The Portland daily press., 1867-02-13
xxx CONGRESSIONAL SESSION
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 1.

| structIon of a bridge across the Mississippi a
| La Crosse.
Mr.. Chandler gave notice that tomorrow h
would introduce a bill to repeal the tariff Law
and impose uniform tariff of so per cent a,
valorem on all imported goods. :"
MIR. Poland offered a resolution looly;no I,
the aDonsnment of the office of Vice Presi
dent and limiting the Presidents service /,
one Term. MT. Roland said he did not wish al
immediate consideration of his resolution AN,
IL was lad over until tomorrow.
Mr. SHERMAN, from the Committee on Fl
nance, reported bill for funding compound
interest notes outstanding, authorizing the
secretary of the Treasury to issue therefor
temporary loan certificates in the manner pre-
scrlDed III section of the act authorizing the
issue of.IJnited States notes, and for other pur.
poses, approved February 10Th, 1862, said Ger.
titicates to bear interest at n rate not exceed
ing three per cent, principal and interest pay
able in lawful money ON demand. National
hanks are authorized to hold such certificates
as a portion of the reserve provided for i'm sec.
lions 81 and 81, of the act establishing such
banks, approved June Sd, 1861 provided, that
not less than two-fifths of the entire reserve OF
any such bank shall consist of lawful money
of the United States. The act also restricts
the total amount of certificates at any time
outstanding, to $S0O0O0O0
The bankrupt bill was taken up and the
vote by which IL was rejected being reconsid-
cred, the Chair decided that the bill was not
amendaDle unless the vote ordering 1t to a
third reading was Teconsidered.
Mr.. Sumner said that one of the amend
ments he proposed to offer excluded the late
rebels from the benefits of the bill.
Discussion ensued as to the truth or falsitv
of the reported prosecution and murder OF
Unionists, white and black, in the South
After further debate vote was taken on
the bill and it passed, yeas y, nays 20. 1t now
goes TO the House for its concurrence in the
amendments. r,,.. .-..4.
Mr.. Morgan, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported bill amendatory of the act
providing Tor the safety of the lives of passen-
gers on board steam vessels. 49,
MIR. Wilson reported from the Committee on
Military Affairs a new draft of the bill to pro-
vide for temporary increase of the pay of
army officers, etc. Among other provisions it
gives all officers below Major General, 80 Is
per cent. increase ON their pay proper for two
years from July LIST, 1867, and ali other mount
ed officers cavalry pay; 1t continues the pres
ent pay of enlisted men three years from
August Goth, 1866; allows Communication of ra-
tons to prisoners of war who died in prison,
or who died subsequent to their release;
abolishes the Office of Assistant Secretary OF
War; strikes out the word white" from milf
tary laws; makes it the duty of army and navy
officers to prevent whipping and manning of
person for any crimes misdemeanors by any
pretended civil authority i'll any State until
such State shall have been restored and recog-
bids peonage in New Mexico and elsewhere,
and declared null and void all laws, resolutions
and regulations which have maintained or en-
freed the same, and provides penalties for any
violation of this section.
MIR. Wilson introduced joint resolution to
facilitate the settlement of claims for quarter
masters stores and supplies furnished by loyal
persons during the late rebellion in Maryland
and the States in rebellion, creating commits
sion for each State to hear and determine upon
all evidence of loyalty i'll support of such claims
and to report to Congress what amount. if any'
should be allowed.
The bill authorizing the acceptance of League
Island as a naval depot was taken up.
Mr.. Sumner offered a substitute providing
for the appointment of a COMM ssion, consist
ing of Admiral Farragut, Gen. Sherman and
j. g. Hillyard, to examine and select the best
site, providing it shall be given as free gift to
the Government, etc.
After debate the Senate took recess until
7P.M.
EVENING SESSION
On motion of Mr.. Sumner to take up the
joint resolution for the relief of Admiral Pauld-
ing, the yeas and nays were called.
No quorum being present the Senate adj
iourned.
On motion of Mr.. Wentworth, the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury was requested to commu-
%
Central & Union Pacific Railroad.
On motion of Mr.. Hill, the Secretary of the
Treasury was requested to inform the House
whether POstmasters were required to account
for and pay the salary fax on the salaries of
clerks, etc.
Mr.. Eliot introduced a bill relating to the
mercantile marine of the United States. Re-
ferred to the Committee ON Commerce
Mr.. Darling offered resolution, which was
adopted, that
ltborooe Q,ha oa,,n,ooo;a1 ,>,a.;..o a..
United States is reported to be in a langush-
ing condition, and there exists also a great de-
preston i'll the Shipbuilding interests owing
to the legislation and action of foreign Govern
ments, and other causes, therefore,
ResOlUed, That the Committee ON WAYS and
Means be, and it is hereby instructed to in
quire into the eXpediency of amending the
tariff act by provision to the effect that all
goods imported in American bottoms shall be
entitled to rebate of ten per cent. of the du-
ties imposed by said act.
After other unimportant business the House
resumed the consideration of Mr. Eliots bill
for the reorganization of the State Govern
ment of Louisiana
Mr.. Fincl withdrew his motion to lay the
bill on the table. H
The vote ordering the main question was re-
considered.
On motion of Mr.. Eliot, thebll was amend
ed by striking out the 18th section, which pro-
vides for the election of a delegate from Lou
isiana to the House of Representatives.
Mr.. Eliot then renewed the motion for the
previous question. t. ft.
Mr. Eldridge said it was the understanding
that the bill should be left open TO debate.
Mr.. Eliot was not aware of it and had no
objection to the bill being debated one or two
hours, if that would suit the gentlemen on the
other side, rather than have a renewal of tie
scenes witnessed in the House some weeks
ago.
After miscellaneous debate in which Mr. Lee
Blond took occasion TO comment on the failure
of the Reconstruction Committee to report
any measure which majority of the House
endorsed, Mr.. Eliot said he must resume the
floor
Mr. LeBlond-Very well, let the gentleman
move his previous question. 4fa
In reply to a question, Mr.. LeBlond said he
wanted the question left open to debate unit
it had been reasonably debated.
After considerable discussion as to wha
time should be allowed in which to discuss the
BILL Mr.. Eliot said that, having tried in vain
to obtain a reasonable proposition, he would
say that he did not intend TO call the previous
question for two hours. In that time the Other
side of the House could explain their views
against the bill.
Messrs Boyer and Harlan addressed the
House in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Shellabarger closed the debate in a
speech in favor of the bill, during which Mr.
Boyer said the statement that the Courts in
IOulSidild were uuuer reUcl cOhtlOi, ana WOult
not do justice to negroes and Union men, was
unfounded in fact This assertion created
considerable excitement ans general calls /,
order from the Republican side of the House
The bill was ordered to be read third time
This point seemed to have been anticipated
for the bill, to the surprise of the Democratic
and the amusement of the Republican side o
the House, had been engrossed. The bill pass
ed yeas liz, nays 49,
Petitions were presented and referred. e
Mr.. Chanler presented the credentials G
William Aiken, Representative elect from tn
I'd district of South Carolina Referred to tn
Committee ON Reconstruction.
The House took up the bill to estab lish mil
| itary Governments in the seeded States.
| Mr.. Kelley was entitled to the floor.
| The House at quarter past four o'clock, too
! recess until Z IL O'clock.
EVENING SESSION
On motion Of Mr.. Starr, the Committee o
Banking and Currency was instructed to il
| quire into The expediency of preventing b
law the sale of gold by the Secretary of tn
Treasury, and by national banks, and also
exempting from State or other local taxation
that portion of the capital of national bank
| invested in United States loans.
The House then proceeded to consider til
bill establishing military Governments in I'll
seeded States.
Mr.. Kelley addressed the House in advocac
of the bib, and expressed hope that it woul
be passed without amendment
Mr.. Maynard spoke in favor of the BILL say
ing that throughout the unreconstructed State
the spirit of rebellion was as strong to-day a
it had been since the attack on Fort SuInte
The peace which was in the country now, wa
the pc age of the slnmbering volcano
| Mr. AHisou next smoke i'm favor of tla hi