The Portland daily press., 1867-03-22
xLTH OONaREss---FIRsT SESSION
WASHINGTON, March 81.
SENATE.

Legislative memorials were presented and
referred
The Finance Committee reported the resolu-
ton of the House exempting wrapping paper
made from wood and cornstalks from laAes
which was passed .
Mr.. Anthony introduced a resolution 10 lh-
quire if there be any deficits in the accounts OF
the late Superintendent OF PuDnc frintlhg-
whether he made contracts preJudclal to the
Government. and whether he bought more pa
per than he should have done, etc. MIR. An
tbony explained the resolution and read let
ter from dr. Wendell, the gentleman referred
to- DENYING the allegations which had been
made against him, and requesting the inyesti-
CATION called for. The resolution was adopted
Mr.. Chandler, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported the resolution authorizing
American citizens to dispose of vessels to
friendly beligerents, under certain circum-
stances.
At the request of Mr.. Sumner it was laid
over for the present.
MIR. Sherman moved to reconsider the vote
by which the bill exempting from taxation
wrapping paper made from wood or cornstalks
was agreed to- He desired to offer an amend
ment imposing tax of 10 per cent. on all
State, Municipal or Corporation notes ana
scrip, issued by any national bank. he sent
to the Chair to be read letter from the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. stating that the nation
al banks in New Orleans were issuing shin
plasters and scrip as currency. The amend
ment was agreed to and the vote reconsldered.
The bill as amended was then passed.
Mr.. Trumbull called up the joint resolution
to suspend further proceedings under the act
to appoint Commissioners to pay loyal slave
owners for slaves enlisted in the army.
Mr.. Davis spoke at length, in opposition to
the resolution, eharacterizing it as the first
step in the direction of reputation being
breach of the plighted faith of the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Salisbury could not vote to pay for ne
groes because he did not believe the Govern
ment had the right to take and enlist them.
The joint resolution was passed 80 against Z,
Mr.. Salisbury voting aye.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson it was resolved
that the Foreign Committee be instructed to
consider the expediency of passing a resolu-
ton expressive of the sense of the nation that
the American Department at the Worlds Elk
hibition at Paris, shall not be opened on the
Sabbath Day.
The Senate at 4.2O P. NJ. went into executive
session and afterwards adjourned
HOUSE.
After discussion, resolution was offered by
Mr.. Schenck to include in the 20 per cent ex-
ira compensation voted last session. the Quar-
termaster and Commissary Departments,
The Speaker called the committees up for
reports.
MIR. Huburd, chairman of the Committee
on Public Expenditures, stated that the COM
mittee had taken testimony which apparently
inculpated one or more members of the Sen
ate and that the committee deemed it proper
to report it to the House SO that such action
might be taken as comported with the cOur-
tesy due from one House to the other. He
offered the following:
ResolUed, That the House having been in
formed by one of its committees that testmo-
ny has been brought to the knowledge of said
committee which testimony apparently incul-
pates one or more members of the Senate, the
House therefore directs that all such testimo-
be transmitted to the Senate for IFS infOr-
nation
Mr.. Taber stated as one of the minority COM
mlttee, he did not agree to the report. The
evidence, to his mind, was insufficient to base
such a resolution upon, and he asked that it
should be read to the House.
In reply to question of Mr.. Eldridge, Mr..
Huiburd said he had not the slightest obiec-
ton to having the testimony read. The CON-
mittee had reflected somewhat on the subject
and came TO the conclusion that it was more
decorous, more courteous, and would give the
least scandal not to have the testimony read,
but to have it transmitted to the Senate for
its information and action.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Brooks, Mr.. Hull
burd amended the resolution, substituting for
the words apparently inculpating," apparent
ly affecting Senators, etc"
After further discussion the resolution was
agreed to-
Mr.. Hulburd then reported the following
resolution:
ReSolced, That it is the sense of this House
that Henry A. Smythe should be Immediately
removed from the Office of Collector of the
port of New York, and that the Clerk of the
House cause to be laid before the President of
the United States certified copy of this reso-
luton.
Mr.. Butler opposed the resolution, saying
that the proper mode for the House to demand
the removal of an officer, was by impeachipg
him,
After some further discussion, the morning
hour expired, and the resolution went over un-
til tomorrow.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the million dollar Southern relief ap
preparation.
General debate having been ord ered, Messrs.
Banks and Bingham withdrew their pending
amendments.
Mr.. Bingham offered an amendment to
strike out the appropriation OF one million of
dollars, and insert "and to that end the Secre-
tary of War is hereby authorized and directed,
through the Commissioner of the Freedmen's
Bureau, to apply so much as he may deem
necessary for the purposes aforesaid, of the
unexpended moneys heretofore appropriated
to supply the freedmen and refugees with pro-
visions or rations."
A long debate ensued on this amendment
and continued for considerable time with
much asperity of feeling.
Mr.. Binghams amendment to the Southern
relief bill was adopted in the committee of
the whole.
Some sparring occurred between Messrs. |
Bingham and Butler, the former remarking |
on the Charleston Convention and Fort Fish |
er, the latter haunting Bingham with hanging |
an innocent woman-Mrs. Surratt-as his only |
achievement during the war, and charging |
him with having gone over in spirit, as he had |
in person, to the opposition. lNoTE--Mr.
Bingham's seat is ON the Democratic side of
the Housed
Various amendments were offered by
Messrs. Schenck, Butler, Farnsworth, Pike,
Broomall, Logan and others, which were re-
jected.
An amendment was offered by Mr. Logan,
providing that the expenditures shall not ex-
tend beyond the appropriation already made
for the Freedmen's Bureau. Adopted.
Mr. Schotield asked whether the Republican
party again triumphant?
The committee rose and reported the bill,
and the House seconded the previous question
ON it.
Mr. Banks. from the Committee on Rules, to
which was referred the resolution of Mr. Ba-
ker, offered some days ago, for the appoint
ment of a committee on labor, reported q rule
that there shall be appointed at each Congress
a committee on education and labor to consist
of nine members. Adopted.
The Speaker presented several executive |
communications.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, from the Judiciary |
Committee reported that the members of the |
39th Congress who are members Of this Con- |
gress not entitled to mileage until the first
day of the session commencing the first Mon
day in December.
The Speaker also presented messages from
the President transmitting information in ref |
erence to the withdrawal of the French troops
from Mexico, the Imprisonment and treatment
of American citizens in Great Britain or its
provinces and in reference to the late trial of
American citizens in Canada, which were re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
An effort to get a vote this evening the
passage of the Southern relief bill having been
tried and abandoned, the house at $50 p. M.
adjourned.