The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-20
XLIId CONGRESS..SECOND SESSION
SENATE.

CnicaSO, was a1tef a snort debate ON the loca
ton. Passed.
Mr.. Stewart introduced joint resolution
proposing 18th amendment, establishing free
common schools in each State and Territory
prohibiting aid to sectarian schools and giving
Congress power to enforce the amendment. Re
ferred to the Judiciary Committee
MIR. Sumner gave notice that he would pro-
pose an amendment to the constitution prohibit
ting a President holding office more than one
term.
Mr.. Schurz introduced a resolution asking the
President as to our relations with Spain and
the treatment of Americans in Cuba. Adopt
ed.
Mr.. Cor5ett introduced resolution that the
Retrenchment Committee inquire into the re-
cent Treasury defalcations. Adopted.
Mr.. Conkling called up the resolution in
quire into the charges against the New York
Custom House. He accepted the amendment
by Mr.. Schurz extending the scope of enquiry,
also the amendment by MIR. Upton, to inquire
if Custom House officers interferred in the last
two Republican Conventions, and one by Mr.
Bayard that an inquiry be made if the same
officers had been used as instruments of party
patronage. The resolution thus amended pass
ed. Yeas 81, nays none.
Mr.. Scott reported Il bill for refunding al
taxes upon dividends, interests and undivided
profits assessed upon corporations mentioned
in section 18th, of Act of July 14th, 1870, for
time between Aug. LIST, 1870 and Jan. 1st 1871.
Mr.. Sherman reported bill fixing the sala-
ries of Commissioners of Land Office Gus
toms, Pensions and Indian Affairs, the Assis-
tant Postmaster General, Supervising Archi-
tect of the Treasury, Assistant Secretaries,
Comptroller, Auditors and Registers at 81, 500.
Mr.. Sherman reported adversely and the
Senate postponed indefinitely the bill provid-
ing for the employment of an internal revenue
police force in every collection district.
Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill to punish
stock gambling by public officers. Referred.
Mr.. Chandler offered resolution for refer
ence of that portion of the Presidents message
relative to postal telegraph to the Committee of
commerce. He assailed the present telegraphic
system and what he called the associated press
monopoly, and favored the purchase of the tel
egraph lines for their actual cost of construc-
ton when built or now.
Mr. Hamlin opposed such reference, as the
subject was already properly referred to the
over.
A message was received from the President,
transmitting the report of the Civil Service
Commission. A motion to print 10000 extra
copies war referred to the Committee ON Print
ing.
Mr. Blair Offered resolution, which was
adopted, directing the Committee on Investiga-
ton and Retrenchment to inquire whether any
minister of the United States, in any foreign
country, has used his official influence to for
ward the interests of any Mining Company,
and whether his doing so was compatible with
the duties and requirements of his position.
Mr.. Sumner tried to get up his resolution of
last March, asking for information about the
lumber of ships sent to the waters of San Do
mingo during negotiations and the costs of
sending and keeping them there, but Mr.. Conk-
ling objected and it went over.
Mr.. Norwood of Georgia was sworn.
MI. Conkling's resolution directing an inves
tigation of the Hodge case was taken up.
Mr.. Sumner moved to amend it so as to EN-
brace the case of Bank Examiner Calender, and
Mr. COnE1inp apcapta1 the amendment
Mr. Trumbul proposed to withdraw his
amendments offered some days ago, which gave
rise to debate, but no action was taken.
Mr.. Pool, at his own request, was excused
from serving on the Committee of Investigation
and Retrenchment.
Mr.. Scott call up a resolution directing the
Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest Saunders, a refrac-
tory witness in North Carolina. Passed.
A resolution directing the arrest of Gist and
Camp OF South Carolina gave rise to discussion,
and without reaching vote the Senate went
into executive session and soon adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Committee on Banking was instructed to
investigate the recent national bank suspensions
and consider what additional legislation is nee
essary to guard against future suspensions.
On motion of Mr.. Eldredge of Wis, resolu-
ton was adopted calling ON the Secretary of the
State for Information as to the printing of the
statement of the case of the United States for
the use of the tribunal of arbitration at Geneva
A resolution was adopted that the Revolution
airy Committee inquire into the proprety of
amending the pension act so that it shall apply
to all who served any time during the war of
1912 or cotemporaneous Indian war and to the
widows of such soldiers, no matter when mar
ried.
A resolution was adopted calling on the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to inform the House of
he amount of five-twenties redeemed. Also
resolution calling on the Postmaster for infor-
nation as to increased allowances for carrying
the mails where steam is unemployed.
A resolution enquiring as to the laborers en-
ployed in the Custom House and navy-yard in
New York before the late election and from
what fund they were paid, was objected to.
LABOR COMMISSION
Mr.. HoarS bill was taken up for the appoint
ment of commission of wages and hours of la
Dor, etc.
MI. Pierce of Mississippi, gave notice that
he should call for the previous question at one
o'clock tomorrow. He was not prepared to
say whether legislation was necessary on the
labor in question, nor prepared to deny that
general legislation was required, but he was
convinced that an investigation of the subject
would do good, there is no partisanship in the
question and he thought that the Democrats
would be the last to object to the proposed in
vestigation There is nothing in the bill sup
porting socialism, internationalism, trades I'M
ion, labor societies or strikes. He advocated it
in interest of his agricultural laboring constitu
ents.
Mr.. Campbell of Ohio, offered substitute,
that the joint committee appointed to investi-
gate the subject of wages, hours, labor, etc. and
the effect of existing laws regulating commerce,
finance, and currency.
The Speaker ruled the proposition out of or
der.
Mr.. Storms, dem. of Pennsylvania, men,
Der of the Committee on Education and Labor,
advocated the passage of the bill. The evils of
which the industrial classes complain are pa
tent to every one $2,353, 100000 of property
belonging to capitalists was exempt from taxa
ton and other interests were taxed to make up
the deficit; sd ,000, 600 was paid annually from
the Treasury to banking associations as mere
bounty and gratuity. The poor man paid on
his salt a tax of 155 per cent on cutlery over
80; on clothing over 60 and on spade and shovel
10, while the rich man paid upon jewelry, dia-
monds of tax not exceeding ten per cent
To adjust the wrongs of the laboring men, Con-
gress will have to repeal every pet scheme of
the party in power.
Mr. Cox, (dem.l of New York, proposed an
amendment in the interest of civil service, that
no party or political influence should control
the Appointment of the Commissioners. He ex-
pressed the wish that such man as David A.
Wells, could be appointed on the commission.
He took the bill as an earnest of better poll
CIV on the tariff toward which even New Enc
land is progressing. He would be glad to see
an intelligent investigation from any quarter
Mr.. Kerr, (dem.) of Indiana, spoke against
the bill which he regarded as insincere and hol-
low, and chiefly intended by false pretense to
bridge over the next Presidential election and
mislead the disconnected sons of toll into vot-
ing the radical ticket in 1872. He believed it a
mere attempt to make places for partizans and
that it was unconstitutional for Congress to as
sumo power to regulate the hours of labor, the
standard of wages or the division of the Joint
profits of labor and capital or the social condi-
tions or educational institutions of the people
Such sweep of jurisdiction would speedily
leave nothing to the States or people, make
all local Governors expensive sinecures, and
make the power of Congress as transcendant
and absorbing as the British Parliament.
Mr.. Wood, (dem.) of New York, believed
that the party in power was responsible for the
troubles of the laboring men and that it was
only in the restoration of the Democracy to
power that they could find relief
MIR. Duke (dem. Of va, suggested an amend
ment directing an investigation especially into
what taxes, assessments and duties on imports
are deposed directly or indirectly by the laws OF
the United States on any article used by the Ia
boring classes and upon any raw materials
which enter into the manufacture of such arti-
Giles, also what quantity of the public lands
which should have been preserved to furnish
homes for the people and to supply fund for
the education of the masses, has been granted
to corporation organized and controlled by
and exclusively for the benefit of few wealthy
individuals.
Mr. Slocum (dem.) of New York, suggested
an amendment naming as Commissioners
Horace H. Day, Richard f. Trevellick and AL
exander Troop. He favored an investigation
by persons not selected on account of party or
on account of devotion to the high tariff prlncl-
Piles.
The discussion was temporarily interrupted
by the message of the President relative TO the
civil service reform, which was read and refer,
red and by the Senate amendments to the bill
for Chicago custom house, which were CONCUR
red in