The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-19
XLIst OONGRESS---sscond Session.
SENATE.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18-A large number of
petitions were presented for the abolition OF
the ranking privilege.
Mr.. Trumbull offered a resolution empower
ing the chair to appoint member OF the Sen
ate to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death
of Mr.. Fessenden in the board of Regents of
the Smithsonian Institution.
The resolution was agreed to, and the chair
appointed Mr.. Hamlin.
A resolution relative to the seizure OF spirits
at San Francisco, was debated till the close of
the morning hour.
MIR. Abbott introduced bill to increase the
efficiency of the army. Referred. 1t provides
that the twenty five regiments of infantry shall
have the same organization es cavalry and ar
tlllery; that no promotions or appointments
shall be made in the infantry until all unat-
tached officers of infantry are assigned to regi-
ments; that officers on waiting orders shall re-
ceive no pay until assigned to some regiment
or placed on some approximate duty as now
allowed by law; that the President may place
on the retired list any officer who may from
long and faithful service, wounds or sickness
be lncapacitated from active service; that the
communication price of officers r-tions shall be
fifty cents. and that the Secretary of War shall
be authorized to honorable discharge any Off
Ger on his own application, and allow him ex-
ira pay from one to two years, according to the
term OF his service.
The House appropriation bill to defray the
expense OF the House Committee on Banking
The Virginia bill was then taken up.
Mr.. Thayer opposed an unconditional admis-
siOh of Virginia.
Mr.. Drake asserted his distrust of the Vir-
GINA Legislature, and insisted upon the i'm
position of fundamental conditions as the
means of enabling Congress more readily to
deal with Virginia, if she should prove treach-
erous to the confidence which might be reposed
in her admission.
Mr.. Stewart read telegram announcing the
f,Ay1 80 Il
Rhode Island Legislature, and said Virginia,
If admitted, would complete the list of States
whose votes were necessary to make the
amendment part of the Constitution of the
United States. He replied in detail to the me-
mortal recently presented by Mr.. Sumner, and
vindicated the character of Gov Walker of
Virginia.
Mr.. Sumner said that in the controversy the
character and sentiments of Gov. Walker were
OF the greatest Importance, as representing the
class of people into whose hands it was pro-
posed to commit the destinies of Virginia. A
portion of speeches delivered by Gov. Walker
at various times and places was quoted and
commented upon, as evidence of the disloy atty
of his supporters.
Mr.. Morton delivered lengthy speech in re-
view OF the reconstruction legislation, during
which he incidentally stated that a military
commission was now sitting in Atlanta, Geor-
ga, TO determine upon the qualification of the
members OF the Georgia Legislature, and were
au authority equal 10 that OF the
the Queen of Great Britain
MIR. Edmunds said il the statement was true
the authority OF the commission must have
been received from the Queen of Great Brit
ain, for it could not have been received from
the President of the United States or from the
law.
Alta 80 O'clock Mr.. Morton yielded to A mo-
ton 10 adjourn, which was adopted.
HOUSE.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
bill for the transfer of the Philadelphia navy
yard to League Island.
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts,, made an argu-
ment against the passage of the bill. He ques-
TONED whether the State OF the treasury war,
ranted the enhancing of expenses, and called
the attention of the House to the estimates
furnished for navy yards during the next fiscal
year. The estimates did not inspire him with
much confidence, although the Secretary prom
ised to effect saving of 100000 in The arti-
Gle of coal alone, which had cost $50 0OO for
the last two years. That was an achievement
in mathematics which found a parallel one in
the achievement of the Postmaster General
| who proposed to save $5,000000 a year by the
abolition of the ranking privilege. while the
| franked matter would not produce $500, 900
| He thought if the two mathematicians who had
prompted these two Secretaries could be
| brought to light and set to work they coulC
| show that the public debt might be paid before
! the expiration of the administration. The
DOCK OF estlmates LOT the next year contalHet
appropriations for public works to the amount
of $24625, 173 against appropriations for the
| same objects last year of S., $4,000.
| The administration of Andrew johnson had
been accused of profigacy in expenditures. Th
people had tried it on that charge and found il
guilty and had taken from it the sceptre o
power and put it in the hands of the Republi
can party on its profession of economy. in thu
administration of the public service. The PEG
pie intended to hold them to their pro misses
but what was the first evidence they put fort
to the country of their determination to carr
out their promises.
While he knew the ungracious position he o
cupied, he proposed to speak plainly but trul
to his party friends in the House. He knew