The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-08
xLIID CONGRESs--SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

y, WASHINGTON, May IA resolution was of
tered for the appointment of a Committee of
nve to consider and enquire whether any
steamboat lines should be subsidized, was laid
over. --.s.f asr .-....s
The post office appropriation bill came up
An amendment restricting the subsidy to the
Pacific Mail steamship line to $1,000,0G0 per
annum after the expiration of the existing con-
tract, the government having the right to take
the vessel in case of war at the original cost,
was passed. .r
The striking out of the section prohibiting ex-
officials IF the government from acting as claim
agents against the government was concurred
in.
Mr.. Fenton offered substitute increasing
the subsidy for mail service with Brazil to
$400 900 per annum for semi-monthly service
subject to the same conditions as the Pacific
mail subsidy. Adopted, % to "a.
Mr.. Casserly offered an amendment increas-
ing the subsidy to the San Francisco and Aus
tralian 100000, the service to be semi-month-
ly. .M
On motion of Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, the
amendment was tabled
Mr.. Casserly offered an amendment requiring
the Pacific Mail line, as condition of increase
OF subsidy, to continue its line between San
Francisco and New York via the Isthmus of
Panama. Adopted % to 49,
Mr. Nye offered an amendment applying this
condition to any other company which may Sc
cure contract for the mail service between
San Francisco, China ard Japan.
Pending discussion thereon the Senate adj
journed.
HOUSE
A bill was passed limiting to one per cent the
expense of issue and reissue of loans, legal
tender notes and fractional currency
A bill passed allowing rebate ON whiskey
burned while in bonded warehouses.
A bill allowing bonded imported goods to be
transported to Nashville, Albany and San Die
go, Cal, was passed.
The deficiency bill came up A long discus
SION followed on the amendments relative to
claims for cotton seized by the Government
after the war, requiring proof of claimants
loyalty. The Appropriation Committee recon-
mended Inconvenience and reported a less ex-
acting substitute which was adopted. 1t au-
thorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay
the lawful owners of all cotton seized after
proceeds of sales of such cotton without inter-
est This ended all the Senate amendments to
the deficiency bill.
The House then took up the Senate amend
ments to the Indian appropriation bill.
On motion of Mr.. Cox, the President was re-
quested to furnish any correspondence during
the last and present Administration on the sub
ject of an extradition treaty with Belgium
Mr.. Hazelton, from the Committee on Elec-
lions, made report on the South Carolina con-
tested election case, that Wallace, the sitting
member was entitled to the seat. He would
call it up next Thursday for action.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Scofield in the chair, ON the tariff
and tax bill, and the Clerk proceeded to read
the bill by classes for amendments.
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts, moved to strike
out the lines taxing tea and coffee.
Mr.. Kelley, OF Pennsylvania to save time,
moved to strike out the enacting clause of the
bill.
The chairman ruled that Mr.. Kelley's motion
took precedence of the other and must be voted
hat no
clause was struck out the committee would
thereupon rise and report the fact to the House.
The question was taken by tellers and Mr.
Kelleys motion was agreed tO-95 to IS. The
committee thereupon rose and the chairman re-
ported its action.
Mr.. Kelley moved that the House concur in
the action of the CON mittee, and the bill be re-
committed to the Ways and Means Committee
with instructions to report back his own as
substitute. ..a1It
Mr.. Dawes moved as an amendment that the
committee be instructed to report back bill
reducing the rate of duties to 80 per cent of
present rate.
MIR. Finklenburg moved to amend Mr.. Dawes
amendment by reducing the rates to 80 per cent.
of the present rate. Rejected-79 to Ito.
Mr.. Dawes motion was adopted-111 to "a.
The bill was then recommitted to the Com
mittee of Ways and Means with instructions to
report it back forthwith amended by reducing
the duties to so per cent. of the existing rates.
q,
IS.
Mr.. Kelley was proceeding to say after the
vote on the Dawes amendment, that he thought
some of the members had voted under mis-
apprehension, but was interrupted by calls to
order, and Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, called out that
there was no misrepresentation, but the back of
coalition was broken
Mr.. Dawes proposition only applies to arti-
cles specified after line %, page 2, and up to
line 272, page 16 That is, it does not apply to
coal, salt leather or pig iron, which articles
to stand at the rate reported in the bill origi-
nally. F#fR7 - az
MI. Dawes thereupon reported back the bill
as instructed, and it was referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole, to be taken up tomorrow.
The House then took recess. The evening
session is to be for business of the Military
Committee. .sL
Evening Session.
The following bills reported from the Com
mittee nm Military Affairs were pessed The
Senate bill to establish the pay of enlisted men
of the army; the Senate bill to establish sys-
tenn of deposits to prevent desertion and to ele-
waite the condition of the rank ard file of the
army; the House bill placing enlisted men of
the engineers on the same footing with respect
to compensation for extra service other en-
listed men; the House bill to provide for the
establishment of military prison at Rock Is
land, ILL.,. and for the government thereof.
Mr.. Coburn, chairman of the Military Com
mittee, reported bill constituting the existing
acts SO as to allow pay to officers from the date
of their commissions in cases where they were
not mustered in at the time in consequence of
being in the hospital from wounds or in rebel
prisons He explained and advocated the bill.
Mr.. Stoughton, of Michigan, another mem
Der of the committee, opposed it as dangerous
and pernicious bill, which would take $50, 0OO,-
900 out of the treasury, and moved to lay it on
the table,
Mr.. Coburn, of Indiana, denied that it would
cost one-tenth of the amount stated by Mr..
Stoughton- AL eAL e-A
Mr.. Poland, of Vermont, stated that the
proper construction of the existing law on the
subject was that which this bill proposed to give
it, but which the War Department nullified.
After long discussion the bill was recon-
mitted. rr s. -.-rsu
MI. Stoughton, from the same committee, re-
ported a bill to enable honorably discharged SOL
diers and sailors, their widows and orphans to
acquire homesteeds on the public lands, and
allowing their right to be assigned.
r Speeches were made by Messrs. Stoughton,
Pfatt, Conger and Coburn in support of the
bill, and by Messrs. Dunnell, Mccormick,
Richie, Hawley, Townsend of Pennsylvania
ane Townsend of New York against it, as being
in the interest of land-sharks and spectators,
and voting 400, 10000 acres of land with little
or no advantage to soldiers and sailors.
After a long debate, and without reaching