The Portland daily press., 1869-03-24
XLIst OONGREss---First Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 23-On motion of Mr..
Sumner, Mr Anthony was unanimously elect
ed President pro tenn. in the absence of Mr.
Colfax, and the Secretary was directed to in
form the President and House of Representa-
tives of the election. Mr.. Anthony said:
Senators:-I thank you for this distinguished
mark OF your confidence and favor. L Will
endeaver, to the best of my ability. to dis,
charge the duties which you have imposed
upon me, duties which would be quite too ail-
tieult for my undertaking did not know now
they will be lightened by the tradluonai il lor-
oearance, courtesy and dignity o. Iue ausu
body over whose deliberations IL is your pleas-
ure that temporarily preside. The Secretary
will now read the journal OF yesterday.
Mr.. Sprague presented petition for woman
Suffrage and remarked that as, in his deliber-
ate Indictment the voters of the country have
less to do with the management of Govern
ment affairs than other people, there could be
no great harm in granting the prayer of the
petitioners.
The bill amending the national currency act,
passed at the last session of Congress, was re-
ported from the Finance Committee and passed.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill authorizing
the prepayment of interest on the public debt,
and asked for its immediate consideration. He
had read by the Secretary letter from the
Secretary OF the Treasury stating that tne
financial condition of the country was sucn IL
might be wise to anticipate the payment OF tne
interest on the public debt for period not ex,
ceeding six months, and he was doupuui
VIII ether he had authority to do SO under exist
ing laws. The bill passed.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to recommit the bill re-
pealing the tenure of Office act to the Judic-
larry Committee. Agreed to.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
bill recognizing the judicial system came up.
Mr. Drake argued against the bill and in
favor of the amendment he had made previ-
ously, striking out all after the first section
and substituting bill of sixteen sections, de-
signed to devolve all duties of Circuit Courts
now in existence upon District Courts, and to
reorganize the Circuit with the District Courts
in each circuit
Mr.. Trumbull defended the bill which had
already passed both Houses and failed to be-
come law because it was not signed by the
President.
Mr.. Williams favored postponement till
next session. and made that motion.
Mr.. Sawyer opposed postponement, urg-
ing that in his section immediate relief was
necessary as the Courts were completely over
burde ned.
Mr. Stuart supported the bill
Mr.. Thurman thought Mr.. brakes amend
ment if adopted would produced an insur-
rection of the bar. =
Mr.. Williams motion was rejected by II
against a.
Mr.. brakes amendment was also rejected,
as was another, subsequently offered by him,
providing that no Judgment of affirmance shall
be made in any case in the United States Su-
preme Court when the Judges are equally di-
vided, the latter by vote of 10 to 20.
Mr.. Sumner offered a new section providing
for the retirement of Judges over 20 years of
age with continuance of salary.
Mr.. Trumbull said that, while he bad no OBJ
lection to the provision, he opposed it on the
ground hat it would defeat the bill in the
House. The amendment was rejected and the
bill then passed.
Mr.. Sprague introduced bill to provide for
loaning the public money and for other pur
A. o. VNs-
Mr.. Wilson, from the Military Committee,
reported bill to abolish the Office of Chief OF
Staff to the General of the army, and the bill
in relation to retired officers with an amend
ment.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported adversely on the bill to allow
deputy collectors and assessors of internal
revenue acting as collectors and assessors the
pay of collectors. and assessors. Adjourned
HOUSE.
After some unimportant business Mr.. PO-
land, from the Committee on Revision of
Laws, reported a bill extending for three years
the time for revision and consolidating the stat
utes of the United States, and long discus
sion enSued, which was participated in by
Messrs. Butler, of Massachusetts,, Poland, Gull
loul. Benjamin, Garfield, Hoar, Blair, Wood
ward and Jencks.
Mr. Benjamin moved an amendment, re-
quiring commissioners to give their wlole
time and attention to the work, which was
adopted and the bill passed.
The Senate amendmentslto the Joint resolu-
ton to supply omissions in the enrolment of
certain appropriation bills OF the last session
were concurred in.
The Senate joint resolution relative to con-
suar fees was passed.
The Senate joint resolution IN relation to
the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad
branch of the Union Pacific Railroad was re-
ported from the Committee ON Public Lands,
and occasioned much discussion, claiming that
it properly belonged to the Pacific Railroad
Committee, to which it was fina ly referred
The Senate resolution resembling the concur
rent resolution of the last session for the crea-
ton of committee on reorganization of the
civil service was non-concurred in ard COM
mittee of conference was asked.
The Senate bill to remove the charge of de-
sertion from certain soldiers of the I'd North
Carolina mounted infantry was passed.
Mr.. Hill introduced joint resolution ex-
tending the provisions of the act establishing
line of American steamships between New
York and Europe. Referred to the Post Office
Committee.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, from the Com
mittee on Reconstruction, reported back the
Senate concurrent resolution for joint select
committee on the removal of disabilities, and
moved non-concurrence, on the ground that
the Senate had since then appointed a special
committee of its own.
Mr. Brooks said he trusted that the rumo r
that the Reconstruction Committee would soon
report general bill for amnesty would prove
true-amnesty, not for one party alone, but for
men of both parties, without preference or dis
tinction.
Mr. Butler said he thought and hoped that
the Reconstruction Committee would come to
the same conclusion that there should be some
means by which men could have their .politi-
cal disabilities removed without having to
come to Congress and getting it done through
omnibus bills. He hope to be able within
day or two to present to the House, for refer
ence to that committee, some such PROPOSE
tion. The resolution was honoured in.
Various other bills on the Speakers table
were referred, and the House adjourned