Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-18
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. June II.

WASHINGTON, June L..
SENATE. The joint resolution for relief of
certain army officers commissioned while in
rebel prisons, providing for compensation
from date of commission, was passed.
! Mrs. Lincoln's pension bill was taken up
on motion of Mr.. Sumner, against the OBJ
lection of Mr.. Edmunds, and discussed with
out action until the expiration of the morning
hour.
Mr.. Edmunds argued against the bill, con-
tending that 1t would be an injustice to all
the women in the country, made widows by
the war, of whom over 2l3, 900 are receiving
only $3.50 year.
The amendment to the appropriation bill
retaining the letter carrier system in cities of
less than 10000 inhabitants was concurred
in, and Mr.. Ramsay moved as d further
amendment, the House bill abolishing the
Franking privilege, and continuing the pre-
sent provisions of the law for free transmits
sion OF newspapers. Adopted.
The amendment to continue the privilege
to the Executive and Agricultural depart
ments. petitions to Congress, &C.. and that
the abolition should not go into effect until
January next, was rejected, and another pro-
viding for a system of stamped envelopes for
the use of Congress, and the departments,
and making appropriations to defray the cN-
pense, was referred to the Bonn. on Appro-
priations.
Mr. Sumner moved as an amendment, his
proposition to reduce the expense of carry
ing the mails, and providing for one penny
postage, pending which the Senate went into
Executive session, and took a recess until
this evening.
House. The Virginia contested election
case of Whittlesey against Mckensie, was de-
cided in favor of the latter, the sitting mem
ger.
Mr.. Cobb, from Com. on military affairs, by
unananimeus consent, reported bill to equal
ize bounties of soldiers, allowing 1888 to
non commissioned officers, soldiers and mnsi-
clans for each months service between the
18th of April, 1861, and the 9th of May. 1860,
dcducting the United States bounties already
paid.
The Clerk of the House was proceeding to
read the bill. when Mr.. Holman interrupting
said there was no objection to the bill. which
thereupon was read three times and passed
Unanimous consent having been asked for
some other, Mr.. Dawes objected, remarking
that the House had just passed the bill which,
according to the statement of the Senate FL
nance Committee, would take $50, 600 out of
the treasury.
The Speaker remarked that he had asked
three times if there was any objection to the
bill
Mr.. Dawes dsclaimed any intention of crit
icising the Chair. He had heard the Chair
ask if there was any objection but did not
know what the bill was. The bill had not
been read.
Mr. Cobb of n. C. asked Mr.. Dawes wheth-
er he objected to the bill itself or to the fact
that it took money out of the treasury.
Mr. Dawes replied that he could tell better
whether he objected to the bill if he knew
what it was He understood that the gentle
man Cobb tried to get the bill in without
his dawes knowledge.
Mr. Cobb admitted that he did so because
he knew that he Dawes would object to it.
Mr.. Logan of H., explained that it was not
an additional bounty bill, and said that the
man who stated it was so did not know any
thing about it, adding that the House had
twice before passed the same bill.
4 Joint resolution was passed lnstructiDg
the Architect of the Capitol to transfer to the
Lincoln Monument Association at Springfield,
H., the stone presented by the patriots of
Rome to President Lincoln, and which is now
in the cryst of the Capitol.
A bill was passed allowing individuals to
explore the public domain at their own OK
pense.
The bill granting Goat Island, San Fran
cisco harbor, to the Central Pacific Railroad
Co., was debated by Mr.. Washburn of Wis,
in opposition, and by Mr.. Blair of Michigan
in favor, and it was rejected, so to 50.
Subsequently Mr.. Wood of n. Y. made
motion to reconsider, which was entered.
The remainder of the session was occupied
with the pension bill and the District of CO.
lumbia business, and at 4-45 the House ad-
Journed