The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-10
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PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIst OONGRESS---Third Session.


SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9-Mr. Sumner submit
led resolution in the Senate requesting the
President to communicate to the Senate II IN
his opinion it was not incompatible with pub
lie interest, copies of all papers and correspon-
dence relating to the proposed annexation or
purchase of any part OF the Island of st. Do
ningo including the original and all suisse
quent instructions to any agent or consul OF
the United States with the correspondence
and any protocol or convention signed by such
agent or consul. Also the account of the
debt Of the Dominican government, especially
to- Hayti; also the provisions of the existing
constitution of the Dominican Republic so far
as it relates to the sale or transfer of the ma
tOnal domain; also any treaty with Haytl or
France by which Dominica is affected; also
any communication from the neighboring re-
public OF Hayti OF from our minister there re-
lating to the proposed anne xatiOu also instruC.
tons to the commander of our naval
squadron IN the waters OF the Island at
the commencement of the late negotiations,
with the reports and correspondence of such
commander; also any information tending to
show what European power, if any, proposes
to acquire jurisdiction of any part of the island,
and If so, what part; also any information with
regard to the position of President Baez under
whom the treaty of annexation was negotiated,
and the extent to which he has been maintain
ed in power by the presence of United States
vessels of war; also any information with re-
gard to statements of the people of Dominica
any information with regard to any claim OF
jurisdiction blythe republic of Hayti over the
territory of Dominica
The resolution was ordered to be printed and
temporarily laid over.
A resolution by Mr.. Edmunds was adopted,
instrueting the Judiciary Committee to en-
quire and report whether the railroad COmpa-
MES which have received aid bonds of the
United States are lawfully bound to reimburse
to the United States all the interest paid on
such bonds before the maturity of the prnc-
pal thereof, and if so what legislation is neces-
sary to compelssuch reimbursement.
A bill was introduced by. Mr.tSpencer to.
reduce the number of certain offices in the
navy, providing for the discontinuance of the
offices of Admiral and Vice Admiral after va
cancies occur in the same, and a reduction of
the Enumber of offices of Rear Admiral and
Commodore to three and six respectively by
the omission to fill vacancy hereafter occur
ring.
Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
The President was requested, on the motion
of Mr.. Cassidy, to transmit to the Senate full
information to when and where, since his in
auguratioD, the army or navy or any part
thereof had been employed to assist the civil
| authorities, either in enforcing the revenue
| laws or preserving peace at elections, and on
whose request, advice or representation the
army or navy was thus employed, together
with all letters, dispatches or papers, advices,
asking or iustifylng such employment, and
| complete copies of all orders, dispatches or
acquisitions made in each case, with copies of
| reports of what took place under them. The
| President was requested to furnish also an es-
innate of the cost to the government of such
employment of United States forces and copy
Of all orders or regulations now in force in
military and naval service describing circum-
| stances, &c.
Bills were introduced as follows By Mr..
| Cole, relating to expectation of petroleum.
| By Mr.. Drake, to regulate rank in the navy
of the United States and for other purposes.
| 1t provides that the medical, pay and engineer
corps on the active list of the navy shall con-
sist Of one Surgeon General, one Paymaster
| General and one Engineering Chief, to rank
with Commodores, who shall take seniority in
such rank in thirty years after date of their
| commissions; seven Pay and seven Engineer
directors, to rank with Captains and who shall
take seniority in twenty years from the date of
their commissions; twelve Pay and twelve En-
| gineer inspectors, and twelve Medical inspec-
tors, to take rank with Commanders and to
take seniority in twelve years from the date Of
| their commissions; twenty each of Staff Sur
geons, Paymasters and Engineers, to rank with
| Lieut. Commanders and to take seniority in
nine years from the date of their commissions;
forty Surgeons, forty Paymasters and forty
Chief Engineers, to rank with Lieutenants and
| to take seniority according to the date of their
commissions-eacho of the above to have pay as
now provided by law; forty Passed Assistant
Surgeons, thirty Passed Assistant Paymasters,
| and forty First Assistant Engineers, to rank
next after Lieut.. Commanders; forty Assistant
Surgeons, twenty Assistant Paymasters and
forty Second Assistant Engineers, to rank
next after Masters and before Ensigns. Sec
ton 2 provides that the Surgeon General, Pay
master General, Engineer-in. Chief, Medical,
| Pay and Engineer directors and inspectors and
staff Surgeons, Paymasters and Engineers,
shall be nominated by the President to the
Senate. Section 8 provides that line officers
of the Medical, Pay and Engineer corps shall
| take precedence in order as above named, ex-
cept commanding and executive officers OF
whatever grade take precedence over all medi-
cal, pay and engineer officers on board vessel
or at station at which they may be attached.
This act shall confer no authority to exercise
military command and no additional rights to
quarters upon medical, pay and engineer corps
| Referred to Committee on Naval Affairs.
By Mr.. Stewart, to define and protest the
rights of miners and encourage the develop
The Committee on Indian Affairs reported
| favorably on the bill authorizing the election
| of delegate to Congress from the Indian ter.
| ritory.
The Judiciary Committee reported adverse
| ly on the bill giving State courts concurrent
| jurisdiction with Districts Courts of the United
| States in cases of maritime contracts upon
navigable rivers and waters about ebb aud
| flow of tide
After an Executive session of an hour the
Senate adjourned till Monday.