The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-25
XLth O0NGR EsS- second Session,
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, July A-The Senate met a
10 o'clock.
of passengers on steamships and other vessel
was amended so as not to apply to the Califor
MIA steamers, and passed.
A long discussion was had on the bill rel
tive to the Alexandria Canal, authorizing tn
construction of a railroad bridge by the Cana
Company.
Messrs. Cameron and Sherman strenuousl,
opposed it as being in the interest of the Bal
timOre & Ohio railroad to control the South
ern as well Northern travel.
1t was amended so as to forbid exclusive
privilege to any company, and passed.
Mr.. Chandler called up the joint resolution
in relation to surveys and examinations of riy
ers and harbors, which passed.
Mr.. Wilson introduced the following Join
resolution, which passed:
Resolued, That the persons now holding civil
off ee in the provisional governments of Vir
GINA and Texas who cannot take and subscribe
to the oath prescribed by the act entitled "Ar
act to prescribe an oath of Office" and for 9th
er purposes, approved July q 1862, shall, Oh
the passage OF this resolution be removed there
from, aud it shall be the duty of the district
commander to fill the vacancies so created by
the appointment OF persons who can take said
oath. -
A committee of conference was appointed on
the bill to establish line of steamships be-
tween New York and Europe.
The House bill to protect the rights of actual
settlers upon public lands was passed as fol-
lows:
Be it enacted. etc. That in no case shall more
than three sections Of the public lands of the
United States be entered in any one township
by scrip issued to any State under the act OF
July z, 1867, for the establishment of an agri-
cultural college therein.
The Senate at IL o'clock went into executive
session.
The House met at 10 o'clock
Mr.. Hooper, from the Committee on WAYS
and Means, reported back the Senate bill To
provide for the further issue of temporary
loan certificates for the purpose of reducing
the remainder of the outstanding compound
Interest notes. Passed.
Mr.: Butler, from the Committee on Appro-
priations, reported bill appropriatng for
temporary clerks in the Indian Bureau 800
600, and in the State Department $4,000, and
Tor the expenses of the Surveyor Generals of
fee in Utah $4,000
After debate the bill passed.
The House then proceeded to the bpsiness
on the Speakers table, and disposed 6hereef as
follows: The Senate amendments to the House
bill to provide for the distribution of the re-
ward offered by the President for the capture
of JEFF Davis was non-concurred in and a
committee of conference asked.
The Senate amendments to the House bill
to provide for an American line of mail and
emigrant steamships between New York and
Europe were non -coneurred in and Commit
The Senate joint resolution granting per-
mission to officers and soldiers to wear the
army badge was passed ...t
The Senate amendments to the House bill
for exchange OF public documents with foreign
countries were concurred in.
Mr.. Banks, from the Conference Committee
on the Alaska bill, made report.
The preamble originally offered as an
amendment by Mr.. Longbridge, declaring the
right of the House to intervene in treaties is
fha foil ola
stituted:
And whereas said stipulations cannot be car
ried into full force aud effect except by legisa-
ton to which the consent Of both Houses Of
Congress is necessary.
After brief discussion Mr.. Paine moved to
lay the conference report on the table.
The motion was negatived-yeas 80, nays
80.
After noisy and excited discussion, in
which, however, nothing of any public inter
est was developed, the report of the Confer
ence Committee was agreed to-yeas 81, nays
90.
The Senate bill relating to punishment OF
certain crimes against the United States was
passed
The motion to reconsider the vote on taking
recess from Monday next, was called up by
Mr.. Washburne of ILL.,, and laid on the table
yeas 49, nays II.
This makes the action of the House yester-
day final
Mr.. Farnsworth made report from the
Conference Committee on the bill further to
amend the postal laws. Agreed to by 80 yeas
to 80 nays.
The Senate bill for the relief of contractors
for the construction of iron clads and machin-
cry was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr.. Washburne of Indiana, from the Com
mittee ON Military Affairs, reported bill re-
ducing the time when honorably discharged
soldiers can secure titles under the homestead
bill from five years to one year. which passed.
Mr.. Haughey introduced a joint resolution
placing the loyal citizens of Alabama on equal
terms with the citizens of other States accord
ing to the act of July 4, 1864, was referred to
the Committee on Claims.
Mr.. Sypher introduced bill to enforce the
third section of the fourteenth article of the
Constitutional amendment. Referred to the
judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Bingham, from the Reconstruction Com
nittee, reported a bill entitled an act to pro-
vide for the more speedy reorganization of the
States of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas, and
for other PURPOSES. -e.4... .-
The LIST section authorizes the Constitution
al Conventions of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas heretofore elected to exercise the follow
ing powers in addition to the powers now au-
thorized by law: To make removals and ap-
pointments OF all officers of the provisional
government; to authorize the provisional gov
ernments to remove and appoint registers and
judges of elections to be eligible to any cleo
tive office, and to organize and maintain a con-
stabulary force to preserve the peace and to aid
In the execution of the laws; to provide for
the reassembling of the Conventions and for
holding elections particularly on the ratifica-
ton. and to pass such ordinances not inconsis.
tent with the Constitution and laws of the
United States as they may deem necessary to
protect all persons therein in their lives, liber-
ty and property.
The I'd section provides that the ordinances
to he passed by such Conventions shall be en-
forced by the provisional governments until
disapproved by Congress, but not to be con-
strued into denial of jury trials for offences
against the laws of those STAGES.
The Sd section requires military command
ers to give aid in preserving the peace and en-
forcing the laws, and especially suppressing
unlawful distractions and forcible resistance
to the execution of the laws.
The 4th section provides for the reassemblns
of the Mississippi and Virginia Convention,
on the fourth Wednesday after the passage o.
this act, which shall proceed to frame Consti-
tutions and submit the same to the people.
The 9th section repeats all laws conflicting
with this act. e A.t .ta.-
The bill was originally presented by Mr.
Raum to the committee.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio offered an amend
ment making it penal offence, punishable
with tine and Imprisonment, for any person il
the said States TO vote or act as an officer oil
elections in the ensuing Presidential election
and making it the duty of the President t.
prohibit such thing.
The bill was then passed-yeas 1I2 nays 90
On motion of Mr.. Schenck, a Committee o
Conference was asked on the funding bill an(
Messrs Schenck, Logan and Boutwell, were
appointed.
Mr. Broomall of Penn, from the Committed
on Accounts, presented the report on an in
vestigation into the disbursement of the con
tIngent fund of the House.
The report shows that the charges on which
the investigation was ordered were entirel
unfounded, and that the number of House cru
ployees in the present Congress is only tn
same as the thirty-ffth Congress.
The report closed with resolution maxim,
changes in the issue OF stationery, &c.
In reply to question, Mr. Broomall said tn
examination did not show any improper con
duct on the part of the door keeper.
The report was accepted and the resolu !ior
adopted.
The Senate bill to establish a new land dis
tlict in Nebraska was passed. ..
The Speaker expressed the hope that me m
bers would attend all through tomorrow
session. in order that there might be quoru1
to act on the conference report on I'll
funding bill if the Senate should reciprocal
the request of the House for a Conferent
Committee which it has not yet done.
relating to the Alexandria canal were col
CURED in
Mr.. Hopkins, from the Committee on Publ
Lands, reported bill requiring the lands gran
ed TO and in the construction of railroads to
sold to actual settlers in quantities no create
than quarter of a section and at prices NJ
exceeding two dollars and fifty cents pt
acre.
After debate the House at 8 o'clock adiour1
ed until half-past 10 o'clock Tomorrow wbe
business on the speakers table is to be pr