The Portland daily press., 1868-01-15
xLsh ooNaRssg-scoond Session.


/ WASHINGTON. Jan. l4.-The Chair laid be-
fore the Senate the Commissioner OF Patents
annual report Ordered to lie printed.
Mr.. Wilson presented apetition of citizens
H ot Alabama, praying for the removal of GER
tain disabilities. Referred to the Judiciary
| Committee.
MIR. Stewart from the Judiciary Committee
reported bill for the. relief of Gov. Patton of
| Alabama. Laid over
! Mr.. Cole introduced bill for the better Sc
| curity of the lives of passengers on steamers.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Also, to reduce the number of Major and
Brigadier Generals in the army Referred to
the Committee Oh Military Affars.
The JOINT resolution offered yesterday by
MIR. Wilson, suspendng the further appoint
ment OF second lieutenanfs except graduates
| OF the Military Academy, was reported back
| from the Committee on Military Affairs with
out anne ndment.
| Mr.. Sherman reported back from the Com.
| mittee on Commerce the House resolution pro-
| viding for the appointment of a commission OF
| five to examine and report on meters for dis
titled spirits, with an amendment adding to
| the members of said commission the existing
commission of the Academy of Science.
| Mr.. Sherman called up the special order,
viz, the bill to prevent further contraction of
the currency. 4a
Mr.. Buckalew's amendment limiting the op-
Grafton Of the bill to the LIST of July next was
lost.
MIR. Drake moved to amend by providing for
the repeal of the law allowing a contraction
Ruled out of order, having been previously
voted down.
Mr.. Corbett moved to amend by adding the
following provls0: provided that nothing in
this act shall be SO construed as to preveat the
Secretary of the Treasury from substituting
notes payable in gold on demand in place of
an equal amount of legal tender notes in such
manner and at such times as he deems for The
public interest" Lost, by vote of 40 to /.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Mccarthy asked leave to offer resolu-
ton declaring that the right of expatriation
has always been the doctrine of the people
and government of the United States
Mr. Dawes objected to the Offering of the
resolution, and remarked the House had had
enough of that Fenan business.
Mr.. Cary said if he had been pres ent yester-
day when the vote was taken ON the passage
OF the Judiciary bill he would have voted in
the negative, and Mr. Blaine said he would
have voted in the affirmative. U4E
MIR. Schenck from the Committee on WAYS
and Means reported back the Senate amend
ment providing for the exemption of cotton
from internal revenue tax, with the RECON-
mendation that they be non-concurre,l in.
He said the Committee thought that the bill
as amended was worse than no repeal at ALL
| Mr.. Stevens thought the bill was RIGHT now.
1t was enough for Congress to fix the matter
for this year, and let the next Congress dis
pose of it afterwards. For his own part he
did not believe in the repeal of the cotton tax
at oil, but IT it was to be repealed it should be
only temporary. 1.1
Mr.. Washburne of Illinois, from the COM
mlttee on Appropriations, reported back the
Dill providing that no money shall be hefeaf-
ter paid on account of seizure or impressment
OF or Tor damages for detention of land or wa
ter conveyances in the insurrectionary States,
beyond thu tariff OF prices fixed by the Quar-
termaster General.
On the suggestion of Mr. Holman, the con.
sideration OF the bill was postponed to next
Friday.
Mr. Julian, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported a bill to prevent the further
sale OF public lands, except under the pre-
emption and homestead laws, and the laws Tor
dlsposing of town cites and mineral lands.
Postponed for two weeks. a Hal- hsa.af
| A large number of bills, mostly Of a local
interest, We're presented and REFEREED
The Speaker presented Executive commu-
nlcatlons which were appropriately referred.
MI banks presented a communication from
the Department Of State, stating that pursu-
ant to the stipulations of the treaty with
Japan of October q, 1854, this government
has received as its share of the indemnity
stipulated by that treaty 100000, which
amount had been invested in United States
| registered bonds, and now awaits such DISPOSE
ton as Congress might direct. Referred to
| the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The Speaker presented message from the
President transmitting communications from
INC ocoIctdry Vi war uU LlLeTtnl, With a re-
| port in reference to contracts for ordnance.
| &c. Referred to the Committee on Ordnance
| Also, message from the President trans
hitting the report of the Commissioners to
make treaty with the Indians. Referred to
the Committee on Indian Affails.
The Speaker also presented a communica-
ton from the General of the army, with tel
egram from Major Gen. Meade, Commanding
the Sd district, as follows: =
Unless the pending bill in Congress direct
ing military commanders to fill the offices in
the States under their commands rescinds the
test oath in the provisions to select qualified
voters, am informed its execution in this
district will be entirely impracticable," :
Mr.. Brooks inquired how that communica-
ton had come before the House. Z. s
The Speaker said that it was sent by the
General of the army.
Mr. Brooks characterized it as a novelty in
legislation for the head of the army to trans
init dispatch for the purpose of influencing
the action OF the House, .Fs.--rs ~ =
| The communication was referred to the
Committee on Reconstruction. 1858 E4
Mr.. Ashley gave notice of an amendment to
the reconstruction billlauthorizing State Con-
ventions to enfranchise citizens now tlisfran-
chised who may cooperate with loyal men in
restoring their States to their constitutional
relations with thu government.
The House at o'clock adjourned -