The Portland daily press., 1869-03-02

Mr. Sumner was willing to accept the amend
ment.
Mr. Fessenden in reply to suggestions that
| the claim if valid ought to have been fettled
| years ago. said it would bave been settled at
| the same time with the claims of other States
/ but for the fact that the Democratic party,
then dominant in Congress, singled out Mas
| sachusetts, and by delaying payment of her
claims. sought to punish her for the action Of
/ the Federal party by which she had been con-
| trolled at the time of the war.
/ Mr.. Howard asked him whether there was
| any security that the money asked for would
be appropriated to the construction of the rail-
road spoken of in connection with it.
Mr.. Fessenden said its use for that purpose
was secured by the laws Of Massachusetts, and
Maine.
Mr.. Sherman said the proposition offered by
the Senator from Massachusetts, would appro-
pirate over five millions of dollars, and then
with the restrictions proposed by the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations would appropriate
over 81 100000. He had looked over the items
constituting the original claim and mad found
that nearly all of them were expenditures for
local defences.
Mr.. Patterson replied to Mr.. Sherman, who
he said had overstated the amount OF the origi-
nal claim He said the whole amount due
Massachusetts, and Maine under this claim
was not million and quarter as stated by
the Senator from Ohio, but only $767, 900.
Messrs Davis, Drake and Hendricks opposed
the amendment, and Mr.. Morton advocated it.
The debate continued until 1040, when the
Senate adjourned.
The House passed resolution-119 to a5-
directing the Committee on Public Grounds to
inquire into the circumstances of the proposed
return to Gen. Robert e. Lee of certain arti-
cles formerly belonging to Gen. Washington,
which were taken from Arlington House, and
directing the Secretary of the Interior not to
deliver them up until action had been taken on
fof4 4l,a
Mr.. Judd introduced joint resolution in
relation to the proper completion of the Pacific
Railroads and their branches, and moved the
previous question on its passage. 1t author
ICES and requires tn President of the United
States to demand and require from the Union
Pacific Railroad Company of California and
their branches, bonds or other securities suff-
cient to guarantee the completion of such rail-
roads and branches and bring them up to the
standard fixed by the Special Commission
that has recently examined and reported ON
the Union Pacific Railroad and its branches,
and that is now examining the Central Pacific
Railroad and its branches applying the same
standard of construction to each and requiring
the same security from each; and it directs the
the issue of such bonds to be withheld until
the report shall have been received.
The previous question was seconded-ayes
107, nays not countsd-and the joint resolution
passed without discussion.
Ordered That the House hereafter meet at
10 o'clock.
Mr.. Brooks called attention to the great ex-
pense of printing the public money, which had
cost since the beginning of the system over
$1l 100000 and for which this bill appropriated
81 100000.
A paragraph in the bill appropriating $780,
600 for the construction of four steam revenue
cutters-for Alaska, for Columbia river, Ore
gon, for Mobile, for Charleston, and for the
transfer of the revenue cutter s. p. Chase from
the great lakes to Boston, elected lengthy dis
cussion.
Mr.. Kelsey moved the appropriation of $4,000
to pay Miss Vennie Ream the amount due on
her contract to furnish a statue of the late
President Lincoln. Agreed to.
Mr.. Dodge moved an appropriation Of $229,-
848 to reimburse the State of Iowa for expenses
incurred and payments made during the rebel
lion, as examined, audited and found due by a
commission appointed by Gen. Buchanan,
which was rejected.
The same amendment with a prOviso was of
fered again by Mr.. Wilson of Iowa.
After considerable discussion Mr.. Butler of
Mass. moved to amend the amendment by pro-
viso, by appropriating an amount necessary to
pay the war claims of all the States that have
been reported favorably upon by the Commits
sioner appointed by Congress
Mr.. Wilson adopted the proviso.
Mr.. Clark OF Kansas moved to amend the
amendment by appropriating $215O00 for the
Kansas war claims.
Pending the discussion the House took re-
cess.
EVENING SESSION.
A large number of private bills were passed.
Mr.. Perham, from the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, reported a bill in relation to the op-
GRAFTON of the pension laws.
After some discussion and amendment the
bill was passed 1t provides that no claim of
a widow for pension, pay or bounty shall be
allowed where she has voluntarily lived sepa-
rate and apart from her husband without re-
ceiving any support from him; that all PEN
si0na OrQutad n of
wounds or sickness contracted in the service,
shall commence from the date of death or dis
charge Of soldier with provision that nothing
in the several acts relating to pensions shall
deprive any person who was in the service of
the United States between the Sd of March,
1866, and 9th of June, 1866, of his pension dur
ing that period.
Mr. Schenck said that the bill to strengthen
the public credit having come back from the
Senate with two or three amendments, he pro-
posed by way OF abrigding the consideration of
the matter, to ask the House to non-ccncur in
these amendments and ask for Committee of
Conference. He had no doubt such a commit
mittee would come to an arrangement.
Mr.. Butler-I object.
Mr.. Schenck-I move to suspend the rules
for that purpose.
Mr.. Spalding, who had the floor on the Mis-
cellaneous Appropriation bill, declined to yield
for that motion.
Mr.. Schenck-Very WELL want it under
stood by the country that it is on the objection
from the gentleman from Massachusetts that
we cannot get at that bill.
Mr.. Butler-And I want it understood by
the country that the gentleman from Ohio
cannot get at that swindling brokers' bill on
the objection of the gentleman from Massachu-
sets. Naughter.)
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Dawes in the chair, on the Miscel-
laneous Appropriation bill, the pending amend
ment being to pay the war claims of Iowa and
Kansas.
That in regard to Kansas was rejected, and
that in regard to Iowa, with Mr.. Buffers pro-
viso added to it, was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Lynch an appropriation of
$4,000 was made for lighthouse on Half Way
Rock, Casco Bay, Maine.
Mr.. Brooks moved an appropriation of $2,-
100000 for laying the foundation and COM
mencing the building of the Post Office in New
York city.
After some discussion the amendment was
adopted-78 to 40.
An appropriation of $4,000 was made for the
purchase of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln for
the White House, to be selected by the in
coming President.
An amendment to pay several contesting
members $2500 each gave rise to considerable
discussion. Finally it was agreed that the
amendment should be offered in the House,
and the Committee rose and reported the bill
to the House, which adjourned until 10 o'clock