The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-11
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PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIst CONGRES5---Second Session.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May 1O.-The Vice President
laid before the Senate memorial from the
Grand Army of the Republic, asking that au
thority be given to send soldiers pensions
through the mails by the money order system.
Mr.. Williams, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported a bill for the refunding of GER
tain duties imposed upon the importation OF
Russian hemp. He said the committee were
unanimously of the opinion that the act ap-
proved Aug 9Th, 1861, imposing duty of $40
per ton on unman Ifactured Russian hemp and
at the same time duty of only S25 per ton on
Manila and other hemp, was violation OF the
treaty between Russia and the United States,
of May IL, 1888.
Mr.. Sherman, chairman Of the committee,
said that he did not agree that the government
ought to refund these duties, but he believed
the duty on Russian hemp to be in violation of
the spirit of the treaty with Russia. In obedi-
ence to the direction of the committee he re-
ported the bill.
Mr.. Wilson, chairman of the Military Com.
mttee, called up the army bill. which he read
and explained for tle information of the Sem
ate.
The bill having been read through, Mr.. Ross
moved to extend the time within which officers
might apply to be discharged, from Oct. LIST,
1870, to Oct. LIST, 1871.
The bill was discussed at length Messrs.
Nye, Pomeroy, Stewart and Ross speaking
against its provisions and Senator Wilson de-
Tending them.
first section, reducing the army, stricken out,
as a means of saving the bill.
Pending the vote on striking out the first
section, the regular order, the legislative, judi
cial and executive appropriation bill, was re-
| sumed and discussed until the recess.
HOUSE.
The Senate amendments to the Pension ap-
preparation bill were non-concurred in and
| committee of conference ordered.
James II. Lewis, Representative elect from
the sd District OF Kentucky, appeared and
took the oath.
The House then took up the Senate Joint
resolution authorizing the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company to issue its bonds for the
construction Of its road and to secure the same
by mortgage.
MIR. Farnsworth of Illinois said that the op-
| ponents of the bill would not oppose dilatOry
motions if they were allowed one hour for de-
| Date, and II these amendments could be offered
and voted on; otherwise he for one was dispos-
ed to fight the bill, as it was big "job."
MI wheeler OF New York, chairman of the
Pacific Railroad Committee, and having charge
of the bill, declined the proposed compromise,
remarking that the grant was an old one; that
the Senate thought it not fair to impose new
conditions, and that the Committee on Public
Lands censured it. In that view if the minor
| ity chose to block the wheels of government it
must take the responsibility of its own actions.
Mr. Hawley OF Illinois, member of the
Committee on Public Lands denied that the
committee had ever given its assent to that
view. The conditions submitted BY Mr.
Farnsworth having been rejected the filibus
| tering programme was lnaugurated in motions
for call of the House, followed by motions to
adjourn until Thursday and to excuse mem
beers from a vote; on all OF which the yeas and
nays were ordered.
The yeas and nays having been called four
teen times, and no compromise being suggest
ed o. probable, Mr.. Wheeler of New Yorl
moved an adjournment, which was agreed to.