The Portland daily press., 1870-12-20
XLIst OoNGREss--.ghira Session,

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19-Mr Pomeroy pre-
sented petitions from the Department clerks,
protesting against the bill to create depart
ment relleffuud Laid on the table.
The House bill amendatory to the cot of last
session to reduce the internal taxes was brief
ly considered on motion of Mr.. Sherman, who
explained that it was designed to remove the
ambiguity on the former act in the classiica-
ton ct tho dsties sugar by striking out the
words raw or Muscovado. The bifi was laid
over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Anthony from the Committee on Print
ing, reported resolution relating 10 printing
the patent office report, which was taken
up and discussed. Az
The bill was advocated by Messrs. Wiley,
Sherman, Conking ard others and passed
distribution of the plates to all mechanic in
stitutes throughout the country.
Mr.. Nye introduced bill to enable the peo-
pie of Colorado to form a constitution and
State government and the admission of said
State into the union. Referred to the Com.
mttee on Territories.
Mr. Williams made an Intellectual effort to
get up his resolution for q joint committee to
take charge of all ocean telegraph legislation.
Mr.. Kellogg of Connecticut introduced res
olution instructing the Committee on Ways
and Means to inquire into the expediency of
an immediate repeal of the income tax. The
House refused to second the previous question,
Ga to II, and debate arising the resolution went
over till Monday, January9.
Mr.. Beaman of Michigan, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations reported the post-ofice
appropriation bill and it was made the special
order for tomorrow. The bill appropriates
| $26,1 sos.
Mr. Urebs of Illinois offered resolution call
ing for information in regard to the purchase
of bonds for the sinking fund. It was rejected,
81 to III.
Mr.. Stewart introd uced resolution, which
was referred to the Committee on the Pacific
Railroad, and which provides that in order to
secure more speedy repayment OF the interest
on United States bonds issued to construct the
Union Pacific railroad, all troops, supplies and
public stores required for the Pacific coast,
States and territories shall be sent by way of
the Union Pacific railroad by rates not exceed
| ing those paid by private parties
The remainder of the session was occupid in
discussion of the question of the governments
liability to pay for individual losses in cOnse.
quence of the appropriation of private property
| Howe, Davis and Pratt sustained the doctrine
| of liability, which Messrs Howard, Chandler
and Sherman opposed. Without vote the
| Senate went into executive session and soon
| after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bills were introduced and referred as fol-
| lows:
By Mr.. Hale of Maine, in reference to the
| establishment of naval station at Mt. Desert,
| Me. by Mr.. Willard of Vermont, regulating
also for the survey of Otter Creek river. Yer
| mont; by Mr. Butler of Massachusetts,, to in
corporate the Southern Express Company; also
relating to testimony in United States Courts;
| also amending the Bankrupt act; by Mr..
Jenckes of Rhode Island, to prevent and pun
ish bribery and corruption practices in the
| election of members of Congress; by Mr.
/ Starkweather of Connecticut, relating to the
improvement of the Thames river, Connecticut;
| also granting cannon for a monument to Cen
Nathaniel Lyon at Eastport, Connecticut; by
Mr.. Packard of Pennsylvania, to place tea and
coffee the free list, and to increase the dutses
on pig and scrap iron; by Mr.. Hill of New
Jersey, authorizing the Postmaster General to
issue one &C mt correspondence postal cards; by
Mr.. McKinzie of Virginia, for the appoint.
ment of a commission on the claims of loyal
citizens for damages during the rebellion; by
Mr.. Coburn of Indiana, providing that &C
counts or claims adjusted by the proper officer
of the Treasury shall not be reopened except
by law, and limiting the time for the presenta-
ton of claims and accounts; by Mr.. Axtell of
California, to charter the California q Arizona
Railroad; also making the notes OF the gold
note banks receivable for customs.
A resolution by Mr.. Jenckes of Rhode Island
was adopted, instructing the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire into the charge of corruption
and bribery at the last Congressional election
in the Eastern district of Rhode 1slard, with
power to send for persons and papers
| A motion by Mr.. Fitch OF Nevada, to sus-
pend tho rules and restore to the Speaker s
table, the Senate bi relating to the central
branch of the Pacific railroad, which at last
session, through misunderstanding Of the
Speaker and Mr.. Twitchell of Mass, had been
referred to the Committee on Public Lands
was rejected, 115 to &c. The bill cannot now
be brought before the House except by two.
thirds vote, whereas ma ority vote Gould take
it from the Speakers table.
A resolution by Mr.. Worries of Indiana was
adopted, instructiDg the Committee on Public
Lands to report at the present session bill
exemptiDg disabled pensioners from the re-
quirements of the homestead law, which makes
personal settlement necessary.
Mr.. Jones of Kentucky, offered preamble
and resolution reciting that the Government
the United States was established as confed
eracy of co-equal States; that the question o
the right of secession was from the be2lnniDs
, debateable; that the rights OF revolution were
admitted and affirmed in the declaration Q
independence; that certain States nad secedee
aud set up Government OF their own win al
honest convection as 20 reserved rights; tnat ;
great civil war ensued and the experiment wa
made and settled by arms; that since then tf'
I people of the Southern States bad conformet
to all the requirements OF the Government aBt
been fully reconstructed. and declaring 1t tb'
duty of the Government aud Congress to graz
free, unqualified and perfect pardon and am
nesty to all political offenders in the late war
The resolution was r. jected, IA to AZ. ANON
the Democrats voting in the pega,ive, wer
8 Barnum, Cox, Crebs, Holman, Morrissey
Mungen, Schumacher, and Slocum.
Mr. Cox of N. Y, asked unanimous consen
CT the House to offer the same resolution with
out preamble. Mr.. Jones Of KY, objected.