The Portland daily press., 1869-12-09
NEW s
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
q PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIst CONGRESS---Seeon d Session.
SENATE.

0ixSb nCSSlOus
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.-The standing COM
mttees were announced The following Ser
atOrs constitute the several committees named
below, after alterations made this morning:
On Foreign Relations -Messrs. Sumner, Cam
eron, Harlan, Morton, Patterson, Schurz, Cas-
serly.
On Appropriations-Mess Morrill, Of Maine,
Wilson, Cole, Sprague. Sawyer, Poole, Stock
On Naval Atairs-Messrs. Cragin, Anthony,
Nye, Drake, Scott, Osborne. Stockton.
On Potents-Messrs. Wiley, Ferry, Carpen-
ter, Norton, Hamilton.
On Library-Messrs. Catter, Howe, Morrill,
of Maine. Z.
To Audit and Control Contingent Expenses
Messrs. Ferry, Edmunds, Davis
The other committees are without alteration.
Several petitans were presented, among
them one praying that the French cable be
suspended from working until France will al
low an American cable to be landed on French
soil.
Mr.. Sumner said he had bill which met the
prayer of this petition, and he proposed calling
it up at an early day.
A memorial was received from naval officers
complaining that juniors had been promoted
over them.
Mr.. Hamlin said that great injustice had
been done in this matter and called the special
MIR. Edmund gave notice that on Friday he
would ask for the consideration of the House
resolution regulating the hours for government
laborers, workmen and mechanics.
Mr.. Williams introduced resolution relat-
ing to amendments to the Constitution, pro-
viding that whenever satisfactory evidence is
| furnished to the Secretary of State that three
fourths of the Legislatures have ratified and
proposed an amendment to the Constitution of
| the United States, he shall forthwith proclaim
tha not nf rattfsaaftnr, md oha1I
pear that the Legislature of State has rati-
fed the amendment proposed as aforesaid, any
other action ny the Legislature of that State
as to such amendment shall be void and disre-
garded by the Secretary of State.
Mr.. William moved reference of the bill to
the Committee on Judiciary, and expressed a
hope that it would receive early consideration,
which for obvious reasons it desired. 1t was
so referred.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill to promote
international coinage, fixing the weights of
gold coin of IS at 124 $40 troy grains, equiva-
lent to coin of Is francs. Referred to Commit
tee on Finance.
Mr.. Carpenter introduced bill in relation
to rights of members of Congress, providing
that nothing in any act of Congress shall here
after be construed to prevent any member of
Congress from practicing as attorney, solicitor
or counsel in the prosecution or defence of any
cause, claim, or proceeding in any judicial
court of the United States.
laws requiring what was known as the admin
istration of the test oath. He said the propo-
sition to remove the disabilities imposed under
the 14th amendment would fall short of the
accomplishment of the object designed unless
accompanied by repeal of the test oath. The
necessity for legislation of this character he
believed had now gone by. The bill was re-
ferred.
Mr.. Sumner offered resolution calling upon
the Committee on Military Affairs to consider
Uhafh ouu FIN fJ 1onic sc IoI to
secure for all colored citizens who have served
in the army of the United States complete
equality with all other citizens in the enjoy
ment Of the military bounty.
Mr.. Cameron offered the following resolu-
ton:
ResoIved, That the President of the United
States be requested to communicate to the
Senate, if in his opinion it is not incompatible
with the public interest, any information he
may have in his possession with regard to the
progress Of the civil and political condition of
Cuba. The resolution was adopted.
The resolution previously offered by Mr..
Ramsey asking for information concerning the
presence of Hon. VIM. McDougall in Dacotah
territory, and of the opposition of the inhabi-
tants to his assumption of the Office OF Cover
nor was taken up. After brief discussion it
was agreed to.
Mr. Sherman offered a resolution requesting
the President to inform the Senate whether
since the last session of Congress any negotia-
ton had taken place or been proposed between
this government and the government of Great
Britain in respect to the reciprocity treaty or
| reciprocity laws, or subject of trade and COM
merce between the United States and Canada,
| may have taken place between the Executive
and the government Of Great Britain or that
of the Dominion of Canada. The resolution
was agreed to.
A resolution offered by Mr. Stewart, request
| ing the judiciary committee to inquire ii any
] Of the SfafQa vpr dapvinO To oil IF
sons the equal protection OF the laws in viola
ton of treaty obligations and of the 14th
amendment was taken up and agreed to.
| A resolution offered by Mr.. Drake providing
that hereafter the floor of the Senate shall be
cleared of persons not entitled to its privileges
ten minutes before the meeting of the Senate,
was taken up and agreed to-
| Bill to relieve certain persons therein named
| from disabilities imposed by the 14th amend
| ment to the constitution came up in ORDER
The bill contains from 400 to 500 persons
The bill passed. A joint resolution for the RELIEF
| of persons engaged in the late rebellion, pro-
viding that on the final adoption of the 18th
amendment all disabilities shall cease, was
taken up and Mr.. Stewart addressed the Sen.
| ate in favor.
The Senate then resolved itself in Executive
session and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Morrill,, of Pennsylvania, intro luced q
| bill to fund the debt of the United States at a
lower rate of interest, to make the national
banking system free and for other purposes
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
| Mr.. Paine, of Wisconsin, offered a resolu.
ton directing the Secretary of State to inform
the House what Legislature have ratified the
proposed 10Th constitutional amendment
MIR. Cobb, of North Carolina, asked leave to
offer resolution of sympathy with the Cuba
insurrection, but the general order of business
was called for by Mr.. Maynard
| Spveral bills were iNfrOducad and rafarrpd
Mr. Sargent introduced bill requiring
| American consuls residing in countries which
raise cereals and other crops that come IN com
/ petition with American products in the mark
cts of the world to furnish quarterly Statements
| of the condition of the crops to the State De-
partment, which as'to furnish them to the
| Commissioner of Agriculture who is required
to put them in condensed form into his
monthly circular, corrected by any accurate
| information in his possession.
The object of the bill is to furnish informa-
| ton to farmers to enable them to sell or hold
| their crops in view of foreign markets, most o.
| the information now obtainable being drawn
| from English sources and colored by the neces
| stiles of the country,
A resolution was adopted that the Commit
tee on Public Lands inquire into the expedi.
ency of amending tho homestead law to au
thorize ex-soldiers and sailors to secure 100 in
stead of so acres of public land.
A bill aboshing the duty on coal was refer.
red to the Committee on Ways and Means.
| Mr.. Burlington, of Massachusetts,, offered a
resolution directing the Secretary of War to
transmit report relative to the protection ant
improvement of Plymouth harbor, Massachu-
setts Adopted.
Several bills for the removal of political dis
abilities were introduced and referred to Com
mittee on Reconstruction.
| The Speaker proposed to the House that h
be authorized to assign the new members a.
| tenth members of such committees as he nigh
deem desirable After debate it was referret
to Committee on Rules.
Several petitions were presented and refer
red.
The House went into committee of the Who'll
and took up the bills to provide for taking tn
9th census; to fix the number of members q
the House of Representatives and to provid
for their future appointment among the severa
| States.
In reply to question by Mr.. Butler of Mas
sachusetts, Mr.. Clark of Kansas, and others
in regard to representation in Congress, MI
Garfield of Ohio, said the present organizatio
or numbering of the House began on the At
of March, and manfestly it will run until tn
same day in March, 1873. The census to b
token next June ought of course to be con
nieted 40 far as the taking is concerned by tn
pst of Jnly. We shall not know until next ia
1shat the basis of representation will be, an
vs. ,,.itar no redstricting Of the States ca
@ be made until after that. The commute
= agreed this morning to fill up the blank ior I'll
4 number of members with three hundred;
In reference to the Information 70 De o11ail
e ed from railroad companies, Mr.. darneiu T.,