The Portland daily press., 1869-03-04
XLth OONGREss---Third Session.
SENATE.

XLth 00NGRESS---Third Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 3-Mr. Harlan, from
the District Of Columbia Committee, reported
joint resolution instructing the Secretary OF
the Treasury to withhold payment from Mr.
Corcoran whose property was used by the gov
ernment during the war, Corcoran being
rebel.
Debate ensued.
Pending the vote, Mr.. Sherman made a re-
port from the committee of conference on the
bill to strengthen the public credit.
A long debate ensued.
At length the report was agreed to by vote
The following is the public credit bill as
agreed to:
Be it enacted, &C., That in order to re-
move any doubt as to the purpose of the gov
ernment to discharge all just obligations to
the public creditors and to settle conflicting
questions and interpretations of the laws, by
virtue of which such obligations have been
contracted, it is hereby provided and declared
that the faith Oh the United States is s0lemnly
pledged to the payment in coin, or its equiva-
lent, of all the obligations of the United States
not bearing interest known as United States
notes and of the interest bearing obligations
of the United States, except in cases where
the law authorizing the issue of any such obli-
cation has expressly provided that the same
may be paid in lawful money or other curren-
cy than gold and silver; but none of said inter-
est bearing obligations not already due shall
be paid or redeemed before maturity, unless at
such time the United States notes shall be
convertible into coin, at the option of the hold
er, or unless at such time the bonds of the
United States bearing lower rate of in
terest than the bonds to be redeemed can be
sold at par in coin; and the United States al
so solemnly pledges its faith to make provision
at the earliest practicable period for the re-
demption of United States notes in coin.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any
contract hereafter made especially payable in
coin, and the consideration of which may be
loan of coin, or sale of property, or the render
ing of labor or service of any kind the price
of which as carried into the contract may have
been adjusted on the basis of the coin value
thereof, the time of such sales, or the render
ing of such services or labor shall be legal and
valid, and may be enforced accord ng to it's
terms, and on the trial of a suit brought for
the enforcement OF any such contract, proof of
the real consideration may be given.
The morning hour expired and the army ap-
preparation bill came up as unfinished busi-
ness.
After discussion Mr.. Summers amendment
providing for the payment of the interest claim
of Massachusetts was rejected-16 to 35 and
the army bill passed.
The Corcoran joint resolution was then
passed-34 against 3.
The Senate on motion of Mr.. Sumner from
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, refused to
resolution expressing sympathy with Spain.
Mr. Nye proposed to call up the bill for the
relief OF Norman Wizard, but Mr.. Grimes OBJ
jected, and on Mr.. Conklings motion the SEN
ate went into executive session.
After coming out of executive session the
s enate took recess.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. Sumner called up the joint resolution to
carry into effect the decree of the United
States in relation to British steamer. Passed |
Mr.. Sumner moved to take up the joint res
olution to carry into effect the DEGREES of the |
United States District Court of Louisiana in
relation to certain other British steamers, but
Mr.. Stewart objected and said he was opposed
to compensating British subjects for losses in-
CURED, no matter under what circumstances
during the late war, until Great Britain shall
take some positive action for the payment of
the Alabama claims.
The civil and miscellaneous appropriation
bill was taken up
Mr.. Conkling offered an amen ndment, which |
was agreedl to, to enable the Secretary of the |
Treasury and the Postmaster General to ex-
change the land bought by the United States |
for the site of new post Office in New York
city for the same or greater quantity of land
further up in City Hall Park.
Mr.. Conkling reported from the committee
of conference on the post Office appropriation
BILL which was agreed to.
The amendment reported by the committee
to the civil appropriation bill providing for the
purchase of portrait OF President Lincoln, to
be placed in the White House, was agreed to.
Mr.. Harlan offered an amendment to reim-
burse Iowa for expenses in the war of the re-
bellion 1929 848. Agreed to.
Mr. Chandler offered an amendment appro-
priating $4,000 for the improvement of the
mouth of the Mississippi river Agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson, from the committee of confer
ence on the army appropriation bill, made a
report which was cOncurred in.
The civil appropriation bill was then reported
to the Senate and passed.
At 1890 A. M, ON motion of Mr. Conklng,
the Senate went into executive session.
HOUSE.
The Senate amendments to the legislative
and postoffice appropriation bills were nom
concurred in.
Amid profound silence, though the galleries
were crowded, Mr.. Colfax took his leave of the
House. Remarks on second page.l
A resolution for printing. copies OF the re-
port OF the Committee on Elections was read
Various resolutions for extra printing, re-
ported by Mr. Latin from the Committee ON
Printing, gave rise to discussion. Some of
them were adopted and others rejected.
A resolution was passed that no expense
shall be incurred for furnishing the hall Of the
House, the committee rooms, Sc, unless au-
thorized by the Committee on Buildings.
Also, that the Sergeant-at-Arms, in lieu Of
fees and mileage, be reimbursed actual ex-
penses.
The House passed, by vote of 83 to 53, a
resolution to allow compensation to clerks of
committees at the rate of $6per day.
Mr.. Hooper, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported bill to amend the act OF
July 20, 1858, imposing taxes on distilled spir-
its and tobacco. The bill contains some of the
sections passed by the House on the subject of
whiskey, tobacco and cigars, in the general
bill, on which the Senate has not taken any
action. 1t extends the time for withdrawal of
whiskey from bonded warehouse until the
Doth of April, 1870. Passed.
Mr.. Schenck offered a resolution that while
the House did not admit any right i'll Execu-
| tive and treaty making power of the United
| States to conclude treaties OF conventions with
| foreign governments by which import duties
shall be mutually regulated, it is, however,
| their opinion and so recommends to the Pres
| ident that negotiations with the government
of Great Britain should be removed and press
ed as soon as it passed to definite conclusion,
regarding commercial intercourse and the Sc
curing to American citizens the rights claimed
by them in fisheries on the coast OF British
American Provinces, and the free navigation
of the st. Lawrence from its source to the sea.
In response to question from Mr.. Pike, Mr.
Schenek stated mis- opinion that this govern
ment ought not to enter into any reciprocity
treaty with the British Provinces, but that the
people of these provinces ought to be treated
as all other foreigners, and made to pay the
same duties. The resolution was referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Schenck, from the Committee on Con-
ference, repOTC0u On u DILL 10 sIr6ugLucu puDHC
credit. The report was agreed to-yeas 11S,
| nays 81.
| The bill now goes to the President for his
| signature. Recess.
EVENING SESSION.
On motion of Mr.. Dawes the rules were sus-
pended, and Joint resolution to pay Mr.. Mem
nard and Mr.. Hunt, claiming seats from Lou
| isiana, $4,000 each for time and expenses.
Mr.. Farnsworth, from the conference COM
mittee on the bill removing disabilities, made
| a report.
| The committee of conference Oh the post
afice appropriation bill reported and was
| agreed to-.
The conference committee on the bill requir-
ing monthly reports from National Banks
made report, which was agreed to.
At 1.30 A. M. the House was still in session,
and likely to remain so all night.
WISCONSIN,.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
CHICAGO, March 3.-This morning the Wis
consin Assembly ratified the constitutional
amendment by a vote of go to 20.