The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-18

SENATE.

this kind shall prevent me from pursuing the
even tenor of my way, which is to compel a
reduction of the burdens of the public debt
and tighten the burdens which rests upon the
people.
Mr.. Wilson presented the credentials of Jo-
seph ID. Abbott, Senator elect from North Car
DINA.
Mr.. Sumner presented the credentials of
John Poole, Senator elect from the same
State.
Messrs. Abbott and Poole came forward and
took the oath.
MIR. Sumner, from the Committee On For
elgn Affairs, reported a bill making an appro-
Prlation OF money to carry out and affect a
treaty with Russia of March 20, 1867, with
amendments striking out the preamble and
declaration of rights of Congress.
On motion of Mr.. Cattell, the bill providing
Ior the issue OF per cent. certificates to the
amount OF $25O,0O0.000 for the purpose of re-
1rlng outstanding compound interest notes
was taken up.
The question was on Mr.. Trumbull's amend
ment to add section providing for the sale of
surplus gold in the Treasury. The amend
ment was reiected-19 to 81.
The bill was then passed without division.
Mr.. Trumbull presented the resolution of the
Louisiana Legislature ratifying the 14th Con-
stitutional amendment; also the credentials of
William Pitt Kellogg, Senator elect for the
long term, and j. L. Harris, Senator elect for
the short term, who were sworn in.
MI w llsOn reported his Dill Tor a reduction
to a military peace establishment from the
Committee on Military Affairs without amend
ment.
Mr.. Howard made lengthy report from the
JOINT committee on ordnance, with the testi-
mony taken before the committee when order
ed to be printed.
A new conference committee was appointed
on the bill to supply temporary vacancies in
the Executive Department.
MIR. Conness moved to take up the bill rela-
tive N the RIGHTS IF rio o;t;w -,
which was agreed to, when Mr.. Morrill, of Maine,
suggested the advisability of laying it aside in
formally in order to dispose OF the deficiency
appropriation bill, which he stated was the last
one OF that nature left for action. His sugges-
ton was acceded to and the deficiency bill was
read.
The question was on the amendment made
by the Committee on Appropriations.
=. Inc amendment striking out the appropria
ton of $4,000 for formal repairs to the Patent
once was agreed to. Other amendments were
agreed to striking out the appropriation for
surveys of the Usage Indian reservation of
$279,805, and of the Omaha and Wiunebapo
reservation of 1886, 262; striking out the ap-
preparation for bridge at Rock Island. III,
ana inserting an appropriation Of $15 900 for
printing the proceedings of the Senate in the
daily Globe; also one offered by Mr. Fessen-
den appropriating $4,000 for continuing the
grading and filling up of the Capitol grounds
committee OF conference was ordered on
Messrs Howe, Henderson and Morrill, of
Maine.
The consideration of the deficiency appro-
priation bill was resumed
The third section forbidding any contracts
for public building or improvement binding
the government to pay more than the sum ap-
propriated for the purpose, or the employment
OF any persons without prior appropriation
TO pay them, and Furnishing any government
ofhcers violating the provisions for misdemean-
mr. nf Mr hnr-
man-29 to 10.
An appropriation of $4,000 was made to pro-
vide for the detection of counterfeiters.
Mr. Chandler, from the Committee of Com
m M moved to insist on appropriation of
$1,0OO,OO0 for the preservation, repair and COM
pietlon OF certain public works on rivers and
harbors heretofore commenced, to be expend-
War
In reply to a question from Mr. CONFESS
Mr.. Chandler said this appropriation is to take
the place of the river and harbor bill, which
he deferred till the next session.
Mr. Morrill, of Maine pronounced the deter
mlnation Of the Committee on Commerce to
lay the river and harbor bilPover until the
next session a wise one in view of the present
state of the finances of the country. He
suggested striking out the words Heretofore
commenced" and leaving the choice of the
points for the expenditures to the Secretary OF
War.
Mr.. Chandler accepted the modification.
Several Western Senators opposed the
amendment, and advocated considering the
river and harbor bill, the discussion continu-
ing up to 445.
Mr.. Conkling made report from the COM
mlttee OF conference on the disagreements be-
tween the two houses ON the bill to supply va
cancies in the executive departments, which
was adopted.
The Senate then held short executive ses-
sion, and then took a recess until 7.30.
EVENING SESSION.
The House bill to pay Henry st. Marie
Si0OOO for his services in procuring the arrest
of Surratt was passed.
Mr.. Sumner called up the bill making APP
preparations for the purchase of Alaska, which
at the instance of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, was amended by striking out the
section giving the assent of Congress to the
stpulations of the treaty, and the preamble
claiming the joint power of the House with
the President and Senate to contract treaties
which was passed. sas
The following bills were passed: Authoriz-
ing the sale of the Arsenal property and
grounds at st. Louis and Liberty, Missouri
and donating certain portions thereof was
amended by provision for a monument to the
late Gen. Nathaniel Lyon; bill to aid in the
improvement of Rock Island and Des Moines
rapids in the Mississippi river; bill exemptine
certain United States vessels trading to Cana
da from tonnage fees.
Mr.. Harlan called up the bill in regard to the
rights of married women in the District Of
Columbia
As discussion seemed imminent it was suf-
fered to go over.
The deficiency appropriation bill was again
taken up. Fasss
Mr.. Howe moved to amend the proposition
OF the Committee of Commerce to appropriate
81 100000 for rivers and harbors by making
the appropriation 81, 100000 which was agreed
TO-
The question recurring on the amendment
as amended, Mr.. Harlan called for the yeas
and nays, urging the needs of navigation on
the Mississippi river.
After some discussion the amendment as
amended was agreed to.
Various amendments were agreed to.
A debate arose on the amendment appro
priating $172,S27 for feeding friendly Indians
1t was agreed to-30 to 3.
Several other amendments were offered and
rejected.
The bill passed. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Schenck, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported back the Senate funding
bill with amendments, and asked for its con.
sideration.
Mr.. Randall objected. and the bill was re-
ferred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Schenck moved to postpone all orders in
committee of the whole anterior to the fund
ing bill, saying he regarded the vote as test
question whether the tariff bill or the funding
SuOuiu nave preCeUeDCe.
Mr.. O'Neil sugg Asted the evening session
for the tariff bill unless the friends of the
funding bill should choose to give the tariff
bill preference.
Objection was made.
Mr.. Schenck's motion was agreed tO-yea:
30, nays SO.
On motion of Mr.. Dawes, the credentials O
four persons claiming to be Representative:
from Alabama were referred to the Committee
on Elections.
Mr.. Brooks suggested that the committee
inquire whether those persons were chosen at
regular election or at a mere primary meet
ing.
The House at 1910 went into committee OF
the whole on the funding bill, Nh. Pomeroy in
the chair.
The bill having been read, the amendments
proposed Dy the Committee on Ways an6
Means were considered.
A long debate ensued, participated in by
Messrs Brooks, Schenck, Stevens and others
On closing the debate on the BILL Mr.. Brook,
thought the bill involving four billions of dol
lars ought to have more time than half al
hour, which had been suggested, but tn
House by 20 to 68 restricted the time to thirty
minutes.
The committee rising informally, the Hous
received a message from the Senate wit
aments to the Indian appropriation bill.
These were non-coneurred in and commi
tee of conference, consisting of Messrs. Butte
Window and Brooks, appointed.
The consideration of the funding bill was
sumed in committee. The first amendmel
was agreed to with a modification that IL
bonds shall be in denominations OF $50 or son
multiple thereof.
Mr.. Ross moved to amend the second amen
ment by reducing the rate of interest to p'
centum. Rejected.
Mr.. Hubbard, of West Virginia, moved
amend the portion proposed to be struck o