The New York herald., 1870-06-07
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
second Session.
SENATE.


TAX ON SALES.
Mr.. SHERMAN, rep) of Ohio, presented a memo
rial OF the New York importers ana dry goods mer-
chants Tor the abolition Of the tax on sales.
BILLS REPORTED.
Mr., WILLIAMS, (repD OF Oregon, from the Commit
tee On Public Lands, reported, with amendments, a
bill granting lands TO aid In the construction OF
canals for irrlgating purposes IN California.
Mr.. BUCKINGHAM, trep.) OF Conn.,, reported, with
amendments bill for the improvement OF water
communication between the MISSISSIPPI river and
Lake Michigan by way OF the Wisconsin and Fox
rivers.
Mr.. HOWARD, Tep.) OF Mlch., from the Military
COMMITTEES, reported favorabiy a joint resolution
donating condemned ordnance for soldiers monu-
ment In Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
BY Mr. SPENCER rep.) OF N: Y.-Graniing lands
to the State OF Alabama to aid in the construction OF
the Savannah and Memphis Railroad.
BY Mr.. KELLOGG, trep.l Of La.-To confirm certain
By STEWART, (rep.l OF Nev.-To prohibit contracts
for servile labor Mr.. Stewart explained that the
bill was intended to apply to Chinese immigration.
He said In making coolIe labor contracts the Chinese
contractors took advantage OF the peculiar religious
their native land, dead or alive. These contracts
were for four years, and the Chinese dared not
break the contract tor lear In case OF his death, his
body might not be returned TO his own country. The
bill would break up this coOie system by prohibit
ing contracts for longer period than six months
while II also provided for return of the Chinese to
their own country This period would be long
enough TO enable immigrants TO pay the expenses Of
their passage, and not long enough to make their
importation as system a means OF profit. Imme-
date actlon on the subject was necessary In view OF
the reports tnat agents were now endeavOring to
introduce this class OF abOrerS INTO Massachusetts,
and other States.
The bin was then referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
AMENDING THE RULES.
proposed amendment TO the rules was discussed
1t provides for the termination Of debate an amend
ment to appropriation bill by twO-tnlrds vote;
d
than such directly relate TO the appropriations
BILL be received or adopted without twOthlrds vote.
Mr.. TRUMBULL, (rep.) OF H. opposed the PROPOSE
ton as an attempt to introduce the rule of previous
question: which had never yet been resored to in the
senate.
Mr.. HAMLIN rep.) OF Me-, while favoring the full
est discussion, was in favor Of the amendment, as
dong away with tlresome and unnecessary debates.
The subject was discussed without action.
PAY OF ASSISTANT CENSUS MARsHALs.
Mr.. WILLIAMS joint resolution Tor increasing the
pay Of assistant census marshas was taken up,
amended and passed.
AS amended it provides that the increase shall not
exceed fifty per cent OF the present compensation,
nor snail the entire compensation be more than
eight dollars per day, exclusive OF mileage, for the
time actually employed, additional allowance to be
the compensation allowed by law is not sufficient.
SMUGGLING ON THE MEXICAN FRONTIER
Mr. PATTERSON, rep )of N. H. called up the bill to
repeal all existing laws authorizing transportation
and expectation of goods, wares and merchandise IN
bond to Mexico, overland, or by inland waters and
for other purposes. He said the Secretary OF the
III.
1t would do away with immense amount OF
smuggling on the Mexican border.
Mr.. CHANDLER, lrep) OF Mich, remarked that the
saving to be effected by it would amount to SIX mil
lion dollars per annum.
The bill then passed without debate
THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL
was then proceeded with and variOusly amended
The amendments reported from the Committee on
Indian Affairs were adopted, appropriating hun
dred thousand dollars for industrial schools among
the various Indian tribes, and fifty thousand dollars
Tor the Indian service IN Alaska
Mr.. DAVIS, tdem.l of KY, from the same commit
tee, reported an amendment TO authorize the SeCre
tary of the Treasury TO execute to the Choctaw
Indians bonds OF the United States OF the aggregate
amount OF $250,000 OF the date OF July !, 1856,
bearing interest at five per cent per annum from
said date, being in execution Of treaties between the
United States and the Choctaw nation and Of a law
OF Congress-.
Mr.. BUCKINGHAM moved further amendment, d.
recting the Secretary OF the Treasury issue TO the
Choctaws The bonds appropriated to them by an act
OF congress OF March 2 1861, passed III pursuance OF
treaty obligations.
general discussion ensued as to the liability OF
the government for the payment OF the interest on
the DOnds curing the time for which the Choctaws
were engaged on the side OF the rebels during the
rebellion. 1t was stated that the treaty of 1866 was
based upon the hypothesis that the former appro-
praton was forfeiture by reason of the fact OF the
rebellion, and was designed to fix anew the time
from which the bonds should date.
Mr.. SHERMAN sald the Choctaws, as q tribe tolnel
the Confederate States and drove out the loyal por-
ton OF the tribe, and that this $3.50 OOO had been
paid to that loyal portion and charged against the
whole tribe on the books Of the Treasury.
Mr.. DAVIS argued that the payment to few strag.
glers who refused TO 20 with the mass or their ma