The Portland daily press., 1868-07-11
XLth OoNGREss-seoond Session.

AAbQ GSO-SeoOQU SESSION.
WASHINGTON, July 10-SENATE.-The chair
laid before the Senate the resignation Of Rev.
erdy johnson.
Mr.. Harlan called up the bill to bridge the
mississippi river at Rock Island. After some
verbal amendments an amendment by Mr. Nor
rili of Vt, providing that the expense shall not
exceed S1000,OO0, was adopted. The bill pass
ed, % to 10.
Mr.. Cattell called up his bill TO provide for
the further issue of temporary loan certificates
for the purpose of redeeming and retiring the
remainder of the outstanding compound inter-
est notes. t7
Mr. Trumbull offered substitute authoriz-
ing and directing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to sell, on the first Monday in August $10-
100000 of surplus coin in the Treasury, and
similar amount each subsequent month until
the amount in the Treasury, exclusive of that
for which gold certificates are deposited, shall
be reduced to $40 100000; the sale to be adver-
tised five days ahead, and to be made by means
of sealed proposals, to be received by the As
sstapt Treasurer at New York, ACCOMPANIED
by certificate of deposit on the Treasury of
8 per cent in currency, of the amount bid but
none but the highest bids to be accepted; pay
ments to be made in currency or compound in
terest notes, with the interest accrued thereon
of the latter to be Cancelled, and the proceeds of
the sales to be devoted to the purchase, at cur
rent market rates and cancellation of any in
terest' bearing bonds of the United States
Alter some remarks by Mr.. Trumbull in sup
port of his proposition the expiration of the
morning hour brought up the unfinished bust
ness of yesterday, viz: Mr.. Edmunds' bill ex-
Guiding from the Electoral College the votes of
States lately in rebellion which shall not be re-
organized. Mr.. Edmunis favored, and Mr..
Davis opposed the bill
Mr. Nye followed in denunciation of the
Democratic Convention, whose platform was,
he said, fraud and lie and in eulogy of the
Republican party. 2
Mr. Davis reminded the Senator that no mat
ter how rebels hand may be reeking with
the blood OF Union soldiers, the radical party
is willing to receive him as soon as he profess
ed repentance. He pronounced Grant possess
ed of none of the qualities of soldier but
courage and will, ana asserted that but for an
accident and but for an ADLER man than him
self we never would have heard OF him as a
candidate for the Presidency
Mr.. Edmunds bill relative to votes in the
electoral college again came up.
= On motion of Mr.. Thayer the names of
States were struck out, and words inserted
The States lately in rebellion and not now
represented in Congress" by vote of 20 to IA.
The bill passed % to 5. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Donnelly committee of
conference was asked on the disagreeing vote
On the bill granting lands to Minnesota to aid
IN the improvement of the navigation of the
Mississippi river. Nearly an hour was con-
sumed on resolution to increase the pay of
the clerk.
The report of the Committee on Invalid Pen
slons resolution was finally rejected.
Mr. Schenck, from the Committee on Ways
ana Means, reported joint resolution to ex-
tend to the LIST of January, 1869, the time for |
collecting direct tax in the South. He ex- |
planned that the time had been extended last |
year to abe LIST of January, 1865 but that the |
States of the South being still in transition |
state were unable TO meet the tax, and it could |
not be readily or conveniently collected from
them even if oppression was resorted to.
Mr.. Mullins said the forcible collection O { the
tax would be literal devouring of the South
ern States. The joint resolution passed.
The House proceeded as the business of the |
morning hour to the consideration of the bill |
reported from the Committee on Claims to |
provide for the distribution of reward offer
ed by the President for the capture of Jeffer
son Davis.
Mr.sWashburne of Mass, Chairman of the
Committee, explained and advocated the bill
at considerable length.
The bill for the distribution of awards for
the capture of Jefferson Davis, as reported
from the Committee on Claims, was passed
after some discussion.
Mr.. Townsend introduced bill to incorpor-
ate the U. s. Postal Telegraph System, incor-
porating G. G. Hubbard and associates, with
capital stock of 10000, and authorizing the
Postmaster-General to make ten years con-
tract for transmission of messages Referred |
to Pots Office Committee.
Mr.. Logan, from the Committee on WAYS |
and Means, reported a bill making certain |
regulations as to the public debt, providing |
that no commissions shall be allowed for sale |
or negotiation of U. S. Securities, and that all |
authority to issue u. S. bonds, &C., shall cease /
with the passage of this bill, except the con-
version OF Treasury notes into 500 bonds
Ordered to be printed and recemmitted.
Mr. Perham from Conference Committee |
on " pension bills, made report, which was
agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Garfield the Senate amend
ment to joint resolution directing the Secre-
tary OF War to sell damaged or unseryicable
arms and ordnance stores was concurred in. |
The House proceeded to the consideration of |
the deficiency bill. Among the amendments
agreed to was one that no contract for public
work shall be entered into which shall involve
larger expenditures than the amount appro-
priated for that purpose.
An amendment for increased compensation |
to OWL employees in Washington was reject
ed. The bill passed.
The House went nta Committee on the |
Private Calendar.
The bill to place certain Missouri troops on
equal footing with others was passed over with
out action.
The bill for the relief of certain contractors
for the construction of war vessels and steam
was considered, and ordered to be
reported to the House with recommendation
that it pass.
When the Committee rose this and two 9TH
er unimportant bills passed.
Recess till $780, the evening session to be for |
bills from the Committee on Military Affairs.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. Garfield reported bill to reduce the |
army to peace establishment. The first sec
ton, which continues the Office of General of |
the Army, gave rise to discussion.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend by providing |
that the duties of the Office shall in of va
cancy devolve ON the officer next in rank |
Agreed to.
Mr.. johnson moved that the Office be discon
tinued. Rejected.
The I'd section, which refers to Lieutenant |
General, was amended by Mr.. Logan similarly |
to the 1st section. ta.t
The Sd section, which provides that there
shall be no brevet appointment of General or
Lieutenant General, was amended by striking |
out the words, "of General or Lieutenant GEN
eral;" subsequently the words Except for mer-
1torious services in the presence of the enemy"
were added.
Mr.. Butler moved to amend the 4th section
by reducing the number of Major Generals to
three, to be designated by the General of the
Army without regard to seniority, and provid-
ing that all Others be mustered out by the LIST
OF January next. Agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Allison section was
amended by reducing the number of Brigadier
Generals from eight to five.
ME- Butler then moved to provide that there
shall be SIX Brigadiers, to be designsted by the
General OF the Army without regard to senior
1ty, all others to be mustered out by the first of
January next.
Mr. Paine moved to amend the amendment |
by providing that there shall be but six Brga-
der Generals alter the 31st of March, 1869 the |
President to designate them after the 10th of |
March, 1869, and all others to be mustered out |
of SER vice by the 31st of March, 1862
Bill not disposed of but to come up as unfin- |
1shed business tomorrow. Adjourned.