Oht II xyas 10 Inf nj 70
tect the loyal people of the country against the
President OF the United States, who had be-
bone an enemy to his country.
Mr.. Doolittle said such language should not
be used toward the Executive.
The Chair decided that the words did not go
beyond the usual license of debate.
MIR. Doollttle appealed from the decision
The appeal was laid on the table by vote of
80 to 10.
The Senate then at 4:45 adjourned
HOUSE.
After the transaction of some business of no
general Importance, THE House went into COM
mittee OF the whole, Mr. Cobb in the chair, on
the legislative appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stevens offered an amendment, as an
additional section, extending to the Court of
Claims the provisions of the act of July I'd,
1864 which declares that in the Courts of the
United States there shall be MO exclusion of
any witness on account of color. nor in civil
actions because he is party to, or interested
III ISSUES Urleu.
After short discussion it was agreed to-
The committee soon after rose and reported
the bill to the House
MIR. Stevens attempted to introduce an
amendment, but the Speaker ruled him out of
order.
A long debate ensued, at the end of which
votes were had on the bill by sections.
The appropriation of $4,000 for facilitating
Geographic communication was stricken out
The bill then passed.
The Secretary of the Treasury was instruct
ED to report whether the State of Texas had
accounted for the money and stores taken by
it on the breaking up of the confederacy.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
Committee on Military Affairs to enquire into
the alleged abuses at West Point.
The Committee on Ways and Means We're in
structed to enquire into the expediency of
making the tariff on imported silk goods spe-
citic and not ad valorem.
District of Columbia bills were acted upon
until 2.40, when Mr.. Clark introduced a bill to
enable the United States to recover concealed
property belonging to the Confederate States
Referred to the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Stevens reconstruction bill came up,
and Mr. Baker spoke at length against the
Z bill
The debate continued for a long time, when
the matter was postponed. Att
The Senate amendment to the House bill
( relative to the New York post Office site was
concurred in.
After the transaction of some business of a
local nature the House adjourned.