Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-08
Forty-Second Congress-First Session
WASHINGTON, D. c., March Z.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 7.
| SENATE.
A number of bills were introduced, among
which were: A Gulf and Mexican steamship
subsidy bill, incorporating the southern express
| company providing for a branch TO the Texas
Pacific railroad from Dallas, Texas, to Fulton,
Ark; to organize the Indian territory of Okla
hOma; to remove all legal and political disabili-
ties from the people of the south; to grant to
| Missouri all the public lands in that state for
the benefit of the public school fund; to aid the
construction of railroads in Florida; to promote
the Cincinnati and Southern railroad; in aid OF
| the Great Salt Lake and Colorado river, Oregon
| branch of the Pacific, Lawrence, LeavenwOrth
| and Galveston, Kansas, Pacific branch to the
| Arkansas river, and the Portland, Rutland, Os-
| wegO and Chca- go railroads; to provide for the
| erection of government buildings at Hartford,
| Conn; and to revise, consolidate and amend the
| postal statutes.
Mr.. Harlan introduced bill for the appor-
| tionment of representatives to congress, and
| Mr.. Wilson's bills TO provide for the selection of
| cadets, to authorize the PRONUNCIATION Of gener-
al regulations for the army, and for the settle
ment of the claims Of the Massachusetts cOas t
deicnseS.
The bill, of the last session, for the prevention
of ruelty to animals while in transportation
within the United States, was introduced by
Mr.. COnkling.
Bills we're introduced authorizing an ocean
mail steamship service between the United
States and Australia, by Mr.. POmerOy; to en-
courage Geographic communication between
America, Asia and Europe, by Mr. Nye; and to
encourage the construction of American ocean
steamships, by Mr. Stewart.
The latter provides for the payment by the
government Of twenty-five per cent. of the cost
of three thousand ton iron steamships, built by
citizens Of the United States in this country
within ten years, suitable for conversion into
vessels of war.
NJ, Doc ,tn,1 -
tor Abbott of North Carolina, representing that
he had been legally elected senator for that
state, ZebulOn B. Vance being ineligible at the
time of his election.
Mr.. Fenton introduced bills To incorporate the
Tehuantepec railroad and ship canal company,
and to regulate United States custom service on
the latter of which he said he would ask action
and offer some remarks early next week.
The bill looks to a general reform of the reve-
nue. service, especially in New York embracing
the naval office, and surveyors and appraisers
departments, and is intended to simplify and
largely reduce the expenses of the collection of
the revenue. 1t provides that the collector at
New York shall have $4,000 per annum, and
that the surveyor, naval officer, and the APP
praiscr of the port shall each be paid $4,000
year. The salaries of the various officers and
employees connected with the collectors and ap-
pralsers departments are to be adjusted the sal
aries of some being increased, and those of 9TH
ers reduced, and the number Of persons en-
plOycd cut down, so that in the entire expense
there is a very considerable reduction. The
tenth section provides that all fines and penal
ties, and the proceeds of all Condcmnatons paid
to or received by any collector or other officer of
the customs for violations Of any of the customs
or revenue laws, by authority of any seizure
complaint, or proceeding, shall be paid into the
treasury OF the United States, and no portion
thereof shall be paid or distributed to any
officer, except where attempts at smuggling are
detected, and seizure of merchandise so deemed
to be Struggled is actually made.
In such cases, the officer or officers making
the seizure shall be entitled to onc-Gourth the
proceeds thereof, after deductng all costs and
expenses of condemnation, and the duties nc.
cruing on the goods. 10 further provides that
it shall not be lawful for any officer to compro-
mise or settle any claim arising under the Gus
toms laws, or relieve from any fine, penalty, or
forfeiture, fail to prosecute any offender, I'M
der the authority and direction of the secretary
of the treasury or the president. The fourteenth
section provides that the appointment of all Of
ficers of the customs, requiring the concurrence
CT the senate, shall be for the term of four
years, and that they shall hold their offices re-
spectively until their successors shall have been
appointed and duly qualified, and such officers
shall not be removed during the term of such
appointment, except for cause; and before any
removal shall be made such officer shall be fur.
nished with a copy of the charges against him.
and have an opportunity of being heard in dc,
tense.
HOUSE.
The house reassembled at 70 O'Clock.
Messrs. VOORHEES, of Indiana and Freeman
Clarke OF New York, who were absent on Satur.
day, were sworn in today
Mr.. Hooper, from the committee appointed to
wait upon the president and inform him that
congress was ready 10 proceed to business, re-
ported that that duty had been attended TO, and
that the president would, during the week, send
a communication in writing, and in the mean.
time he requested that congress would defer
action with regard to adjournment 1t is I'M
derstood that the forthcoming message will
recommend the necessity Of some legislation
with regard to the south.
9Mr, Niblack offeNd q resolution thas the