The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-31
xLIID CONGRESS..SECOND SESSION
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, May 30.-A bill was reported
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to
purchase site in Philadelphia for post office,
the expense of both site and building not to
exceed million and a half dollars
A bill to amend the enforcement act and sug-
Elemental civil rights bill was reported
Mr. Sumner offered a joint resolution amend
ing the Constitution by providing for the cleo
ton of the President by the direct vote of the
people and abOlshing the Vice Presidency.
A number of pension bills were reported and
passed $3.50.
The tariff bill came up. The question was on
adding the House bill, appointing labor COM
mission. The salary of the secretary of the
commission was made $500. An amendment
was adopted providing for the appointment of
three commissioners to hold Office one year, to
consider and examine the various plans and
methods OF raising revenue and report the best
tax and tariff system they can devise, having
regard to the interests of labor in its relations
70 capital and otherwise; and having regard
also to the interests of commerce and of all
classes OF American people. The question was
hnally taken on the labor commission amend
ment to the tariff bill and was lost yeas Is,
nays &c.
MI Fenton offered an amendment to the tar
IN bill adding to the duty on salt as fixed by
the bill, 20 per cent. ad valorem and advocated
IL. The salt interest he said was entitled to the
other great interests and this duty at least was
necessary in order to do it justice.
MT chandler said it should be 30 per cent
He noticed that all New England Senators were
IN favor of low duty on salt-about 124 per
eent.-and he gave notice that if they reduced
the duty on salt, he would try to have duties on
New England manufactures reduced to the
same extent. If 123 per cent. was enough for
the salt makers of Michigan it was enoug Oh for
the button makers of Connecticut.
Mr.. Fenton agreed with Mr.. Chandler that
Super cent. would be more just than 20 per
cent.
Mr. Blair read letter from David A. Wells,
confirming what he (Blair) had said on for
mer occasion about the enormous profits of the
Onondaga Salt Company of New York.
Mr. Conkling said the company had not re-
celved more than 2 per cent year for the last
two years and it had sunk under it's burdens
Mr.. Blair said if so it had sunk under the
burdens of enormous dividends. .4.
- The amendment was rejected, yeas %, nays
Other amendments to increase the duty on
salt were offered and rejected, leaving it as
originally fixed by the House. =
The bill having been considered in committee
of the whole was reported to the Senate, when
all the amendments not reserved were concur
red in
The amendment providing for an additional
duty of 10 per cent. ad valOrem on goods the
product of country east of the Cape of Good
Hope when imported from places west of the
Cape, was amended so to take effect the first of
October, and concurred in.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the paragraph
imposing duty of "a of a cent a pound on
fine flax dressed and valued at 25 cents per
pound, was struck out.
Mr.. Chandler moved to amend the section al
lowing drawback ON imported materials used
in the construction and equipment of vessels
built in the United States for the purpose of
being employed in the foreign trade so as to
prohibit such vessels engaging at all in the
coasting trade. Lost.
Mr. Snrao1ln offered an amapdYnan+
benefit tovessels engaged in the coastwise trade
Lost.
Mr.. Scott offered an amendment, providing
that where American materials are used in the
construction of such vessels, there shall be al
lowed and paid on an amount equivalent to the
duties imposed on similar foreign materials or
articles when imported Lost.
Mr.. VickerS on behalf of the Committee on
Commerce, offered an amendment providing
that American vessels which have been regis
tered all abroad since July 1, 1861 may within
two years be registered as American vessels,
under such regulations as the Secretary of the
Treasury may prescribe. Agreed to.
The other amendments to this section report
ed from the Committee on Finance were con
Cured in.
Mr.. Trumbull offered on amendment to the
section allowing the payment hereafter of one
third of the duties on imports in legal tender
notes, providing that one-sxth of the duties
may be paid in legal tender notes, which, when
received, shall be destroyed. Lost-yeas IS,
nays 81.
The bill was considered at length in Senate
with but few changes as reported from the
Committee of the Whole.
-. HOUSE.
Mr.. Mercur from the Judiciary COMMITTEE re-
ported back the Senate bill extending for three
years the act of june 1860, for the final adjust
ment of private land claims in Florida Louisi-
ana and Missouri, which passed with an amend
ment.
Mr. Scofield of Pennsylvania, from the Select
Committee, on affairs in Louisiana, presented
the report of him himself and Mr.. McCrary,
and Mr.. SPeer of Pennsylvania, presentee re-
port of himself and Mr. Alcorn. Mr. Smith of
New York is to present his own views.
The report of the Public Buildings Commit
tee on the Seneca sandstone investigation was
made and ordered to be printed
The House refused to suspend the rules to
pass the bill prohibiting the issue of band notes
except by federal or State banks. The bill for
the better security of bank reserves was passed
under suspension of the rules 1t provides that
the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized to
receive United States notes on deposit without
interest from national banks of not less than
$4,000, and the issue of certificates thereon of
not less than $4,000, said certificates being paya-
BILE on demand where deposits are made, the
notes there deposited not to be counted as part
OF the legal treasury reserve, but the certificates
may be counted by natl banks as part of their
legal reserve, end be accepted in the Clearing
House balances where deposits were made.
The deposits shall be held as special fund in
the treasury to be used only in the redemption
of said certificates.
Mr.. Butler, being informed by the Speaker
that there was not possibility of compelling q
vote on the enforcement act, moved to adjourn,
but at the suggestion of Mr.. Dawes a recess
was taken till evening.