The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-11
n EW S
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIss OONGRESS---Second Session.

SENATE.
WASH yGToN, July 9-The House resolution
requiring enlistments in the marine corps to
BE- for five instead of four years, and authoriz-
ing credit from enlistment pay was passed.
Mr.. Sumner presented the petition of Cyrus
w. Field, asking for authority to lay a cable
from Florida to Cuba and the repeal of the
International Telegraph Companys exclusive
privilege to have cable between those shores
Referred.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, from the conference
committee on the legislative, executive and ju-
dlcial Appropriation bill, made q report which
was adopted. The Senate amendment relating
to the effect of pardon or amnesty in the Court
OF Claims was retained. The Senate amend
ments Tor the extension of the capitol grounds
ana a new state Department building were
stricken out The appropriation of S1OO, 900
for the North Pole expedition reduced to $50
600.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, said that since the
death of her husband Mrs. Lincoln had receiv-
ed So Geo, one years Presidential salary, and
it was now proposed to pay her SO per day
while disabled soldiers received SO per month
He reduced the amount to S. per day.
Mr.. Howell regarded the bill as gross and
sDeaking fraud upon the pension laws.
Mr.. Yates charged Mrs. Lincoln of sympa-
thy with the rebels.
A motion to lay the bill on the table, regard
ed as a test vote was lost, "a to 81 and the bill
was then laid over informally.
IECIo WAS uO lIlCIcdSo III JuuSc StlldF1eS.
The Senate amendments relating to male and
female clerks in the departments was stricken
out. provision had been inserted allowing
the appointment of females to all grades of
clerkship.
Mr.. Stewart offered resolution requiring
the President to cause the act of February,
1892, to prohibit the coolie trade to be strictly
enforced, aud to instruct the proper civil Off
GERS to prosecute for all violations of the said
act and directing an investigation as to wheth-
1~n.~, tod -
the United States in violation of the law. The
resolution was subsequently adopted as modi-
fed to provide for simple inquiry into the al
legged Chinese impOrtations in violation of the
law.
On the motion of Mr. Summer a bill for
pension TO Mrs. Lincoln was taken up.
The civil and miscellaneous appropriation
bill was reported from the Committee on APP
preparations, and the army appropriation bill
was then taken up, when the amendment Of
the Committee on Appropriations diminishing
the appropriation for the pay of the army $707,-
0Co was withdrawn.
Mr.. Wilson moved as an amendment that
the principal features of the army bill, recent
ly laid on the table, reducing the number OF
enlisted men to 10000, but continuing the pres
ent pay OF the General, Lieutenant General,
Major and Brigadier Generals, and making ad-
ditional provisions relating to supernumerary
officers leaving it discretionary with the Pres
ident to furlOugh or discharge with one years
pay SUCH rs are lelG aItor Ine PROVISIONS OF tne
bill are carried into effect. The provisions re-
fer to the filing of vacancies and the discharge
after examination of officers reported as unfit
for duty.
The amendment was modified requiring Off
GERS unfit for duty to be reported unfitto duty
by the General of the army alone, instead Of
by military commanders and chiefs of staff. A
new section was inserted repeating the act of
January 81, 1870, and allowing retired officers
on their own application TO be assigned to mil
itary duty except service in the field. The
pay of Chaplains was increased to $1,000. The
section relating to supernumerary officers was
amended to provide that those remaining after
the provisions of tie act carried into effect
shall be furlOughed without pay until assigned
to fill vacancies occurring in the cavalry, artl-
lery and infantry regiments; or on their own
application they shall be discharged with one
years pay and allowances. The amendment
was further modified to give to all honoraby
discharged soldiers and sailors who have serv-
ed ninety days the right to locate on quarter
section of the public land of the United States
instead of on 80 acres as now allowed by law.
The amendment of Mr.. Wilson, as modified,
was then adopted and the bill as amended was
passed.
The Senato then went into executive session
and subsequently took recess till evening.
The evening session was devoted to consid-
Grafton of the bill authorizing the establish
ment of an ocean mail steamship service be-
tween San Francisco and Australia Adjourn
ed,
HOUSE.
The Senate amendment to the tariff and tax
btl being before the House Mr.. Davis OF New
York, moved to suspend the rules so as to
strike out all relating to the income tax. Neg
atived The Senate amendment on the in
come tax, making the rate 2 IL per cent, was
agreed to, and the amendment to continue it
two years was rejected.
The House has reconsidered it action reject
ing the first amendment of the Senate on the
tariff and tax bill, striking out all special taxes,
&c, and c0ncurred in the same.
Mr.. Cake of Pennsylvania, offered the fol,
| lowing resolution, which was referred to the
Committee on Education and labor:
Whereas, Danger is anticipated from the or
| ganized immigration of bond Chinnmen,
ResoLUed, That it is against the genius of the
| age to bring them here in bonds for term OF
| years or even months; that this traffic in bond
men IS degrading to labor, will not be tolerat-
ed and must be checked in its inception by abe
prompt action of the representatives of the
people That the Committee on Education
and Labor are hereby instructed to investigate
the subject, including the contract or eOolie
system practiced in various parts of the cOun-
try. and to report bill as soon as practicable
| prohibiting the introduction of bondmen from
emma or elsewhere, and providing for the pro
tectlon OF those who voluntarily seek ouI
shores In quest Vt free homes and who will as
speedily as practicable adopt the manners,
habits and costumes of our people, and making
ita criminal offence, punishable by fine and
imprisonment to be party, direct or indirect
to any project tending to perpetuate the bar
barism of slavery.
Mr. Schenck reported from the WAYS and
Means Committee the Senate amendment tc
the tax and tariff BILL and moved that ali Of
them be non concurred in and sent to a com
mittee of conference, which was rejected after
discussion and opposition by Messrs. Brooks
Cox aud others, who protested against com
hitting to any set of men all the numerous
| jobs contained in the bill. The first amend
ment of the Senate, which strikes out the frs
"a sections of the House bill relating to special
taxes, regulations as to stamps, &c. and sub
| stitutes for them five new sections, was at f1rs
non concurred in, but subsequently the vot'
was reconsdered and after considerable discus
| sion the amendment was agreed to, 100 to g.
A motion by Mr. Davis of New York, to sns
pend the rules and strike from the bill all re
lating to the income tax was rejected, 81 to ZIG
and the Senate amendment reducing the rat
to IL per cent. was concurred in, 92 to 30.
On the motion to strike out Messrs. Ames
Banks, Barnum, Brooks of New York, But