The Portland daily press., 1872-03-21
XLIId CONGRESS..SECOND SESSION.
sen ATE.

| SENATE
WASHINGTON, March 20.-The bill authoriz
ing the construction of a railroad bridge across
the Ohio river at Evansville Ind, was discuss
ed until the expiration of the morning hour.
The consideration of the Chicago Relief bill
| then came up and Mr.. Carpenter again argued
| that it was unconstitutional.
Several amendments were offered and reject
| ed and the bill reported from the Finance Com,
| mittee was then passed-yeas 20, nays IT,
Mr.. Caldwell from the Committee on Indian
| Affairs, reported bill to confirm the sales OF
Shawnee Indian lands in Kansas.
| Mr. Sherman moved to resume the consider
| alton of the tariff bill.
Mr. Chandler announced he would oppose the
consideration of this tariff bill at every stage,
because he regarded it bill ON which the Sen
ate ought not to waste moment.
The bill was taken up and Mr.. Morrill, OF
| Vt, addressed the Senate at length.
MIR. Hamilton of Md, followed with an ar
| gument against protective, and in favor of a
| renenue tariff.
Mr.. Frelinghnysen obtained the floor, but
| yielded to a motion for an executive session,
Which was carried, and the Senate soon after
| adjourned.
HOUSE. AHt
| Mr.. Maynard of Tenn, introduced bill for
pension for the widow of Admiral Farragut
at rate One-fourth of years pay at the time
of his death. Referred.
A resolution was adopted calling on the Sec
rotary of State for information as to the amount
paid to newspapers for publishing the laws of
the United States.
The bill regulating the construction Of a
bridge across the Ohio river came up After
considerable discussion the bill was passed.
The Senate bill authorizing the construction
of bridge across the Mississippi at Clinton,
Iowa, for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Il. r., was passed.
The bill to issue an American register to the
Dutch bark Alice Tarleson of Boston was pass
ed.
The House bill to change the name of the
yacht Lois" to 'Sea Witch was taken from
table and the Senate amendment concurred in.
1t changes the name of the yacht civilian M.
Tweed" to Julia
AN IMPORTANT BILL.
Mr.. Conger of Mich. also reported bill to
authorize the appointment of shipping COM
missiOners to superintend the shipping and dis
charge of seamen on American merchant ships
and for for further protection of seamen. He
explained that the bill was modelled upon the
English law Oh that subject and received the
approval of the mercantile community and that
the commissioners are to be appointed by the
United States Circuit Judges. The bill is very
voluminous containing 81 sections. Shipping
articles or agreements are to be signed by each
seaman in the presence of a commissioner
Any ship carrying seaman to sea except a
stow-away without his Signing such an agree
ment shall incur penalty of $500. Stipula-
tions for allotment of wages must be inserted in
notes shall be given to any persona but the sea-
man himself. Seamen are to be discharged and
receive their wages in the presence of ship
ping commissioner and to receive certificate
of discharge. All disputes between masters
and seamen are to be decided by the commiss-
Toner. The commissioner is to take charge of
the wages and effects of seamen dying in the
United States and deliver the same t. the
United States Circuit Court of the district The
bill provides penalties against seaman for de-
carftc IrCnlA dI nrtIn fI.Ar
wages of seamen are to be subject to attachment
or assignment. The act of soliciting seamen to
become dodgers at boarding houses within
"a hours after the arrivals of their ships is
made an offence punishable by fine and impris-
onment. The bill contains also schedule of
commissioners fees, fixing 80 as fee for en-
gaging each member of a crew and so cents for
discharging him, and S. for an apprenticeship
agreement. 1t also cOntaines a scale of the pro
visions to be allowed and served out to a crew
during voyage. After considerable discussion
the suggestions and amendments to tho bill
went ovdr till Tomorrow.
The bill for the reorganization of civil SER
vice, special order for to-day, was on the mo-
ton of Mr.. Willard further postponed till this
day four weeks,
DEFEAT OF THE SUBSIDY.
The House at $50 o'clock went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the post office appro-
priation bill, the pending question being on the
increase of subsidy to China mail steamers A
lengthy discussion followed, during which Mr.
Peters of Me-. spoke.of the great depression of
ship-building interests. saying that on the Ca
madam side of st. Crox river there were numer-
Jus vessels being built while on the American
side, having similar interests not hammer
was heard. He denied that the shippieg inter-
ests had been injured by depredations of the
Alabama and others privateers. On the con-
trary it was stimulated and benefited by them
What was wanted was drawback on ship
building material.
Mr.. Crocker's amendment permitting the
government to take possession of steamers in
case OF war was agreen to. AZ E-
Mr.. Farnsworth's substitute keeping the sub
sidy at a half million and allowing the ser
vice to be performed by foreign built ships, was
rejected, IS to 50. ..s .D.t.t..
The amendment making the service semi
monthly and the compensation million dollars
was defeated, 81 to 90. The announcement of
the vote was applauded on the Democratic side
The committee then proceeded with the re-
manning portion of the bill.
Mr.. Epson of Ohio, moved au amendment to
prohibit the employees of the departments from
acting as agents or attorneys for the prosecu-
ton of claims within two years after having
the office. Agreed to-
Mr.. Farnsworth of Ill, moved to amend by
applying the saffie rules to members of Con-
gress. Ruled out of order.
The committee rose and reported the bill to
the House. which was passed.
Adjourned