The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-09
XLth OONaRKss-seoond Session

..#H b. SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March Mr.. Sumner auf
oeners Presented petitions for removal of pc
| litical disa bilities. A T. .N ~ ~ ArA
Mr.. Morrill, called up the pension appropri
alton bill. Considerable debate ensued or
the amendment offered by the Committee OF
| Appropriations for striking ont the provision
for conveying into the Treasury one-half O
the amount received as the proceeds Of prizes
the interest of which is to constitute a pen
sion fund. A difference of opinion turned or
the propriety of the fund separate. T
Mr.. Sherman offered substitute the fol
lowing: The interest on the fund known al
the naval pension fund, shall hereafter be al
the rate OF three per cent. per annum in law
full money, and shall be applied exclusively to
the payment of naval pensions according to
After debate, Mr. Sherman's amendmept
was agreed to. --z- :
Mr. Morrill, called up the bill making appro-
prlatlons For consular and diplomatic expenses
OF the government. The question was on
agreeing to the amendments of the Commit.
tee on Appropriations to the bill as passed by
the House. The amendment striking out an
appropriation for salary of the Minister to
Portugal having been read, Mr.. Fessenden
ASKED why the appropriation was stricken out?
MI morrill, OF Maine said the Committee
had followed the bill of last year. lg.r s
The Usual prolonged debate in reference to
MIR. Harvey ensued, and finally, at 4 o'clock
Mr.. Upton saying it was evident there was no
quorum, moved to adjourn, and the Senate
adjourned. ' -
me House met for general debate as in
committee of the whole.
Mr. Clarke of Kansas addressed the House
on the finance question
Mr.. Blaine spoke on the same subject saw
ing both bonds and greenbacks were equally
oongauons OF the government to pay in spe-
Gle, and that as to paying of the five twenties
VI m ri npadf ,r. 4
luded themselves and invoked most destruc-
tive consequences to all parties. #
Mr.: Broomall made an argument in favor OF
additional protection to home industry and
reduction of imports. B Pa ~
MIR. Holman next addressed the House on
the subject OF the public debt and mode of ex-
tinguishing it.
Mr.. Blaine, referring to the remark in favor
OF MI Logan's proposition to tax United
states bonds two per cent, asked Mr.. Holman
whether he would vote for such proposition,
Mr.. Holman said be would -.
Mr. Blame asked him whether the Demo-
cratic side of the House would vote tor il with
anything like unanimity.
Mr.. Holman said the subject had never been
matter OF consultation among the opposition
members. -
MIR. Blaine desired either Mr.. Logan or Mr..
Holman to inform him whether the property
OF the country was on a fair valuation and
looked anything like two per cent. ,
Mr.. Logan said the average of the aggrec gate
taxation was little over two and one eighth
Mr.. Blaine said that the city OF New York
paid on basis OF S700,OO0,0OO for personal and
real estate. There was not doubt that the
personal property alone in the city would
amount to 81 200 100000, to say nothing of the
value of real estate. n
Mr.. Lynch addressed the House on the aues-
ton OF currency ard finances of the country
and explained and advocated two bills on the
subject which he had introduced at the com
mencement of the session, and which had then
and Currency. Some of their features had
been incorporated in the Senate funding bill
and in the bill introduced by Mr.. Butler, but
he preferred that the bills should be passed
substantially as they were. He was not in
favor OF the payment OF the national by the
present generation, but Of a resort to such
measures as would facilitate and exp ,dite the
resumption of specie payment.
The House, at o'clock, adjourned.