Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-27
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
THURSDAY, Jauuarv ~.


lition Of the franking privilege. Referred to
Committee of Post Ofices.
Mr. Patterson, from c ommittee on Retrench-
meut, reported House joint resolution prohibit
ing the making assessme nts i'm or collections
from subordinate officials 70 make presents to
their superior officers. Passed.
Mr.. Vickers introduced q bill to arch Tiber
Creek north Of Pennsylvania avenue. Referred
to Committee on District of Columbia.
Mr.. Harlan introduced q bill to incorporate
the Washington Mutual Benevolent Society
Referred to Committee on Districtof Columbia.
Mr.. Hamlin called up the joint resolution rel
mia, the question being on his motion to pospone
indefinitely, which was agreed to-
Mr.. Thayer called up bill to make Omaha,
Nebraska, q port Of delivery.
Mr.. Trumbull thought caution should be OK
ercised in creating new ports Of delivery in the
West. He knew that many Of them now in ex-
istence were not needed. Several In his own
State lllinoisl should be abolished, and also in
other States. great pressure was brought to
bear upon the Secretary Of the Treasury against
abolishing these ports because it would put par
Mr.. kellogg said this matter had been consid-
cred in the Committee of Commerce, and a res
olution would be introduced by him looking to
an inquiry into the subject
Mr.. C0nkling thought 1t was time to be win
moving out these ports Of entry and delivery,
which had been created from time TO time with
There was certainly no more reason why port
of delivery should be established at Omaha than
at other points on the river.
The Vice President communicated to the Sen
ates the fact that the President had signed the
Virginia bill.
Mr. Boreman said one of the Senators elect,
MI. John f. Lewis, was present, and moved
The credentials Of Mr.. Lewis were then read.
The Vice President said that il there was no
objection, the Senator elect would be sworn in.
No objection was made, and Mr.. Lewis ad-
vanced to the Presidents desk and the oath of
office was administered to him.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment to the
pending bill that when any port Of entry or de-
livery shall be found unnecessary for an entire
year, the Secretary of the Treasury NAV abol-
ish the same, but upon explanation by Mr. Kel-
logg that the present laws provided for the abol
lshment of all ports of entry or delivery where
the receipts do not exceed SO 900 per annum he
withdrew his amendment, and the bill was
passed.
Mr. Wilson offered resolution directing the
Sergeant-at-Arms, to fence the seats of Senators
closer together, and put i'm more desks so as to
to be appointed.
Mr.. Anthony did not think the resolution
necessary. 1t would be extremely inconvenient
to place the desks any closer than thew are now
The resolution was then referred TO the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
The unfinished business being the bill to pro-
VIDE national currency OF coin, notes, and to
equalize the distribution of circulating notes
was taken up.
Mr.. Howe reviewed the different propositions
that had been presented, and held that he would
vote for the largest amount he could get. He
complained of New York having so much more
clrculation than she was entitled to. He would
not vote for the latter part Of the bill, because
corporations to speculate in gold. ~eo
Mr.. Sawyer did not think that the bill before
the Senate was all that could be desired but he
thought that it would afford a fair measure of
relief. In 1sG0 the circulation of all the banks
In the United States was only about 500, 600 Goo
and the states Of Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
and Connecticut had then about one-sixth of the
Circulation. Now they have about % or 30 per
cent. The circulation of Virginia, North
and South Carolina was then about y per cent.
RoUSE-Mr. Schofeld (Pa) introduced a
bill in relation to certain indemnity lands of
China and Japan. Referred to Committee on
Claims.
MI. Washburn (Wis) introduced q bill to e.-
taolish certain steamship lines. Referred to a
special committee on American shipping, &c.
MI. Moore IN. J.) introduced a resoiutiou
which was agreed to. directing the Secretary of
IN tne areasusy why he allows harbor fees &c. to
pe collected at the port Of New York, when the
illegal. W 0'
On motion of Mr.. Wilson (Minn.) the secre-
House the report of General G. X. Warren in
relation to the Improvement of the Mississippi
river at the Falls Of st. Anthony.
MI Wilson also introduced a resolution direct
ing the Postmaster General to inquire and re-
port whether a reduction Of postage can he
MADE between that country and this Referred
Roads. N AoSs
On motion of Mr.. Archer (Ind) the Post
master General was directed to inform the
House whether there is any information i'm his
possession relative to the distraction of post
once stamps from the Post ONCE at Hayer-de-
Grace, Nd, in June 1869.
the mechanics lien law in the District of Co
i1mbia: Riai Referred to the Committee on the
Also, petition from Montgomery. Raltimore
counties ipU fha l,oli Oh
frankling privilege. Referred to Committee on
Post Office and Post Roads.
O., MT; Davis On. W called up the bill offered
few days ago to amend the Virginia admission
Dill 30 as to provide that members of the Vir-
gihla otate government may take an afirma-
uon . IN cases where scruples Of conscience pre-
vent them from taking the usual oath. Passed.
Mr. Paine, lWis,) from the Committee on
Elections, made q report on the case of the
representatives elect from the State Of vir-
glnia. The committee recommend that X. s.
Hare, OF the First District; j. H. Plat, ,Jr.,
Second; Charles III. Porter, Third; = Ridge,
way. E;f fmth; Mm Mills, Jr., Sixth, and James
Booker, Mckenzie, and Segar still remain with
Messrs. Plat, Ridgeway, and Mills, being
present. advanced and were sworn in.
MI: Wood IN. W objected to the admission of
Mr: Porter, on the ground that he had been con-
Mcted OF disloyalty to the Government and
wood, as part Of his remarks, read the pro-
ceedings OF the court martial and the sentence
as approved by Gen. Butler.
Mr.. Paine thought that If this statement were
strictly true il would not be Objectionable in the
mind OF the gentleman from New York He
then sent to the clerks desk the statement puh-
iished by General Butler shortly after the trial.
In which he to some extent exculpated Porter:
Ar. Sargent (Cal.) asked IL the gentlemen
rom New York really considered IL . cause of
exclusion exclusion from the House that man had de-
nouhceo OF spoken unexpectedly Of the Gov
eminent Of the United States.
Ar. Wood replied that he did not think any
man vas NJ 70 occupy o seat here as Represen-
c4uSe VINO said that this was the worst Govern
ment in the world, and thst he would rather
nve under the government OF Jef Davis than
mat OF Mr.. Lincoln.
Mr.. Eldfidge (wis.) asked Mr.. Sargent whether
ne accepted the explanation, and agreed with
9r. Weed that this class Of men should be ex-
cluded.
M. Sargent replied that II the rule were an
piled generally, many Of the seats on the Demo
cratic eide would be vacant
Mf. woodward (Pa.) said 20 far a. no knew
thotWas vie slander. as the gentleman on the
Denocratic dde were not disloyal, - IVES inti-
moted.
The question WAS then taken. ana Mr.. pcrt.,
was declared entitled TO his seat
The Speaker announced e the special cov,
mittee on the Postal Telegraph, Messrs. wan
burne, Owls, Lawrence, (O.,) Dawes, (Mas.. I,
Davis, lH. Y.) Palmer, Qowa,) woodward.
NJ: Holman iisdj rising to . question az
privilege moved 70 reconsider the vote vhereSv
Nj. Porter wa 0eclnrnd Auti~loa s--S'scs