The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-04-07
XLIst OONGRESS-First Session.


WASHINGTON, April 6-Mr. Fessenden, from
the Committee on Appropriations, reported
the Deficiency Appropriation bill with amend
ments.
Mr.. Cragin, from the special committee,
made report in regard to the mode of APP
pointment and the rate of compensation of the
employees OF the Senate, recommending re-
trenchment chiefly by the unemployment of
extra officers and assistants, and suggesting
that Senators should aid in the work by re-
framing from urging the Sergeant-at-Arms to
employ their friends when he has no need for
their services. The report shows the official
expenses OF the Senators per capita are about
three times as much as those of the members
of the House.
Mr. Ramsey, chairman of the Committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads. presented com
munication from the Postmaster General in
relation to cheap ocean postage.
Mr.. Sumner said there was movement on
foot in England to secure penny ocean postage
and expressed the opinion that if our postal
department should give us three cent ocean
postage it would be great thing to accom-
plish.
AZ the expiration of the morning hour the
Joint resolution to protect the interests Of the
United States in the Union Pacific Railroad
came I'D.
Mr. Stewart continued his remarks.
Mr. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported back without amendment the
bill authorizing payment to be made for GER
tain services rendered to the United States in
the late insurrectionary States. 1t authorizes
the heads of the several Executive Depart
ments to pay to officers and employees of the
United States who failed to take the oath pre-
seribed by the act of July I'd, 1862, such sums
of money as may be found due them for ser
vices heretofore actually rendered, provided it
shall be made to appear that said oath was du-
ly taken after the rendition of such services, or
the person claiming the same shall take or file
with the account the oath prescribed by the
act of Aug. 6, 1861; but in cases of death be-
fore the enactment of this bill, such oath or af-
frmation may be waived.
Mr.. Patterson introduced bill to reorgan-
ize the clerical force of the Interior Depart
meet, and for other purposes Referred to the
Joint Committee on Retrenchment.
Mr.. Morton offered resolution directing the
Secretary of the Senate to pay Senators from
the reconstructed States from the commence
ment of the second session of the Fortieth
Congress. Laid on the table.
The expiration of the morning hour brought
up as unfinished business the joint resolution
to protect the interests Of the United States in
the Union Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada spoke at length
against the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and
Credit Mobilier and in favor of the Central Pa
cifc Railroad.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Sherman
yesterday was modified at the suggestion of
Mr.. Williams, SO as to direct the President to
fix the point of junction according to the legal
rights of the respective roads, and it was adopt
ed-yeas SO, nays g.
The latter were Messrs Davis, Howard, Nc
Donald, Morton, Nye and Osborne.
Mr. Morton offered an amendment direct
ing the Attorney General; First, To investigate
whether or not the charter and all the fran
chises of the Union Pacific Railroad and its
branches had not been forfeited, and to exc
cute all necessary legal proceedings it they
have. Second, To investigate whether said
Company has not made Illegal dividends upon
its stock, and if so to execute the necessary le-
gal proceedings to have the same reimbursed !;
and Third, To investigate whether any Of the
Directors or agents or employees OF the Com
pany have or have not violated any general
law, and if SO to institute the proper criminal
proceedings against all of them who had done
so Agreed to.
Mr. Howard then moved to strike out por-
ton OF the amendment and insert his amend
who shall constitute the Board of Commission
ers to be Gems. Sheridan, Thomas, Mcdowell,
Halleck, Cain and Candy, and directing them
to fix the point of junction on the line, to be
approved by the Secretary of tle Interior"
Mr.. Nye opposed the amendment and de-
clared himself opposed to any legislation tax
ing this matter out of the hands of officers to
whom the law originally committed it, the
Secretary of the Interior Nobody except abe
Union Pacific Company complained OF the ac-
ton in the matter, and the secret of the whole
struggle on their part was that they wanted to
get possession of Ogden the meeting point or
junction of the two roads, and keep the Cen
trail Company from enjoying any of the advan-
tages that it would derive from having its
eastern terminus at that point.
Mr.. Conkling said he wouldn't vote for the
second section of this bill in any of the pro-
posed forms; nor would he allow any such leg
islation for or against any corporation or indi-
yidual without earnestly protesting against it.
A melton for a recess from 430 till was
carried, and at 3.55 the Senate went into Ex-
ecutive session.
EVENING SESSION.
The Joint resolution extending the time fol
the completion of the Portage and Lake Supe-
rior ship canal was passed.
The iOlnt resolution to authorize the impOr
tation free of duty of works of art intended fol-
free exhibition was indefinitely postponed.
The bill to extend the time for the construc-
ton of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Rail
road was passed.
The bill to remove political disabilities from
certain persons named therein was passed.
The consideration of the joint resolution tC
protect the interests of the United States in
the Pacific Railroad was resumed.
Mr. Sherman offered an amendment to the
pending amendment of Mr.. Howard, modify
ing it so as to authorize the President to ap
point board of commissioners simply to ex-
anime and report upon the condition of the
Pacific Railroads; but to do nothing to fix the
point of junction.
Mr.. Howard declined to accept the amend
ment, because his object was to settle the point
of junction by legislation.
Mr.. Wilson said the five Directors appointed
to take care of the interests of the United
States were unanimous in urging action upor
the bill He believed those gentlemen knew
what the interests of the country in the matter
were, and that the Senate ought to act withou
further delay.
Mr.. Sherman advocated his amendment.
Mr.. Nye followed in a general attack upoI
the management of the Union Pacific Rail
road.
At 1920 the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House proceeded to consider the bill
providing for taking the ninth and subsequent
Mr. Garfield took the floor to explain and
advocate the bill.
After a long debate, Mr.. Jenckes moved t.
strike out everything relating to subsequsn
censuses. He said that the bill ought to b
temporary, and that matters 70 % supelseu e'
by the bill should be reported and acted upel
at the next session. Agreed to.
Mr.. Jenckes moved to make the salary .
the Superintendent $4,000 instead OF $4ooV'-
Rejected.
MIR. Jenckes moved an amendment so as t.
make the appointment of subordinate ofncer
to De on nomination of the Superintendent
Agreed to.
Mr.. Garfield, on behalf of the committee
moved to amend by requiring the census to b.
taken on the LIST of June, 1870.
Mr.. ALLISON supp orted the amendment, ant
argued that from various causes the LIST of Jun,
was preferable to the LIST of April for that pur
pose.
After some discussion the amendment wa
agreed to.
Mr.. Butler of Mass. moved to amend by re
quiring table of divorces to be given Agree,
to.
Mr.. Butler of Mass. suggested as substitut
for the sixth section an amendment proyiSin.
that the census shall be taken by the Assessor
of the Internal Revenue, without additions
compensation, and that for the purposes of thi
act they should be under the direction of th
Superintendent of the Census
Mr.. Jenckes offered a substitute for all afte
the fifth section, in the form OF a substitute
That the Joint Committee on Census inquil
Into the hast mathod and report at the Decen