The Portland daily press., 1867-02-02
xxx CONGRESS SECOND SESSION
SENATE.

II.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.
Mr.. Poland introduced bill to appoint a
Surrogate Court for the District of Columbia
Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Sc
The bill to regulate the duties of the Clerk
the House OF Representatives was taken up
and passed.
The bankrupt bill was taken up.
The question upon the amendment to strike
out from the list of exceptions to operations of
the bill the following words, land such other
property not included in the foregoing excep-
b tions as is exempted from levy and sale upon
execution by the laws of the State in which
the bankrupt has his domcile at the time OF
commencement of proceedings in bankruptcy,
to an amount not exceeding that allowed by
such State exemption laws in force in 1864"
Mr.. Doolittle was in favor of the bill.
Mr.. Trumbull contended that as exemption
laws in different States differed materially, it
could not be general bankrupt law, and only
such had Congress the right to pass.
Mr.. Doolittle thought the amount made no
difference. The rule was the same every
where.
Mr.. Grimes asked, if the bill became law,
whether it would be possible for State COM
ing into the Union to change its exemption
law by increasing or decres sing the amount.
Mr.. Poland thought it would not be in the
power OF the States to change their exemption
laws. .. t-rts Et..
Mr.. Anderson proposed to substitute for the
words proposed to be stricken out the follow
ing: ."And a homestead and other property
not exceeding in value $1,000" .i-l
o. NJ Mas Fesenden asserted the right Of CONGRESS
out it. He would not vote for the bill.
Without reaching a vote on the bankrupt
bill, at A O'Clock p. M. the Senate went into an
executive SESSION, and shortly afterwards ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
The bill was passeu permitting capt. w Ell
ster, of the steamer Mahoning, tosaccept a
chronometer from the British Government, for
zeal in saving British lives and property.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
bills authorizing the Commissioner of patents
to hear the application of the heirs of Thomas
w. Harvey for re-eXtensiOn OF patents for inn
provements in the machinery for the cutting
of screws. e.a a 5Ea4
Mr.. Boutwell, spoke in favor of them.
The bill was opposed by Messrs. Hale, WASH
burne, Allison, Stevens, Morrill, and others.
The bill was debated until the expiration of
the morning hour, when, without disposing of
it, the Senate bill regulating the tenure of GER
tain civil offices was taken up.
Messrs. Finck and Huse opposed the bill, and
Messrs Williams and Donnelly favored it.
The latter offered an important amendments
The debote being Closed the House proceed
ed to vote on the bill and amendment. The
Amendment, that of Mr.. Williams. was reject
ed-76 to 70. The Democrats all voted in the
negative. UL
Other amendments of Messrs Donnelly, Sts-
vens and Williams were severally rejected.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, gave notice that he
would, on Monday next report back from the
Judiciary Committee the House bill to declare
valid and conclusive certain proclamations of
the President, and certain acts done in pursu-
ance thereof by his orders, in the suppression
of the rebellion.
On motion OF Mr.. Ketchuni, the Committee
on Ways and Means were instructed to en-
quire into the propriety of putting straw wrap
ping paper on the free list.
The President transmitted report from the
Secretary o. State on the present condition OF
Mexico which was referred to the Committee
ON Foreign Affairs. ...-. .........f
After hearing several petitions against chang
es'in the National bank law, at o'clock the
House adjourned. f