Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-12
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
WAsnINGToN, Nav II

WAsnNGroN, May IL.
SENATE. Mr.. Conkling introduced bill to
aid in the establishing and developing of com
mcrcial intercourse, and for carrying the
mails between the United States and countries
on the west coast of South America, which
was referred to Il c Post Office Committee.
y. he amendments to reduce by $4,000 the
appropriation to the dept of education. to in
crease the salary of the Chief Clerk Of the
Navy dept, and to apply the unexpcnded sur
plus Of $4,000 from the Paris Exposition
fund for the benefit of United States citizens
taking part in the international Exposition in
1861, were rejected. and those increasing the
appropriation for the Offices OF the Comptroll-
er o. the Currency from $4,000 to $50, 900,
and requiring the Assistant Commissioner in
the Patent Office to be re-appointcd by the
PRESIDENT subject so confirmation by the Sen
ate, to act as COMM. sioDcr in case Of a tenn
porary vacancy in that office, were adopted,
Pending the consideration OF an amendment
authorizing the Uuited States Mint to receive
on deposit refined gold and silver bullion, and
to deliver in payment imported bars under
certain regulations, thus providing for rcfiu-
ing by private parties, the Senate adjourned.
House. The Committee of the Whole on
the Tariff bill took up the pending paragraph
on steel car wheels, which was amended
To read, on steel car wheels cents per pound,
and on steel blooms and for car and locomo-
tive ties, rolled or hammered 10 pattern. 2 l-2
cents per pound.
The duty on steel carriage, car. locomotive
and other springs, was fixed at ) cents per
pound, reduction Of cent from the Com
mittees rate, and pending the motion TO add
on crinoline corset and steel, commercially
known as wire, whether covered with cotton
1tb III
cents per pound and 10 per cent adyalorum.
The Committee then took recess.
At the evening session paragraph on erin
olne wire and another fixing the dnty on
sword plates at 80 per cent. ad yalorunl, and
OH swords As per cent. were inserted. In the
course of the discussion on the paragraph as
to mixed metals of lead and tin, Mr.. Covode
of Penn. rose and said "The House is dis
gUsted and the country is disguised with the
tariff bill. | should have suggested long ago
to the Committee on Ways and Means to
abandon this tariff bill if | had known the In
ternal Revenue bill was ready to be reported.
| understand now that it is ready and | hope
that the Chairman of the Committee will re-
port it Tomorrow and lay aside the tariff bill,
with which everybody is disguised. general
laughter and clapping OF hands.) Let us go
to some practical legislation. This legislation
is not practical; it stands in theway Of prac-
teal egis iatiOn. 1t stands in the way OF the
appropriation bills and of important measures
in which the people OF the country have a
deep interest. and tell you that if we do not
lay aside this tariff bill and go to practical
legislation. we will go home without accom-
plishing anything that the people want, and
that we will have trouble next fall some of
us"
No amendments were made to the paragraph
in regard TO the manufacture of platinum, fix
ing the duty at 2 per cent. ad valorum on
brass plates, ingots and bars five cents per
pound; on old brass cents per pound on
brass in sheets or wire 40 per cent. ad valo
rum; on eglets of every description six cents
per thousand; on pewter, britannia and all
like mixed metals OF lead or tin manufactured
8 cents per pound.
The next paragraph fixing the duty on
nickel at 40 cents per pound gave rise to con-
siderable discussion and the House adjourned
without action.