Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-21
CONGREssIOsAL
Senate to Vote on Amnesty To-Day.
House Votes for a Commission ON La
Dor and Wages. v. -
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec 20.-On motion of
Mr.. Morton quarter Of million for the Ge-
neva Commission, and sixty-two thousand
for mixed commission expenses at Wash
ington, was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony, fifteen thou
sand copies of the report of the civil
service commission and the accompanying
message were ordered printed.
Mr.. Cragin reported bill to pay the ex-
penses Of prosecutions in Utah.
A .seandasous's Resolution.
Mr.. Davis, Of Kentucky, offered long
resolution directing the Investigating and
Retrenchment Committee to report con-
corning the Presidents interests in public
contracts, the appointment of his relatives
to Office, and also as to the appointments of
those who have made him presents, also
concerning the San Domingo treaty, and as
to the President and heads Of departments
absenting themselves from Washington.
Mr.. Edmunds thoughtfhe resolutionlscan-
dalous, but wanted it printed as he desired
ten thousand copies as a campaign docu-
ment.
Mr.. Morton desired to see the resolution
passed. Resolution laid over.
A bill by Mr.. Blair to grant to Missouri
all the remaining public lands in said State
for the benefit of the school fnnd, and to
authorize the Court of Claims to try the
suit of Corondelet vs.. the United States,
was referred.
Mr.. Buckingham offered resolution
authorizing the Committee on Retrench-
ment to sit in the city of New York, and
authorizing its subcommittee to admins
ter oaths and take testimony, was adopt d.
Still HarpInR.
Mr.. Sumner called up his resolution ask
ing information about the United States
naval vessels sent to San Domingo, and
was passed without opposition.
Mr. Fenton from the Committee on Fin
ance reported bill to reorganize the Gus
tomhOuse service and to regulate the dis
position Of fines, penalties and forfeitures.
1t proposes in lieu of salaries, N erits and
perquisites of all kinds now paid to officers
in custom service and to fix their salaries as
follows: At New York, Collector of Gus
toms $4,000 per annum: San Francisco,
$4,000; Philadelphia and Baltimore, 700,
ETC., and salaries of subordinates graded in
proportion. The bill further provides that
all fines and forfeitures received for viola
tions of the custom laws shall be paid into
the Treasury, and any officer of the United
States except in case where he actually
detects fraud and makes seizure, in which
cases will be entitled to One-fourth of
the net proceeds. Any person not en-
ployed by the Government is under the
same circumstances entitled to the same
share namely, fourth.
Amnesty.
The Senate took up the House general
amnesty bill.
Mr.. Robertson said it was favored by
all prominent Republicans at the South and
its passage would give the Republican party
more friends there than any other measure
it could possibly pass.
Mr.. Buckingham read an elaborate speech
on the SUBJECT. He expressed the opinion
that Jefferson Davis and others ought to
have been executed Immediately after the
war, but the government released so many
individuals from political disabilities that
thereI was some apparent reason for charg-
ing it with injustice if it refused to relieve
others no more guilty than those relieved.
He hoped no other amnesty bills would be
introduced.
AHIt at Gov. Vance.
Mr.. Morton offered an amendment, pro-
viding that the act shall not be construed to
date back so as to validate the election or
appointment of any person to the position of
Senate or member of the House of Rep
resentatives, or to any office, civil or militia
ry, under the United States, or any State,
to which the person was at the time Of such
election or appointment ineligible.
Mr.. Edmunds.-That is right.
Mr.. Stewart wished to have the bill
passed substantially as it had come from
the House without adding further excep-
tiOns, although he had no objection to Mr.
MortOn's amendment.
Summers other Hobby.
Mr.. Sumner said he believed in being
just before we are generous TO the rebels of
the South. He thought it was good op-
portunity to do justice to the colored race,
aud therefore he offered as fan amendment
the supplementary civil rights bill.
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, expressed the hope
that the measure would not be overlaid
with amendments, but would be passed as
it come from the House. The people of
Georgia were rejoicing to-day over the ad-
mission of their Senator yesterday, and the
passage of this bill would add to their re-
joicing. As to the amendment of Mr.. Sum-
ner, he hoped it would not be pressed, be-
cause it would eventually give rise to debate,
and had better stand alone and be passed or
rejected on its own merits. He (Mr. HID
believed the measure to be impracticable, as
he would endeayor to show at the proper
time.
Messrs Sumner and Hill then discussed at
great length the question of equal rights for
colored persons in hotels, public schools
and conveyances.
Mr.. Morton modified his amendment so
as to apply only to members Of Congress
and United States officers.
Mr.. Edmunds moved TO go into Execu-
tive session. Lost.
Mr.. Trumbull appealed to Messrs. Nor
ton and Summer not to press their amend
ments. If anything practical was to be
done this year in the way Of removing dis
abilities it could be done only by passing
this bill as it came from the House, and he
urged the Senate not to adjourn until the
bill should have passed.
Mr.. Alcorn said that if the bill was
amended as proposed, his interest in it was
TO a great extent gone.
After further discussion by Messrs. Scott,
Morton, Wilson and Thurman, it was agreed
that vote be taken on the bill and amend
ments at four O'Clock tomorrow.
The Senate went into Executive session,
and soon after adjourned.