The Portland daily press., 1872-12-13
XLHD CONGRESS.
SENATE.

. u
authorize the purchase of an additional site for
the Post Office in Boston Referred to the
Committee on Public Buildings.
Mr.. Sherman called mp the bill for the reduc-
ton of officers and expenses of internal reve-
nue., and explained it, stating that if passed it
would save between two and two and
a half millions of dollars annually.
Mr.. Sumner asked whether the Committee of
Finance had consided the propriety of reducing
the number Of Collectors of Internal Revenue.
Mr.. Sherman said that in some large cities it
might be practicable to reduce the number of
Collectors, but it would not do in regions less
thickly populated.
Mr.. Trumbull opposed the bill as providing
for less reduction of internal revenue officers
than the present law.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont supported the bill
for precisely the opposite reason.
Mr.. Casserly said the Administrations either
from want of power or will, had failed to carry
out the reforms in the Internal Revenue De-
partment, for which Congress provided
He believed that if the President understood
the subject more thoroughly, he would be more
prompt to act on his own Judgment in enforcing
the law, but it was his misfortune to be sur
rounded by men interested in keeping the truth
from him, and who being themselves pressed at
home by the clamorous army of office holding
leeches, are unable to do their duty to the
President.
Mr. Sherman said there was not the least oc-
cason for the Senator from California, or any
o4,e, TO arraign the President in connection with
this subject, or to intimate that he had in some
way contrived to put off the execution of the
law of June last till after the election. Every
body knew that in matters of this kind the
President did not act merely upon his own
judgment. No doubt by the first of January
he would have performed the duty imposed up
on him by this law, but he would do it after due
consideration with the officers of the depart
ment. There was no occasion for the intima-
ton that the Presidents course was in some
way connected with politics.
After further discussion the Finance Com
mittee's amendments were agreed to, and the
bill was passed.
The bill for the relief of sufferers by the
Boston fire was called up by Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Ferry, of Mich, criticized the bill As
matter of relief it was humbug, and as
matter of policy it was extremely vicious
Mr.. Sumner said he hoped the bill would be
passed as it came from the House.
Without action the Senate at o'clock went
into executive session, and soon after adj
journed.
Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts, from the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, reported bill au-
thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue
coupon bonds, provided that the expense of
such exchange shall be paid by the owner there
OF. He explained that while the Secretary had
authority now to change coupon bonds into
registered bonds, he had not the correlative au-
tbority to change registered bonds into coupon
DOuuS, ailu consequently tuS lduIcr CLASS OF
bonds on account of their facility of transfer
commanded higher prices in Europe than reg
istered bonds. This bill would place the two
classes on an equality by making them inter-
changeabie.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, opposed the bill as
tending to facilitate the acquisition and absorp-
ton of our bonds in Europe.
MIR. Cox OF New York. saw no objection to
the bill except, perhaps, that it would open up
new kind OF brokerage and might facilitate
frauds.
Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts, explained that
the only effect of the bill was to remove the
present obstacles to the negotiability of the
registered bonds.
ldr. Hoar of Massachusetts, remarked that
he had last Monday introduced a bill and had
1t referred to the Committee ON Banking and
Currency, which he thought would meet all the
objects OF the pending measure and explained
its details.
After further discussion the bill was passed,
yeas 1885, nays %.
The House then took up the soldiers bounty
land bill. which was discussed by Messrs. Co
burn of Indiana, Storms of Pennsylvania Nib.
lack and Holman of Indiana, and Shellabarger
of Ohio, chiefly in favor of il
A motion of Mr.. Hawley of Illinois, to re-
commit the bill was negatived, yeas SO, nays
A substitute offered by Mr.. Holman of Indi-
ana, was adopted, yeas los, nays SO.
The substitute is as follows: That every pri-
vate soldier, musician and officer who served in
the army OF the United States during the late
war for 80 days and was honorably discharged,
including the troops who were mustered into
the service of the United States by virtue of
the Sd section OF the act entitled IAN act MAX
ing appropriations for completing the defences
OF Washington, and for other purposes, approx
ed Feb. IL, 1862 and every seaman, marine
officer and other person who served in the navy
OF the United States or in the marine CORPS
during the late war for 80 days, and was honor
ably DISCHARGED, and the widow of any such
soldier, musician, seaman or officer, or if there
be no such widow, his orphan children uuder q
years OF age Shall be entitled to enter a auanti-
ty of the public lands (not universally not ex-
ceedlng lG0 acres or one-quarter section which
shall be composed of continus tracts according
to legal subdivision, including the alternate
reserved sections of public lands along the line
OF any railroad or other public works or other
lands, subject to entry under the homestead
laws of the United States, and receive certifi-
Gates OF such entry without payment of any
government fees.
Section 2. That such entry shall be male in
the name OF the person entitled as above to
make the same in person, or by the agent under
such regulations as the Secretary of the Inter-
ior shall prescribe, and the patent for the lands
SO entered shall be issued only to such soldier,
musician, seaman or officer, or his widow or
his orphan children, provided for in the first
section of this act; but no sale of such land or
of any interest therein or power of attorney
authorizing such sale OF other contract, or an
agreement in any wise affecting or concerning
any such land made, executed or entered into
prior to issuing patent therefor, and the actual
delivery of the same to the person to whom is
sued shall be any effect whatever, but shall be
null and void.
Section 3. That the Secretary of the Interior
shall prescribe the regulations necessary to car
ry the several provisions of that act into effect
The bill as amended was then passed, yeas
116, nays %.
Mr. Garfield from the Committee on Appro-
priations, reported the deficiency bill appropri-
ating $l,639,000, whiclrwas made the special
order after the pension appropriation bill.
The House at $50 went into Committee of
the Whole, Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, in the
chair on the pension appropriation bill, which
appropriates $50, 100000.
The committee rose and reported the bill,
which thereupon was passed by the House, af-
ter which it adjourned.
Man Murders His Children.
COLUMBIA, o., Dec. 12.-Eben Potter, resid-
ing two miles east of here, this morning muir
dered his two children, aged one and three
a hat batr ,;fI bn bod