The New York herald., 1871-02-25
WASHING ON.
MIDNIGHT SESSION OF THE SENATE.
Fierce Struggle Over the EN-
fOrcement Bill.
Senator Carpenters Report on the Pacific
Railroad Difficulties

The Senate, at the instance or Mr.. Conkng laid
aside the appropriation bills to-day for the purpose
OF considering the bill TO enforce the right OF the cit
zens OF the United States to vote In the several
States. The provisions of this measure were set
forth in the HERALD few days ago. when 1t passed
the House 1t is purely partisan In its character,
and Is Intended as final chapter to series OF acts,
all passed with the view OF keeping the democrats
from cheating at the polls This is the republican
view OF 1t. The democrats regard lt as another
movement to absorb the rights OF tie States and
centralize them IN the general government. BY the
terms OF this bill the conduct Of elections Is TO
great extent taken out OF the hands Of the state and
local authorities and placed under the control OF
FEDERAL ofhcialS The democrats In the House pro-
tested al best they could against the passage OF the
Dill; nut, through the operation OF the previous
question: their agony in that body was soon over.
There being no previous question IN the Senate, and
no means or stopping DEBATE the democrats In
that body are determined not to allow
the bill to pass until each OF them has had his say
and until the physical endurance. not to say the
patience OF the republicans has been fully tested
As soon as the bill was taken up to-day Mr. Vickers
| OF Maryland obtained the floor, and proceeded to
| read very long and a very prosy speech In
| ten minutes he succeeded In emptying the
| Senate Chamber Of all the republicans and
| OF all the democrats, TOO, with the exception
| or Johnson, OF Virginia, who set down on
| the bills TO follow vckers. There being q compara-
| lively small number or democrats In the Senate,
they have found 1t exceedingly difficult to keep up
the talk. They hope by the aid OF relays each one
taking his turn, to be able to hold out until morn
ing. In the meantime the republicans are taking it
easy, waiting for the democratic orators to exhaust
themselves, when they hope to get vote and to
pass the BILL The trouble with the demo-
Gratis Is that they have TO do all the speaking and
VIII become exhausted much earllerln the fight
than their opponents.
During the debate Mr.. Blair addressed the Senate
In speech Of half an hour during which he said
the election OF Grant by the AID OF the army In the
Southern States was Identical with the coup a. 6tdt
by which Louis Napoleon acquired power, and that
Grant would yet use the bayonet In New York
as reentlessy as he had used 1t in Mississippi.
The purpose OF the bill, in his opinion was to ena
BILE the President to elect himself by driving the
democratic party from the polls in New York city
at the point Of the bayonet. lie went to speak Of
the election 10 high Office OF military commanders,
one of whom was now in the Senate by the use OF
the soldery under his command.
Pr0trncted Cabinet session.
The session of the Cabinet to-day was continued
until after three O'Clock the time being principally
occupied In considering matters relative to internal
improvements in the West. The railroad schemes
in for share of the discussion.
Coal and the Duty.
Representatives Brooks Wood Fox and others
| are making efforts, through an appropriation bill
now pending, to abolish the duty on COAL Mr.. Sco-
field, OF Pennsylvania, In the chair. ruled them out
| of order. Mr. BROOKS appealed to him as Pennsyl.
vanian to be liberal and allow free coal; but, In
parliamentary view Mr. Sconeld Is justified by pre.
| cedenr and the rules.
The New Steamboat Bill.
The Steamboat bill which has passed both houses
OF Congress and awaits the Presidents signature Is
more careful and stringent than any similar law
heretofore enacted Among It's provisions requires
steamers to attach suitable steam pipes aQd valves
to the boilers to convey steam into the hold In case
Of fire. All woodwork exposed to fire from stoves,
furnaces &C., Is to be projected by some incom-
busttble material, and special care Is to be used
In the procuring OF life-preservers and lfeboats.
Hay, cotton. benzine powder and like dan
gerous articles are to be placed beyond danger
of fire by the machinery, and watchmen are to be
kept continually the alert to guard against disas
ters Boilers and machinery are to be more care
fully inspected, especially such parts are subject
to special strain or accident, and all ocers OF the
boats are to be examined as to their characters,
skill and capacity. Seagoing and lake passenger
steamers, the building OF which shall be commenced
after six months from the passage OF this act shall
have not less than three waterttgh cross bulkheads
to be made Of iron plates, sustained upon iron
framework. Any officer or employs on board OF
any steamboat, by whose negligence, misconduct,
neglect or inattenton to his duties the life OF any
person shall be destroyed, shall be deemed guilty OF
manslaughter, and, upon conviction, shall be SEN
fenced to not more than ten years. Imprisonment.
The hull and boilers Of every ferryboat canalpoat
yacht or other craft propelledi by steam are made
,t~So fo fha rNuiatO Of or hill
very long one. and covers almost every detail OF the
building and management OF steamers.
Senator Carpenters Report on the Relations
Between the Government and the Pacific
Railroads. .--~"..,-..
Senator Carpenter made report to-day from the
Committee on che Judiciary, who were authorized
by resolution In December last to inquire and
report whether the railroad companies which have
received and In bonds OF the United States are law
rully bound to reimburse the United States for the
interest paid such bonds before the maturing OF
~ eoss sSps:S
Treasury Department TO retain al the COMPENSATION
Union Pacidc Railroad and its branches, TO apply
on the interest OF the bonds issued by the United
States to AID 10 the construction Of said road.
OF the act Of 1884, upon which the question arises
and constituting the eject Of that section to require
terest absolutely and IN the ordinary course OF
business, but hereafter the act provided. 70
also provides that the Secretary Of the Treasury
nay take possession OF the msrtgaged premises on
the refusal Of the company to redeem said bOnds or
any part Of them, accordance with the provisions
OF this act But as this section neither provides for
the manner In which the principal and interest shall
be paid nor the manner In which said bonds any
part OF Them snail be redeemed, must look else
where in the act for such provision. We find It In
section six. follows
SFC g. the grants aforesad-that the grant
the OF bondsare made condition
company shall said bonds maturity shall
railroad and telegraph line repair and and shall
all transmit dispatches said telegraph line
transport mails and munitions of supplies and
public said railroad for the when
required 70 do by ay department thereof and that
the government shall At all the In
the Of the for all the purposes aforesaid
all compensation for services rendered for the
shall be applied to tue payment OF said bonds and the
until the whole 10 fully paid Said
may the ned States wholly In the
other bonds Treasury other evidences Of debt