Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-01
Forty-First Congress Second Session
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81.
GIN ATE


The vice president announced the return from
the house Of the income tax repeal bill, with the
accompanying suggestion that under section
of article l of the constitution, the house had
the sole power to originate such measures.
Mr.. Scott moved to non-concur in the reasons
assigned by the house for the return of the bill,
and asked for q committee of conference on the
difference Of opinion between the two houses as
to their privileges.
Mr. Pomeroy submitted and had read the fol-
lowing, which, on Mr.. 'Esalmbull's objection to
delaying the business 1oE its immediate cOnsid-
Grafton, went over untff'the next morning hour.
"whereas, recent dispatches foreshadow peace
and termination of the great war in Europe; and,
Whereas, the tread of hostile armies has desOlated
great portion of the republic of France which, un-
happily has been made the battlefield for the two
great nations; and,
Whereas, the cry of hunger, destitntion and sor
row is now more distinctly heard, as the battle cries
die away; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, that, In obedience to Christian charity
which seeketh the good of all nations, and minis
tiers TO all human distress, and, while gratefully
Numbering the practical sympathy of FTenchmen
to us in the day of early weakness and eXtrem-
tv, we heartily commend the suffering poor of
France to the American people, and recommend
thfs generous sympathy and organized charity be
speedily inaugurated for their relief
Resolved that congress respectfully recommend
to the president of the United States that he
to be stationed at the port of New York, if the
same can be done without injury to the public SER
vice one of our rst-cass naval vessels to be there
held in readiness to receive on board for transport
tation, such supplies may be furnished by the
people of the United States for the destitute and
suffering people of France.
The house bill suspending the proceedings in
reference to the Chorpenning claim was re-
ceived, and referred TO the committee on post
offices. Mr.. Trumbull characterized the claim
as the boldeSt imposition pracriced on the gov
ernment.
Mr.. Edwards introduced a bill to further pre-
serve the purity of elections and guard against
abuses of the elective franchises by registration
electors, which was referred to the committee
on the judiciary. 1t prescribed, with minute
ness a system OF registration for all electors in
the United States, to take place in 1871, and an
nually thereafter, by means of boards of regis
tration to be appointed by the United States
marshals, and also for the appointment of in
spectors Of elections by the United States dis
trict Judges
Mr.. Buckingham introduced a bill, which was
referred to the post office committee, ncorporat-
ing Elbridge G. Roberts and Ward E. Roberts,
New York. and their associates, as the United
States steamship company, and directing the
postmaSter-general to contract with them for
the transportation of European mails for twen-
ty years, at six cents per quarter ounce OF let
tiers, and two cents per ounce of printed matters.
The senate proceeded with the Georgia SEN
atorial question:
Mr.. Stewart defended the people of the south
from the charge of hostility to the laws of the
government, claiming for them undying love of
country and conscientious regard for their duties
as citizens.
Without disposing of the subject, the senate
went into executive session, and soon adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Bufinton of Massachusetts offered reso-
luton for the survey of the harbor of Wellfleet,
Mass, with n view Of dredging and improving
it. Adopted.
Mr.. Kellogg of Connecticut offered resolu-
ton calling for the report from the engineers de-
partment relating TO the improvement OF the
Housatonic river and New Haven harbor, Con-
necticut Adopted.
Mr.. Maynard of Tennessee, from the commit
tee on ways and means, reported bill author
izing the secretary of the navy, after consulta-
ton with the attorney general, to institute pro-
ceedings at law, or otherwise obtain full dam
ages and indemnitication for the destruction and
loss of the sloop-of-war Oneida in the bay of
Jeddo, Japan, in January, 1870, by the collision
of the steamship Bombay. Passed
Mr.. Sargent of California introduced a bill au-
thorizing J. II. Schnell Of California to enter $40
acres of land at minimum prices, according to
the lines of his Improvements of tea gardens
and other culture, and to which there may not
be any adverse claims except that of the United
States. Mr.. Sargent explained that Mr. Schnell
was making successful experiment in estab-
fishing colony of japanese and in cultivating
tea, raising silk worms, &C., and wanted more
laws-160 acres. Passed.
The house then resumed, in the morning hour,
the bill reported from the committee on mill
tary affairs, to extend the bounty land system
to the soldiers and sailors of the late war, their
widows and orphans.
Mr.. StoughtOn, who reported the bill, ex-
planned and defended its provisions 1t was not
true, he argued, that soldiers would be swindled
out of their rights by land sharks They had
saved the country from treason, and he thought
they were capable of taking care of hundred
and sixty acres of wild western lands. The bill
required soldier to enter his land, and then
gave him one year in which, if he pleased, he
could assign that right and the title which he
had in the land TO some person who wished to
90 west and locate on that land and, if he did
not, it reverted to the government. The bill
could not operate for the benefit Of land specu-
lators, because it required actual settlement.
He believed that the soldiers would be satisfied
with the bill, and that the country would be sat
sfied with it.
After further debate by Messrs. Asper, Logan
and Packard in favor, and Van Wyck against
the bill, Mr.. Julian's substitute, allowing the
time served in the army 10 be counted in the
time required in the cultivation and settlement
under the homestead act, and that of Mr.. Hol-
man, extending the bounty land law of the 2Sth
of September, 1850, to soldiers of the late war,
their widows, and orphans, were rejected, and
the bill passed-1S4 to 20.
Messrs. Hooper, Allison and voorhees, were
appointed to represent the house on the confer
ence committee on the right of the senate TO
originate the income tax repeal bill, the speaker
stating that the committee would have no pow
err TO consider the bill ITSELF
Mr.. Dawes asked to have the senate bill pro-
viding for the expense Of a select committee on
outrages in the south taken from the speakers
table and passed.
Mr.. Randall objected, as the bill proposed
more waste OF public money
Mr.. Dawes then reported, from the committee
on appropriations, bill appropriating $4,000
for the expenses of the investigating committees
Of the house. Passed.
The senate substitute for the bill abolishiug
the ofices Of admiral and vice admiral of the
navy was non-concurred in, and committee of
conference asked.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, from the com
mittee on reconstruction, reported back, with
recommendation that it pass, the senate bill pre-
scribing that the oath of Office be taken by per-
sons who participated in the late rebellion, but
were not disnuaIified from hodnp ofHca