The Portland daily press., 1868-07-01
XLth OoEaRpss-seoond Session


MIR. Howe also presented the credentials o
Thomas W. Osborn, elected by the Legislature
Florida to the United States Senate to thu
term expiring March 4. 1873 Mr.. Howe asked
that the Senator elect be sworn in, and thu
chair replied that il there was no objection thu
Senator elect would come forward.
A long debate arose on the propriety of ad.
uniting Mr.. Osborne to his seat.
Mr.. Fessenden suggested that the credentials
be referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Messrs. Drake, Howard, Sumner and other,
took like ground, while Ferry, Howe, Morton
and Trumbull were in faver of Osborne's i'm.
mediate admission.
Mr.. Conkling suggested deferring the matter
till tomorrow.
Finally the motion to refer the credentialst @
the Judiciary Committee was rejected-16 to
30.
After long discussion on the points raised
the Senate voted SO to that the Senator elect
be sworn in and take his seat which was done
Mr.. Ramsey introduced a bill in relation to
the transportation of United States mails by
Railroad Companies. Referred to Committee
on Post Offices.
The civil appropriation bill was then taken
up, and several unimportant amendments
adopted.
Mr.. Sherman at this point offered his bill
from the Finance Committee known as the
Funding bill as rider to the bill, in form
OF an additional act.
E1r Morrill, of Maine, raised a point of order
that 1T was not germane on an appropriation
bin.
Mr.. Pomeroy in the chair said there was no
specific rule of the Senate on the subject, but
such amendments were not in harmony with
sound parliamentary laws. He would however
submit it to the Senate. He then stated the
question.
Mr. Sherman contended that the ordinary
narllamantarv layU fbo rnla Of fho
We're not involved in this question, but the
rules of the Senate, he claimed never attempt
ed to place any such limit upon amendments,
and he pointed out several instances in which
amendments not germane to bill, had yet been
placed upon 1t, and were it not for strong con-
siderations urging the passage of this measure
he would not press it now.
Mr. Hendricks, too, held that this was a mat
ter entirely within the discretion OF the SEN
ate.
Mr. Conklng submitted that such practice
ought not to prevail under it, or any other bill
before the Senate or it might be tackled to an
appropriation bill. He might tomorrow, for
example, move to tack on bill for the extern
sion of patent.
The President pro tenn having resumed the
chair, Mr. Pomeroy thought the Senate had
never gone so far as this proposition would
carry it. 1t would be violating seriously the
rules of parliamentary law. He would vote
at the proper time for the Funding bill.
sent squarely to the Senate whether it would
adjourn without acting on the question of fund.
ing question of Importance, and even vital
in his opinion. He contended again that there
was sufficient precedent for the action proposed
A loan bill was attached to an augmentation
bill during the Mexican war.
Mr.. Williams hoped this great and import
ant subject would not be set aside on a mere
point of order 1t would be sacrificing the in
teTests of the country to a matter of form.
Mr. Conkling reminded the Senate that the
Funding bill could not be acted upon by itself
The House concurrent resolution to adjourn
without day on the 18th July came over from
the House.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner it was laid on the
table for the present.
Without action on Mr. Sherman's amend
ment The Senate went into executive session
and after some time adjourned.
House. Mr.. Boutwell, presented an order to
have printed the bill which he gave notice he
would offer as substitute for the bill to be
reported by the Committee on Ways and
Means under the resolution adopted yesterday.
for taxing the interest on the United States
bonds 10 per cent. 1t proposes to authorize
the issue of new bonds to the amount of $780,
600, 600, payable principal and interest in coin.
TO bear interest at the rate of 81 per cent. and
to be valid only when in the hands of citizens
of the United States there to be exchanged
for fve.twenty bonds; also to issue $500 000,-
600 of per cent. bonds. payable principal and
interest in coin, either in the United States or
at Frankfort, or London, without taxation or
abatement of any kind these to be exchange
BILE for fve-twenty bonds before July LIST 1869;
also to use twenty five millions of coin now in
the treasury in purchase of five-twenty bonds
at the market price, to be used as a sinking
fund, and interest on them to be applied to re-
deeming other bends.
On motion of Mr.. Getz the Committee on
Ways and Means were instructed to enquire
into the expediency of reducing this expenses
of collecting the internal revenue by abolish
ing the offices of Collectors, Assessors, &c. and
assessing the amount of direct taxes required
upon the several States in proportion to their
taxable population and report at the next ses-
sion.
Mr. Washburn said he desired to offer res
olution for adjournment of the two houses on
the 10Th of July.
Mr.. Maynard objected.
MIR. Stevens of Penn, presented the creden-
tails of Chas. M. Hamilton, representative
elect from Florida, and asked that he be sworn
in.
Mr.. Maynard moved that the credentials take
the usual course and be referred to the Com
mittee on Elections. They were so referred.
directing that in all cases where private SOL
diers served out their term of enlistment and
were honorably discharged, the Secretary of
War shall on application remove any charge of
desertion that may stand on the rolls against
them, except where they have been convicted
for desertion by Court Martial Referred to
Committee on Military Affairs.
The House then resumed the consideration
of the River and Harbor bill and proceeded to
vote on the various items contained in it.
Mr.. Washburne. of Illinois, demanded the
yeas and nays on the item approprating $780,
900 for White River Harbor, Michigan.
Mr.. Ferry remarked that the Board of Trade,
Chicago, had urged the Importance of that
work; the item was agreed to-yeas SO; nays
As.
A separate vote was taken on the item Of
$25O00 for Pentwater Harbor, Michigan. The
item was agreed to.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, demanded a
separate vote on the item of S105000 for Ten
nessee River. The item was agreed to.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, moved to lay
the bill on the table remarking that twas big
elephant.
Mr.. Paine remarked that it was no larger
than the appropriation made for Pennsylvania
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, suggested that
the motion be withdrawn until after all the
other items were voted on.
Mr.. Stew ems acted on the suggestion and
withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Getz called for separate vote ON the item
of 100000 for Desmoines Rapids.
Mr.. Washburne of Illinois, desired to offer
an amendment reducing the item to $500 900,
but was informed by the Speaker that under
the previous question amendments could notbe
offered. 1.-The item of 100000 was voted in
yeas 70; nays 81.
separate vote was taken on the item of
$4,000 for the survey of the North Western
Lakes and the item was voted in.
Mr. Washburne OF Illinois, called for a vote
on the section appropridting S450,OOO for the
Louisville and Portland Canal The section
was voted in.
The items having been all voted on, Mr.
Stevens moved to lay the bill on the table, but
it was rejected yeas 81; nays 81. The bill then
passed 80 to SO.
The House then passed the joint resolution
after long debate and Intellectual effort tt
amend, looking to adjournment on the 18th o
July. The vote stood 81 IL AZ.
Mr.. Niblack offered the following resolu
tion
ResolUed, As the seLse of this House tina
the present session of this Congress ought no
to be adjourned until some more thorough ant
efficient provision be made by law for the pro
lection of American citizens, both native ant
adopted, while travelling or temporarily resid
ing abroad.
The resolution was agreed to without d.
vision.
The House proceeded at o'clock to the bus
mess OF the morning hour, it being the call @
the judiciary Committee for reports.
Mr.. Eldrldge, from the Judici Try Committee
reported bill to authorize the Chairman o
Assistant Chairman of tho Committees O
either House to administer the oaths to claim
ants. Passed.
Mr. Woodbridge reported bill explanatory c
an act declaring title to land warrants in Gel
tain cases. Passed.
tee, reported bill regulating the proceeding i
certain cases for the protection of officers an