The Portland daily press., 1867-12-17
XLsh 00NaR aSs- Second sess on.
WASHINGTON, Dee. is

w ASHlNGTON, Lee. 10.
SENATE.
Mr.. Howard introduced bill iuouring of
the President the amount of U. S. bonds is
sued to the Union Pacific Railroad and its
branches, and the amount OF interest paid
thereon. Adopted. ,Hf at
Mr.. Wilson introduced resolution to fix
the compensation of diplomatic and consular
officers, and define their duties. Also, a bill
to reorganize several missions; a bill to reor-
ganize and reduce the Department of State,
and bill to continue certain officers and
agents of the Freedmen's Bureau, which were
laid on the table.
Mr.. Trumbull offered a resolution inquiring
of the Attorney General what special counsel
had been engaged from June 30th, 1866, to
June Both. 1867, and whether certain officials
in his office and Court of Claims could be
dispensed with. Was amended to include
the year 1865, and adopted ~
The bill to repeal the Cotton tax was then
taken up and opposed by Mr.. Morrill, of YER
mont, who Loved as an amendment to exempt
foreign cotton after April, 1868.
Messrs. Sherman and Pomeroy advocated
the bill and opposed the Amendment
Mr.. Edmunds introduced joint resolutions
of the Vermont Legislature, which were re-
ferred. FH
Mr.. Wilson presented bill to continue to
certain volunteer officers and agents of the
Freedmen's Bureau the powers conferred on
them by the act creating said Bureau.
Mr.. Van Wrinkle presented bill to appor-
ton the issue OF National Bank currency to
the several States and Territories, and to the
District of Columbia. Referred to the Finance
Committee. f,- s-.-t t.ta.trF E
Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill to regulate
the taxation of the capital stocks of the Ma
tional Bank. Referred to the Committee on
Finance.
The bill repeating the cotton tax was taken
up. -
Mr.. Morrill, moved to amend by providing
that after April LIST, 1868, all cotton imported
shall be exempt from duty. He proceeded to
argue against the exemption of cotton from
taxation, though he said he had little hope of
retarding the repeal of the tax.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Sher-
man, Fessenden and others.
Mr.. Morton gave notice that at a proper
time he should give an amendment to tax all
cotton grown after 1867 one cent per pound.
Mr.. Williams gave notice that he would
move an amendment, providing that no cotton
remaining unsold should be taxed; also that
no tax on cotton heretofore collected shall ever
be refunded.
The debate was further continued by Messrs.
Freliugbuysen, Morrill, and johnson.
Mr.. Conkling moved to so amend the bill as
to make it applicable only to the year 1868.
Without taking action on the bill the Senate
held short executive session, and soon after
adjourned. sl
HOUSE.
Several bills and resolutions were introduced
and referred.
The call of the States for bills being con-
cluded the Speaker proceeded to call the
States for resolutions.
Mr.. Benjamin offered a resolution that in
emphatic response to the extraordinary recon-
mendation in the Presidents message that the
reconstruction laws should be repealed the
House resolves that it will not take retrograde
steps, and that reconstruction is being su cess
fully accomplished on firm and enduring ba-
sis. Adopted-111 to 81. A strictly party
vote.
Mr. Butler moved to suspend the rules to en-
able him to offer resolution declaring that in
the judgement of the House all Indictment of
the Nation ought to be paid in exact accord
ance with the acts of Congress creating it. but
net otherwise; that is to say, all loans enacted
to be paid in gold to be SO paid, and all loans
not so enacted to be payable, ought to be paid
in lawful money of the United States. The
House refused to suspend the rules by vote
of SO nays to So yeas, and the resolution was
not received.
Mr. Blaine offered resolution instructing
the Committee on Naval Affairs to report
whether reduction in the number of officers
and men employed in the Navy may be effect
ed by reducing foreign squadrons to what they
We're before the war. Adopted.
The Speaker presented message from the
President transmitting copies of the papers
relating to the trial of Albert Rusk of Indiana
IN New Orleans, stating that no action in the
case bad been taken by the President. Re-
terred to the Judiciary Committee.
Inc endorsement on the papers by the Sec
rotary or w ar is that the crime was most
fearful and brutal one and that the sentence
should be carried into effect
The House then went into committee of the
whole and proceeded to co Isider the defcieu-
cy bill. 1t appropriates $118,892.
Mr.. Stevens of Penn. offered an anne ndment
increasing by 20 per cent for one year, from
the Both of June, 1867, the compens alton of all
employees in the various civil departments OF
the government at Washington whose COM
pensation is less than $1,000 per annum-tle
addition not to make the compensation of any
employee more than $4,000. He explained
the amendment and stated that the restriction
of the increase of salaries to below $1,000 would
diminish by one-half the amount required last
year under the provision to increase salaries q
per cent .F
After discussion the amendment was re-
jected.
The committee rose and reported back the
bill to the House.
Mr.. Stevens hen offered his amendment in
the House and it was adopted-73 to TO-
The bill was then laid on the table 70 to 81
Subsequently, on motion of Mr.. Washburne
oil H., the rules were suspended "a to 30, anG
the bill read a third time, and passed without
MIR. Stevenss amendment
MFR. Hubbard of West Va. asked leave to of
fer a resolution instructing the Committee OF
Retrenchments to inquire into the expediency
Of reducing the pay OF members OF Congress
to $4,000 ard ten cents mileage, but Mr.. High.
objected.
The House at ten minutes past o'clock ad