The Portland daily press., 1870-03-16

marks the subject was postponed for two
weeks.
Mr.. Butler Of Massachusetts, from the Re
construction Committee, reported bill to ad-
mt lexas to representation in Congress,
statlng that it was identical with the Virginia
and mississippi bills with the exception of an
additional provision that its passage shall not
anect conditions under which Texas was ORR
g'nally admitted into the Union.
Mr.. Wood of New York, member OF the
Reconstruction Committee, offered an addl-
tional proyiso that Texas be admitted with all
the rights of other States without qualitica-
ton or fundamental condition except as stated
in the bill
Mr.. Butler stated that there was no objection
to the proviso except it was useless
Mr. Beck of Kentucky offered substitute.
Mr.. Brooks of New York asked if the bill
affected the status of the proposition to divide
Texas into four states.
Mr.. Butler said that it did not.
Mr.. Woods bill was defeated, and Mr..
Beck's substitute also.
The bill then passed.
Several petitions were presented, including
one from the Board of Trade of Philadelphia,
fayoring harbor of refuge at Block Island.
Mr. Schenk of Ohio moved to refer the fund
ing bill to the Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio moved its reference to
the Banking Committee, as being a proper
place for it.
Mr.. Garfeld's motion was carried, after con-
siderable discussion.
The House then went into a committee of
whole on the deficiency BILL
The item of $4,000 inserted for post office
and court house at Desmoines, Iowa, and that
for the court house at Madison, Wis, was in
creased from $4,000 to $4,000.
A long discussion then ensued on the motion
of Mr.. Coburn to add to the appropriation of
$500, 900 for the New York post office provi-
sion that no money should be expended until
the plan with its specifications had been adop-
ted and fixed by law, and the cost also fixed
by law.
The House then took a recess.
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 Massachusetts
$2O,O 900 was appropriated for continuing work
on the Capitol grounds.
Mr.. Haight of New York inquired how
much reconstruction had cost up to the present
time.
Ma. Dawes replied, as near as be could ascer-
tain that it was about So, 5000.
Mr.. Haight inquired whether the money had
not been expended rather to make men loyal
to the party 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 laws.
Mr.. Eldredge, of Wisconsin, declared against
the word "loyal," as word which he despised
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 Massachusetts, moved to in
sert an appropriation of 500, 900 to enable the
Sisterhood of Ladies of Mercy in Charleston,
S. c., to rebuild their Orphan Asylum des-
troyed during the war, in acknowledgment of
their services to the Union prisoners in the
hospital at Charleston.
The chair ruled the amendment out of order
and the House sustained the decision.
The motion to strike out the ieem of $25 900
for repairs to the Presidents mansion was re-
jected and the item of $47, 1856 for expenses of
the various committees of the House inserted,
which completed the bill; after which the COM
mttee rose and the House adjourned.