The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-23
xxx CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.

la5e war. Referred to the Military Committee
The Chair laid before the Senate certain res
olutions of the Legislature of Montana accom-
panied by message from the Governor.
Mr.. Norton introduced resolution alleoino
that by the construction of the Department o
the Interior, OF several acts of Congress- grant
ing lands to aid in the building of certain rail.
roads, settlers have been deprived of the full
peneht OF the presumption and homestead
laws, and directing that inquiries be made by
the Committee on Public Lands as to what, il
any, legislation is necessary to correct such
construction OF the laws, and report. Agreed
to.
Mr.. Chandler introduced bill amending the
| property, of July 1864. 1t gives persons in
| possession, the right to purchase at the mini
mum rates before the day fixed for the sale of
the lands, and provides that no town ste shall
| have validity before approved by the Commits
| sioner of the General Land Office Referred
| to the Committee on Public Lands.
A bill to fix the salaries of the Judges of the
| Supreme Court in the several territories. at
$1,000 was referred to the Committee ON the
Judiciary.
A bill was presen ed by Mr. Williams to pro-
vide for the registration of electors in the ter
rltories of the United States and that before
such registration the voters shall take an oath
OF loyalty, and no person shall be accepted for
registry who has given aid and comfort to re-
bellion. Referred to the Committee ON Ter
ritories
1t was ordered that digest of the statutes
on o. the collection of imports be prepared by the
treasury Department for the use of the Sem
ate.
The bill changing the mode of appointing
pension agents. and providing that such agents
hereafter be appointed by the President by and
with the consent of the Senate, was amended
and sent to the House for concurrence.
The tariff bill was then taken up.
Amendments were offered by Mr. Fessenden
and adopted, viz: On screws, commonly called
wood screws, 8 cents instead of cents per h. !;
ON wood screws less than two inches i'll length,
IL cents instead of IL cents per h.; on cotton
seed oil, % cents per gallon; ON glass demi-
Johns, 10 cents per gallon capacity. The fol-
lowing proviso attached in the printed bill to
the section in relation to fruits was stricken
out: Provided that the loss Of quantity of
fruits above named by decay on the voyage
shall be admitted when such loss shall be a full
package or other separate portion, and on Or
anges and lemons in boxes, loss of a quantity
may be allowed when such loss reaches SO per
cent. OF the quantity in boxes, such loss being
certified by appraisers of the damage, but no
other loss or damage shall be allowed in abate
ment of duty. In the original bill the impor-
tatiOn of fireworks is prohibited. t,- -l
Mr.. Fessenden offered proviso, which was
adopted, that fireworks placed on shipboard
before the LIST Of May next, may be imported
on payment of duties, and they may be import
ed in bond on their way to other countries.
Inc bill was amended to go into effect on the
LIST of April next. g ~ 1al.ars e. .,.,.li..1.
The amendments of the Finance Committee
were now concluded, and the bill was before
the Senate as in Committee of the Whole, and
still open to amendment i"i
Mr.. Cattel made an address advocating a
protective tariff. In the course of his remarks
he introduced the following tables, prepared
by the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics of the
Treasury Department.: The value in gold of
the annual product of the people of the United
States TOR the year 1860, was, in round num-
bers, as follows: Those engaged in agricul-
ture $l69,0OO,OOO; manufactures, including all
processes between raw material and consump-
ton, and this comprising cost of dwellings
erected, railroads and canals equipped home
made manufactures, Sc, $917 000, OO0 mining
$lO0,OOO,OOO; fishing $13,000.000; hunting 81
100000; wool cutting 81, 100000. This sum
represents the net annual earnings, or gross
increase in money value derived from railroads,
turnplkes, canals, steamboats,, &c. employee
in the transportation of passengers and COM
modlties within the country, including the
money value of all incidental labor devoted
thereto. Foreign commerce $3.50 600 600: this
comprises the net annual earnings, or gross
increase OF money value derived from ex-
change of products with foreign countries, that
is from foreign imports and exports, and from
the carrying to and fro of passengers, &C., en-
gagged in improving the face of the country
and subduing it to the purposes of society, So
4OO,OOO,OOO. This sum represents the yearly in
crease in the value Of lands and other immov-
opiS PAopcl1y ntWIy uQQ6r cululVaClOn
orImproved, and comprises permanent way of
railroads and canals, and all real property;
making the total gold value $6,756, 100000; tile
same reduced to currency, with gold at 40,
makes the estimate for 1856, $50, ass, 100000. OF
the $685. 600 600 (gold value) produced in 1860
$4,000 100000 were consumed during the same
time, leaving surplus or annual gain of $685.
100000. As the product of 1866 was about the
same in gold value as that of 1860, the surplus
was the same 1.-THE latter amounting in currency
q typtA to Il Al:
amount 1861 900 900 in currency was paid to the
Government in the form of taxes
Mr.. Sprague called attention to the necessi-
ty OF increased protection for the linen inter-
ests He thought unmanufactured flax ought
to be admitted duty free, so as to encourage
manufacturers of linen in this country.
Pending the consideration of Mr. Sprague's
suggestions, the Senate went into executive
session and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bills were introduced to punish Instructions
of railways; for sale Of the hot springs reser-
walton in Arkansas;.to facilitate construction
of branch of the Union Pacific Railroad
from Sioux City to Lake Superior. All were
appropriately referred. st.. tF1aes
The resolution which had been referred to
the Judiciary Committee, for paying Coffroth
extra compensation, was reconsidered and pass
ed. The principle of the case, on motion of
Mr. Washburne, of Indiana, was made applic-
able to the cases of Voorhees,, of Indiana and
Brooks of New York. -. a.e a.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, reported the House bill
to declare valid certain proclamatons of the
President during the suppression of the rebel
lion, with sundry amendments. The amend
ments were all agreed to and the bill recon-
mitted.
Mr.. Boutwell,, from the judiciary Committee.
reported substitute for the House bill to pre-
sbribe an oath for public officers, members of
the bar, &c. 1t provides that no person shall
act as Attorney or Counsellor in any of the
Courts of the United States who has been
guilty of treason, bribery, murder, or any other
felony, or who has been engaged in any rebel
lion against the Government of the United
States, or who has given aid, comfort or en-
couragement to the enemies of the country in
arms. The second section makes the first sec
ton apply to every Court of the United States.
Mr.. Boutwell, explained and advocated the bill.
In concluding his remarks he said that the Su-
preme Court having failed in The performance
of its duty, the time had arrived when Congress-
by whose breath alone the Supreme Court ex-
listed, should assume exact and specific author
ity, and declare by solemn law that men who
have been guilty of murder, treason and bribe-
ry, or have raised their arms to strike down the
government OF the country should not partici-
pate in the administration OF the laws of the
land until absolved from their crimes
When Mr.. Boutwell, resumed his seat there
was loud applause on the floor and in the gal
leries. The bill was read a third time when
the Democratic members commenced efforts to
ID
votes, and by motions of adjournment and upon
other matters, and the calling of the yeas and
nays upon them, created lively time gener-
ally.
EVENING SESSION.
The House has spent the whole evening since
O'Clock on diliatory motions made by the
Democrats to prevent vote ON Mr.. Boutwelrs
test oath bill. At II o'clock there was no pros
pect of a compromise, and an all night session
seemed inevitable.
A. M.-NO adjournment of the House yet.
Destructive Fires. -sat
! ST. LOUIS, Jan. q.
The steamer Mexico, lying at the Arsenal,
was burned last night She was valued at
| $4,000; insured for 81 600,
| Another fire burned the Bon Ton saloon, the
Tivoli beer house and billiard room, and the
shop of John Schiffman, tailor Total loss
about $4,000; partially insured
MOBILE, Jan. %.
A destructive fire occurred on Dauphin stteet
last night, by which four houses were DESTROY
| ed. Loss about $4,000. Three firemen were
| injured, but none fatally.
New ORLEANS, Jan. o.
| Three frame dwellings were burned in the
fourth district to-day, involving a loss of $25,-
900; mostly covered by insurance.