The Portland daily press., 1871-04-20
BY TELEGRAPH
XLIId OONGREss---Fitst Session.
SENATE.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.

The executive session continued till 4.l5 p
m. with the exception of a few minutes during
which few bills of minor importance, incIud'
| ing that in favor of Nicholas p. Trist, were
passed; when a message was received from the
House announcing the rejection of the confer
| ence report on the Ku KluX bill and asking
| for new conference.
The Senate, on motion of Mr.. Edmunds, in
| sisted on the amendments and Messrs. Ed
| mnnds, Carpenter and Thurman were appoint
| ed a committee of conference
The conference report on the deficiency bill
was agreed to and the Senate took q recess till
70 with view to the final adjournment this
evening.
AT the evening session the bill for the sale oil
the Cherokee Indian lands in Kansas was
passed.
Mr.. Robertson asked the Senate 10 take up
the amnesty bill, measure which he thought
would do more to restore law and order and
strengthen the Republican party in the South
than any other which could be passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, objected as there
was not quorum present.
By unanimous consent the resolution to
print additional copies of the report OF the
San Domingo commissioners was considered
as before the Senate in order in order to allow
MIR. Cole to deliver some remarks in favor oil
Dominican annexation.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to take up the general
amnesty bill, and during the discussion which
enSued Mr.. Edmunds submitted and explained
the report of the second conference committee
on the Ku KluX bill. 1t was as reported from
the previous conference, except that a substi-
tute which he thought equally effective had
been adopted for the Sherman amendment.
The substitute was under discussion in the
Senate when we went to press.
HOUSE.
The House met at 10. 80 this forenoon.
On motion of Mr.. Dawes, of Mass. the Sem
ate's request for new conference committee
on the deficiency bill was acceded to, and
Messrs. Dawes, Cook and Niblack were ap-
pointed.
Mr.. Hazelton, of Wisconsin, offered a resc-
luton instructing the Committee on Military
Affairs to consider and report what additional
legislation is necessary to equalize the soldiers
bountles, and investigate and report what
would be the additional annual expense of in
creaslng twenty-five per cent. the pensions of
those who are totally disabled. Adopted
Mr.. Campbell asked leave to introduce con-
current resolution requesting the President 10
cause negotiations to be opened with the Gov
ernments of Great Britain and Mexico to as
certain on what conditions those Governments
would consent to the annexation of their pos
sessions on this continent to the United States
Messrs. Willard, of Vermont, and Mercer, of
Pennsylvania, objected.
Mr.. Holmes, OF Indiana, introduced bill to
carry into effect the decision of the Supreme
Court relating to bounties of soldiers who en-
listed between the Sd of May and 22d OF July,
1861. Referred.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, asked leave to
make personal explanation.
Mr.. McHenry objected.
MIR. Butler-That is the end of personal ex-
plantations In this House if that is the course
to be taken.
MIR. McHenry-The objection was made YES
terday by my colleague (Beck) and now re-
new it ia behalf of the Kentucky delegation.
Mr.. Butler AS Massachusetts is being CON
stantly made the point of attack on the other
SIDE OF the House the arrow must be kept in
my culver for the present
Mr.. Shellabarger, of Ohio, from the CONFER
ence committee on the Ku Klux bill, made q
report and proceeded to explain it. In refer
ence to the amendment as the right of peremp.
tory challenge to grand or petit jurors on ac-
count of having acted in the rebellion, the bill
agreed upon by the conference committee
would remove that right of peremptory calling,
but would leave the matter to the considera-
ton of the Court. AS to Mr.. Sherman's
amendment, it was modified SO as to eonfine
the claims for damages to cases OF riots and
make suits brought not against the property of
individuals but against the cities and counties
in their corporate capacity. He read legal
technical argument in support of the constitu-
tlonalIty OF the proposed provision, quoting
from decision in the Court of Appeals in the
State OF New York, rendered by Judge Denis
Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, from the minority of
the committee, opposed the report. He pro-
ceeded to argue at length against Mr.. Sher-
mans amendment.
Following Mr.. Kerr were Messrs. Brooks.
Beck and Eldridge, opposed, and Shellabarger
favored the conference report, the discussion
bein mainly confined to Sherman's amend
ment.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, advocated the
conference report and expressed his regret that
their should be any danger of the failure of
such an important bill ON account of constitu-
tional and other scruples
MIR. Poland, of Vermont, expressed his re-
greet at being unable to vote with with his
party Tor the conference report, but ne regard
ed 1t In his sincere judgment as contrary to the
Constitution, and therefore his oath as a men,
Der would prevent him from giving it his SUM-
port He argued at length against the Sher-
mac amendment, which he said proposed to
put every man on his own good behavior but
put him on the good behavior of every bod v
else. He regarded it as above and beyond any
constitutional power of Congress The Ma
tlOnal Government dealt either with States or
persous. II knew nothing OF towns or coun-
ties or cities, and Congress could impose no
duty or liability upon such corporations in any
manner whatever.
The discussion was interrupted for the pres
ent at one of the conference reports on the de-
hciency bill. A point of order was raised and
referred to the House. It was sustained and
the report of the conference committee was
thus practically rejected, which, on motion of
MIR. Garfield, was recommitted to obviate any
difficulty as to the result of refusal of the
hOuSo W IcCtlVo tue report.
The House then resumed the conference re.
port on the Ku Klux bill
Mr.. Bingham. of Ohio, remarked that every
section and sentence of the bill as reported
from the conference committee received his
unqualified approval except the Sherman
amendment He hoped, therefore, that the
conference report would be rejected. He de-
MED the authority of Congress to make the
country responsible in Court of the United
states Tor damages in destruction of life and
property. The counties were integral parts of
States Just as the States were integral parts of
the nation, and if they were destroyed the
whole fabric of the Government would be de-
strOyed.
Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, also opposed the
conference CO.. committee report, Directing to both
the Sherman and test oath amendments
Mr.. Hoar, OF Massachusetts,, sustained the
Sherman amendment, cOntending that its
principle rested on the right which every Re-
publican member conceded 10 reside in Con-
gress, to preserve the right of every class of
citizens to equality in the protection of the
laws as far as that right was mperiled by a
denial OF such protection on account of race
color or previous condition of servitude.
Mr.. Perry closed the debate in an argument
in favor of the Sherman amendment. after
which the conference report was rejected "a to
log, and a new committee was ordered, on
which Messrs. Shellabarger, Poland and Whit
horn were appointed.
Among the Republicans voting with the
DemoCrdtS III tne negative were MesSfS. Blng-
ham, Banks, Blair of Michigan, Conger, Farms
worth, Finklenburg, Garfield, Hale, Hawley
Hooper, Packer of Pennsylvania, Poland, Shell
don, Strong, and Townsend of Pennsylva
The conference report ON the deficiency bill
was again presented and agreed to.
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts, stated that the
items for the Sutro tunnel commission and
Washington Park were omitted. The item for
paving Pennsylvania avenue was amended Inv
appropriating $12 600 Tor repairs, and that the
appropriation for the Sisters of Our Lady OF
Mercy at Charleston had been reduced from
S2o, 900 to So, 900. As to the reissue of ma
tional bank currency, it had been found i'm
possible to carry the bill through both Houses
unless an additional tax was placed on banks
to defray the expenses of reissue, and there.
fore the whole thing had been left out.
The House then took recess
EVENING SESSION,
The House, having met and taken two re-.
cesses, reassemb'ed for the third time at ter
minutes past Q, when Mr.. Hale stated that the
conference committee had just returned in the
Senate and moved a further recess for half an
hour.
MIR. Maynard moved an adjournment till
o'clock tomorrow morning. Rejected, IS to So
| :, A this point message was received from