The Portland daily press., 1873-02-06
XLIId CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 5. =
Several petitions were presenteu ior anu
against the repeal of the bankrupt law
dr. Buckingham introduced bill TO extend
the time for filing claims for additional pounty
under the act OF July 1866
Mr. Rice OF Ark, offered the following reso-
luton and asked for its immediate considera-
ton
Resolved, That the Committee on Elections
be instructed to enquire and report to the Sem
ate whether there is any existing legal State
government in Arkansas, and how and bv
whom it was constituted.
Mr.. Ferry objected because he said reflection
had satisfied him that the Senate had exceeded
its powers in attempting to carry out similar
resolutions adopted in regard to Louisiana. The
resolution was laid over.
Mr.. Buckingham, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs reported without amendment
the House bill for relief of settlers on the late
Sioux Indian reservation in Minnesota.
Bills were introduced to vest the power of
establishing post roads in the Postmaster Cen
eral; to amend the act relating to redemption
of lands held by the United States for nom
payment of taxes; to establish Corcoran park
and geological garden near the capitol in the
District of Columbia.
Mr. Window, from the Committee of Con-
ference on the Indian appropriation bill, sub
United and explained the conference report,
which was concurred i'll.
Mr.. Anthony in the chair, said the Vice Pres
ident wished to be excused from appointing
the special committee to consider the testimony
transmitted from the House yesterday affect
ing certain Senators, and desired the commit
tee to b, appointed by Senator Anthony who
occupied the chair when the committee was
ordered.
Mr.. Edmunds said he had been out when
Mr.. Peterson offered the resolution for the APP
pOintment of q special committee, and as the
Senate has a standing Committee on Privileges
and Elections he thought the matter ought to
go to that committee. He therefore moved to
reconsider the vote by which the special COM
mlttee was ordered.
Mr.. Alcorn said the Committee on Privileges
and Elections was overlooked and if this in
quiry was referred to them it could not be
reached this session of Congress.
Mr.. Edmunds withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Anthony in the chair then appointed the
following special committee:
Messrs. Morrill, of Maine, Scott, Stockton,
Wright and Stevenson.
The Senate then resumed the considera ton
of the finance bill.
Mr.. SALISBURY favored the free banking pro.
vision in the bill, but thought the effort Of the
other provisions would be to increase the pu bile
debt. @r
Mr. Scott advocated the bill.
Mr. Eenton criticised il in detail.
Mr. Wright thought the people were satisfied
with things as they were, and moved to strike
out the first section.
Mr. Thurman moved to lay the bill on the
table which was agreed to--yeas %, nays 81
The following is the vote:
Yeas-Alcorn, Blair Cole, Davis. Edmunds.
Fenton, Gilbert, Goldshwaite, Hamilton of
Texas, Harlan, Hill, Hutchinson, johnson,
Kelley, Machen. Morton, Norwood, Pool, Ram
Stevenson, Thurman, Upton, West and Win
dom-29. f'
Nays-Ames, Bayard, Boreman, Bucking-
ham, Casserly, Chandler, Clayton, Cooper,
Corbett, Cragin, Ferry of Ct, Ferry of Mich,
Flanagan, Hamilton of Nd, Hamlin, Morrill,
of Mo Morrill, of VT Nva pat Drotf
Salisbury. Scott, Sherman, Stuart Vickers,
Wilson. Wright-27. rs-af. ..,-.vE
Mr. Edmunds moved to take up the bill to
provide for the distribution of the Geneva
award-Lost, yeas H. nays 81.
Mr.. Craein submitted and explained the re
port of the conference committee ON the bill to
provide for the construction of six new sloops
of war, which was concurred in.
Mr.. Stevenson moved to take up the House
bill granting a pension to Mrs. Wood, daughter
of President Taylor
Mr.. Pratt moved that it be referred to the
Committee on Pensions Agreed to.
| On motion of Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, the di-
plomatic and consular appropriation bill was
| taken up.
Mr.. Edmunds said the United States and
Mexican Claims Commissions was defunct, and
moved to strike out the appropriation for it,
which was agreed to- Adjourned.
| HOUSE.
Mr.. Beck, of KY, from the Ways and Means
| Committee reported bill to amend the in
| ternal revenue law, the effect of which he ex-
| planned as follows The first section restored
the provision of the law of 1862, which allowed
the producers of tobacco to sell at the place of
| production to consumers to an amount not ex-
ceediug 500; the second section proposes TO in
| crease the fractional parts of barrels required
TO be stamped, by including thirds of barrels;
| the third section proposes to provide that
man who makes wine from grapes raised by
himself, might sell it at the place of production
| without paying the S25 special tax now requr-
ed. On that explanation, the bill was passed.
| Mr.. Moore, chairman of the Committee on
| Pensions, proceeded to make a report of the
pension bill, but before doing so commented I'M
favorably on the action of the House, yesterday,
| in passing bill making the pension of widow
date back to the date of her husbands death.
| The rule was that pensions should take effect
| from the passage of the BILL and there was no
propriety in making distinction between the
widows of general officers and the widows of
| private soldiers. ft
Mr.. Blaine, the Speaker, who yesterday left
| the chair and advocated the bill referred to-
which was to grant pension OF $50 per month
to the widow OF Robert G. Wood, late Assistant
and daughter of the late President Zachary
| Taylor, from the date of her husbands DEATH
| again took the floor and defended the propriety
of that measure, remarking that it was the
only instance of q person of the lineage of Gen.
Taylor receiving any benefit from the govern
ment.
Mr.. Speer, from the same committee, report
ed a bin repeating the provisions of the act of
the 4th of July, 1864, which prohibits the al
lowance of pension claims unless proecuted to
a succe ssful issue within five years from the
date of being filed, and allowing claims SO
barred to be granted and allowed within two
years from the passage of this act upon salts
ia tory parole evidence. The bill was passed.
A large number of pension bills were passed,
including one increasing the pension to the
widow of Commander Craven from $50 to $50
per month, the increase to date from the time of
the original pension.
Mr. Packer of Pa. from the Committee on
Roads and Canals, reported bill authorizing
the construction of railroad bridge across the
Mississippi River at Memphis. He stated the
main span was to be at least 400 feet in the
clear and the bridge might be built with
draw.
Mr.. Finkelnburg of Missouri, opposed the
bill, remarking that all were agreed that no
bridge with draw should be built over the Mis-
sissippi below st. Louis. Such bridges had al
ready done damage enough above that city.
No such detriment to commerce should be per-
mtted below that point He hoped the bill
would be recommitted or referred to the Com
mttee of Commerce.
Mr.. Cox of New York, gave notice that he
would move to table the bill
At the expiration of the morning hour the
bill went over without action till Tomorrow.
The House went into committee of the whole
(Mr. Burchard of Illinois, in the chair) ON the
post Office appropriation bill
The bill as reported January 18th, appropri-
ates S32,503, 767, of which all but $6,S10,6O2 is
to come from the revenues of the department,
but Mr. Palmer of Iowa, who has char ,e of the
bill, remarked that since the abolition of the
frankng privilege the Postmaster General was
willing to have the appropriation reduced by
81 100000.
Mr.. Cotton of Iowa. offered an amendment
increasing the item for letter carriers from ST.
100000 to 81, 100000 and allowing their employ
ment in places with population of 10000 in
habtants within post office delivery.
After long discussion, involving the whole
carrier system and the compensation of letter
carriers, which Messrs Cox of New York, and
L. Myers of Pennsylvania, endeavored but fail
ed to have increased, the amendment offe. ed
by Mr.. Cotton was agreed to,
Without finishing the bill the House adjourn
ed.
The Connecticut Republican State
Convention.
Hn1,1axr r, Haven Nom ~, q r..