The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-14
xLIId CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
SENATE

OENAIE
WASHINGTON, Feb 13-The House Postal
Bill was made special order for Friday.
A bill to reimburse soldiers for clothing lost
in the Chicago fire was passed. -
A bill for modifying the law so as to permit the
removal of goods in bond from the original
packages, in cases of accident without legal in
terrence was passed o..
A memorial of the New York Chamber of
Commerce. on the decline of American COM
merce was presented and referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Anthony presented petition signed by
the Governor and Lieut.. Governor of Rhode
Island, the Mayor of Providence and others for
an appropriation for the improvement of the
harbor OF Newport; also memorial from Com
modore Wilkes for the publication of the second
of his exploring exploring expeditions of 1913,
OF return his report that he may publish it him
self.
Mr. Casserly offered resolution which was
adopted directing the Postmaster General to
transmit information with reference to the de-
tention of California mails on the Union &
Central Pacific Railroads during the winter;
also statement of what means are taken for
forwarding mails, also copies of all contracts
fol the transmission of mails on these roads.
Mr. Trumbull called up the bill authorizing
the President to retire Judges of the United
States Court on full salary whenever he was
satisfied that they were permanently disabled.
IN. M BayaTd opposed, Mr. Morrill, of vt, fay,
went over. The bill for customs reformers was
taken up. After some debate upon a PROPOSE
ton to postpone the customs reform bill and
take up the legislative appropriation bill. The
latter was finally taken up. t4
Mr. Cole explained the amendments reported
by the committee. Among the amendments
reported is one to discontinue the publication of
laws in newspapers.
Mr. Anthony said he had for years favored
this reform.
Messrs Pomeroy and Harlan opposed the
amendment No action was taken on it.
Mr. Ramsay gave notice of an amendment to
increasing the salary of the supervising archi-
teGt OF the Treasury to $4,000 year. e.,
The Vice President laid before the Senate two
messages from the President transmitting a
copy of the case of the United States pre-
sented at Geneva and other reports of the Sec
rotary OF State and Secretary of War in refer
ence to questions with Spain, arising out of
Cuban affairs and the order given our vessels
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
MIR. Hooper of Massachusetts, from the Com
mtttee on coinage, reported bill revising and
amending the laws relative to minis, assay Of
Ulcers and coinage of the United Sthtes.
MI MeNee!ey Of Ill, from the same commit
authorized by the COMMITTEE The question rails
ed good deal OF confusion, until in answer to
a direct interrogatory by the Speaker, Mr.
Hooper stated destinctly that he was authoriz,
GU am ihssruc16u ~ the committee 10 report
the bill Finally the objection was withdrawn
The report was received and the bill made
special order for the second Tuesday in March
The bill for the erection of post-ofice, Gus
tom house and United States Court House in
Albany, was taken up. After a sharp debate,
in which Mr. Garfield of Ohio, strongly oppos-
ed, it was passed -
Mr.. Dawes Of Mass ,lfrom the Ways and
Means Committee, reported bill repeating the
duties on tea and coffee, asking leave to make
statement, and requesting the House to re-
commit the bill = -
objection was made and the Speaker ruling
that sebate was not allowable unless he could
make a preliminary statement
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the naval appropriation bill, Nh.
Hale OF Maine, addressed the committee
The total of this bill was $17, 943, 347 and
about 81 100000 less than the last one. 1t is
believed that it would cover all the expenses
and NO dAioiancv wonld he asked for The