The Portland daily press., 1868-06-17
XLth CONGRESSIONAL Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, June 16.-Mr. Stewart called
up the bill from the House to relieve disabili-
ties OF certain citizens in North Carolina.
MIR. DOolittle moved to insert the names of
Joseph w. Terrell and Joseph Kenor of Web
ster, jackson county, North Carolina.
After debate il was rejected, % to 12-Messrs
Cole, Ferry, Henderson. Sprague and Van
Wrinkle voting with the Democrats.
Mr.. Hendricks moved to insert the name of
George w. Jones, of Tennessee.
Mr. Hendricks amendment was adopted
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill to promote
commerce among the several States, and
cheaper transportation of the mails and naval
and military stores. He moved to refer it to
select committee of seven to report early next
session, saying 1T proposes the construction of
several railroads running in different direc-
tions from Washington. Agreed to.
After debate the bill was passed by party
vote OF 30 to 6, except that Messrs. Fowler and
ade voted no, with the Democrats, and
voted aye. -
at the instance of Mr.. johnson he was ex-
cused from serving on the committee to intro
duce the Chinese Embassy
Inc Chair appointed as the select committee
OF seven called for on Mr. Sherman's bill.
Messrs. Sherman, Sumner, Chandler, Pome-
roy, Stewart, Buckalew and Vickers.
. Inc Dill provides for the separate incorpora-
ton OF the Washington and New York rail-
road, the Washington and Cleveland railroad
SN .0hoSiaPu Coupduy, une w aSllngC0n and
cincinnati railroad and telegraph company
The list of incorporators of the latter road is
changed from that already published by the
omission OF a number of names and the sub
Stitutlon of those of Jay Cooke, George W.
Riggs and others in their stead.
AT few minutes past the pending bill in
regard to national currency was again taken
up. The question was on the amendment of
Mr.. Davis, proposing to withdraw pro rata
amount from the States having an excess OF
oil
Ihose requiring it to place them on an equal
footing with the former,
AFTER discussion, Mr.. Davis, at the sugges-
ton OF Mr. Conkling, modified his amendment
Dy specifying the amount of withdrawal from
an excess of $2,000,000.
The debate was continued, during which Mr.
Hendricks urged the impolicy of contraction
arguing that the business OF the country rath-
er called for an expansion. He questioned the
Propr1ety OF speedy return to specie payment
Inc cry Tor 1t was myth and humbug. 1t
would Lot last six months if it were resumed ::
unti mechanical and agricultural prosperity
mad putt up foreign balances in our favor, it
was IDLE to talk about specie payment.
flnally Mr. Davis amendment as modified
was adopted, 26 to 49,
Mr.. Sherman said the Senate having decid-
ed to prohibit any increase of bank circulation
except Withdrawing it from three or four New
England States, he had carefully prepared an
amendment in lieu of that of the Senator from
Kentucky (Mr: Davis, which was not, in his
opinion, properly framed, and which he hoped
the Senator would withdraw for such purpose
lie read his substitute and continued, saying
that while he was glad the Senate had decided
TO Withdraw small per centage of the bank
circulation from the East he could assure them
that II they adjourned without giving an in
crease to the West and South it would give
rise to wide spirit of dissatisfaction. If his
amendment was adopted those States having
none now would have local circulation by
slow and gradual process. II, according to the
Comptroller of the Currency we were to dis
tribute the circulation one half according to
the business requirements, the result would be
that New York would be found to have no
more than its proportion, and the only States
erected would probably be Massachusetts,,
Connecticut, Rhode Island and possibly Mary
land and Vermont; certainly not more than
SIX or seven States would be called upon to
furnish a cent.
Mr.. Chandler moved to lay the bill on the
table in order, he said, to avoid three or four
days discussion. Rejected, q to %.
Mr.. Chandler then moved to strike out the
first section of the bill, and proceeded to argue
that injustice would be done to the country
banks by forbidding them thus to employ their
surplus capital to advantage.
Mr.. Cattell defended the section, insisting
that it is illegimate banking to pay interest on
the balances of another bank, pointing out
that the Bank of Commerce of New York has
refused to do such business, and that the best
bankers are opposed to it. He quoted the opin-
ion of the Comptroller of the Currency to the
same effect.
Mr.. Chandler rose to reply, but motion to
adjourn prevailed despite the protest of Mr..
Sherman. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Dawes called up the Senate amendment
to the House bill removing all legal and polit-
ical disabilities from Roderck r. Butler mem
Der of Congress elect from Tennessee and per-
uniting the ordinary oath to be administered
to him instead of the test oath.
Mr.. Mullins spoke against and Mr.. Stokes in
support of it,
Considerable debate ensued, and the Senate
amendment was concurred in by the neces-
sary two thirds votes-yeas 9S nays q.
Mr. Bingham moved privileged motion
that message be sent to the Senate request
ing the return of the joint resolution in refer
ence to the twenty per cent. additional COM
pensation to civil employees in Washington,
Mr.. Washburne, of Indiana, moved to lay
the motion on the table.
Mr.. Randall moved to lay the motion to re-
consider on the table.
After several dlatory motions the motion
was agreed to.
The House proceeded as business of the
morning hour to consideration of reports from
the Committee on the District of Columbia.
Mr.. IngersOll reported a bill in relation to
the Alexandria Canal Company and the Aque-
duct bridge across the Potomac river at
Georgetown. After considerable discussion it
passed.
The House, at half-past two, proceeded to
consider the bill reported by the Committee on
Commerce, making appropriations for the re-
pairs of certain public works.
Mr.. Eliot made few minutes speech in de :
fence of the general principles of the bill.
Mr.. Washburne of Illinois moved to strike
out the paragraph appropriating $1,000 for the
improvement of Wisconsin river, and argued
that that river could not be made navigabe to
steamships under cost of $3,000000 In fact
the project of making it navigable had been
practically abandoned several years ago.
A lengthy debate followed. during which
Mr.. Eliot defended the special item under de-
bate and the general principles of the bill
The abandonment of the system of interna
improvements he regarded as the most disas-
trous policy that could be pursued. The OBJ
iect of this particular item was to open a wa
ter communication between Green Bay and
the Mississippi river by way of Fox river and
Wisconsin river.
Mr.. Butler argued that the financial cond-
ton of the government didn't warrant the
making of such experiments. He might as
well ask one of the mill owners of Massachu-
sets, whose mill was mortgaged, and who was
not able to meet the responsibility, to go into
great experiment of improving his property
and rendering it more productive He asked
his friends from the Northwes st whether thew
would rather have their river improved now
and have the broad charge of eXtravagonce
made upon the party this year on which the
power of the government would be taken out
of their hands.
Mr. Banks argued that the proposition to
improve Wisconsin river was not an expert
ment. He had seen the experiment tried with
success. He had no doubt that the Wisconsin
river could be made navigable.
Mr.. Washburne withdrew his motion to
strike out the item for the Wisconsin river
with the understanding that the vote might be
had on each item in the bill
The House proceeded to consider the other
items in the bill
The item for the improvement of Milwaukee
harbor was increased to $4,000; that for Ra-
cine karbor to $4,000, and that for Kenosha to
$4,000
Mr.. Spalding moved to appropriate $4,000
tor increasing the capacity of the ship canal of
Sault st. Marie. He did so, he said, in obedi
ence to instructions of his constituents
Aiter discussion by Messrs. Scofeld, Pruyn
Blair OF Michigan and briggs, without dispos-
ing OF the question, Mr. Delano moved to re.
commit the bill, with instructions to the COM
mlttee to report substitute. appropriating
100000 for the improvements al harbors on
the Northern lakes and for ST Clair flats
$150,000 for the improvement of coast barhors,
$13500000 for the improvement Of r;vers in
Guiding Des Mones, Rock Island Ranids md
Hell Gate in East river, New York, The WIS.
consin and Patapsco rivers; $4,000 to eomnIato
reports, maps and diagrams of bridges on tho
Mississippi river, and $1,000 for the purcba 90
and repair of instruments.
Mr. Eliot opposed the motion.