The Portland daily press., 1871-03-18
XLIId OONGREsS---First Session.
SENATE.

years from the Alb inst, took the oath OF Office
The Vice President lad before the Senate
message from the President, in response I
Mr.. Frelinghuysen's resolution. to the enec
that since the proclamation OF the ratlncatlol
OF the 18th amendment but one additions
State, New Jersey, had ratified It.
Bill defining a gross of matches, the oblec
being to prevent frauds in packing, was passe'
with an amendment that it shall not go int
effect for six months.
Mr.. Vickers. from the majority CT the Com
mittee on Disabilities, reported 3 bill rellevin!
the disabilities of Senator elect Vance of Nortl
Carolina.
Mr. Foreman stated that he did not conc1
in the report, and Mr.. Pomsroy objected to tn
immediate consideration of the bill.
A bill was passed enabling the Atlantic
Pacific Railway Co. 20 mortgage the road.
MT Wilson introduced a bill to remove IN
political disabilities of all persons except mem
bers OF the Cabinet and Senators aud kepre
sentatves who left Congress to go into the re re
beliion. Referred to the COMMITTEES on P0litl
cal Disabilities.
Mr.. Anthony submitted resolution TOT I'M
investigation into Southern affairs. as follows
RESOLVED, de-, That joint committee con
ssting of five Senators and seven Representa-
tives be appointed, whose duty it shall De 10 IN
quire into the condition Of the late insured
tionary States so far as regards the execution
of the laws and the safety of the lives ant
property OF the citizens of the United States
with leave to report at any time the results o
their investigation to Congress-, with such rec
concentrations as they may deem expedient
and such committee be authorized to employ
clerks and ste Dographers, to sit during the re
cess, take testimony AID visit at their discre
ton any portion of said States during the re-
cess OF Congress, to print and make public a
any time during the recess the results OF theil
investigation; and that the expenses of said
committee be paid out of the Congressional
contingent fund.
MIR. Anthony explained that the resolution
would provide for joint investigating com
mittee. upon which lighthouses would be rep
resented instead of q special committee of one
branch, as proposed by the House. Senators
on both sides Of the Chamber would of course
be represented on the committee.
Mr.. Trumbull suggested an increase of the
committee to seven Senators and nine Repre-
sentatives, and that the present Senate com
mittee to investigate Southern affairs be in.
cluded in the number.
Mr.. Anthony accepted the suggestion for ar
increase in the number OF the committee, and
the resolution was modified accordingly.
Mr. Thurman said he was willing 10 foregc
any private opinion and vote for such investi.
CATION, which, in the opinion OF the majority
was considered necessary, but he wanted an
amendment so as to secure fair representa-
lion to both parties or sub committees of the
main committee, which might sit at various
points of the South. He denied that the investi-
CATION was to be party matter, and protested
against the idea that any one party more than
another had interest in the preservation of the
peace Of tue country. As the matter had in
some quarters assumed the appearance of par
tizanship he would how provide for fairness in
the investigation of subcommittee.
Mr.. Trumbull remarked that in calling at
tenti0n to the matter the Senator from Ohio
had probably accomplished his object. Ger
tainly no one desired to obtain any informa-
ton which not correct, and the committee, il
appointed, would doubtless heed the sugges-
ton.
Mr.. Scott said the Committee on the South
would never take testimony unless one or two
members of the minority of the committee
were present.
Mr.. Thurman expressed himself as satisfied
with having called attention to the matter.
and withdrew his suggestion tor an amend
ment.
Mr.. Conkling did not want it to be under.
stood that there was any agreement in the
Senate by which the Democratic members of
the subcommittee would be enabled to frus-
trate investigation by inability or unwilling
ness to accompany the other members of such
subcommittee whenever they desired to 60.
Such an agreement would Illustrate the whole
investigation. He had no idea any such thing
would be attempted, but he would now enter
his explicit denial of any such arrangement
having been made.
Mr.. Thurman assured the Senator from New
York Of the faithful attendance of Democrats
il sufficient number of them were appointed,
The resolution then passed.
Mr.. Patterson then offered a concurrent res
OlutiOu reviVing joint committee on retrench-
ment, to consist of four Senators and seven
Mr. Stewart objected and it went ever.
Mr.. Robertson, from the Com mittee on Disa-
bliitles, reported without amendment his bill
to relieve all persons except members of Con-
gress and officers of the army and navy who
lett their positions and aided the rebellion,
from all political disabilities imposed by the
18th amendment of the Constitution.
A bill to promote the collection OF internal
revenue, and providing for the employment of
an internal revenue police force in every col.
lection district in the discretion of the Com
of Internal Revenue, was introduce
BY Mr.. Lewis and referred to the Finance
Committee
the additional deficiency appropriation bill
was then proceeded With, and amendments
Tor public park in the CITY of
Washington and repeating the law for the
Of the first session of a new
Congress on the 4lh of March instead of De-
cember, were adopted, a motion to lay the lat
ter on the table being rejected, A TOT. The
yeas were Messrs. Cole, Cragn, Frelinghuy-
sen, Hitchcock, Pool, Spencer and Sumner.
The bill was then laid aside and the Senate
took up Mr. Anthony's resolution to limit the
business of the present session to legislation
Upon the South, which was submitted in
modified form, as follOws:-That the Senate
will consider at the present session no other
legislative business than the deficiency apprO-
priation bill, the concurrent resolution Tor
Joint com mittee en- the South and the reselu-
lion now pending lnstructiog the Committee
on the judiciary to report bill or bills to en-
able the President aud Courts of the United
States to execute the laws in said States.
Mr.. Sumner objected to the resolution in its
present form. He opposed any adjournment
n MT cr1n r1Q oiv iuht 4
disposed of, and proceeded to explain and ad
vOcate his bill as essential to the closing
work of reconstruction. He thought the Sem
ators could not afford to 60 home until they
passed this measure.
Before Mr.. Sumner had concluded the Sen
adjourned until tomorrow.
A resolution paying John r. Reading $500
Tor expenses in contesting his seat in the 41st
Congress from the 9th Pennsylvania district,
was referred.
The House passed the Senate bill giving a
condemned cannon and six cannon balls to tine
Grand Army OF the Republic cemetery.
Mr.. Potter of New York offered a resolution
that all bills creating corporations be cOnsid-
cred under the rules as pnblic bills. Referred
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts, asked for unaui-
nous consent to ha, printed bill for the pro-
lection of the lives and property of loyal citi-
zens. Objections we're made on the Demo-
cratic side of the House.
Mr.. Edridge's motion to adjourn was mega.
lived, 80 to SO.
A Joint resolution extending the provisions
of the act of 1862 to all aliens who had entered
the navy or marine corps and have been or
shall be honorably discharged, so as to place
the m on the same footing as so naturalization
and citizenship. Passed, 165 to 8; viz, Messrs.
Clatke, Mercer, Merphis, Prindle, Waldron,
oil oil IF Of
Indiana.
The bill authorizing and empowering the
of Internal Revenue, with the
of the Secretary of the Treasury, to
determine the form, character and device for
stamps required by the internal revenue laws,
to be provided for by contract or otherwise was
passed.
The Senate bill giving R. H. Lamson leave
TO withdraw his resignation as lieutenant in
the navy, with an amendment authorizing the
President to nominate him to be lieutenant
was passed.
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts, demanded the
regular order Of business, which was the calling
of the States for bills and resolutions. This
gentleman desired to Introduce his bill for the
protection of THE lives and property of loyal
citizens.
Mr. Holman of Indiana, at quarter of two
O clock, moved that the House take recess
till P. M. Rejected.
Mr. Butler demanded the regular order, say
ing simply that he wanted the bill indicated to
the House.
Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts asked that the
House take up the joint resolution of the SEN
ate just received, providing for a committee to
investigate the subject OF Southern outrages.
The Speaker replied that nothing was in or.
der but the calling Of the States for bills and
resolutions, commencing with Maine. Pend
ing this notice Mr.. Holman of Indiana had
moved that the House adjourn.
Mr. Garfield Of Ohio appealed to Mr.. Butler
not to object to taking up the bill for printing