The Portland daily press., 1872-01-09
XLIID CONGREsS--SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-Mr Fenton made
speech in support of the bill to reorganize the
customs service, and setting forth the alleged
abuses in the New York Custom House. He
pointed out as the most noticeable feature of
the present customs system, the enormous emol-
uments of collectors, naval.offcers and survey
ors and the peculiar and pernicious practice by
which they are obtained. Abiding to the port
of New York, he said that the officers named
received fixed salaries, and in addition are en-
titled to share in the proceeds of all fines, for
FIXTURES and penalties collected in their several
districts. From an incomplete report of the
Secretary of the Treasury it appears that the
United States received from these sources be-
tween Jan /, 1868, and Nov 80, 1870, at the
ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, New
Orleans and San Francisco So 1851 from
which amount there was paid to collectors
naval officers and surveyors $3O5, 4N. The
records of the Commissioner of Customs show
that during fourteen months included between
June !, 1870, and July 81, 1871, the collector at
New York collected in fines, penalties and for
FIXTURES 1862, S14, of which his share was $54,-
927. The appraised value of the goods seized
at the port of New York alone during the years
1S68-69 and 10 was $9O0,245. Mr.. Fenton
thought it must appear to others as to himself
an interesting subject of inquiry how it was
possible for the IG9yernment to receive from all
the ports named as the amqunt realized on the
sale of goods by collectors only 0Eaqt one half
the appraised value of the goods seized in New
York alone. Mr.. Fenton continued at length
BILLS INTRODUCED.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred: BY Mr. Trumb4ll, TO further regulate
the appellate jurisdiction Of the Supreme Court
and to prevent delay therein, providing, among
other things that ordinary civil suits be not ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court unless the matter
in dispute exceeds the value of $1,000. but al
lowing appeals in criminal cases where the SEN
tenee of death or other infamous punishment
has been rendered by Circuit Court referred
to COMMITTEES GA Judiciary; by Mr.. Spencer, to
pTsovding general authority aid spesiae regula,
tions, under which any number OF persons may
become incorporated for the purpose of con-
structing, leasing and operating canals, rail
roads and other highways or carrying ON the
express business through any two or more
States--Referred to 6onamittee on Commerce;
by Mr.. Carpenter, authorizing the President to
accept the designations OF judges OF any Court
of the Uuited States permanently disabled from
efficiency and the continued payment to them
of their salaries; by MI. Pomeroy, fer the re-
lief of settlers on the Usage lands in Kansas; a
bill granting lands to tbs International Ocean
Telegraph Company in Fiorda; alss 2 bill
| granting 100000 acres OF public lands to the
| District of Columbia for the support of public
! schools; by Mr.. Wilson, to make an apprOpria-
| ton to satisfy the claims of Miss Anna Ella
1 Carroll of Maryland, for services in furnishing
valuable information 70 ti.e War Department
| during the late rebellion.
! MT. DuIHuEI pT6SoEttu ScN6Tdl pcbitOnS dllu
memorials for the passage of his supplementary
On motion Of Mr. Hamlin the Committee on
Retrenchment were authorized to continue their
investigations.
AT $50 o'clock the Senate went into executive
session and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Lynch, Of Me-, offered resolution re-
questing the President to ascertain the views of
h. urny r.. 10 n f.
lantic and Pacific ship canal.
Referred on Mr.. Banks motion to the Foreign
Committee
RELIEF FOR sHIPBUnDERs.
Mr., Hale, of Me-, introduced a bill to relieve
American built vessels from import duties OF
articles entering into their construction, repair
was not sustained, SO to GA.
Mr.. Dawes stating that the subject was al
| ready before the Ways and Means Committee
MI Hale consented to reference, but dis
cussion arose, Messgs, Cox and Eldridge ex
pressing the belief that such an action would
be the burial of the bill, as that committee had
been the grave of all such matters.
Mr.. Dawes remarked that the committee haC
not had not had tinle to dig anybodys grave
The yeas and nays were demanded, when thu
morning hour expiring the bill went over unit
next Monday.
Mr. slocum of n Y, offered resolution
asking the Secretary of the Treasury, whethe;
the visit of large number of federal otfic
in New York State to Albany to influence tn
organization of the Legislature is consisten
with the civil service policy adopted by the de
partment, and if not So whether they hay
not been reprimanded or otherwise punished.
Mr.. Butler, of Mass, objected
PENSIONS AND BoUNTIEs.
On motion of Mr. Platt of Va, the Mlitar
Committee were instructed to inquire into tn
!! propriety Of permitting the payment of boun
ties to men who $ete slaves ct the time of en-
listment.
The Committee on invalid Pensions was in
structed 10 inquire into the propriety of allow
ing pensions to the widows of soldiers of 49,
who were manned during their term of service
but after enlistment.
On motion of Mr. Upton, of Ohio, the Com
mttee on Civil Service Reform, was instructe
to inquire into the propfiety % providing fo
: appointments to be made from the State In Pre-
portion to the population, giving preference
honorably discharged soldiers and sailors.
Mr. Gogl2p, of Cal, asked leave to offer
resolution ipstElcting the Judiciary Committe
to inquire into the conduct OF the judicif
Louisiana legislative muddle.' x ''' '''''
Mr.. Butler, of Mass, objected.
The resolution offered Rg Mr.. Kellogg, {
. Conn, before the recess, directing ti.e QolHm
tee on Ways and Means to report a bill repea
ing the income tax, came up on motion
: suspend the rules for its adoption.
O Nh. Dawes demanded the yeas and nays an
it was not sustained. Yeas II, nays so. Anon
u the former were Frye, Lynch and Peters, viii
v / Hale voted nav