The Portland daily press., 1870-06-16
Kills. O0NGRESs---Second Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, June 15-Mr. Fenton pre-
sented a memorial from Moses Taylor, Commo-
dore Vanderbilt and others, against any repeal
Of the registry law by which foreign built ships
lster 10 the United States,
A discussion on the bill defining duties of
pension agents and prescribing the manner of
paying pensions followed, during which Mr..
Ednunds pronounced the scheme of paying
pensions through postal money orders or ma
tional banks as unwise and impracticable-
No action was taken on the BILL
The bill subsequently was passed
The bill confirming the title of Mrs. Harriet
Parker to two guano islands in the North
Pacific ocean, discovered by her late husband,
was passed, and the franking bill was proceed
ed with.
Mr.. Nye occupying the time until recess in a
speech in opposition to the measure.
EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session the House bill au-
thorlzing the construction of bridge over the
Niagara river at Buffalo was passed, and the
franking bill being resumed Mr. Nye complet-
ed MS speech, arguing that the measure was
not one of economical REFORM
The remainder of the session was occupied
Dy Messrs. Thufonan and Morton in favor of the
against it; and without vote the Senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Maynard of Tennessee, from the Com
mlttee on Ways and Means, reported bill re-
ieving coal from all taxation and moved its
reference to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Hooper of Massachusetts made q minor
lily report, signed by Messrs. Hooper, Brooks
OF New York, Allison of Iowa, and Marshall of
Illinois, stating that there were two members
absent when the matter was considered; that
the minority could not agree with the bill as
ren1rtGu nd fhara
posed substitute and that if all 5he members
OF the committee had been present the minor
ity bill would have been adopted. The substi-
tute provides that on and after September,
1871, bituminous and other coal imp )rted into
the United States shall be admitted free of
duty.
Mr.. Ward of New York moved that the ma
Jorlty report be recOmmitted because not in ac-
Gordance with the instructions of the House
contained in the resolution which he submit
ted.
Mr.. Schenck of Ohio chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee, stated that Immediate
ly after the House adopted resolution calling
upon the committee to report a bill relieving
coal from duly he was obliged to go to West
Point with the board of visitors. He had him.
self prepared and submitted bill to the COM
mitttee, placing coal on the free list. If he had
been present with the committee he should
have concurred with the minority of the COM
mittee. After further discussion the bill was
recommitted to the Committee of Ways and
Means.
The House then proceeded to vote on the
currency bill. and the amendments offe ed by
Ingersoll of Illinois, lynch OF Maine and Smith
of Oregon were rejected, and that OF Mr. Judd
Of Illinois to strike from the second section the
3t % mae Is 81 Gent Of the add
tional circulation issued, was agreed to.
The other amendments were rejected, Mr.
Coburn's, authorizing the issue of $45,OOO,OOO
IN greenbacks with which to redeem the per
nnf faC hV7 ff, o,,AI
tived two motions to lay on the table the bill
was passed, 98 to 81.
The House then resumed the consideration
of the resolutions in regard to Cuba, and was
addressed by MIR. Wood, member of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, who said he
had not supported either report, not thinking
that either gave any practical or substantial
aid to the Cuban cause. He thought it a yery
singular circumstance the gentleman Efrom
Massachusetts Mr.. Butler) who had been in.
structed to inquire into the premature pubica-
ton of the report of the gold investigation COM
mlttee should have extended that inquiry
without authority into the issue and use OF Gu
ban bonds, and that the President in his recent
message should have taken up the same point
MIR. Butler stated that the public statement
about the Cuban bonds did not come from any
information obtained from his committee
Mr.. Banks asked his colleague if he had not
exhibited the Cuban bonds to all the members
Mr.. Butler replied that he had exhibited a
one-half dozen bonds taken from the pockets
OF reporter of city newspaper, by paying
| him 10 cents on dollar for them. =
| Mr. Banks asked his colleague further why
subject under consideration for nearly three
months.
Mr.. Butler replied that he had brought be-
fore the Judiciary committee the question of
compelling the attorney OF the Cubans to dis
close the contract under which So, 000, 900 OF
bonds had been deposited and the question
was still before the committee.
Mr.. Eldridge of Wisconsin objected to the
disclosure of the matter before the committee
and the Speaker sustained the objection In
conclusion Mr.. Wood recapitulated at cOnsid-
cradle length the reasons which he said he
found more than justification for the recogni-
ton of Cuban belligerency.
MIR. Wood argued that the United States
would be justified in demanding of Spain au-
tonomy for Cuba like that which England
grants Canada and all her colonies, or as an
alternative that she relinquish at once her
claim to the island, which at best canaot long
| be maintained.
Mr.. Willard, another member of the CON-
| mittee next addressed the House in opposition
to the resolution of the majority
MIR. Butler of Massachusetts, spoke at length
against the resolution.
Mr.. Logan of Illinois, replied to Mr.. Butler
| in very animated manner, crticising him
| sharply in reference 10 his suggestions about
| the case OF Cuban bonds, recommending gold
as far better for eOrrupting purposes than bonds,
and said If anything had been used on either
side 1t would have been gold. He proceeded to
advocate the cause of free Cuba and to reply to
the arguments against the resolutions as to the
| arguments that there was no war in Cuba. He
wanted to know what the thirty Spanish gun
boats that We're allowed to come to New York
were intended for; was it to 90 fishing off Cane
Cod. Uaughter.) AS to the Presidents mes
| sage he said that if Gen. Grant had not been
in Pennsylvania fishing when the message was
written, he would not have signed as readily as
ne had done. He Nogan) was sorry that the
PRESIDENT had signed it; it was bad message.
| 1t did not state the law correctly, and he was
| sorry to see the President put upon record q
misstatement of the law. He appealed to the
House if it cared at all to err on the side Of
humanity and liberty; and to his fellow Re-
| publicans he appealed not to let the Democrats
| beat them in favor of liberty. (Applause)
Mr.. Banks refusing Mr.. Bingham's request
for permission to offer an amendment, CLOSED
the Gebate, after which Mr.. Bingham moved
| to reconsider the vote ordering the main ones
ton, that he might offer an amendmen
MIR. Eldridge moved to lay the motion on tn,
table. Negatived, 81 to "A, in the midst of grea
excitement.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, moved to adjourn
the effect of which would have been to plac
the resolution at the bottom of the business OF
10l.
Ihe main question was then reconsidered
anu MI bingham offered as substitute fol
the resolution of the minority the third section
OF the resolution of the ma jority, modified a
iolows:-That the President is hereby author
lzed to demonstrate against the barbarots man
ner in which the war in Cuba has been con
ducted, and, if he shall deem it expedent, t.
solicit the co-operation of other Government
IN SUCH measure as he NAV deem necessar
to secure from both the contendinp narties al
Observance of the laws of war recognized b.
all civilized nations.
The previous question was seconded, and a
that presented new phase of the question
bringing up the question as unfinished busi
ness tomorrow, the House adjourned.
MAssACHUsETrs.