The Portland daily press., 1870-04-22
XLIst C0NGRESS---seccnd Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-Mr. Scott intro.
duced bill to amend the revenue law; provid-
ing that the section which imposes a license
for the produce brokers shall not be so con-
strued as to make subject to that license farm
ers who sell their own produce.
K The Northern Pacific Railroad bill, author
izing the company to issue its bonds for the
construction If its road and to secure the same
by mortgage, was taken up; and Mr.. Casser-
Iy resumed his argument upon the rapid alb
sorption OF the public lands by Western rail-
roads, to show the mischievOus effect of these
excessive grants as compared with a more
equitable system, tending to paralyze rather
than lncite cooperative energy and inducing
the roads to come to Congress and demand as
right what at first they asked as a favor.
"A bill incorporating the Cincinnati s. Chat
tanooga Railroad Company, with a capital of
$l0,O0O,O0O, was reported favorably from the
COMMITTEE on Commerce. A provisO by Mr.
Cameron requiring the road to BIZ built wholly
OF American iron or steel, was agreed to, 27 to
Is. The bill was then passed, 40 to H.
Messrs. Thurman, Howell, Vickers and
Hamilton of Maryland, opposed. paired with
Sherman, Edmunds, Gilbert and Upton, who
were in favor of the measure.
The Senate then went into executive session
and adjourned
HOUSE.
A note was read from the chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee, stating that he
was sick and would be unable to call up the
tariff bill, and Mr.. Dawes proposed that after
the morning hour some of the appropriation
bills be taken up instead.
The resolution offered by Mr. Kerr yester-
day, to notify the Governor of Louisiana of
vacancy in the First Congressional District,
having come up as unfinished business, Mr.
Kerr withdrew it and Mr.. Stevenson renewed
it. After debate the resolution was tabled,
The bill revising and amending the statutes
relative to patent rights, was taken up The
amendments reducing the salaries of the Lii
brar'an OF the Patent Office to $780, the First
Assistant Examiner to $780, and the Exam
liner to $500, were agreed to. Further amend
ments were rejected and the bill passed.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the Naval Appropriation bill, which
apprOpriates ST., 641 ,S45.
MIR. Washburne of Wisconsin, in explaining
the bill, said the ships Of the navy did no credit
TO the country at home or abroad. The posi-
ton of the navy was most humliating; the
war ships of the United States being the deris-
ion of the world. The Committee ON Appro-
priations were unanimously Of the opinion
that before spending large sums of money for
class OF vessels that were confessedly useless
as cruisers, they should pause and consider
the question of future policy. He declared
that the iron steamships of England could
sweep from the ocean in thirty days what lit
tie American commerce was left, and it was
we'll to consider whether the United States
government might not wisely divert part of
the money now spent for the navy in encour-
aging the building Of vessels that would be
useful in peace and in war.
Mr.. Hale of Maine addressed the committee
| in defence of the Navy Department against
| the aspersiOns or insinuations of Messrs. Cox
| and Dawes and the newspapers.
Mr.. Morgan of Ohio asked Mr.. Hale whether
he was aware that the Secretary Of the Navy
| had estimated for pay of naval officers two
| millions over their legal salaries.
Mr.. bale said he was not and did not know
Mr.. Morgan-I know it and VIII provo it.
MIR. Hale went on to compare the American
navy with that of other nations to show it's in
feriorty. He said the British navy had to-
tai of 719 vessels, with tonnage of 600 900
tons; proportionate tonnage to the COM
| mercial marine of one-eighth. The French
| navy consisted of 40 vessels, including so ar
| mored ships. The Russian fleet in the Baltic
alone consisted of 81 vessels, with tonnage of
| 1859 tons; nearly double the force of the
whole American fleet in all its squadrons.
| Spain had navy of 128 vessels, and had now
| in the Cuban waters alone 81 vessels, mount
ing $50 guns, so per cent more of a naval power
than the United States could bring against her
if all our squadrons were stopped together.
The House here took recess.
At the evening session only dozen mem
bers were present. The committee rose and
| the House adjourned