The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-12
NEW S
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIst OONGRESE---Second Session.


WASHINGTON, April u.-Mr. Sumner pre-
scented resolutions from the Massachusetts, Leg
islature in favor of postal telegraph.
A resolution was adopted that the Commit
tee on Agriculture inquire what legislation
was necessary for more humane transpOrtiOn
Mr.. Mcdonald delivered an argument In
support OF the bill for a line of steamships I'M
der the United States flag for the conveyance
of United States mails to European ports and
the ports of India and China.
Mr.. Drake introduced bill to incorporate
an association for the prevention Of cruelty to
animals Referred Messrs. Morrill, of Maine,
Sawyer and Casserly were appointed COM
uittee OF conference on the deficiency app-o.
The Northern Pacific Railroad bill was taken
up and two amendments regulating the sale of
the land offered and rejected
Then Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
Several bills and resolutions were introduced
and referred, including the resolutions of the
Massachusetts, legislature favoring postal tel
egraph.
A bill was introduced to impose tax on
Grapes, and to regulate the distillation thereof.
The bill does not propose to change the present
rate of taxation, but to relieve such distilation
from certain regulations which are proper in
grain distillation, but are incongruous and op-
pressive as applied to fruit dstillatiOn.
Resolutions were adopted, on motion of Mr..
Cobb of North Carolina, granting the use of
the Hall Of the House of Representatives for a
meeting of the colored people of the District 10
recognition of the adoption of the 18th amend
ment; the House to participate therein.
A resolution was adopted that the Speaker
appoint committee of five to make arrange
ments for the meeting, and he appointed Mes
srs. Dockery, Maynard, Allison, Cox and e.
bridge as the committee. There was much
laughter at the announcement of the Dem
OcratiC names
Mr.. Cox Of New York said he could not
serve on the committee except on one condi-
ton; that his friend from Massachusetts (Mr.
Bucler) should be allowed to entertain the
meeting with little minstrelsy (Laughter.)
And added that he declined to serve because
he did not wish to meet some persons who
would be present. though he had no objection
to the colored people.
Mr.. Eldridge-As this is not Congressional
duty and is not required by the rules OF the
House will not serve on that committee.
The Speaker-Is the gentleman serving on
two committees?
Mr.. Eldridge-I do not put it on that ground,
but on the ground that am not required by
my official position to render any such servl-
ces, and shall not render it,
The Speaker ruled that he had no power to
excuse any gentleman from serving on COM
mittee which the House had ordered; and the
House refused to excuse Messrs. Cox and Ell
bridge.
Among the bills presented was one granting
| lands for a railroad from Lincoln, Nebraska to
Denver, Colorado, and among the petitions
| Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences for
| a reform in the administration of the Astrono-
| mical Observatory at Washington.
In Com mittee of the Whole the paragraphs
of the tariff bill taxing women's and children's
dress goods, clothing and wearing apparel,
balmoral and other skirts and skirting, made
wholly or in part of wooden, wOrsted hair, of
goats or other animals 30 cents per pound and
40 per cent adval0rem; and the next para
graph taxing webbing, bindings, braids, gal
looms: fringes, and head nets made wholly or in
part OF wool or goats hair 80 cents per pound
aud IS per cent. advalorem, were all amended
| by the insertion OF the words "silk not being a
component part thereof of chief value"
Some amendments were also made to the
| next paragraph taxing cards, tassels, buttons
and ornaments for dresses and outside gar
ments made wholly or in part of wool or goats
hair, GO per cent advalorem.
Mr.. Brooks Of New York moved to strike out
the paragraph taxing carpets and had read ar
editorial from the Chicago Tribune, which b.
said had more influence on public opinion thar
forty members of Congress, showing that OF thu
$2l,O00,000 paid by the people last year under
tax on carpets only $2,215,OOO went into tn
treasury; the other nineteen millions being di
vided as extra profits among American carpe
manufacturers.
Mr.. Brooks motion was rejected and tn
paragraph passed over without amendments x
cept to insert Brussels carpets at % cents pc
| yard and 35 cents advalOrem. The duty on OF
cloths for floors stamped or printed. was fixe
at As DER cent advalorem. On silk oil cloth
silk buttons and outside garments and all Othe
manufacture of mixed material, silk being tn
components of chief value 60 per cent. advalor
| EN-.
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts, moved to add
| new paragraph taxing at % per cent web
| bings composed of silk and rubber, or silk an,
other material, silk being the material of chic
value used in the manufacture of shoes.
Without disposing OF the amendment til
committee rose, having gone through owe
three pages of the bill.
Mr.. Butler OF Massachusetts, asked unan
nous consent to introduce his joint resolutio
to annex the republic of Dominica.
Mr.. Brooks OF New York objected unless Ire
land were annexed too, paying for it with Ala
bama claims.
The resolution granting the use of the ha
for the celebration of the 10Th amendment wa
rescinded and the select committee discharged
The House then adjourned.