The Portland daily press., 1873-01-24
XLIID CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Jan. %
The Vice President appointed Mr. West, of
Louisiana, to fill the vacancy in the Com mittee
of Mr.. Kellogg, and Ames, of Mississippi, to
fill the vacancy in the Committee on Commerce
created by the same withdrawal.
MI. Conkling presented five petitions for
the repeal of the bankrupt laws, signed by four
or five thousand leading business men of New
York.
Mr.. Chandler presented petition signed by
many soldiers, praying, he said, that all public
lands be given to specuators-in other words,
a petition for the passage OF bounty land -.
(Laughter.)
On motion of Mr. Wilson, of Mass, the
Committee on Library were instructed to in
quire into the prOpriety of having the debates
of the 37th and 3Sth Congress condensed by a
competent person, and published by authority
or with the aid of Congress.
Mr.. Corbett, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported a bill amending the 18th sec
ton Of the act of July IA, 1862, so as to require
all vessels, not especially exempted under the
present laws and treaties, to pay the present
rate of tonnage dues at time of entry. AT pres
ent some vessels pay their tonnage dues upon
entry, and others upon clearance, which oper-
ates injuriously upon some branches of COM
merce.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Finance Committee,
reported adversely on the bills of Mr.. Cole, to
replace national bank notes with United States
notes, and to authorize part payment of Gus
tom dues in United States notes.
Mr.. WinslOw, from Committee on Public
Lands, reported without amendment the bill
establishing $3.50 as the minimum price of
lands remaining to the United States within
the limits oe railroad land grants
Mr.. Nye moved to assign an evening for the
consideration of the bill to establish line of
steamships for mail service between the United
States and Australia After some discussion it
aOrnnI that oftar tba nnfiniehad bycip
Legislative appropriation billy was disposed of,
MIR. Nye should be recognized by the chair to
make motion to take up the Australian steam
ship subsidy bill.
Mr.. Morton introduced bill which passed,
appropriating $780, 900 to defray the expenses of
the investigations in regard to the elections in
Kansas, Louisiana and Arkansas.
The Legislative, Executive and Judicial ap-
preparation bill was taken up. All the amend
ments reported by the Committee on Appro-
priations were agreed to, none being of special
Importance
Mr.. Hill offered an amendment, increasing
the pay of members of Congress to $4,000
year.
Mr.. Morrill,, of VT, offered an amendment
to the amendment providing that the question
be submitted to the vote of the people of each
State next election, aud unless endorsed by a
majority of votes, the increase would not be
made.
Mr. Hills amendment was tabled, 81 to 15
soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass, from the Committee of
Ways and Means, reported bill relieving from
taxation alcohol used for scientific purposes.
The bill passed.
A resolution was adopted directing the po-
land Select Committee to investigate and report
what members have been interested in the Du-
buque and Sioux City railroad, and the Central
Pacific railroad.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the diplomatic appropriation bill
An amendment reducing the salary of the
minister to Uruguay and Paraguay to $500
was agreed to and the bill passed.
The Senate amendment to the Vienna Expo
sition bill were amended by reducing the ap-
preparation from 5000, 900 to S200,0 and the
bill returned to The Senate.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole, Mr. Scofed in the chair, on the naval
appropriation bill, without disposing of which
the House adjourned.