The Portland daily press., 1873-02-17
XLHD CONGRESS.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb L.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee appointed
to notify the President and Vice President
elect of their election, reported that the COM
mittee had performed that duty and that the
President and Vice President elect accepted
the offices to which they have been chosen, and
promised to discharge their duty to the best of
their ability.
Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee of Confer
ence on the consular and diplomatic appropria-
ton bill, nadera report which was agreed to.
MIR. Cole, from the Committee on Appropria-
tons, reported the post Office appropriation
bill with amendments, among which are the
following: Prohibiting the transmission by
mail of any free matter whatever not except
ing newspaper exchanges; requiring all persons
receiving mails by carriers to provide proper
boxes or other receptacles at their dwellings or
Office to facilitate rapid delivery; authorizing
the employment of one additional special agent
to detect persons engaged in sending obscene
matter through mails; striking out the provis-
ion requiring railroad companies to make con-
tracts for postal car service as condition of re-
ceiving increased pay, and providing that addi-
tional pay may be allowed for daily postal car
services at rates not exceeding $25 per mile per
annum for cars forty feet in length; $4,000 for
As feet cars; $4,000 fot so feet cars, and $4,000
per mile per annum for cars from So to 60 feet
long The Ter 9Th for any particular service to
be determined by the Postmaster General.
Mr.. Cameron introduced bill donating con-
demned cannon and cannon balls to the Gettys-
burg Battlefield Memorial Association
Mr. Sawyer introduced bill to incorporate
the Southern Homestead Emigrant Co., giving
power to lease, purchase, rent or sell large bod
les of land anywhere in the United States.
The rule offered by Mr.. Anthony yesterday,
limiting debate upon appropriation bills, was
called up.
The bill was debated till the expiration of the
morning hour and after laying aside the naval
appropriation bill it was again debated.
| Mr.. Bayard offered an amendment that moth
ing of the rule should be construed as authorizing
| amendments in the nature of general legisla-
ton. The amendment was lost and the resolu-
ton as proposed by Mr.. Anthony was agreed
| to.
The naval appropriation bill was again taken
| up. The amendment relative to retired ofic-
| ers, their pay and employment, was agreed to-
! ayes %, nays u. 80 -
| An amendment providing that the act of
shall not be construed so as to retire any Of
| ficer before the age of go, was agreed. The
| bill having been considered in q Committee of
the Whole was reported to the Senatejand the
several amendments were concurred in, but
those restoring appropriations for certain clerks
at several navy yard, which had been left out
| by the House, were rejected. lFsE
| The question was raised ON concurrng in Mr..
| Cragin's amendment relating to retired naval
| officers, when Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike
| The vote on this motion showed that no quo
rum was present and the Senate adjourned.
4 Y-t svt5 RI HOUSE 0it Il.fgfj
/ Mr.. Starkweather of Conn, presented peti.
| titions from the citizons of New London and
Norwich, asking for the repeal of the stamp
| tax. aE T rI- ..-r ... .-..r :
! Mr.. Dawes of Mass, from the Joint Co.i-
mittee appointed to notify the President and
| Vice President elect of their election, reported
that the committee had performed the duty
and been charged by those gentlemen 90 report
to the two Houses their acceptance O. the trust
conhded to them, and their obligaA0ns to the
people of the United States for mat mark of
their confidence; also the assur.nee that they
would endeavor to discharge @lthfully tie du-
| ties of their respective Offices
/ Mr.. Shanks of Ind, Chairman of the Com
| mittee on Indian Affars, reported bill rela-
tive to private contracts or agreements made
With the Indians After an explanation by
I Mr. Sharks the bill was passed
Mr.Willara of Vt, asked leave to introduce
and pass joint resolution congratulating the
Cortes and the people of Spain on the estab-
lshment of Republic in that country.
The reading of the resolution was interrupted
by Mr.. Banks of Mass, chairman of the Com
mittee ON Foreign Affairs who sad:-'I object;
it Is a proposition to recognize slavery in the
cnlonies of Spain"
Mr.. Willard-Not at all
III Banks-Certainly it is.
M, >eSOlution was not received.
nne ~, malSsage of the President on Utah af-
'alrS IFS w hs, srred to the Judiciary Committee.
W., S M hn3fying the political disabilities of
Inc re OH hap roy,as for the equitable dstribu-
debated All amendts ware s' rsiact up AND
the bill passed ie]e''eo "n"
Mr.. Pendeton of r. T., enroduced j. hill T.,
have medals executed and resented to 20 Cant "
Jared s. Granda and 10th westerly T.
ming life boat and fishing boat and saving %
| lives of persons from the wreck the"staaI, a.
Metis, in Long Island Sound. on ne 3lst of
| August 1872. Passed. o'' u
The House then took up the bill ero,, tho
Committee on Printing, directing the onor.sS.
ional Printer to contract with VIM. j. Inrteol
| for reporting and publishing the debaes If
Congress for six years from the 4th of Nrcb
| 1873, in accordance with his proposal. w.
Without any action on the bill the H.se
adjourned.