The Portland daily press., 1871-01-14
Gfeat Bfitain.
FEARFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSIONS.
XLIst CONGRESS---Third Session.
SENATE,

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Mr. Thurman sub
mitted bill directing the Secretary of th,
Treasury to inform the Senate whether an &C
count OF the receipts and expenditures of thu
government for any fiscal year since that end
ing J une, 1866, had been published as required
by the Constitution and laws; and if not, why
not. Mr.. Sherman objected to the presen
consideration of the resolution, when it wa!
laid over.
The Senate took up the House resolution fol
Joint ocean cable Committee. Mr.. Bayard
said that the passage of the bill through the
House had been effected without the delibera.
ton necessary to the dignity of public bust
ness. He preferred to await some legitimate
expression of the House on the subject
Mr.. Wilson remarked the ocean cable enter
prises were deserving of encouragement, there
fore he wanted some definite action on the sub.
ject.
Mr.. Williams denied any intention to antici-
pate any expression by the House looking to
the notification of its action in passing the
resolution. He was satisged that the House
would not reconsider its action, but after what
had been said he would not press the matter.
The Senate then went into executive session
and subsequently adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE.
The House proceeded to the consideration OF
private bills.
Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts introduced a
the Treasury department., which was referred
to tho Committee on appropriations. A bill
was prepared by Secretary Boutwell, and fixed
the salaries after the 1st Of July as follows: As
sistant secretaries. supervising architect and
solicitor, $4,000 each; assistant treasurer at
Washington, register, commissioner of GUS
toms and six auditors, $4,000 each; chief clerk
and cashier in the treasurers Office and assist
ant architect, $500 each; assistant cashier of
the treasury office, assistant register do, comp
trOller of the currency and chief OF statistical
bureau and assistant solicitor, $1,000; nine
chiefs of divisions in the Secretary's office,
$4,000 each +; the photographer in the secretary s
Office, chief clerks in the treasury Office and all
chief clerks, $25O0 each; ten chief clerks of d-
visions in the secretary's Office, $4,000 each.
The House passed the Senate bill authoriz-
ing an increase of the issue OF per cent. bonds
to the amount of $50, 100000, with the amend
ment that the total amount shall not be in
creased.
The Heuse then went into committee of the
whole on the legislative, judicial and executive
appropriation bill.
Appropriations for the departments of agri-
culture and education gave rise to protracted
discussion on the subject of education.
Mr.. Hoar declared that there were more ig-
norant people to- day in the District of Column
bia than in the whole kingdom of Sweden, and
the territories under the exclusive jurisdiction
of Congress, there were only 10000 children
educated in schools. England bad said "We
want men to work for us, and to do it they
must be thoroughly educated" Russia had
said, I'VE want men to fight for us, and to do
that they must be educated and the United
States is saying, "We want men to govern us.
but there is no need at all of their being edu-
Gated" All over the South the colored people
are stretching out their hands 10 the govern
ment and saying, "Tell us how we may acquire
information and intelligence that will fit us 10
discharge the high functions of freemen."
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio referred to the prison
statistics, showing that 90 per cent. of our
criminals had learned no trade or handicraft,
and that "a per cent. had not learned to read.
Mr.. Farnsmouth of Illinois thought if the ar
gument was worth anything it would justify
the establishment by Congress of Department
of Mechanics rather than Bureau of Educa-
ton.
Mr.. Cox of New York moved to strike out
the whole paragraph relating to Bureau of
Education, and remarked that party was
coming into power which " ould regulate that
that bureau by abolshing it, He argued that
the commentator which the American sys-
tenn of common schools had received abroad
was owing to the fact that education had been
provided for by States, counties, cities, town.
ships and villages, instead of by the federal
power
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts said although
his State could derive no benefit from bureau
of education, he would vote to sustain that bu.
reau for the sake of those parts of the Union
which had no system of free common schools.
Mr.. Cox's motion was rejected, and without
further action on the bill the committee rose.
Mr.. Burlington of Massachusetts introduced
a bill providing for commission to audit all
claims for damages by steamers Alabama.
Shenandoah, Florida and Georgia, with their
tenders, and for issuing bonds of the United
States for payment thereof. Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Porter of Vermont asked leave to offer a
resolution directing the Committee on Militia
tary Affairs to inquire what legislation was
to prevent cadet Smith of West Point
military academy from being ill-tfeated and
prosecuted on account of bis color.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania-Let him be-
have himself.
Mr.. Conner of Texas objected. Adjourned.