National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-12-23
The FOrty.First Congress.


repeating the income tax ; for renting
duties on ship-building materials . to Ell
able registration of foreign built vessels I;
one admitting foreign vessels to regis |
try for abolishing the ranking privil-
ege abolishing the offices of Admiral
and Nice-Admiral Resolutions were of
fered, calling for information as to the
stationing of troops in Montgomery,
Ala, and at other places inquiring in
to the search of American vessels by the
Spanish authorities.
In the Senate on "Wednesday It bill
was submitted giving to the American
and Fast India Telegraph Company the
sole right for twcnty-Une years. to lay
/ telegraph from the Pacific coast to Assn
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill providing
for the rating of American ships for for
eign trade, and allowing draw back on
the duties to the owners of the cargoes
brought IN such vessels.
/ In the House, il bill was introduced for
the resumption of specie payments. This
provides for the destruction of the pre-
sent notes rs they are received at the
/ Treasury, and the Issue of new ones Tor
/ disbursements, redeemablein specie after
SIX months, national banks to redeem in
the new notes, and duties to be paid in
/ them as soon as redeemable in coin.
resolution was adopted lnqulring into
| the seizure of the fishing schooner
. GrdeGda by the Canadian authorities !:
and one was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs making inquiries re
| gardlng the intention of ANY European
Power to establish port at SANTANA A
/ resolution was referred to the Committee
of Ways and Means, calling for IA reduc-
ton of duties and the establishment
of tariff for revenue only, and not
for protection. bill was reported
from the Post-office Committee for the
revision of a Postal law An amend
ment abolishing the ranking privilege,
providing for the sending of official
/ documents by the heads of Departments,
and the Clerks of the Senate and the
House of Representatives. and allowing
each member 500 a session for postage
on his correspondence, was ordered to
be printed.
In the Senate, on Thursday, bill
was introduced to prevent assessments
| upon Government employees for political
or other purposes Any official allowing
such assessment or employee paying it,
Is made liable to dismissal and fine not
exceeding 900 1t also prohibits the
giving OF presents or gratuities to gov
eminent officials for anything done in
connection with their official duties
/ In the House a number of new bills
and resolutions were introduced. The
pending question was Mr.. Farnsworth' 5
amendment abohshng the ranking
/ privilege. There was a protracted de
bate on this, the principal ground of
opposition being that it did not abolish
the ranking privilege in reality, but
continue 1t IN new form. The pro
vision for allowing each member 500 II
session for postage on his private CORES
pondcnce was particularly objected to,
and motion to- strike this out was Slls.
tanned y motion to strike out all of
MI Farnsworth's amendment, after the
first section, rejected, and the vote was
taken on It's adoption. 1t was lost
by Il vote of 10 to lO2. Mr.. Hill of New
Jersey, then moved to strike out the
sections of the bill relating to the frank
ing privilege, the eby virtual abolishing
It, This was agreed to-yCis. 9S nays,
Is. An amendment was then offered
allowing the free interchange of news
circulation of weekly papers in the
county OF publication. Pending this
question. after noticing this death of
Robert Edgeway, late member from
/ Virginia, the House then adjourned till
Monday.
In the Senate, Friday Mr.. Sumner
offered II resolution asking for die CORES
pondence and all Instructions to Consuls
and naval officers, relating to the propos-
ed annexation of San Domingo. and for
information regarding the relations Of
San Domingo with Hayti, France and
European powers, 1t was ordered t. be
printed. Mr.. Casscrly offered reso-
luton asking for minute information us
to when and where and at whose request
the army and navy were employed to aid
the civil power State or Federal elections.
or contests arising ont of the same. or
preserving the public peace, except III
Indian disturbances, or III any way other
than IN guarding and preserving the
forts, posts, and places and property of
the United States. 1t was SO ordered.
Among the bills introduced was one tu
discontinue the ranks Of Admiral and
Nico-Admiral IN the navy after vacancies
occur III the same, and to reduce the
number of Rear AdmiralS to three, and
OF COmmodores to six by omission to till
vacancies hereafter occurring. 4 bill
was also introduced to regulate rank in
the navy, which provides for II Surgeon
General, Paymnster-Gcneul and En-
glnccr-in-C Chief to rank with Copmo-
doros and other grades in the line and
staff An adverse report was ON the bill!
tYlX t4t. 4
ton with District Courts OF the United
States IN the case OF maritime contracts
on rivers and waters above the chb and
flow of the tide Tbs Senate about
| M, went into executive Session. and
an hour afterwards adjourned until Mon
day.
In the Senate, on Monday. bills were
referred, prov ding for the establishment
of new lines Of steam ships to Europe.
/ In both cases first-clasS IRON vessels must
be provided 4 bill WIS introduced by
Mr.. Chandler, and referred, which an-
thoriacs the President whenever he
/ thinks it eApedient, to suspend all regl-
latons allowing the right of bonded
transportation to foreign companies of
permitting the vessels OF foreign North
America possessions to enter the ports OF
the United States, saving only the rights
+ granted 10y treaty. \ resolution WAS Of
/ fcred by Mr.. Morton and ordered to lie
on the table, authorizing die President
to appoint n commission 10 visit San Do.
ningo to gather information regarding
the island and report the same to the
President. An investigation vns also
ordered respecting the Arlington estate
of the late Gen. Lee, and the respective
claims of Mrs Lee and the /. :. Gov.
eminent to the snmy