The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-22
XLth O0NGRESS---Tbird Session.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Mr. Morrill, intro
duced bill to regulate the payment of tom
mage tax. Referred to the Committee on FL
nance.
On motion Of Mr.. Morton the Senate took
up the bill previously introduced by him to
punish the collection Of illegal taxes on pas
sengers.
Mr.. Morton moved to refer it to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary, and made brief argu-
ment to show how it should be done.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen wished to be heard before
the reference of the bill in defence of the in
interests of his State.
The morning hour having expired the bill
went over.
to the bill to grant public lands to aid the con-
structiop of railroad and telegraph lines to Pu.
get Sound. Referred to the Committee on the
Pacific Railroad.
Mr. Conkling introduced bill to prohibit
secret sales of gold, Sc, which was referred to
the Committee on Finance. H
Mr. PATTERSON OF New York offered resolu-
ton, which was agreed to, directing the Presi-
dent to communicate any correspondence on
file in the Department of State in relation to
the Roberts College at Constantinople.
Mr.. Sherman, from the finance committee
reported bill to amend the National Curren-
cy act.
The amendments reported by the committee
to the Sherman Air Line Railroad bill, were
read
Mr. Vickers made long speech against the
bill.
Mr.. Spencer moved to amend by adding at
the end OF the first section provision that the
Baltimore & Potomac Railroad may be adopt
ed as part of the road between Washington
and Baltimore, contemplated by the act upon
such terms and conditions as may be agreed
upon by the New York & Washington Rail
road Co. and the Baltimore & Potomac Rail-
road Co, which was agreed to.
Mr. Sherman moved to strike out the last
nEf r.
i ienu ana cincinnati roads, so as to make the
olli PROVIDE only for road between New York
ana w ashlngton. Amendment agreed to-
MT: "iilams moved to amend the 18th sec
uon Dy strlklng out the clause prohibiting
higher late OF taxation of the property of this
road than on other roads within the Slate and
to insert provision that other taxes nav be
levied upon said road, and in the same man.
ner, and to the same extent as taxes are levied
upon the property of other roads. Adopted
Mr. DoOlttle moved to amend the 9th sec
ton so as to make the consent of the L.gisla-
lures of the States through which the roads
pass necessary to authorize the Company to
purchase the necessary real estate, &c, but
withdrew the amendment temporarily.
Mr.. Wiley moved to amend the bill by pro-
viding for road from Washington to the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad at or near Staun-
ton, Va, which. he said, need be only 100 miles
long, and would open direct railway commu-
nlcation between Washington and the valley
Mr. Sherman favored the construction of
railroads, but preferred it should be provided
for in a separate bill, because he wished the
oil under consideration to provide merely for
road between Washington and New York.
Nm mr.. Pomeroy said he had been friendly to the
s Dl IN ITS original form, but if it was to provide
lor a ros d to New York, when there was very
goou road already, he should take very little
;1roa5s IN IT. The great need was for new
ran ia to peeween Washington and the West,
w
TOR ron ;, west Virginia (Willey) was really
Mr.. Wiley withdrew his anoa,d. A.,
suggestion of Mr.. Sherman, and Mr. Do %I te
again moved the amendment he had tou,nnrao
rily withdrawn. Adjourned pun
Mr. Norris of Alabama, from the Committee
on Reconstruction reported bill authorizing
and directing the Secretary of the Navy to
make appointments of midshlpmen to the Ma
val Academy on or before the 4th of March
next, from any State i'm which election of mem
bers to the 41st Congress does not take place