Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-16
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

SENATE. A concurrent resolution for the
appointment Of Special Joint Committee on
Indian Affairs was taken up.
Mr.. Edmunds said the appointment of a
committee was generally looked on as the
means of playing into the hands of the Indian
ring.
Mr.. Howard thought that its appointment
would lead to confusion confounded,
and that the Indian affairs should be left in
the hands Of the Executive.
Mr.. Wilson expressed his faith in the hui
man and Christian policy which the President
sought to inaugurate.
A motion to lay on the table was con-
sdered test vote, resulting in tie and the
Vice President voted nay, thus keeping the
subject before the Senate.
The morning hour expired and it went
over.
The Georgia bill was then taken up and
Mr.. Stewart continued his speech Of yester-
day.
Messrs. Edmunds and Wood supported the
Bingham amendment-cla its adoption
would have tendency to repress disorder
and violence, and that Congress has power, if
necessary, to preserve peace in the State Of
Georgia; at all events it would be better that
she should go democratic ten times over than
that Congress should, in the face of an intelli-
gent country, attempt the overthrow of the
settled course of practice in this respect
Mr. Drake offered an amendment providing
for the furnishing of troops by the President
on the call Of governors or legislatures OF the
late rebel States whenever they are unable
to repress organizations for the purpose OF
violence or the obstruction of the law.
The Senate went into executive session and
then adjourned.
HOUSE. The House went into q Com
mttee OF the Whole, on the deficiency bill.
The item of $4,000 inserted for Post
Office and a Court House at Desmoines,
Iowa, and that for the Court House at Mad
ison. Wis, was increased from $4,000 to
$4,000.
A long discussion then ensued on the mo-
ton of Mr.. Coburn. to add to the proposition
of $500 600 for the New York Post Office, a
provision that no money should be expended
until the plan with specifications had been
adopted and fixed by law, and the cost also
fixed by law.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass, said while in favor
of fixing limit to the total cost. he advocated
the appropriation provided for the bill, and
urged that it would involve no departure from
any plan which might hereafter be adopted.
If otherwise, the work must soon cease, and
the government be subjected to a greatly in
creased expense.
Mr.. Butler OF Mass, argued that there
would be no security in limiting the cost at
the outset, and cited the cases OF the Boston
Custom House, which was originally limited
10 $500 600, but which cost 81 900, 900. The
Cincinnati Custom House which was limited
to SIS 900, but which cost S262, 900.
In the course of the debate, Mr.. Schenck
of Ohio defended Mr.. Mulett, the Treasury
architect and said he should offer a resolu-
ton for an investigation by the Committee on
Public Buildings of his whole officicial con-
duct, and all contracts made with his APP
proyal.
A recess was then had
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Farnsworth, Dawes, Butler, Stevenson and
others, who were friendly to it.
Mr.. Coburn's amendment was rejected
On motion of Mr.. Dawes of Mass, $50 ZOO
was appropriated for continuing work on the
Capitol grounds.
Mr. Haight of \. j., inquired how much
reconstruction had cost up to the present
time.
Mr.. Dawes replied as near as he could as
certain that it was about 81, 250,000.
Mr.. Haght inquired whether the money
had not been expended rather to make men
loyal TO the avty than to the country.
Mr.. Dawes denied that, and said the only
desire was to make the men in the South
obey the government and the law.
Mr. Eldridge of Wis, acclaimed against
the word ''loyal" as a word which he dispised
and hated 1t always reminded him of the
definition given by the contractor during the
war. When pressed to explain what he
meant by saying he felt loyal, he said he felt
as if he wanted TO steal something or kill
somebody; as for himself, he was patriotic,
not loyal-the word did not belong to this
country, it only belonged to Massachusetts.
Mr. Dawes of Mass, moved to insert an
appropriation of $4,000 TO enable the Sister
hood of Ladies of Mercy, in Charleston, S.
c.. to rebuild their orphan asylum destroyed
during the war, in acknowledgment of their
services to tie Union prisoners in the hospi-
tai at Charleston.
The Chair ruled the amendment out of
order, and the House sustained the decision
co to So.
The motion to strike out the item for
S25, 900 for repairs TO the Presidents Man
sion was rejected. and the item of S47,lS
for expenses of various committees OF the
House inserted, which completed the bill,
after which the committee rose and the House
adjourned.