The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-02-01
withhold any monies due from the United
States to defaulting States ON any account


States to defaulting States on any account
whatever.
Mr., Craeil introduced bill to abolish She
! once of s." yeyor of Customs Referred 10
C0mmittee ON Finance.
Mr.. Carpenter Introduced a resolution call
ing upon the President for information in re,
gard to affairs in Georgia, which was objected
TO 6y Mr.. Morton and laid over.
Mr.. Ramsey reported favorably the House
Dill abolishing the ranking privilege.
Mr.. Ramsey, from the Committee on Post
Ohces, &c, reported back With amendments
the bill to establish postal telegraph system
ana TO incorporate postal telegraph company.
with few exceptions the amendments are
merely verbal, and the summary of its provis-
ions, as published on the 21st inst, need to be
corrected only in the following particulars: -
The company is required to provide lines OF
telegraph to every city and village where tele-
graph stations are now maintained Tor the
transmission of messages for the public, and to
al places which has population OF 35OO IN
habitants. A person performing the duties OF
a commissioner of telegraphs shall be styled
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General. The
company may purchase any existing lines OF
telegraph which may be offered it prior to Jan.
1, 1871.
Mr. Morton introduced a bill to provide for
the admission of Mississippi. 1t imposes the
same conditions as in case of Virginia, except
that the members of the Legislature are not
required to take any oath. Referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
The Senate then, at / clock, took up the
currency bill, and Mr. Sherman moved an
amendment, which he hoped to have consid-
cred as a substitute for the pending amend
meut.
Upon the suggestion of Mr.. Sherman the
pending amendments of Messrs. Morton and
Sumner were withdrawn. Mr.. Sherman then
submitted an amendment as distinct section,
as follows:
That after the expiration of six months after
hQ of hi haypL inu A.
JOn located in any State having more than Its
proportion of circulation, may be removed to
any State having less than its proportion OF
circulation, under such rules and regulations
as the Comptroller of the Currency, with the
approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, may
require; provided that the amount of issue of
said bank shall not be deducted from tie
amount of the new issue.
The Senate adopted the amendment; yeas
43, nays IL.
The former amendment of Mr.. Morton, to fix
the additional amount of circulation at $52,-
100000, was then renewed, but after debate
was rejected.
An understanding having been effected that
o'clock, the Senate at o'clock went into ex-
ecutive session and shortly after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bills were introduced and referred: For ap-
prenticeships in the navy; to admit Mississippi
to representation in Congress-; to remove all
political disabilities.
Mr.. Ingersoll of Illinois offered a resolution
directing the Committee on Banking to report
back within SIX days his bill authorizing an
additional issue of legal tender notes to the
amount Of fiity-four millions, but the House
refused to second the previous question, 43 to
II, and the question went over
Mr.. Cul ON of Illinois offered resolution
directing the special committee on postal tele-
graph to Inquire into the whole subject of tele-
graphing throughout the United States, and
authorizing it to send for persons and papers.
The House refused to secoud the previous
question 80 to 70, and the question went over.
Mr.. McNeely of Illinois offered a resolution
declaring that the national debt should be paid
in strict compliance with the contract, and that
the five-twenties are payable in greenbacks,
and cOndemning the policy of the adminstra-
ton in redeeming such bonds at the high rate
OF premium while it has the clear right to re-
deem them at par.
Mr.. Jones OF Kentucky moved to lay the res
olution on the table, for the purpose of testing
the sense of the House.
The resolution was tabled; yeas %, nays Al
a strict party vote.
Mr.. Burr of Illinois offered a resolution call
ing for information of the quantity of raw ma
terlalS, such as copper, tin and pig iron, on
hand in the various dockyards and arsenals,
and why they should not be sold. Adopted.
Mr.. Marshall of Illinois offered resolution
declaring the constitutional authority to levy
taxes does not include any power to impose
duties for any other purpose than the co'lec-
ton of the revenue; that tariff levied for any
other purpose than that of revenue, and espec.
tally if levied to foster and encourage one Sec
ton of the country or one class of citizens at
the expense of other sections or classes is I'M
authorized by the constitution, unjust to the
great body of the people, and injurious to al
most all industries; and directing the Commit
tee on Ways and Means to propose bill in
accordance with these views.
Mr. Kellogg of New York moved to table
the resolution.
The morning hour having expired the reso-
luton went over till next Monday.
Mr. Fitch of Nevada, offered resolution to
grant belligerent rights to the Republic Ut Gu
ba and moved its reference to select commit
tee of seven. Referred to Committee on For
eign A fairs.
Bills were introduced and referred as follows:
By Mr.. Van Trump of Ohio, to repeal the act
of the Sd of March, 1868, relating to the habeas
corpus; by Mr.. Morgan of Ohio, to abolish the
Department mt Of Agriculture; by Mr.. Arms strong
of Pennsylvania, to provide for the redemption
of United States bonds not exceeding 81 000-
600, and issuing therefor an equivalent amount
of notes not bearing interest; by Mr.. Wells of
Missouri, fixing the pay of Senators and Rep
resenta.ives at $4,000 per year and reducing
mileage to 10 cents per mile from the 4th of
March, 1870; by Mr. Jenckes of Rhode Island,
to rem owe and amend the Statutes relating to
patents and copyrights; by Mr.. Holman OF In
diana, extending to the 1st of December, 1870,
the time for filing claims for additional boun-
ties.
Resolutions were offered =fe11o--~. L, AZ
Latin of New York, directing the committee
to provide a more economical and efficient
method of publishing the transactions of the
Patent Office. Adopted.
Mr.. Cox of New York, asked leave to offer
a resolution instructing the Committee on
Ways and Means to repeal the uni Just and bur
densome tariff on coal.
Mr. Cessna of Pennsylvania, objected.
Mr.. Cox moved to suspend the rules. The
rules were not suspended, A to IS.
Petitions were presented as follows:
By Mr.. Brooks of New York, a memorial of
VIM. Fl. Vanderbilt, Vice President of the
New York Central railroad and President of
the Harlem railroad, demonstrating against the
existing duty ON steel rails as well as against
the further proposed increase.
Richard Z. Aver, member elect from the list
Congressional district of Virginia, appeared
and was sworn in.
Mr.. Bingham of Ohio moved that Lewis Nc
Kenzie, member elect from Virginia, be sworn
in without prejudice to the claims of the con-
testant, explaining that he was not sworn Pc
cause there was an absurd charge against him
that he could not take the test oath, while
every man knew that he would take it as con-
scientiously as any one in the House.
Messrs. Paine and Cessna opposed the reso-
luton because the question was now before the
Committee on elections.
Mr.. Farnsworth of Illinois supported the
resolution which was agreed to and Mr.. Nc
kenzie was accordingly sworn.
The business OIL the Speakers table was
taken up and disposed of as follows:
The Senate bill for the temporary reliet of
the poor and destitute of the District of Column
bia, appropriating $4,000. The bill was refer
red to the Committee of the Whole.
The Senate concurrent resolution accepting
the statue of Maj Gen. Green, alter remarks
by Messrs. Tanner, Jencks, Whit emore, Cobb,
Slocum and Beatty, was agreed TO.
Adjourned.