The Portland daily press., 1870-06-23
NEW S
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
XLIst OONGRESs---Second Session.

WASHINGTON, June 22-The resolutions of
the Union League Club of New York City Tor
the reduction of taxes and against the renewal
the table.
Mr.. Sumner reported favoraby a bill to
facilitate telegraphic communication between
the United States and the Bermuda Islands; /;
also a bill to authorize a direct submarine cable
from the United States to Belgium.
1twas ordered that hereafter the Senate
meet at IL A. NJ
The bill amending the act granting lands to
aid the construction of a railioad and telegraph
line from Missouri and Arkansas to the Pacific
coast by way of the Southern route and ex-
tending the time for the construction of the
road so that the company may obtain the right
of way through the Indian territory was dis
cussed until 130 p. M. and laid aside.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Palmer of Iowa reported bill aut horiz-
ing the construction of bridge across the
Missouri river at Omaha and Council Bluffs
Mr.. Wells of Missouri offered an amendmen
requiring the spans to be 300 feet in width
Agreed to, and the bill was passed.
Mr.. Wilson of Minnesota reported bill au-
thorizing the claim of the State OF Minnesota
for lands for support of the State University
Passed, SO to 76.
Mr.. Schenck Of Ohio reported bill to or
ganize Department of Internal Revenue and
to regulate the collection of taxes, and moved
that it be printed and made the special order
for Wednesday next He stated that the bill
embraced all that related to the organization of
the department.. 1t reduced the number OF Of
fcers clerks and employees of the department
about one third. 1t re.enacted the old law in
relation to the collection of internal taxes and
repudlatlng all infOrmerS, spies, mOietes, etc.
The motion of Mr.. Schenek was agred to.
The House then resumed the consideration
OF ;tln the bill reported Yesterday from the Con-,
North American Railroad Company $678 362
the interest due to the States of Massachusetts
1872.
After an hours discussion the bill was passed
10l to 81. Mr. Poland of Vermont, from
the select committee on the resolution for the
expulsion from the leporters gallery of j. Scott
Smith, correspondent of the New York Euening
Post, made report and asked that it be print
ed aud that the resolution be laid on the table.
Il was SO ordered.
During the debate on the Presidents veto of
Rollin White (Smith & Wesson's) pistol
patent, which was sustained by Messrs. Woo /,
Latin, Hoar and Kellogg, an exciting episode
took place, arising out of point of order by
Mr.. Farnsworth of Illinois, that Mr.. Butler
was the paid counsel OF White, the beneficiary
under the bill. He declared that it was in evil
dence that the member from Massachusetts
had accepted a fee of $4,000.
Mr.. Butler-There is no such evidence, never
can be and never will be.
Mr.. Farnsworth-I insist upon its being
read.
MIR. Butler-The point between the gentle
man and myself is this. He charges that
lee OF $1,000 was furnished to me to advocate
the extension of the patent on this floor
say thar received the fee for fighting the case
in the Supreme Court.
MIR. FarnswOrth-The statutes of the United
States declare that member of Congress who
receives any fee for matter pending before
Congress or In any of the departments COM
mlts mlsdemeanor punishable by indictment;
and it is in evidence that the member from
Massachusetts voluntarily stands to the Com
missioner of Patents -
Mr.. Butler (interrupting) don't give way
to be abused by man who has more beard
than brains.
Mr.. Farnsworth- is most excellent
retOrt; as good as the member is capable of
making. The member NAV curse my beard
but he cannot steal under the shadow of my
beard: My point of order is that the gentle
man from Massachusetts has NO right to advo-
cate the claim here for $4,000.
Mr.. Jenckes of Rhode Island, having four
minutes left, said he would yield to Mr. But
Ter.
Mr.. Butler said he would not ask half of it.
He only wanted the record TO be read, which
would brand the s. atement of the member
from Illinois as malicious, false and infamous
(sensation).
Mr.. Farnsworth-Have it re I'd.
Mr.. Butler-The entry is one of $4,000 for
counsel fees paid to me in January, 1869. when
L argued the case before the Supreme Court
where my brief is filed. 1t is ior counsel fee
and nothing else.
The paper was sent to the clerks desk and
read, from which it appeared that Mr.. Butler
had written to the Commissioner of Patents,
suggesting that the patent should not be ex-
tended without examination, and that he re-
ceived counsel fee of $4,000 from the appli-
can't
Mr. Farnsworth then obtained lhe floor and
in speech of considerable length enlarged up
on the charge.
Gen. Butler defended himself, and explained
by saying that Mr.. White called on him in
1867, and represented that suit in the Su-
preme Court had been once argued and was to
be re.argued. Owing to the illness of his
counsel he came to secure Gen. Buffers servi-
ces. The latter said that he spent four solid
weeks time preparing brief, but that the Or
lglnal counsel recovering, argued the case.-
Mr. White paid him (Butler) $4,000 for his
services. At that time the application for an
extension Of the patent had not been present
ed to Congress, and he (Butler) did not know
that it ever would be. The discussion on both
sides was sharp, and there was considerable
excitement in the House.
The vote was then taken and the veto sus-
tained, IL to 1853, and the House proceeded
with the business on the Speakers table, and
pending the motion to concur in the Senate
amendment to the representative appOrton-
ment bill the House adjourned.