The Portland daily press., 1869-02-26
XLth O0NGREss---Third Session.
SENATE.

SENATE. ~
WARRINGTON, Feb 25.-Mr. Williams called
up the bill to amend the act of March 81, 1868,
to exempt certain manufactures from internal
tax, an amendment to allow manufacturers Of
naval machines for government all the bene-
fits of the act
Mr.. Trumbull offered an amendment to the
bill to refund the tax heretofore collected on
such machinery. Lost.
The bill then passed, yeas 46, nays Is.
The appropriation bill came up, the pending
question being on the point of order raised by
Mr.. Grimes that the amendment offered by
Mr.. Sumner to authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury to pay, the outstanding interest &C.
count of Massachusetts, for advances made for
the United States in the war of 1872, was out
of order.
Mr.. Sumner defended the amendment.
After considerable discussion the amendment
was decided out of order by vote of 19 yeas
to d nays.
Mr.. Davis then offered an additional section,
which was agreed to- providing that brevet ap-
pointments in the army shall be merely honor
ary, oonferring no command or right to pay or
emolument of any kind.
Mr.. Morton moved to strike out the Sd Sec
tion, providing that until otherwise directed
by law, no new appointment shall be made in
the Adjutant Generals, the Inspector Gene
rails the Paymaster and Quartermaster Gene
rails and the Commissaries Of the Medical De-
partmeDts. He thought this section bad one
because it prohibited promotion, the great
stimulus to the performance of duty in the
army. He also commented upon the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Wilson, and adopted yes
terday, providing that there shall be no more
appointments except of graduates of West
Point which, he said, was designed to exclude
volunteer officers from promotion.
Mr.. Wilson said the object was to prevent, as
lar as possible all new appointments, in order
to reduce the army The Senator from Indi.
ana complained that this provision would not
prevent the appointment of volunteers, but the
fact was, there was no need for the appoint
uent of volunteers or West Pointers; on the
contrary there now 600 officers in the army
who could resign with advantage to the coun-
try.
At this point the Joint resolution providing
that the 4th of March the two Houses shall
meet at p. M. instead of at noon, was consid-
cred and agreed to. sFH
Mr. Mortons motion was lost.
Mr.. Wilson offered two amendments, which
were agreed to, one authorizing the Secretary
of War to have prepared and published a re-
port of the results of the expedition to explore
and survey the 40th parallel, the expense to be
paid out of existing appropriations for any de-
partment, and the other appropriating $780,
600 for surveys for military defences.
Mr.. Morton moved to rescind the order for a
recess to finish the pending bill.
Mr.. Sumner gave notice of a motion to re-
consider the discussion on his amendment
Mr.. Chandler, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported with amendments the bill to
preserve the harbors of the United States
against encroachments and distractions. 1t
provides for the appointment of a mixed board
of officers and civilians to have general super
vision of the subject, and recommends to Con-
gress such measures as they may agree upon.
Mr.. Osborn introduced bill granting lands
in Florida to aid in the construction Of the
Pensacola & Louisville railroad. Referred to
Committee on Public Lands.
A recess was then taken.
EVENING SESSION.
On motion of Mr.. Howe the Senate insisted
on its amendment to the consular and diplo-
matte appropriation bill, and agreed to the ap-
pointment of a new conference committee.
A number of private bills were passed.
The constitutional amendment was made
the special order for tomorrow.
The committee of conference on the bill to
give to deputy collectors and assessors the pay
OF their principals when they perform theiI
agreed upon the bill as it originally passed the
Senate. The report was concurred in. Ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Schenck offered resolution directing
the Clerk of the House to present to the Sec
retary OF State the act to increase the duties
on imported copper with the usual certificate
showing that the bill passed both Houses over
the Presidents veto. Adopted
Mr.. Pomeroy, of New York, called up the
bill authorizing certain banks, named therein
10 CQaQg6 JQGlr udIutc. dosO0s Inv go "e<
thorizes these banks to to do business hereaf
ter under the name Of Germania Nationa
Bank of New Orleans, and Villas Natlona
Bank of Pattsburg, New York.
Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, moved to sus
pend the rules for the purpose of considering
the bill reported by him last evening, from the
committee on Coinage, weights and measures
1or the coinage of nickle copper pieces of five
cents and under. Agreed to.
MI woodward opposed the bill, his policy be
7ng that nothing ought to be made legal tender
except gold and silver. He moved to strike
Inc 4th section from the BILL which makes the
proposed coins legal tender.
1he amendment was lost and the bill passed
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, called up the
report OF the conference committee on the con.
sular and diplomatic appropriation bin .nresent
ed by him last evening The renort Vas rsaJ
Among the changes in the bill "a tbe aSont;on
of the Senate amendment, providing that tha
President, on the recommendation ~ tha Go. AZ
retary of the Treasury, shall cause exam;na.
ton to be made into the accounts of consnia,
officers of the United States, and into ali m
ters connected with the business of said Offices
The President is to communicate to Congress
the names of agents so appointed, togethe
with their reports and the amount paid fo
fheir services
The disagreement between the two House
relative to the South American Commission
is compromised as follows: That instead OF
Minister resident accredited as heretofore,
commission shall be sent to the governments
Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua and Cost
Rica, in Central America, and to the govern