The Portland daily press., 1871-02-20
by TELEGRAPH
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
XLIst OONGRESS---Third Session.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-During the morning
hour in the Senate Mr.. Howard offered reso.
luton reciting as the Judgment of the Senate
that in the present disturbed relations of the
government ofthe United States to that Of Great
Britain the recent appointments of a high COM
mission for discussion of tee subject of differ
ence between them was highly auspciouS
event; that the British North American Pos
sessions are in their very nature an obstacle to
the permanent harmony of the two govern
ments, and recommending to the commission
to provide for cession of these Possessions
TO the United States, and throwing open to
free navigation the waters of that region. Mr..
Howard asked unanimous consent to proceed
to the consideration of the resolution.
Mr.. Cameron objected and the resolution
went over.
Mr.. Kelsey, of New York, from the commit
tee of conference on the consular and diploma
tic appropriation bill, made report which was
agreed to.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the army appropriation bill, the
pending question being on the amendment Of
iered yesterday by Mr. Jones, of Kentucky, in
relation to the i.ational cemeteries.
Mr. Dawes, Of Massachusetts, while admit
ting the importance of the work, predicted
that more than So 100000 would be expended
on it. He wished to ask the attention of the
House whether it is proposed to arrest the free
on the largest possible scale for everything
that was recommended. He did not desire to
be continually complaining of the estimates,
| bat he thought that his friends would not like
| very well to see the aggregate of the appropri-
| alton bill at the close of this session. The
committee which he represented had omitted
nothing in their power to cut down the esti-
mates, but ii the House desired after all to GO
| to the country at the close of this session with
appropriations of $12000,000 more than at the
| close of last session and would take the respon-
| sibility he had nothing further to say, except
| that he and the Committee on Appropriations
| hal done all u their power to keep down the
| appropriations.
| The amendment was rejected and the bill
was laid aside to be reported to the House.
The committee next took up the bill reported
| bv the Committee on Foreign Affairs, author
| izing the President to co operate with the Gov
ernment of Great Britain in tie appointment
of the Joint commission in accordance with thu
| plap and estimate of Gen. Humphreys, of thu
| Corps of Engineers, for determining the boun
| dary line between the United States and th
| British possessions between Lake of the Wood
and the Rocky Mountains, and an appropria
tion of $780, 600 annually for the expenses Q
the work.
Mr.. Swarm. of Maryland, explained the ob
jects of the bill, and said that very great anxl
ETY. was felt by the punlic officers and agents Q
the United States at Pembina in reference I
the probability of collision that might tax
place at any time while the boundary line wa
unsettled
Alter further discussion the army appropri
ation o'ii was reported to the House and passe
| over.
The Honss then proceeded to the cepsidera
tioo VI tue reports OF the Judiciary Committe
on the McGarraghan claim.