The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-20
XLIID CONGRESS--SECOND SESSION.
ERfTes-is SENATE. "

I U.E E-fs e 5e SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, May 1S.--Mr. Sherman report
ed from the Committee on Finance, bill au
thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue
bonds in lieu of bonds destroyed or defaced
and stated that it was carefully drawn SO as to
| guard against fraud.
Messrs. Edmunds and Frelinghuysen believed
there was great danger of their being defrald.
ed. The bill passed. A
Mr.. Sawyer from the Committee on the Con.
sulate bill made report, which was laid over.
A bill was introduced to enable the Secretary
OF the Treasury to acquire from the Mayor and
Common Council of New York land at the Bat
terry, as site for a Custom House. Referred.
AT the expiration of the morning hour the
army appropriation bill came up, but was laid
aside for the purpose of taking up the resolu-
ton, requesting the House to return the Senate
resolutions, providing for adjourning sine die,
the 18th inst, as insulting to the House.
Mr.. Sherman said tie reason why the Senate
ought to have control of the adjournment,
namely, that it had to act upon the tariff bill
which is still in the hands of the House. He
disclaimed any intention to insult the House.
Mr.. Morton denied that the resolution to adj
Journ the 18th OF May, had been passed for
partizan purposes. After discussion the resO-
luton was adopted.
The Army Appropriation Bill was then taken
up, the pending question being on Mr. Cole s
appeal from the decision of the Vice President
ruling out the order of the amendment to re-
March Sd, 1871, which prohibited the Secretary
of the Treasury from retaining money due from
the government to railroads. f
Mr.. Cole withdrew his appeal, so the decis-
sion of the chair stands
The following amendments were agreed to-:
ApprOpriating 100000 to enlarge the military
depot at Lawrence, Kansas; providing surgical
apparatus and appurtenances for the relief OF
persons disabled in the military and naval ser
vice and not included within terms of any law
fIr,rr rftnSnl G.
pense of trials of torpedoes for harbor and land
defence, $4,000; for experiments with aud
tests OF heavy ordnance, $1S0, 900.
Mr.. Stevenson moved an amendment that no
money appropriated by this act shall be paid to
any railroad in arrears to the government for
the payment of interest on its bonds.
Mr.. Stewart moved to lay the amendment on
the table-ayes q, nays II.
Mr.. Cole renewed his amendment in another
form, and said the Pacific Railroads were built
with the peoples money and belonged to the
people, and it was absurd for the government
to pay them for the little service they do for the
military department. Rejected.
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment providing
that the government shall pay no royalty for
the use of arms patented by the citizens Of the
United States. Agreed to- The bill then pass
ed
Mr.. Morrill, of Me-, submitted resolution,
resembling the Senate concurrent resolution for
adjournment the 29th of May and asked its
immediate consideration but Mr.. Casserly OBJ
jected and the resolution went over.
The Senate then went into executive session
and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE
The bill to establish collection district of
Duluth and to create st. Paul, Mimi, port of
delivery passed.
The report from the Conference Committee
on the Military Acadamy appropriation bill was
agreed to. $500 u. -..6.v 80 :. -fsfff 20
The House proceeded to act upon private
bills reported from the Committee on Claims
The most important case reported by the
Committee on Claims and passed was one max
ing appropriations for the payment of claims
allowed by the Southern Claims Commissions
an appropriation for 30S persons, ranging from
S12 up to $25, 200. Most of the awards are for
sums under $1,000 and the aggregate Is $349, 1914
The $50, 900 appropriation is for Waddy Thomp-
son; the next highest is $13 467 for the heirs of
Margaret q. Lee, and the next is $10,119 for
Bassill Hall. -.- -ssr..a su-T - M
Mr.. Blair of Mich, chairman Of the commit
tee, stated in reply to Mr.. Garfield and others,
that the awards were made solely for stores and
supplies taken by the army, and no allowance
was made for loss or destruction and occupation
OF property for incidental damages. boo I-l
Another bill, which gave rise to q good deal
OF discussion as being test case involving
large claims on the Treasury, was the Senate
bill to pay $4,000 to DIR. j. Milton Best of
faducah, KY, in compensation for the destruc-
lion OF MS dwelllng house and its contents by
United States troops, under the orders of their
commanding officer, Col. Hicks, at Paducah,
on the 18th of March, 1864. The bill was pass
ed. .af - -A
Mr. Swan made report from the Conference
Committee, on the consular and diplomatic ap-
preparation bill. The only important point of
difference between the two Houses was in re-
spect to the Central American mission and that
was compromised by an arrangement that there
shall be but one minister to the Central
American republics after the Both of June,
1873. The report was agreed to.
The bill to pay Mr.. Conner, representative
from Texas, $4,000 for expenses of defending his
right to his seat in the Forty First Congress,
gave rise to long discussion, it being claimed
ON one side and denied on the other that this
was an unusual proposition and be establishing
a dangerous precedent. The bill passed, yeas
116. nays 81. ~. II ..'-.H
Mr.. Sergeant made report from the Confer
ence Committee on the Indian appropriation
bill. "a fly - ~ NV
After an explanation by Mr.. Sargent, Mr.
Beck said large proportion of the amount APP
proprited by this bill Sc 900 went for schemes
and jobs to enrich the retainers of Senators
who had within own grasp the entire control of
Indian affairs He gave notice that at the
neAt session when the Presidential election was
over, and when it could not be party measure
he would show to the House and country the
frauds being perpetrated through Indian trea-
tries and the millions on millions that were be-
ing squandered by the thieves who were man
aging these things.
A Conference Committee was ordered on the
steamboat bill, and Messrs. Negley Conger and
Hambleton were appointed. .. ..-.. +.
The House then at 4. 40 adjourned. .s.1