Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-24
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons PROCEEDINGS.
FRIDAY, February A.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY q.
SENATE.-On motion OF Mr.. Chandler. the
Senate coDcurred in the amendments of the
House to the bill to amend the act to provide
for the better security of the lives OF passenger
steam.
Mr.: Blair called up bill to provide for the
erection of bridge over the Missouri river az
bonneville; which was discussed and passed
over.
Mr.. Trumbun, from Committee on Judiciary.
reIorted favorably the bin TO abolish the test
cath.
The Vice President presented the cre,len.
tisls of Hon. Vim. w indom, Senator elect from
Minnesota; which were read and LAID on the
The bill in relation to railroad bridges over
the Mississippi river was amended and passed.
Mr.. Howard called mp
THE TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL,
and moved for the appointment OF q committee
OF conference.
Mr. Sawyer wished Senators to understand
that II tins bill was sent to a committee of
being lost.
Mr.. Warner moved to concur in the Ho Use
Mr.. Pomeroy moved to recommit the bill TO
the Committee on the Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. Blair said if this bil was accepted as
road; it would be q northern guage. and point
ing TO the north. All the southern branches
had been studously cut OF. If there was any
tning Una. TINS congress was pledged to, it was
but this bill was delusion and q snare.
MIR. Pool said he would sooner have no bill
than such bill as this.
MIR. Conklng said it was now evident that de-
bate on this bill would last all day. aud he there
fore would insist upon the regular order.
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.
The regular order, being the bill to amend
the act TO enforce the rights Of citizens OF the
United States TO vote in the several States of
ms MON and for other purposes, was then
Mr.. Vickers said this hill seemsa m he IN.
offspring of the bill which passed at the last
session The effect of the bin of the last ses-
people OF the United States, but the reopIe
were so prepared that no pretext was Afforded
Tor any interference with the purity OF cleo
tons But the bill failed Of its eficts. Its re-
suits were not such as its trainers b ad expected
and hence the party necessity for strengthe NJ NJ
Its weakness. Both bills are obnOxi0ws to Con-
stitutional objections. They assume the power
OF u general government to superintend the
registration OF voters and of elections for Rep
resentatives in Congress. This power il
clalmea under the first clause of the 4th section
OF the Constitution.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
eral members. by an agreement with the chair
man OF tho Appropriation Committee, (lIr.
Dawes,) who was entitled to the floor, asked
leave to present important bills for Imme a ate
action, but persistent objection was made bv
Mr.. Butler, of Mass, and the House proceeded
to the consideration of the
sCNDRY CIVIL APPROPRIATION ELL.
Mr.. Brooks IN. W asked il it would he in
order 10 begin At the tail end of the bill. lie
had observed that the tail-end OF these bills
never received any consideration.
Mr.. Kelsey N. " said he should confne his
remarks upon the bill to one paragraph; viz,
TO pay
Joseph 6. WILSON $4,000
for the valuable scientific museum at the Gen
eral Land ONCE. He said that Mr. Wilson WAS
not entitled to one cent for it. The collection
was made ut the expense of the Government
a. 10 NJ rhA ao,,t
whose duty it was TO collect these specimens.
MIR. Sargent, (Cal) replied with the same
warmth. He said he was aware OF the hostility
OF tue gentleman TO the late Commissioner, and
said il arose from his having saved to the gov ern-
Dent Sl40,0 900 in the expenses OF his bureau,
which was turned into the Treasury as an unex-
pended balance. The gentleman could not wait
till the paragraph WAS reached, but must single
1t out to attack in advance a faithful public
officer, who after forty years OF service. ana
athorough knowledge of the land system of tue
country, did not own an acre of land, and W as
row compelled to apply for copying for mem.
bers OF his family or rent his rooms tor lodgings
to support his family,
He said the museum was collected by the e1-
ertions of Mr.. Wilson who had labor ed inces-
sanity, and had made il his pride, and now in
stead OF pensioning an old and faithful public
try, II was sought to rob him CT the credit due
| him and refuse this acknow Judgement of has
meritorIous service.
AMENDMENTS.
MIR. Haight N. - offered An amendment
providing for payment for six experienced surf
men to be stationed at the life saving stations on
| the coast of New Jersey. Referred
| Mr.. Cox IN. " offered similar amendment
tor halt the service at alternate stations, which
Mr.. Wood n. W said that he desired 70
offer an amendment to the paragraph making
Appropriation for fuel for naval vessels, which
amen dment was Of more Importance to the
country than all the bill. 1t was as follows :
Provided, That hereafter all coal i'm ported into
the United States shall be free of duty.
The Speaker ruled the amendment out OF
order.
Mr.. McGrew W. Va offered an amendment
to the paragraph making appropriations for
detection and punishment of persons engaged
in counterfeiting treasury notes, bonds, coin.
and other securities OF the United States to in
clude national bank notes.
MIR. Butler Mass opposed the amendment
and proposed to amend by inserting and pay
all the other expenses of the national banks
Mr.. Garfield (Ohio) reminded the gentleman
that tax was imposed upon the national banks
which more than paid the cost Of engraving and
MIR. Butler said every time the national hanks
were mentioned they were told how much thew
were taxed, but he wanted TO hear how much
they paid in dividends-how much they took out
Of the people.
MIR. Dawes (M ass advocated the amendment.
The counterieiters of the bank notes were the
counterfeiters Of the bonds, and, the engraving
for the banks being done by the government il
was proper that il should have charge OF the
detection and punishment OF counterfeiters
The amendment took no money from the Treas
ury.
The amendment was then adopted.
MI. Kerr moved TO amend by reducing the
amount appropriated to defray expenses in
Cured in cefending suits against the See Rotary
of the Treasury or his agents for the seizure or
captured or abandoned property. and for the
|. defence Of the United states in the Court Of
Claims from S60, 600 to 900. Rejected.
Mr.. Holman (ind.) moved an amendment m
the same paragraph, providing that no part OF
the sum should be paid to sttornies ct law for