The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-17
XLIss CONGREss---Third Session.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Mr Poole submitted
various affidavits from the citizens of North
Carolina to verify the signatures TO the remou-
STRANGE recently presented by himself against
the removal of the disabilities of Senator eiect
Vance and Representative elect WaddelI OF
that State The affidavts and remonstrance
were referred tn appropriate committee
Mr.. Cameron reported back the House bill
to prevent cruelty to animals while IN transit,
etc., and asked for its consideration.
Mr.. Cole objected, in order that the appro
pration bills would not be further delayed.
Mr.. Sawyer introduced a bill to repeal the
iron clad oath. Referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. Howard reported with an amend ment a
bill to enable the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad
Co. to mortgage its read, and for other pur-
poses.
Mr. Cragn reported without amendment the
House bill Tor the recovery of damages for loss
of sloop OF war Oneida, and for the enlistment
of 300 additional seamen in the Uoited States
navy.
Mr.. Sumner presented numerous petitions
from citizens of Massachusetts Tor the estab-
lishment of chair of home opatby in the Ma
tional Institute at Washington Referred.
Mr.. Nye, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs, reported bill for the reliet OF certain
contractors for the construction of vessels OF
war and steam machinery, with veto message
of the President returning the bill with his OBJ
ections. The question being, Shall the bill
pass notwi hstanding the objections OF the
PIesident?-the yeas and nays were called and
resulted, yeas 2, (Ress and Salisbury, nays 81.
Mr.. Nye reported bill similar to the Que
Just disposed of, except that the clause in the
former Objectionable to the President was
omitted and a requirement that claims shall
be preferred within twelve months; aud asked
the unanimous consent for the present consid-
Grafton OF the bill, but Mr.. Wilson objected.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Thayer, in
structing the judiciary Committee to inquire
and report as to the right of the Treasury De-
partment to retain all compensation for SER
| vices rendered the United States by the Union
Pacific railroad and its branches and to apply
it on the interest OF bonds issued by the United
| States to aid in the construction ct said road.
| Agreed to without objection.
Mr.. Cameron called up the House bill for the
| centennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1876.
| At the request OF several Senators the Dill was
read at length, Messrs Conkliug and Foreman
| calling for a second reading of particular por-
| tions till the morning hour expired, when the
| legislative appropriation bill came up as the
| regular order OF business. The following is
| the scale: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
$500; Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court, $4,000; United States Circuit Judges
| $4,000; Chief Justices of the Court Of Claims
| and the Superior Court of the District Of Co.
lumbia, $4,000; Associate Justices of said courts
| $4,000: United States District Judges, $4,000.
An amendment from the Finance Commit
tee prohibiting hereafter the reopening of any
| accounts or claims already adjusted unless by
special authority of law, o. any action by
treasury officers upon such as are not present
and in cases Of infants or lunatcs six year,
from the removal of disabilities, was rejected
after an irrelevant discussion.
| During the debate Mr. Ham'in spoke of cir
. cumlocuton and trouble attending theIliquida
ton of meritorious claims in the departments
which he preferred to lessen rather than in
| crease In view of all the emoarrassments ant
anuoyances in the way, he would never under
| take to collect claim from government, u
matter how just. He objected to the amend
ment because he thought an officer should b
allowed to correct palpable mistake in In
settlement of a claim without coming to Con
| gress tor the purpose.
| Another amendment from the Finance Com
, mittee as a substitute for similar amendmen
frem the Committee on Appropriations, pre-
bibting any government employee for tire
wears after his retirement from departmer
| from being interested as an agent or attol ne
| in the prosecution of claim before that d.
! partment, was also discussed and rejected.
Mr.. Upton disapproved of the amendmen
saving that he could not agree that an Amer
can should be disqualified from any empo,
ment because he had been employed by so'
ernment al a miserable salary
Nj Davis thought the government ought
encourage the dissemination of department il
| formation for the benefit of honest claimant
; while Messrs. Nye and Salisbury malntaint
| that gOVerDuleub uuu nv Po"SA ~
man from earning living in any legltIma
business.
d Mr.. Carpenter said the proposition we
upon the idea that claims against goverhmei
however just, were defeated by the suppressl'
j. of facts in the departments. 1t was the dn
of an honest officer to disclose to a clal ma
i everything, both Tor and against claim.
8 Mr. Edmunds held that information acqul
@ ed by clerk was the exclusive property OF
government, and advocated the amendment.
Without any final action on the bill I
to senate went into executive session, and so
alter adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House after to morrow will meet at
o'clock.
Mr.. Wheeler Of New York, Chairman of t