Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-18

The Senate resumed consideration of Mr..
Thurman's BILL ceding Ohio jurisdiction over
the ground occupied by the Dayton Soldiers
Asylum.
The Senate took up Mr.. Morton's bill to
refund to States, providing the United States
shall pay interest on the principal borrowed
by different States to equip, furnish or trans
port troops for the United States during the
rebellion, up to the time the principal has
been or shall be paid back to the State gov
eminent; also to pay discount on State bonds
sold to the borrower of such money, to the
extent not exceeding 10 per cent.
Mr.. Wilson opposed the paying of any
thing more than the interest.
Mr.. Ramsay offered an amendment requlr-
ing the payment of interest on all war scrip
issued by States.
After remarks against the bill by Messrs.
Buckington snd Conkling, the Senate went
into executive session and adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Armstrong of Penn, moved to in
crease the salaries of nine Circuit Court
Judges from $4,000 to $500, and urged the
support of the amendment.
Mr.. Dawes OF Mass, opposed the amend
ment and hoped the House would say a word
to 60 no further in raising salaries, and that
there was no better place to stop than at this
point. He said there was not the slightest
difficulty in obtaining the best talent for these
judgeships, but on the contrary the entrance
door to them was blackened with appli-
cants.
Mr.. Ella of N. Y, moved to reduce the
salaries to $500. He thought the business
of paying unreasonable high salaries to some
persons, and then raising the salaries of other
officers up to that position was about played
out.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, opposed the raising
of salaries, and intimated that some members
in favor were probably expecting to succeed
to some of these judgeships. Judges in his
State received only S2,500a year, and had to
pay their own travelling expenses. He knew
a great many lawyers there who had nothing
to do and were on the verge of starvation,
and would yet make very good judges. In
view of the multiplicity of lawyers and the
immense numbers which are being turned out
in the various schools and colleges, he pro-
tested against making an aristocratic class of
lawyers.
The amendment having been further OPP
posed by Messrs. Dawes, Benjamin, and Tay
lor, and advocated by Messr. Potter, was re-
jected and the salaries of circuit judges con-
tinue at $1,000.
Mr.. Armstrong moved to fix the salaries of
the United States District Judges at $4,000,
So, 900, $4,000, and $4,000, classifying them
by States and districts. Rejected.
Mr.. Farnsworth of ILL.,, moved to reduce
the salary of Solicitor of Internal Revenue
from $4,000 to $500, and asked why il was
this officer received more than his superior,
the Solicitor of the Treasury.
Mr.. Dawes replied that that was the salary
fixed by law, but he knew there was no good
reason for the law. The amendment was re-
jected.
The amendment directing the payment to
JOHN w. Douglass, Assistant Commissioner
of Internal Revenue, the difference between
this salary and commissioner for Nov. and
Dec. 1870, while he acted as commissioner,
was agreed to.
Mr.. Ella offered 4 similar amendment as
applying to Samuel A. Duncan, while he per-
formed the duty of Commissioner of Patents.
Mr.. Niblack suggested a general provision
on the subject.
Mr.. Cox suggested the allowance of Gen.
l.. Dent in the absence of the President lie
did not believe in paying subordinates for
running the White House while the Presi-
dent was on philandering expeditions through
the country. 1t was not right, it was not
standing on the ancient ways of the govern
ment. The old Presidents never deserted
their posts, but stayed in Washington during
the summer heats and winter colds. II
Mr.. Moor remarked that the second Presi-
dent of the United States had been absent
from Washington seven months.
Mr.. Cox knew that, but i was during the
sicknessof his family. None of the Presi-