The Portland daily press., 1871-04-13
BYdTELEGRAPH
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
XLIId OONGREss---First Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-Mr. Morton pres
| sented memorial from the Republican Exec
utive Committee in New Orleans asking the
passage of the pending Ku-Klux bill or some
| other stringent measure.
| Mr.. Robertson entered q motion to amend
the order of business SO as to get up the house
| general amnesty bill. Action on the motion
| was deferred until tomorrow.
Mr.. Sherman's resolution instructlng The
| Finance Committee to consider during the re-
cess the best system of reducing the taxes so
as to leave only enough revenue to pay the
working expenses of the government was
adopted.
Mr.. Scott desired to have the bills from the
House reducing the taxes referred to the FL
nenee Committee, but Mr.. Irumbull objected,
In order that measures for rept aling the coal
ana salt duties might remain before the senate
so as to be acted upon whenever an opportuhi-
ty was presented.
Mr.. Coles resolution for printing 5O0,OOG
copies of the Presidents message and the Com
mssioners' report on San Domingo was refer
red to the Committee on Printing. -
The Ku-Klux bill was then proceeded with
as unfinished business. ... 3
Messrs. Bayard and Salisbury delivered ar
guments against the bill, opposing it on politl-
cal and constitutional grounds. and after long
speech by Mr.. Pool upon North Carolina poll
tics and in defence of the officials in that State
the Senate went into executive session and
subsequently adjourned.
HOUSE. .-- OIL =
Mr.. Brooks of New York presented petitions
from the New York Chamber of Commerce;
one of which was for the repeal of the income
tax, and the other for life boat service on the
New Jersey and Long Island coasts.
Messrs Strong and Starkweather, members
elect from Connecticut, appeared and took the
oath as members.
Mr.. Myers of Pennsylvania introduced bill
supplementary to the acts to prohibit the coolie
trade. Referred. r.
Mr.. Myers also introd uced bill which pro.
vides for the adjustment and satisfaction of the
French spoliation claims prior TO the 31st July,
1901. IT -
The House then resumed the consideration
OF the Senate amendments to the deficiency
bill. The amendment appropriating $35 900
for the co mpletiOn of the custom house in st
Paul, Mimi, was adopted.
Amendments for the payment of lawful own
ers or legal representatives of the proceeds of
all cotton seized in the possession of the right
tul owners or their representatives after june
30, 1865. and for the payment Of 500 bounty
promised to the troops who entered the service
under the Presidents proclamation of May,
1861, were offered but ruled out of order.
The Senate amendments repeating the act
requiring a meeting of each new Congress on
the 4th OF March; appropriating $350OO0 for
increased compensation to census enumera-
tors, and $12O0 for the relief of destitute aged
persons in the District of Columbia, were agreed
to. -
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts offered an
amendment repeating the tenure of office act,
but was excluded on point of order
The amendment in relation to the meeting
Of Congress. was again brought before the
House by demand for the yeas and nays up
on concurrence. The yeas and nays were or
dered, and Mr.. Garfield of Ohio argued against
the repeal of the existing law. He said if it
should happen that the President and Vice
President of the United States should die dur
ing the period between the 4th of March, when
Congress came into existence, and the follow
ing December, when it would be organized.
there was no power that could call Congress
together or designate who should act as Presi-
dent, and the country would be left in a state
OF anarchy. He could understand why Demo-
cratic members should vote for the repeal Of
the law. but could not understand why Repub-.
licans should vote TOR it.
Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts advocated the
amendment, and said that for eighty years the
country had got along without any such law,
which had been enacted for special purpose.
He reminded Mr.. Garfield that in reference to
the possible death of the President and Vice
President, that the Senate never adjourned
without creating President pro tenn. to meet
that very emergency. If there was any one
evil greater than another in the administration
Of public affairs, it was the constant sitting Of
Congress. 1t there was any cause of COM
plant greater than another among the people,
it was the constant dwelling here of Congress,
legislating, debating and wrangling week after
week and month after month.
Messrs Bingham OF Ohio, and Butler of Mas
sachusetts, argued against the repeal. The
latter asked what would have been the conse-
quence if Congress had not been able to meet
at the present session and legisate to suppress
anarchy in one half of the country. He did
not care for the platitudes of men who said
that they would not legislate for their party.
He meant to legielate, if he could, for the pre- j
seryation of the Republican party. The fact
of Congress being in session to-day showed
the necessity for the law which it was now pro,
posed 10 repeal What was the necessity for
haste in matters? There would not be another
Congress for two years, and the repeal would
not 60 into effect until March, 1873. Why not
rebellion now existing be then crushed. When
the Presidential votes comes to be counted it
might happen there would be States which
had been carried by fraudulent returns, and
there would be no provision of law or the con-
stltution to guard against absolute anarchy.
Congress should, therefore, preserve the right
to come together to provide for the safety of
the people. He had very strong opinion on
the question whether Congress should yield to
the cutlery of outsiders, that they would be |
better at home. Whoever thought so had bet
ter 60 home.
MIR. Farnsworth Of Illinois, argued in favor
of the repeal of the law. He did not believe
that the holding of this session did the country
any good, or that it tended to the preservation
Of either the country or the Republican party.
He had more frequently heard it said by mem
bers of the party that holding this session was
doing more harm than good to the Republican
party. s "a
Without taking vote the House adjourned,
after the announcement of the following APP
pOintments of committees:
On Rules-The Speaker, Messrs. Banks,
Garfield, Cox and Randall.
On Public Buildings and Grounds-Messrs.
Halsey, Starkweather, Tyner, Plat, Morphis,
Orr, Getz, Wells and Perry