Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-08

FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, Feb.

The House amendment TO the resolution to
convey supplies TO Europe was concurred in.
4 message from the President vetoing the
Senate bill for the relief of certain naval con-
tIactors, was received and read. The veto Is
on the ground that the claims of the contrac
tors was in consequence of rise in the price
of labor and materials after the contracts
were made, which would not have been if due
diligence had been used in the prosecution of
the work. The message was referred to the
Committee on Naval Affairs and ordered to be
printed.
The Vice President also laid before the
Senate executive communication recon-
mending that in view of the growing impor-
lance and power of North Germany, the Ber-
lin mission be made frst-class. Referred to
Committee on Foreign Relations. Also mes
sage from the President, inclosing response
to the Senate resolution for copies of cores
pondence of our naval commanders in Dom
inican waters. Laid on the table and ordered
to be printed.
The bill to pay Mrs. Susan Shelby, of Mis-
sissippi, for cotton taken from her by Union
roops, was discussed till there was no quorum
present, and the Senate adjourned.
House.
A bill was passed providing that no ac
counts or claims which have been adjusted by
the accounting of the Government shall be
re-opened without authority specially giSen
by law, and forbidding accounting officers to
act upon any account or claim which shall
not have been presented within six years from
the date from which it originated, unless the
person having the claim was an infant, temie
coret or lunatic. Officers, clerks, or en-
ployees in the public service within the last
three years, are forbidden to act as agents or
attorneys IN the prosecution of claims before
the department, or any branch thereof in
which he had served, or to give information or
important knowledge acquired by him OFF,
cially, in aid of claims against the United
States. The claims of loyal citizens of the
States lately in rebellion, which by the opera
ton of the law could not be finally settled,
are exempted from the provisions of the act.
The Speaker laid before the House mes
sage from the President, calling attention to
the recent establishment in Germany of polt-
cal institutions analogous to those in the
United States, and recommending that the sal
aries of the Minister and Secretary of Lega-
ton of Berlin be respectively increased to the
same allowed at London and Paris. The rec
concentration was received with great laugh
ter from the democratic side of the House.
The House proceeded to consider the bill
reported by Mr. Hoar, from the Commute on
Education and Labor, to establish a system Of
pointment by the President of a Superintend-
ent of National Schools in each State. at
salary of $4,000, who shall divide his State
into as many divisions as the State has Rep
resentatives in Congress; and for each of
these divisions there is to be appointed a Su-
perintendent at a salary of $500. The divis-
ions are to be divided into school districts
with local Superintendent in each district,
appointed by the Secretary of Interior, at not
more than three dollars per day for time ac-
tually employed. The local Superintendent
is to select a place for a school house, and is
to purchase or hire it in the name of the
United States. School books are to be pre-
scribed by the State Superintendent, under
the direction of the Commissioner of Educa-
ton. and are to be furnished gratuitously to
those unable to pay for them. No books are
to be used and no instructions given favOring
the peculiar tenets of any religious society.
The Secretary OF the Treasury is to provide
rules in conformity to the law providing for
the payment of teachers, land, school houses,
and other objeSts designed by the bill. A d.
rect tax of $4,000, 900 is to be imposed and
apportioned among the States, the same sum
raised in each State to be expended for the
purpose of education in that State. The act
is to take effect July Ist, 1871, but any State
may in lieu of paying the tax, provide for the
suitable education of all children within its
borders, and if the President be satisfied at
the expiration OF twelve months that there is
established in that State a suitable system of
common schools, no further steps will be
taken for the appointment of officers or the
assessment of the tax thereon.
The bill went over until tomorrow.
| Soon after the House adjourned.