The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-17
XLth OONGREss-seoond Session.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON, March 16.-The Senate insist
ed on the amendment to the bill to facilitate
the payment of soldiers bounties, which was
disagreed to by the House.
On motion of Mr. Morrill, of Maine the SEN
ate also insisted on the amendment to the
pension bill, which was disagreed TO by the
House.
Mr.. Cattell, from the Committee on Finance,
reported the bill amendatory to the National
Currency act of June 80, 1868.
1t provides that it shall be unlawful for Ma
tional banks located in the cities of Boston,
New York, Philadelphia, or any of the cities
named in Section 3lst of said act, to pay in
terest on the balances of any other National
banks, or to offer any inducement other than
prompt and correct transaction of business in
order to secure such deposit, under penal
OF having their affairs wound up by The Comp
troller OF the Currency, according to the pro-
visions of Section 50th of the act above men,
toned.
1t further provides that every National bank
selected as a depository of public moneys shall
deposit United States bonds with the Treas
urer OF the United States security for de-
posits, and when the public moneys SO depos
tied shall exceed so per centum par value of
the bonds held by the Treasurer as security It
shall be his duty to reduce the amount of lid
deposits to an amount not exceeding 80 per
centum of their bonds. Offering or receiving
money or valuable considerations of any kind
as an inducement to retain or allow to Oe re-
taiued deposits of public money, is to be pun
lshed by fine of not less than $1,000 or i'm
prisonment for not less than one year. or BOTH
in the discretion of the court
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported back the House bill to exempt
certain manufactures from Internal tax, with
an amendment retaining the tax on turpen-
tlne coffee, roasted or ground, and all articles
intended as substitutes for coffee, on spices,
tard, refined sugar and product of sugar re-
hnei1es, on sugar candy and con ection-
cry, on diamonds, emeralds, precious stones
and limitations thereof, and all iewelry. The
bill leaves the tax on lucifer or friction match
es and all other stamp duties unchanged. He
gave notice that he would call it up to-mor-
row.
The Chair laid before the Senate petition
from the Constitutional Convention of South
Carolina, praying for the repeal of the duty on
rice; also communication from the Conven-
ton of Georgia, asking an appropriation of
100000 for the repair and construction of GER
tain roads,
Mr. Edmunds offered an order providing
that the minutes of the proceedings of the
secret session during the trial of impeachment
be furnished reporters. Objection was made
and it went over.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported favorably with amend
ments in relation TO testimony in courts of
claips.
Mr.. Fowler introduced bill to provide for
the survey OF the Mississippi River. Referred
to the Committee on Territories.
1t requires the Chief Engineer of the army
TO have made complete surveys of the Missis-
sppl River, from Cape Girardeu to its mouth
to determine and locate proper levees.
Inc Senate took up the bill relating to the
Central Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. johnson advocated the bill at length
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont offered verbal
amendment, the effect of which would be TO
provide that no subsidy of nited States bonds
shall be allowed this branch beyond the hun
dred miles on which bonds are already to be
issued
Mr. Morrill, moved to postpone the bill for
the purpose of taking up the Post Office APP
preparation bill. Not agreed toll TO %.
Mr.. Conklin made lengthy speech in oppo.
sition to the bill. He argued that the line in
question was not necessary to form connec-
tions, and that Congress was not obliged tc
subsidize roads calculated to gridiron the en-
tire West
When Mr.. Conklin had concluded his re.
marks, the Chair announced as the Conference
Committee on the part of the House, Messrs
Grimes, Conklin and Morrill, of Vermon mt; alsC
on the bill in relation to bounties, Messrs
Wilson, Howard and Thayer
MIR. Ponery renlied briefly to Mr. Conk lin
and was succeeded by Mr.. Howard who spoke
In favor of the bill.
After further discussion by Mr.. Edmund
and others, 1t being evident no vote would b,
Reached to-day, the Senate at 43O went int,
executive session and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bills and resolutions were introduced by MI
Washburn OF Indiana, repeating SO much o
the law OF July 23l 1866, which fixes the num
Der of judges of the United States Sunrem
Court as provides that no vacancy in fine offic
of Associate Justice of the Supreme Cour
shall be filled by appointment until the MN
Der of Associate Justices shall be reduced +
six Referred to judiciary Committee. By MI
Pike, TO promote American commerce. Retel
red to Committee on Commerce. First sectio
provides tonnage tax imposed by section Il
act of July IA 1862, increasing temperate
duties on imports and for other purpo ses, sha
be collected only from vessels arriving fro1
foreign ports. Second section provides IL
drawbacks GU ship builders material Thir
section repeats first section, act of July
1867, for collection of revenue upon northern
northeastern and northwestern frontiers. At
secIon provides that United States vesse
Oh Iess IMAM twenty tons burden shall not
emo lea put shall be licensed
M. Moss offered preamble and sixteen re-
oIIutions yindlcating Congress against varior
charges, declaring among other things that
is opposed to large standing army III,
speculation and frauds on the treasury sbouI
be stopped that each State shall rao1;la+a 81,
fTage within its own limits that no Goyar,
ment bonds shall be issued that are not Sni
iect to some rate of taxation as other nroner,
and that national bank notes shall he Wit
drawn and legal tender notes substitute" ~
The House refused to second the previo,
question, moved by Mr.. Ross, and refused
yeas and Nays to 1870 lay the resol
tons on the table, and on motion of Mr.. As
ley Of Ohio, the resolutions were referred
the Judiciary Committee.
The House resumed consideration OF the
appropriating fifteen thousand dollars to
Gen. Anderson,