The Portland daily press., 1869-03-30
XLIst O0NGRESS---First Session.


WASHINGTON, March 29.-Resolutions of the
Legislatures Of Pennsylvania and South Caro-
lima, ratifying the 18th amendment, were pre-
sented.
The resolution for continuing the pay of en-
June, 1870, was passed
The resolution dropping from the rolls OF
the army officers absent without leave was
passed.
Mr.. Sprague moved to refer to the Commit
tee on appropriations the b dr oan;n by
public money He thought that the commit
tee were peculiarly well qualified to deal with
it, and predicted that, If the members of the
committee should pass favoraDly upon this
bill, their names and memories would be trans
mitted to posterity in letters of gold and stat
utes OF brass Motion agreed to.
Mr.. Sawyer introduced a bill prescribing the
oath of office to be taken by persons who par
ticipated in the late rebellion, but who are not
disqualified by the 14'h amendment Referred
to the JudiciarykC Committee.
AT this point message was received from
the House announcing its non-concurrence in
the action of the Senate on the bill to repeal
the tenure of Office act.
Mr.. Trumbull moved that the Senate insist
upon its amendments and ask for committee
OF conference.
Mr.. Grimes moved that the Senate reeede.
Mr.. Davis made q constitutional argument
in support of the latter motion.
At the expiration of the morning hour, the
unfinished business of Friday, being the sup
Elementary currency act, was postponed, that
the bill to repeal the tenure of Office act might
be considered.
After long discussion the motion to recede
was lost-yeas 20, nays 81. The motion to in
sist and ask committee of conference was
then agreed to.
At 80 the Senate went into executive ses-
sion and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
The following bills were introduced by
Mr.. Butler, authorizinG tho Secretary of the
Treasury to collect the internal revenue now
due and uncollected by reason of false and
fraudulent returns. By Mr.. Jencks to repeal
certain provisions in the appropriations bills
to relative to the Patent Office. By Mr.. Law
renee, to punish the crime OF holding Office in
violation of the Constitution. By Mr.. Shanks,
to furnish artificial limbs to discharged soldiers
and sailors gratis
The House, on motion of Mr. Bingham,
adopted resolution instructing the Commit
tee on the Pacific Railroad to inquire into the
circumstances attending the late issue of bonds
to the Central Pacific Railroad.
The House laid on the table, by vote OF 104
to 40, the resolution offered by Mr.. Morgan, to
exempt salt, tea, coffee, sugar matches and to-
bacco from all federal taxation and to tax
bonds IL per cent
Mr.. Schenck moved to suspend the rules
that might offer concurrent resolution for
Joint select committee on ordinance Rules
not suspended.
The House then proceeded to the business
on the Speakers table and disposed thereof as
follows:-The Senate concurrent resolution
tor a joint committee consisting of the Senate
Committee on Contingent Expenses and of
the House Committee on Accounts to define
the number, duties and compensation of the
employees Of both Houses-eoncurred in; the
Senate bill to amend the judiciary system of
the United States.
Mr.. Bingham, from the Committee on the
Judiciary reported substitute for the latter
bill, and explained and advocated it,
Mr.. Poland offered an amendment prohibit
ing Judges from sitting or hearing of appeals
or writs of error from Circuit Courts where
such Judges participated in the trials below.
The bill, substitute and amendment were de-
bated by Messrs. Bingham, Poland, Lawrence,
Woodward, Jeneks Benton, Kerr, Butler of
Massachusetts, Stevenson and Maynard The
principal points of discussion were,a provision
in the substitute which allows Judges to re-
sign after serving a certain number of years.
with pension, and retaining their commits
sions as Judges, and the amendment offered
by Mr. Poland.
Mr.. Kerr moved to amend the substitute by
making the age for retiring Judges at seventy
five instead OF seventy years. Rejected with
out division.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Poland was
rejected-4O to ". The substitute then passed,
SO to co. with few exceptions party vote.
The substitute provides. the Supreme Court
shall hereafter consist of Chief Justice and
eight Associate Justices, any six of whom
shall constitute q quorum: and of such JUS
tices as shall have been excused and retired
from active duty under the provisions of the
act an additional Associate Justice is to be ap-
pointed.
The second section provides Circuit Judge
for each of the nine existing judicial districts,
to possess the same power and jurisdiction
therein as the Justice of the Supreme Court
allotted to the circuit. The Circuit Courts are
to be held by a Justice of the Supreme Court
Hxr4 4t.A TrxI1 ~ IL 80 -snk
Judge, each sitting alone, or by the Supreme
Court Justice and Circuit Court Judge sitting
together. Such Courts may be held at the
same time in different districts of the same
Courts.
The third section provides that nothing in
the act shall affect the powers of the Justices
of the Supreme Court as Judges of the Cir
cult Courts, except in the appointment of
clerks Of Circuit Courts, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Circuit Judge.
The fourth section requires the Chief JUS
tice to attend at least one term of the Circuit
Court in each district of his circuit during
every period of two years.
The fifth section provides that any Judge of
the United States Court, who is now seventy
years of age, and any Judge who shall hersaf-
ter attain that age, and who shall have served
at least ten years as such Judge may, upon
his fling with the President a certificate of i
that fact, be excused and retired from active
service as such Judge; but shall thereafter,
during the time he shall continue to hold the
Office be entitled to his full salary.
The sixth section provides that if any United
States Judge shall for year, after the passage
of this act, where the Judge has already at
tanned that age, after reaching the age of
seventy years, continue to hold his Office with
out filing such certificate, the President shall
appoint an additional Judge for the same
Court who shall have the same power, per-
form the same duties and receive the same
compensation as the Judge then acting, and
shall, in connection with or in the absence of
his senior Associate, hold the Courts pre-
scribed by law, and shall, on the death or re-
tilement of the senior Judge, become the
Judge of that Court.-Adiourned.