Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-04-22
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
WAsHINGToN, April 81.

| NAsHINGToN, April II.
SENATE. Mr. Scott introduced bill to
amend the Revenue law, providing that the
| section which imposes a licence for the pro-
| duce brokers shall not be so construed as to
make subject to that licence farmers who sell
| their own produce. The discussion upon the
proper course in reference to the bill for mail
steamship service between California and
Australia, involving a like reference of all
| similar measures, was resumed and finally
| terminated by referring the subject to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
| The Northern Pacific Railroad bill, author
lZlng the Company to issue its bonds for the
| construction of its road and to secure the same
| by mortgage, was taken up, and Mr.. Casserly
| resumed his argument upon the rapid absorp-
! ton of the pnblic lands by Western Railroads,
| to show the mischeivous effect of these ex
| cessive grants as compared with a more
| equitable system, tending to paralyze rather
| than incite cooperative energy, and inducing
the roads to come to Congress and demand as
| a right what at first they asked as favor.
| Mr.. Thurston's amendment requiring the
| road to transport United States troops, stores
and munitions of war free, was rejected, 80 to
| II, and Mr.. SCOTS amendment that the land
now granted and not sold within five years
| from the completion of the road shall be sub
ject to settlement and preemption like any
| other public lands, was rejected, SO to s.
An amendment by Mr.. Howard, rescrving
| the right to Congress to alter or to amend the
| resolution, was adopted, and a proviso by Mr..
Cameron requiring the road to be built wholly
of American iron or steel, was agreed to q
to Is. The bill was then passed 40 to IL.
The Senate then wentinto executive session
and adjourned.
House. A note was read from the Chair
1 g.l..
stating that he is sick and would be unable
to call up the Tariff BILL and Mr.. Dawes pro-
posed that after the morning hour. some of
the appropriation bills be taken up instead.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Kerr yes
terday to ratify the Governor of Louisiana,
of vacancy in the Congressional district
having come up as the unfinished business,
Mr. Kerr withdrew and Mr.. Stevenson re-
newed it.
After debate the resolution was tabled.
The bill revising and amending the statute
relative to patent rights was taken up. The
amendments reducing salaries of the libra
ran of the patent office to Sl,s00, and the
examiner to $1,000 were agreed to-
Further amendments were rejected and the
bill passed.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole on the Naval Appropriation bill,
which appropriates Sl6,6l4,S45.
Mr.. Washburne of Wisconsin explaining
the bill. said that the ships of the Navy did
no credit to the country at home or abroad.
The position of the navy was most humiGat
ing, the war ships of the United States be-
ing the dcrision of the world The Commit
tee on Appropriations were unanimously of
the opinion that before spending large sums
of money for a class OF vessels that were
confessedly useless as cruisers they should
pause and consider the question of a future
policy. He declared that the iron steamships
of England could sweep from the ocean in
thirty days, what little American commerce
there was left; and it was well to consider
whether the United States Government
might not wisely divert part of the money
now spent on the navy, in encouraging the
building of vessels that would be useful in
peace and i'll war. As to the question of the
extension and improvement of navy yards, ii
would be considered in another bill. The
English government are now having most of
its work done in private yards, and he had
no doubt that the work done in the navy
wards cost twice as much as it would in pri-
vate yards.
Mr.. Hale addressed the Committee in de-
fence of the Navy dept against the aspersions
or insnuations of Cox and Dawes and the
newspapers.
Mr. Morgan asked Mr.. Hale whether he
was aware that the Sec'y of the Navy had es-
timated for the pay of naval officers TWO mil
lions over their legal salaries.
Mr. Hale said he was not and did not know
nybody who was.
Mr.. Morgan said he knew it and could
prove it.
Mr. Hale went on to compare the American
Navy with that of other nations, to show its
inferiority.
At the evening session only a dozen men,
bers were present. The Committee rose and
the House adjourned.