The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-26
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PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIst OONGRESS---Second Session.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, March 25-Several bills, mem
Orials and resolutions were referred.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill to reduce the
number of men and officers Ofthe army and to
fix their pay. 1t reduces the army to twenty
five thousand men and authorizes the Presi-
dent to discharge any officer applying for such
discharge before September; those having
served ten years to receive two years pay and
all allowances; those having served more than
five years and less than ten years to receive
one and a half years pay; and those having
served less than five years, one years pay, &c.
1t authorizes him to retire on their application
any officers who have served thirty years; al
lows the retired list to be increased to three
hundred; abolIshes the Offices of Genera! and
Lieut.. General when located by the present
iDcumbents; reduces the number of Major
Generals to six when the present incumbents
vacate; makes the heads of staff departments
Colonies when vacated by the present incum
bents; abolishes the regimental cOmmissary of
cavalry sergeants, hospital stewards and veter-
mary surgeons; authorizes the appointment of
board of officers to examine such officers as
may be sent to them by the Secretary of War
for inefhciency on the recommendations of de-
partment commanders chiefs of stats, and also
authorizes the President on the report of the
board, wholly to retire them. 1t authorizes
the filling of all vacancies in the army by SUI
pernumary officers, and if any supernumary
officers shall then remain they shall be fur
Laughed at half pay until absorbed or retired
on one years pay. 1t allows officers on the re-
tired list to hold civil offices; allows promotions
to be ma lie in the quarter masters and medi-
cal departments and corps of engineers, and
adopts the House pay bill with slight modifica-
tions. By this bill the enlisted bill, now num-
bering about thirty-two thousand, will be re-
duced to twenty-five thousand by the first of
September, which will reduce the expenses of
the army several millions of dollars.
The House bill, which Mr.. Wilson adopts,
instead of reducing the expenses of the army
increases it, it is believed, several hundred
thousand dollars.
Mr.. Howard called up the bill to fix the point
of junction of the Union Pacific Railroad and
the Central Pacific Railroad COmpaDys, and
after debate it passed. 1t locates the juno.
ton few miles northeast of Ogden.
On the expiration of the morning hour the
Senate went into executive session on the San
Domingo treaty.
Bills were reported for an increase of the
subsidy of the San Francisco and China ocean
mail service, with a proviso that the steam
ships on the line hereafter be built of iron; and
| for the appointment of a board of examiners in
| case of officers deemiDg themselves unjustly
passed over by promotions under act of July
| %, 1866 A joint resolution appropriatipg
| 500, 900 for Capt. G. f. Halls Arctic expedi-
ton, and authorizing the President to furnish
steamer for the voyage was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
HOUSE.
Several petitions were presented and re-
ferred.
A resolution was adopted that the Land
Commissioner enquire into the propriely oil
extending the land laws to Alaska.
Mr.. Poland, of Vermont, asked the privilege
to report resolution admitting Adolph Bailey
as the Representative from the Third Louis
inaa District
Mr.. Paine, of Wisconsin, objected, as not a
| question of privilege, the matter being in the
hands of the Election Committee.
A number of private bills were disposed Of.
| A long colloquoy ensued between Messrs.
Woodward and Kelley, the former explaining
mat the charges of selling cadetships which he
recently brought to the notice of the House,
and were supposed to implicate Mr.. Kelley
were really against his predecessor, Mr.. Mill
ward. Mr. Kelley recited the details of cor
ruption, after which the House went into
Committee of the Whole on the tariff bill.
Mr.. Allison fIowa continued the speech in
favor OF general reduction of tax ton. He
gave notice of a motion to recommit the bill
with instructions to report a reduction of 20
per cent which he said could be done in two
Gays without difficulty. He claimed that the
new classification of iron, though it reduced
duties on some classes was on the whole ar
increase ofd duty. The duty on Bessemer steel
OF which rails re made, is about equal to 10(
per CENT and 1t was certainly a matter of great
importance to cheaper railroad iron which
would have the effect of diminishing The cos
of transportation.
MI. helley OF Pennsylvania then delivered a
speech in favor of protection,
| MeSsrs. cleveland and Sargent followed
Mr.. Kelley, after which the House adjourned
Mr.. Schenck giving notice that on Monday h,
would move to close the general debate on tb,
bill.