The Portland daily press., 1870-04-19
News
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
XLIst OONGRESS---Second Session.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 18.-A memorial from
the colored people was presented, asking Con.
gress to lease to them such portions of the Ar
lington farm as are not included in the Ma
tiOnal Cemetery. Referred.
Several bills were introduced and referred.
Mr.. Drake introduced joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution that
the President of the United States shall have
power to protect any State against domestic
violence Oh sufficient proof being presented to
him of the existence of such violence, and that
Congress shall have power to enforce this
amendment by appropriate legislation. After
debate it was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Mr.. Cragin, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported iavOrably the bill for the re-
lief of the officers, sailors and marines of the
United States war ship Oneida.
Mr.. Sumner offered a resolution instructng
the Committee on the District of Columbia to
report what legislation was necessary to secure
equal rights without regard to color or race on
the Orange & Alexandria railroad. Mr.. Sum-
ner read letter from a colored member of the
Georgia Legislature, to the effect that having
a first class ticket for Atlanta, purchased at
the regular Office in New York, he had been
denied admission to the gentlemens car of the
Orange & Alexandria railroad and had been
compelled to ride on the platform. Mr.. Sum-
ner said that this was a clear case of outrage
and should be investigated. The resolution
was then adopted.
The Judiciary Committee reported adversely
on the bill increasing the number of Supreme
and Circuit Court Judges.
The Senate having passed Mr.. Edmunde'
to investigate reported corruption among Sem
ators on the Georgia bill, resumed the consid-
Grafton of that bill.
MIR. Drake made a long argument in favor of
his amendment authorizing the President to
send United States troops into rebellious and
dIqfnrhpd 10
A lengthy debate was had between Messrs
Sumner and Carpenter on the question Of con-
stituti0nal power, after which the Senate held
an executive session and took a recess.
Senators were present. After waiting fifteen
minutes six more came in, and the Senate ad-
journed.
A large number of bills were introduced and
referred, including one proposing an amend
ment to the constitution prohibiting donations
to sectarian schools; also one to enforce the
18th amendment
The bill OF Mr.. Paine of Wisconsin for the
appOrtiOnment of members of Congress was
passed; Sc to 49, 1t provides that after March
Sd, 1871, the House of Representatives be COM
States now in the Union; the basis OF rspre re-
r evn!ation to be ascertained by the Secretary of
the Interior from the preliminary oensas re-
port. No State is to lose any members in the
42i Congress, and if the new apportionment
increases the number of Representatives from
any State, those for the 42d Congress shall be
chosen by the State at large.
In con- mittee of the whole the paragraphs of
the tariff bill taxing fax, hemp and other vege-
table 40 per cent. ad valorem, and buttons,
dress ornaments and articles of gutta percha
or india rubber, passed without amendment.
The discussion on Mr.. Griswold's amendment
to the pig iron paragraph, reducing the duty
from So to So per ton, occupied the session un-
til recess, and was participated in by Messrs.
Kelley of Pennsylvania, Allison of Indiana,
Logan of Illinois, Butler of Massachusetts and
others.
Mr.. Allison also offered an amendment that
the duty on all kinds of manufactured iron be
reduced % per cent, provided in no case it be
less than 35 per cent. ad valorem
The entire evening session was occupied in
debate between Pennsylvania and Western
members on pig iron, and finally the House
adopted, 66 to GA, Mr.. Buffers amendment to
reduce the duty to S. per ton. Adjourned.