The Portland daily press., 1867-02-22

xxx OoNeREss--sEO0ND SESSION
-, WASHINGTON, Feb. 81.

Petitions were presented and referred.
MIR. Howard moved to discharge the Com
mittee on the Pacific Railroad from furthe
consideration of the bill to grant aid for tn
construction of railroad from Lawrence
Kansas, to the Mexican boundary line: ais
other bills granting aid to projected railroads
The committee were discharged.
Mr.. Wilson offered joint resolution, which
was referred to the Committee on ONT Reso
lntions, authorizing the Secretary of War AM
Navy to detail joint board of six of the mos
| scientific officers of the army and navy. distin
guished for their familiarity with and practice
knowledge OF gunnery, Notifications and iron
ciad vessels, to test the comparative power O
resistance OF lron-clad vessels and stone fOrtifi
cations of the fire of heavy artillery, the board
10 select one of the strongest irOn-clad ships o.
the navy and the most perfect sea-coast fortifi
cation for the purpose of the trial; the fort and
vessel to be armed with the heaviest guns in
| use, the trial to continue as long as recas~ar,
for the satisfactory determination of the nrohs''
| BILE result and to report to Congress- wifi
| drawings of the ship and fort and the on;n;o,
of the board as to the comparative mowers q,
resistance and adaptation of iron-clads and
| warfare.
Mr.. sherman introduced bill to confirm the
sales made by the direct tax commissioners for
oouth carolina to persons in the army, navy
ana marine corps Referred to the Judiciary
question being on the House amendme mt trans
lerrlng the Bureau to the War Department.
Inc Sommttee ON Indian affair report unani-
mously against it. FIX sal, ' w
Without definite action the Senate went into
executive session. H.Il a..a .la ~ fil
At the conclusion of the executive session a
recess was taken at half past seven 'Af'
1a.f .. EVENING SESSION. -t s,5
After unimportant business the bill to trans.
fer the Indian Bureau to the War Department
was considered.
After debate the Senate adjourned. "a
HOUSE. t fi b. '34
On motion of Mr. Stevens it was ordered
that the daily meetings of the House for the
rest OF the session be at IL A. M.
MT. Hooper from the Committee on Ways
ana Means reported the bill for the payment of
compound interest notes, and for the contrac-
ton OF the currency. .''
MIR. Hooper explained the bill The amount
OF compound interest notes falling due this fis-
cal year was $140O0O,0O0. The bill proposed to
allow them to be received as . special Temporal
~ loan for which certificates were to be issued
bearing interest of 65-1OO per cent. The banks
that held them would in his opinion gladly ex-
change them, as they could hold them as part
oftheir reserve in the same manner as they do
compound notes. COIN
Mr.. Wilson showed that the effect of the bill
would be to pay banks three to four millions
of dollars year interest by relieving them to
the extent OF such certificates of the necessity
OF lawful money by the redemption of notes. :
MIR. Stevens moved to amend 90 as to authors
lze the redemption of compound interest note
and issue legal tenders in their stead
other amendments were suggested, but Mr.
Hooper refused to yield to any amendments.
MI. Eggleton advocated the bill as reported,
which he said was compromise measure
Mr.. Hooper called for the previous question ON
the bill, and Mr.. Stevens amendment excluding
all others, which was sustained.
Mr.. Hooper closed the debate arguing in IA
vOr of the bill reported by the committee and
against MIR. Stevens amendment. ar- sFrsf
Mr.. Stevens amendment was agreed to-99
to 49, -
The bill was rejected; yeas "a, nays 75
., On motion of Mr.. Randall, the vote rejecting
the bill was recOnsidered. $500 -
- Mr. Randall moved to refer the bill to the
Committee on Banking and Currency, with
instructions to report back Immediately the
hrst section of the bill, the second section to
be stricken out.
After discussion the motion was agreed to-
ThereupOn Mr.. Randall rose instantly and
reported from the Committee ON Banking and
Currency the bill with the second section
stricken out III
Mr.. Hooper made point of order that Mr.
Randall was not authorised to report the bill
The Speaker Overruled it.
Mr. Hooper moved to lay the bill on the Ia
BILE. Rejected-59 to 95, The bill was then
passed-95 to 65. laa
The bill as passed authorizes the Secretary
OF the Treasury to redeem the compound inter
est notes and to issue legal tender not exceed
ing $100,O00,OOO.
Mr.. Darling, from the Naval Committee, re-
ported adversely on the proposition to abolish
the marine corps and to substitute soldiers
therefor from the army. Laid ON the table and
ordered to be printed.
The House then took recess
EVENING SESSION
The Speaker presented communication
from the President covering report from the
Secretary of State giving the names of Wiscon-
sin and pennsylvania as States which have ra-
titled the Constitutional Amendment, and a
communication from the governor of Rhode
Island announcing the ratification of the Con-
stitutiOnal Amendment
Mr.. Brandege, from the Naval Committee,
reported resolution directing the Secretary
OF the Navy to appoint board of not less than
three competent officers to examine into all
facts connected with the location of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis, with view to remoy-
ing the same to q locality more advantageous
to the Government and make careful survey
and examination of the harbors of New Lon
don and Newport for the location of such aca-
deny, and report all facts to the Fortieth Con-
gress.
Mr.. Schenck offered a substitute directing
the Speaker to appoint committee of three
members for the same purpose. rgsrAr.vts '
Before action the morning hour expired and
the matter went over until Tuesday and the
House went into Committee of the Whole on
the tax bill. ssFfu9Ef tts aF.-5I5gR
After the consideration of the bill and action
on several sections the committee rose and the
House adjourned.