The Portland daily press., 1869-03-31
XLIst OONGREss-First Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 3O.-The bill continu.
ing the freedmens' hospitals at Richmond
Vicksburg and Washington passed
Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported joint resolution for the pro-
lection of soldiers and their heirs by providing
for the payment of pensions to persons, an9
not through attornies or claim agents Laiu
over.
The House hill to renew the patent on Hoe 8
printing press was debated till the expiratlon
of the morning hour and the Dill went over
The sunnIementary currency bill was then
taken up.
1.-THE teleeraphic report is mixed up mess
and does not give the commencement of the
proceedings on the bill The following is a por-
tion of the proceedings.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment to the
fourth section providing that ON redistribution
of the banking circulation the requisition shall
commence with banks with an excess of circu-
lation exceeding one Million in states having
an excess of circulation, and having Withdrawn
one-third of the excess above a million, shall
then proceed, pro rata, with banks having
circulation exceeding 100000. He said he mao
consulted the Secretary of the Treasury anu
Comptroller of Currency, who favored ene
course provided for in the amendment winch
was designed to relieve smaler panAs Holn
which such circulation was to be drawn.
Mr. Fessenden did not like the amendment
as well as the original bill. The amendment
was agreed to- ,.
amendment offered some days since by Mr..
Wilson providing that in consideration of the
banking privileges granted by the national cur
rency act, the United States bonds which shall
hereafter be deposited in the Treasury as a
pledge, under the provisions of this law, shall
during the time they remain therein, bear in
terest at the rate of only three per cent; and
that bonds already SO deposited as a pledge
shall after the first of January, 1870, bear inter
est only at the rate of three per cent, during
the time they remain so pledged.
After a lopg discussion the various amend
ments were rejected and the bill passed.
The Senate took up the Indian appropriation
hill and then at g. 10 went into executive session
and soon afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE.
A message was received from the Senate an
nouncing the appointment of conference from
the committee on the tenure of office bill.
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts asked unani-
mous consent to go to the Speakers table to
take up that message, but objection was made.
Mr. Kellogg, from the Committee on Coin
age, reported back the bill for the coinage of
one cent, three cent and five cent pieces OF
nickel copper, in the proportion of not less
than 25, or more than SO per cent of nickel,
such coins to be legal tender up to the amount
of so cents.
Mr. Kelley proceeded to explain and advo-
cate the bill.
Mr. Potter also favored the BILL
After further discussion the bill passed.
Several bills renewing patents passed.
Mr.. Anthony introduced, by request, he said,
a bill to authorize the Postmaster General to
contract with certain parties for the transpor-
tation of the Euronean mails. Referred to the
Committee on Post Office.
Mr.. Kellogg introduced a bill granting land
to aid in the construction of railroad and tel
egraph line from the Central Pacific railroad
to the Colorado River.
Also, q Joint resolution to distribute, rank and
number the government employees among the
several States and territories Referred to the
Committee on Retrenchment.
A debate on the propriety of taking up the
Cured, when, at the expiration of the morning
hour, the unfinished business came up, namely,
the supplementary currency bill.
Mr. Harland moved to postpone this and all
prior orders, and proceed to the consideration
of the Indian appropriation bill.
The House then proceeded to the business on
the Speakers table, and took up the Senate
message announcing committee OF conference
on the tenure of Office bill
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts moved to agree
to the request for a committee of conference.
Mr.. Schenck moved the House recede from
its disagreement to the Senate amendments
which motion, he remarked, had precedence
over every other motion.
MT. w OO0 uOVeQ bu6 1OuSo iuAisb Ou itc oAc-
agreement.
The vote was first taken on Mr.. Schencks
motion to recede. The vote was taken by yeas
and nays, and resulted, yeas 60, nays JOG. The
Honse then voted to insist on its disagreement
and agree to committee of conference. Sub
sequently the Speaker appointed as such COM
mittee Messrs. Butler OF Massachusetts,, WASH
burne of Wisconsin, and Bingham.
The Senate bill in addition to the act of
June q, 1863 removing political disabilities,
was passed.
Mr.. Dawes offered a concurrent resolution
for the final adjournment of this session on the
9th of April, at IL O clock, and said there could
be no question Of the readiness of both Houses
to adjourn at that time and to have finished all
necessary business. The resolution was adopt
ed without division.
Mr. Paine, from the Committee ON Elections,
reported that Jacob P. Reed, claiming the seat
from the Third Congressional District of South
Carolina, is incompetent to take the test oath.
Mr.. Randall, from the minority of the COM
mittee, asseDted to the report and introduced
bill to remove Reeds disability Referred to
the Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Ingersoll, from the Committee on Roads
and Canals, reported q bill authorizing the
building of q railroad bridge over the Ohio
river at Paducah, KY, by the Paducah and In
diana Gulf Railroad Company, with span not
less than 400 feet in the clearsover the main
channel, and to be legal structure and post
road. After some discussion the bill was
passed.
On motion of Mr. Butler of Massachusetts,
the constitution framed for the State of Texas
was ordered to be printed
Mr. Hooper called up his motion to recon-
slider the vote by which, on the 18th inst, the
bill to amend the act OF July 20, 1868, imposing
taxes on distilled spirits and tobacco. was re-
ferred to the Committee of Ways and Means.
The vote was reconsidered and the bill came
before the House for action. After discussion
the question was takon on Mr.. Allison's motion
for Withdrawing wbiskey from bonded ware
houses, and the provision was struck out, yeas
SO, nays 50 The bill was then passed without
division and the House adjourned