The Portland daily press., 1872-12-17
XLIID CONGRESS.
SENATE.
w.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. TO-
Mr.. Morton stated that the Election Com
mittee during the recess had not investigated
the charges against Mr.. Caldwell of Kansas,
owing to the difficulty of getting the committee
together
resolution appointing committee of seven
to-eonsder the question of providing cheaper
transportation IRON the West TO the Atlantic
seahoarl, after some discussion, was passed.
Mr.. Cragin gave notice that he would call up
the bill for construction Of the war steamers
tomorrow.
Resolutions We're adopted instructing the
Committee on the Judiciary to inquire how far
Congress is authorized to regulate the rates of
fare and transportation on railroads between
the States under that provision which authorizes
Congress to regulate commerce between the
States; also to inquire as the power of Congress
to authorize the construction and operation of
railroads passing into or through two or more
States
MI. Sherman, from the Committee on Fl
nance, reported with amendments the House
bill authorizing the exchange of registered
bonds for coupon bon DIS. As amended the bill
authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to is
sue coupon bonds in exchange for registered
bonds, in other respects of the same class and
description, provided the expense of their issue
be paid by the owner thereof and under such
regulations as the Treasury may prescribe.
Mr.. Sherman also reported the House bill re-
NlSll3 IQc 1ltnI anu Collage laws WIN amend
ments, among which is one providing Cor the
coinage of a silver dollar of the weight of 402
grains, Troy; q silver half dollar weighing 12J
grammes; and quarter OF dollar and dime
respectively one-half and one-ffth the weight
of the fifty cent coin all these silver coins are
to be legal tender at their nominal value for any
amount not EXCEEDING four dollars in any one
payment
Mr.. Cameron called up the French spoliation
bill and spoke in its favor.
Mr. foI1a ~, fha al, &c t1,o
BILL which was then laid aside informally
On motion of Mr. Sherman the Senate re-
ceeded from its amendment to the internal
revenue bill providing for the appointment of
twenty. five revenue agents.
Mr. Pratt submitted report from the Com
mttee of Conference on the bill reat ting to the
bed of Denver Lake, Ind
At four o'clock the Senate went into execu-
tive session and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE
Bills were introduced including the following:
for the distribution of the Geneva award; for
light house in New Haven harbor; Sor q re-
peal of the stamp duty on matches. large
number of other bills We're introduced
Mr. Hale of Maine, introduced the following
concurrent resolution:
Wheraas, The national unity cannot fail to be
strengthened by the remembrances OF the SER
vices of those who fought in the battles Of the
Union in the late war of the rebellion:
= Therefore, be it resolved, as the exposition of
the sentiment Of Congress that no measures be
aiken toward removing from the army register
or the re9imental colOrS of the United States
the names of the battles of the rebellion.
Adopted. Yeas l15, nays 3d..
No Republicans Yoted against the resolution
and only four Democrats for it, namely: Messrs.
Getz of Pennsylvania. Hubbard and Parker of
New Hampshire and Manson of Indiana.
Mr. Farnsworth of Illinois offered resolu-
ton instructing the Post Office Committee to
enquire as to the propriety of the election of
postmasters. Adopted
Mr.. Buffers bill for the transportation
through the mails of agricultural and flower
ing seeds, cuttings, bulbs roots, scions, sc. at
the rate OF two cents for every four four ounces
of weight, not to exceed four pound packages.
Passed.
The bill to remove the political disabilities of
J. e. Meiere of Maryland was passed.
Mr. Morgan of Ohio moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill proposing to amend the
Constitution so as to make naturalized citizens
eligible to the Presidency and Vice Presidency
of the United States
The motion was rejected, yeas "a, nays II,
less than twothirds in the affirmative.
Mr. Cox of New York moved to suspend the
rules and adopt resolution reciting that the
State government of Louisiana is now admins
tered by orders from the federal court, support
ed by federal bayonets such a condition of
things being subversive of civil government
and dangerous to liberty. and requesting the
President to inform the House why the Execu-
of that State, giving all the facts Also to give
all the information on that subject relative to
the conduct of E. n. Durell, U. S. Judge there,
SO tn 1t the House may determine what steps, if
any, ought to be taken in consequence Of such
interference in the political affairs of Louisiana.
Mr.. Stevenson of Ohio asked Mr.. Cox to omit
the preamble
Mr.. Cox consented, and also to the insertion
of the words IF no. incompatible with the
public interests"
Mr. Bingham of Ohio suggested to Mr.. Cox
to strike out the allusion to Judge Durell as
the information which the President would
publish would necessarily cover the point
Mr.. Cox said he did not intend to amend the
resolution any further
Mr.. Scotield of Pa, asked MIR, Cox to omit
the closing words of the resolution, 'sothat the
House may judge &C." which he thought i'm
piled that the House would do something per-
haps offensive.
Mr. Cox declined.
The resolution was rejected. Yeas 70, nays so,
Mr. Stevenson Of Ohio, then offered reso-
luton which was adopted without discussion,
requesting the President to eomm Is gfQE
louisiana, and what action if any, he has TAX
en- with regard thereto.
Bills to enforce the stipulations of the con-
vention with Venezuela of the 18th of April
1866, and to amend the law of the 18th of
August 1856, regulating the consular and dip
lomatic service, were reported from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and were ordered to
be printed and recommitted.
Mr. Smith of N. Y, offered resolution in
structing the Judiciary Committee to enquire
what legislation was necessary to guard against
the dangers which tire item the liberties of the
people OF Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas,
and to guarantee Republican form of govern
ment, and to avoid the danger of civil war in
the several States of the Union. Adopted.
The House at three o'clock went into COM
mittee of the whole on the deficiency bill. The
bill appropriates $1699S32, comprising the
following items Postal cards for the quarter,
ss50,000 locks for pouches to contain registered
letters $4,000; coast survey vessels, Sl50,000;
expenses S12, 000 for the captors OF the rebel
ram Albermarle S202,9l2 for photo-ltograph-
ing caoies of patents, $4,000; improvin. gov
ernment property in the District of Columbia,
81 ,241 ,920.
A long discussion followed and without action
the committee rose, and the House adjourned.