The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-15
XLIss CONGRESs--Ehird Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-The House Join
esolution appropriating $4,000 for George It
Robinson, in recognition of his services in saw
| ing the lie of Secretary Seward in April, 1866
was passed.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Finance Committee
reported adversely on the House bill to remi
the duties upon certain imported articles do
mated for the benefit of destitute citizens o
France. Mr. Sherman explained in regard Il
the bill, that the Finance Commute sympa
thized entirely with the object but thought i
impracticable, as it would be impossible for TIL
Secretary of the Treasury to pass upon all the
articles of imported merchandise covered by
the bill.
Mr.. Sumner.Does the Senator see any way
in which the object can be accomplished.
The Gulf Steamship Subsidy Bill was taker
up in Committee of the Whole.
One amendment authorizes the Post Master
General to increase the Mail Service between
San Francisco, China and Japan, by doubling
the number of trips by means of steamers Of
four thousand tons burthen, and increasing the
tsubsdy Of the China mail line from 100000
o $1.00O,O00.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike out all names
Of corporations, SO as sleave the Post Master
General free as heretofore in such cases. to
contract with the best parties at the best rates.
His object was to test the sense of the Senate
upon the propriety of limiting the posting de-
paltment in contracting to a particular set OF
men, no matter how good. Mr.. Edmund s
motion agreed to, "a to 20
Bill as passed directs the Postmaster Gener-
al to advertise for, and Authorizes him TO con-
tract with responsible parties, who shall be
American citizens, upon the NEST advantage
GUS terms, tor the conveyance OF semi month
ly mail from New Orleans, via Galveston, to
certain Mexican ports, the contractors within
IS months to construct 3 first class iron steam
ships of not less then 1900 tons burthen, each
subject to acceptancel or rejection by the Post
master General, and the approval by con-
tractor detailed by the Secretary OF the Navy.
In time of war or danger, the government is
to take the vessels by purchase or payment OF
a sum equivalent to the interest on their accu.
mulated value; the mail contract not to exceed
10 years, nor an annual improvisation $780,
600. reasonable compensation to be paid for
the first IS months for any pioneer vessel
placed upon the route. Alter the adoption OF
numerous amendments couditionally modify
ing the bill.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to provide for
the selection OF Cadets to the Naval and Mill
tary Academies, which was referred to the Nil.
itary Committee. In making such appoint
mentS, representatives are required to select
one from three applicants standing highest
after competitive examination, conducted by
a committee of residents Of the district, who
are to be designated by said Representatives
The bill also prohibits examinations or admis-
sion within year, OF any candidate who fails
to pass examination of Military or Naval Acad
emies 1t was reported to the Senate aud
passed 20 to 81
The bill appropriating S14, GOO for compensa-
ton OF Nicholas p. Trist negotiator OF a
treay with Guadal0upe and Hidalgo, was pass
ed, "a to 13
The remainder of the session was occupied
in the discussion Of the House bill relating tC
telegraphic communication between the q pii
/ ed States aOd foreign countries, to which MIR
Nye offered and advoted an amendment, limit
ing the charge for message OF ten words tC
| So. Without action on the bill thesSeDate a /.
| journed.
The report of the Conference Committee or
the West Point appropriation hill and the res
| olutions OF the Election Committee on the con
| tested Tillman- Sheat case, from the 4th Ten
nessee district in favor of allowing Sheaf ST.
| 500, were agreed to. The latter resolution
| passed without discussion, somewhat to thu
| surprise of Mr.. Brooks of Massachusetts, WI {
| reported it, and had arranged to have an hour
| delay, but much to tie amusement aud salts
| faction of the House.
| The report of the Military Committee on the
| West Point Academy difficulties was taken vi
| and for the second resolution, recommending
| the Secretary Of War to convene court of in
| qurv for the purpose of ascertainiug and ex
| pelling the inst2ators and leaders in the aff,i
of Jan. Sd, and properly Furnishing other par
| ticipating members of the class, Mr.. Butler O
/
| ResolDed-That the House of Representa-
tives recommend that the Secretary of War re
| fuse at the graduation of the first class, th'
| customary furlou2h or leave of absence, bu
| that every member of that class be at once OF
| their graduation ordered to their duties as Of
| ticers of the army, aud no leave of absence ex
| cept sick leave. be granted to any Of them to
| one year.
| Mr. johnson of California, offered the follow
| ing as an additional resolution:
| ResolUed That the House of Representa-
| tues recommend that the Secretary OF w
| convene court of inquiry to examine into thu
| conduct OF officers on duty at West Poin
| Academy, with a view to ascertain whether
| they connived at and tried to keep from TIA
| public and the War Department the wrong
| done by the first class, thereby encouragin.
| INSTRUMENTATION and riotnus conduct at TIL
| Academy; and if found guilty they be relieves
| FROM duty at the institution.
| Mr.. Benjamin of Mo, asked leave to offer al
additional resolution as follows: -Resoloed fur
| her-That in the opinion of the House of Rep
resentatives the Military Academy at Yves
Point has outlived its usefulness aud ought +
be abolished; but Mr. Kelsey of N. Y. object
| ed.
Mr., Asper of Mo-, the member of the Com
mittee Oh Military Affairs who drew up tn
| report, proceeded to address the House in sup
port OF the resolutions, recitng the facts of th
case and insisting upon the gravity of the OF
| fence by the first class, and the necessity @
visiting it with appropriate punishment H
| regarded the excuse given by the boys, tina
they were driven to this act because the au
tborities at Washington were constantly inter
| terng with the discipline OF the school and re
hitting penalties, as reflection upon Presi
dent Grant, and therefore adding to the offenc
committed
Mr.. Axtell of California approved of the frs
resolution reported by the Committee hecaus
it leaned to the side OF mercy, but he was OF
posed to and would vote against the second =
| 1t recommended in fact, the dismissal of tn
| whole of the first class of the Academy for i
that movement there were ne ther lnstigatOr
nor leaders. 1t was voluntary, impulsiv
unanimous movement. He asked member
whether they bad forgotten the follies and in
discretious Of their college days and were pre-
| pared to mete out to these young men the Sc
| verest penalty known to college law, e1pu
| sion.
Mr.. Slocum Of n. Y, member of the sui
| Committee on Military Affairs, which mad
| the investigation, declared that he had nc
been in favor of the House entering upon tn
investigation, thinking the discipline OF tn
| school might be left to its officers, but as tn
| House had thought it proper to order IT, b
had taken part in it and had concurred in th
resolution. He defended the officers OF To
Academy, but recognized that they had pa
unusual difficulties thrown in their way with
in the last few years; first by the admission {
colored cadet. who had proved great SQUIRE
OF embarrassment; ard secondly, by tue pres
e .t ct cadet, the son of man high IN an
.nofity, who interfered with orders and discl
pune, Hne. 1t he were at the head Of such an III
SUTTON sutton he would rather have twenty negr
| effSets SnaR one cadet so circumstanced, an
tuls 1ad been Iee position the officers of tn
years. ''' ''i0 ''s' 'nie
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts sold ,o s i,
huenced by no hostile feeling tow,rds ~ NJ !