The Portland daily press., 1870-03-15
XLIst C0NGRESs---Second Session

WASHINGTON, March 14.-Mr. Sumner rose
to a personal explanation, saying in substance
that the language of Gen. Prim in the Spanish
Cortes on Saturday, that he (Sumner) had
never received any proposition in regard to a
sale of Cuba, was correct.
Mr.. Sumner introduced a bill to strengthen
the legal reserves of national banks and to pro-
vide for the resumption of specie payments.
1t requires every national banks to reinforce its
reserves by the substitution of coin at the rate
of one per cent. per month upon the whole
amount of liabilities, for the redemption of
which the reserves are required, and provides
such substitution to continue until the whole
amount of legal reserves shall become coin,
and thereafter every national bank shall hold
In its vault an amount of coin equal to the
amount of reserves required by law. The Sec
ond section directs the Secretary of the Treas
ury, upon the passage of the act, to give public
notice OF the intention of the government to
resume payment in specie upon all its liabili-
ties not later than the first of January next;
thereafter the pay ments by the Treasury to be-
upon coin basis The Secretary is also re-
quired to retain il the treasury the coin re-
ceived from customs and other sources in ex-
cess OF the requirements OF the public debts,
and such other supply of coin as may be &C.
essary in the execution of the provisions of this
act may be obtained under the act entitled IAN
act to authorize the purchase of coin and for
other purposes" approved March II, 1862 The
bill repeats all the acts making anything but
coin legal tender for debts, public or private,
suspends the further printing of United States
notes and fractional currency, and provides for
the redemption and cancellation of mutilated
fractional currency. Referred to the Commit
tee on Finance and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the judiciary Com
tions as it come from House, and proceeded to
explain it and support Mr.. Bingham's amend
ment.
Mr.. Morton offered resolution requesting
the Naval Committee to report joint resolutions
expressing the deep sorrow OF the nation for
the officers and men on board the Oneida, ex-
pressing the national admiration of their gall
liant conduct, and the national adherence at
the inhuman and brutal conduct of the COM
mander of tbs Bombay.
After an executive session the Senate adj
journed.
Several bills were introduced and referred,
including one for bringing home the remains
Of Gen. Asboth, late Minister to the Argentine
Confederation.
The resolutions of the Legislature of Maine.
asking an appropriation by Congress to pay
the interest on advances made by Massachu
sets in the war of 1872, were presented; also a
bill making the District of Columbia Terri
tory.
A resolution was passed prohibiting steam
ers on rivers carrying nitro-glycerine, kero-
sene, naptha, coal oil, benzine, camphene or
crude petroleum.
A resolution was adopted calling on the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury for a tabular statement
showing the operation Of the sinking fund in
extinguishing the debts of the revolutionary
war and the war of 1872
Mr.. Marshall of Illinois offered the follow
ing:
: Resolued, That the depressed condition of
business and the various industrial interests
of the country demand of Congress prompt ac-
ton in relieving the people of all taxation not
absolutely necessary to provide Tor the wants
OF government, economically administered, and
that in reforming the existing tariff laws the
legislation should be on the principle, to wit:
LIST, That no duty be imposed on any article
above the lowest rate that that will yield the
largest amount of revenue; 81, That the maxi
mum revenue duty should be imposed so as to
onerate as equally as possible throughout the
aiOn, discriminating neither for nor against
any class or section.
Mr.. Holman, in order to test the sense of the
House, moved TO lay the resolution on the ia
BILE, and called for the yeas and nays, announc-
ing that he would vote against his own motion.
The resolution was not laid on the table. The
vote stood SO against 119.
Mr.. Marshall moved the previous question,
which was not seconded, and the resolution
was then referred to the Ways and Means
Committee.
Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts, asked leave to
introduce joint resolution directing the paw
ment of years salary as Supreme Court
Judge to the widow and children of the late
Edwin M. Stanton, as consideration for his
distinguished services to the country.
Mr.. Van Trump of Ohio objected.
Mr.. Dawes moved a suspension of the rules.
The rules were suspended and the resolution
passed; yeas 122, nays 30.
On motion of Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts,
joint resolution was passed allowing the own
ers OF the homestead to deduct the interest paid
on mortgages thereon from their income re-
turns.
The navy appropriation bill was reported
and made special order for Thursday, the
Oath inst.
A large number of petitions were presented
and referred.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the Deficiency bill.
The bill was debated by Messrs. Garfield,
Schenck, Niblack, Beck and Voorhees,. The
House refused to hold an evening session, and
adjourned.