The Portland daily press., 1870-06-10
XLIst CONGREss---Second Session.
SENATE.
Wts- n

Iue Dlil iOF dppOrClOumenC OF representa-
Ives to Congress among the several States was
taken up. The question being on the first of
the Senate committees amendment increasing
the number OF representatives from o75 to 500,
Mr.. Trumbu'l, chairman of the judiciary COM
mittce expls' ned that the object of the bill was
to give as early as was practicable effect to the
census of 1879. By fixing the number at zoo
no State would lose its present representative
and number.
The present popu alton Of the United States
is estimated at about t0,000,OO0 or Al, 600 eco,
and the new basis of representation will be
about ]. $685. while the present basis is about
127,O0O. He commented upon the other amend
ments, the main object of which was to pro-
vide for the representa- on of the new colored
element, amounting to 6000O, people, which
was two-f.ths of the 100000 introduced into
our voting population and only three fifths of
that class be ng represented under tie present
apportionment. The fist amendment was then
agreed to and the next amendment, to strike
olt the prov sion that any reduction of repre-
sentatiOn of representatives in State by the
new apportiOnment shall not take effect in the
ed Congress, was opposed by Mr.. Morrill, of
Vermont, who advised that the bill should not
go into effect till at least one year alter the
census, and after other objections by Messrs.
Edmunds and Trumbull, tine bill was laid on
the table. .r
The bill to abolish the ranking privilege
came up, the question being on N. L rake 5
amendment allowing newspaper exchanges to
pass tree, to Mr.. Shermans amendment for a
tree e.Ie%a5loab to Ysek(Gy lA5eHXsnaners within
Mr.. Ramsey addressed the Senate in advoca-
cy Of the bill, and read from Western news
paper to the effect that newspapers could take
care of themselves and pay their own postage
ust as members of Congress ought to do
Laughter) He coo'd not see any reason for
special exem ption of ne VS. papers as nine-tenths
OF all the matter passing through the mails was
printed. He stated that the present agitation
on the subject was not due to Postmaster Gen
eral Creswell, but the reform had been urged
on Congress for the past years; and in 1851
Postmaster General Holt reported if the free
mail matter in that wear had postage it would
at present enjoying the frauking privilege were
!: %. including postmasters. He also said that
il was impossible to prevent forgery of con-
gressional franks. pos.el Clerks could not
distinguish tue Ion aise. He though the
people were satisfied W tue present DOS al
proposition to 'imit express ma = transportation
to $50 per mile would effect the saving CHM
ed for it.
M. Nye did not think the large number of
petit oos presented in favor OF tue hill safe
c:ite, on for lete- q. Dg The sense of the peo-
pie in regard to it. Signatures to petitions
Were not bard to Obtain and he thought he
might get up lie same plumber of pet IONS TO
hang he Sc lstor Tom Minnesota f,om persons
who d not know that gentleman.
M. Flann. can was in favor o. retaining the
anking privilege as means OF di1LsiDg PC
:.tical 'ght -1ong the people of his own STATE,
T,xas. He looked upon it as one OF the great
levers of public opinion.
Nc. Sumner gave notice of his intention to
close the debate by advocating his proposition
for the abolition of the frank: ng privilege with
One ceut postage for all.
After an executive session of two hours the
Senate adjournedl
When the House met the hall was so dark
owing to the heavy thunder storm that was
raging that the gas had to be lighted.
Mr.. Mccormick OF Missouri, who was men,
toned in correspond ence of the New York
Z ching Post in refence to Cuban bonds, en-
phatically denied all knowledge of the affair
and called on Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts,, to
STATE whether any evidence had been taken
duplicating him.
Mr.. Butler being absent Mr.. Mccormick
made the same inquiry of Mr. Davis of New
York, also member of the Judiciary Commit
tee.
Mr.. Davis said that he was not a member of
the subcommittee, and knew nothing about
the proceedings.
On account of the storm recess was then
taken.
After the recess Mr.. Ward of New York,
called attention to the resolution adopted on
Monday, directing toe Committee on Ways
and Means to report as soon as practicable a
bill for the aboiishing of the duty on coal.
Mr.. Hooper of Massachusetts,, acting as chair
man of the committee, said the committee had
rot agreed as to the meaning of the resolution !;
one member at least taking the ground that
all direct and indirect taxation was to be taken
off coal.
A discussion was opened on the subject, but
the Speaker ruled that everything except re-
ports were out of order under the call of COM
mittees.
Bill to punish the unlawful certification of
checks, in Collation. of the act of March g. 1c g,
by officers of the national banks was passed.
The penalties of the bill are 5000 or five years
Imprisonment, or both, az the discretion of the
court.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, reported the Senate
bill to provide national currency of coin and
notes, and to egualize the distribution of circu-
lating notes with substitute thereof.
Mr.. Cox of New York, q member of the COM
mittee, objected. He said that no meeting had
been held to authorize the report, and Mr.. Gar
field of Ohio, explained that the meeting was
held during the ten minutes recess this morn
ing.
The substitute was then read, being the $685.
900, 600 currency bill with the banking and 9TH
er sections struck out. The substitute ha. .pg
been read Mr.. Cox again made point of order
that Mr.. Garfield was not authorized to make
a report.
The Speaker ruled that the point of order
came too late, adding that if it had been per-
sisted in when it was first made he would have
submitted the question to the House.
Mr.. Cox appealed from the decision of the
chair and called for the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, moved that
the House adjourn and called for the yeas and
nrys, addingtin an undertone) that they would
filibuster on this bill every morning hour from
now till the end of the session.
During the roll call the morning hour expir-
ed and the bill went over. The appeal from tie
decision OF the chair had been Withdrawn
Mr. Davis of New York, from the Judiciary
Committee, reported bill to establish uni
form system of naturalization and to regulate
the proceedings under the same. The bill make s
the following conditions: Three years residence
in the United States with The intention to be-
come citizen, and six months residence in a
State and thirty days in county or parish be-
fore application; the application to be filed
twenty days in court The proceedings for
naturalization are to be had before U. S. Cir
cult and District Courts in counties or parishes
where there are not more than two stated
terms of these courts. Proceedings may be
had in any State court of general Jurisdiction
having a clerk and seal. The naturaized cit-
zen is not to exercise all the privileges of cit-
zenshp till six months from date of Judgment
Aliens enlisted in the United States army or
navy and honorably discharged tberefrom may
become citizens upon OneI years actual resi-
dence