The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-08

Schenck of Ohio, Dawes of Massachusetts,
aud Woodward of Pennsylvania were the
Committee.
At 1 or,ock the President message wa
, read, and with the accompanying documents
was referred to the committee Of the whole.
A motion to print 10000 copies was referred.
The credentials of the members eiect from
Alabama were referred to the committee on
elections.
The oath Of Office was administered to the
following delegates from the territories:-Jas.
NJ Cayanagh, Montana; s. +. NuckOlls of
wyoming: Galusha Garfield. Washington
Territory; Francisco Chores of New Mexico.
The committee on the ninth census reported
a bill providing for the taking of the ninth
census, and to fix the number of members of
the House of Representatives and to provide
for their future appointment among tile sew
eral States. Ordered to be printed and made
the special order for Wednesday next.
A joint resolution was introduced declaring
Virginia entitled to representation in Con-
gress Referred to the committee on recon-
structiOn.
Mr. Wood OF New York gave notice OF bill
preventing Congressman being appointed to
other offices.
A resolution that all the credentials of per-
sons claiming to represent Virginia or Missis-
slppi ba referred to the committee on elections
was adopted
bill amendatory of the banking act, so as
to establish free banking system, was refer
red to the committee on banking.
A bill to construe thatIpart Of the internal
revenue law relative to manufactures SO as to
exempt pork and beef packing from being
elassed as manufactured articles, was referred
TO the committee of ways and means.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
was referred to the committee of ways and
means and ordered to be printed. Adjourned.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON Dec. Mr. Morton introd uc-
ed resolution declaring Virginia restored to
titled to representation in Congress-.
Mr.: Sumner introduced bill to amend the
banking act and 10 promote return to specie
payment 1t repeats the limitation of the
amount OF national bank notes and permits the
Secretary of the Treasury to issue additional
notes. eqnal in amount to the greenbacks re-
tired, but not to exceed $50, 100000 yearly.
The following bills were introduced and laid
on the table preparatory to their reference to
the appropriate committees:
BY Mr.. Spencer, bill to amend the act of
April 8, 1866 to protect all persons in the
United States in their civil rights and to fur.
nish the means of their vindication. 1t pro-
vides that said act shall be so construed as to
extend to all persons within the jurisdiction of
any State equal protection of its laws and
make all persons of color competent to testify
in the courts of the several States as fully as if
they were white persons; it also coniers on
United States Courts the jurisdiction of
criminal cases in which persons are involved
who belong to the class of persons Cenied the
same rights declared in the first section of said
act. Also bill to reorganize the medical, pay
and engineer corps of the United States navy
and regulate and fix their absolute rank, uni
form, etc.
BY Mr.. Carpenter, q bill to secure and pro-
tect the freedom of transit within the United
States: 1t provides that no citizen of the
United States in passing from one place to an
other within the same shall be subject to any
civil process whatever in any State, territory
or district unless he voluntarily tarry therein
for more than twenty-four hours, nor shall his
property be subject to attachment while in
transit and all plaintiffs or attorneys institut-
ing such suits shall be liable to action for dam
ages in the United States Courts; provided
that this shall not abridge the right OF COM
mercial stoppage in transit between vender
and vendee, and further that an action may be
instituted on the suit of party demonstrating
to the satisfaction OF a court of record that he
left his place of domicile and is in transit
through the United States with the intention
OF departing from the same section; and gives
to the United States District Courts jurisdic-
ton of acts contrary to the provisions thereof.
By Mr.. Corbett, a bill to amend existing
laws relating to the internal revenue. 1t adds
canned and preserved fish to the articles now
exempt by law from an internal revenue tax
By Mr.. Patterson, bill to promote and en-
courage the American National Indu strial Ex-
position to be held at the City of Washington
in the year 1871.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
memorial from the Republican Convention of
Virginia, held on November oath and 25th, re-
viewin g the election in that State and arguing
against the admission of the Virginia Senators
and Representatives elect.
BY Mr.. Thayer, bill amending the homestead
laws so as to require the planting OF trees on
homestead settlements.
Mr. Trumbull introduced bill making it a
misdemeanor for member of Congress to re-
commend any person for Office unless request
ed by the President or the head of a Depart
ment, and supported it at length.
Mr. Trumbull was followed by Mr.. Davis,
who referred to individual cases in which off,
cial incumbents in the revenue service have
been deprived of positions to which they were
entitled by the commissioner of internal reve-
nue..
Mr.. McCreery introduced bill to relieve
certain persons from legal disabilities imposed
by the 14th amendment. Read and laid over.
The Senate then at ten minutes past 10 o'clock
adjourned.
Immediately after the reading of the Jour-
nal, on motion of Mr.. Schenck of Ohio, the
House resolved itself into the Committee of
the Whole, Mr.. Ferry of Michigan in the chair,
for the purpose of distributing the Presidents
Message among the committee. The usual
resolutions making such references were then
offered by Mr.. Schenck.
After the reading of the resolutions Mr.. Cole
enquired if the question of specie payments
devolve upon the Ways and Means or Bank
ing Committee.
Mr.. Schenck replied, explaining that the
question would enter largely into the consid-
and thought it would be advisable to leave
them to endeavor to dispose of the question
with unanimity.
Mr.. Wood of New York suggested that the
subject OF an inter-oceanic canal be referred to
the Foreign Committee
Mr.. Schenck explained that it was purely a
commercial matter and therefore belonged to
the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Lynch OF Maine suggested that the por-
ton of the message referring to navigation
should be referred to a select committee On that
subject instead of the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. Schenck explained that the latter COM
mittee was the proper committee to consider
that subject.
Mr.. Lynch moved that the portion of the
message relating to navigation be referred to a
special committee. Rejected.
The resolutions referring the different por-
tons of the message to various committees
were then adopted.
A bill recognizing the Treasury Depart
ment and fixing the salaries therein was intro
duced and referred to the Committee on APP
propriations.
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts introduced a
bill repeating the tenure-ot-office act. Re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill aboishing the Thanking privilege was
introduced and referred to the Post Office
Committee.
Several bills were introduced, among them
one to repeal the duty on salt, coffee, tea and
writing and printing paper. Referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr.. Finkelburg Of Missouri introduced bill
to establish uniform system of navigation.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Stevens of N. ii. introduced bill to
provide for the relief from legal and political
disabilities. Referred to the Committee on
Reconstruction.
Mr.. Wood of New York introduced bill to
prevent members of Congress from accepting
dent. Referred to the Committee on the Ju-
dietary.
Mr.. Ingersoll of Illinois introduced bill to
prohibit the sale Of coin on the part of the
United States, and provide for the redemption
of United States legal tender notes in coin al
par. Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means.
Mr.. Paine, chairman of the Committee on
Elections, reported back the credentials of four
Alabama members, with the recommendation
that they be sworn in. The oath of Office was
therefore administered by the Speaker to
Messrs. Hays, Sherwood, Hiflin and Dox.
Mr.. Burr of Illinois, from the same commit
tee, reported back a resolution authorizing Mr.
Kerr Of Indiana to act as member of the Com.
mittee on Elections in reference to the Louisi-
ana election cases. Adopted
Mr.. Butler of Tennessee presented the Gre
dentals of two Virginia members. Referred
to the Committee on Elections.
Mr.. Cullom of Illinois offered resolution
for printing 500 copies of General George H
Thomas report on Alaska. Referred to the