The Portland daily press., 1873-01-13
xLIID CONGRESS.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON. Jan. IL.

WASHINGTON, Jan IL.
Mr.. Coburn OF Ind, from the Military Com
mittee, reported back adversely number of
private bills which were laid on the table; also
bill for the sale of the grounds and tenements
at Pittsburg, Pa, now used as United States
quartermaster's department. saF
Several private bills were passed A bill for
the sale of the present cemetry grounds at the
Fort Gratiot military reservation in Michigan,
was passed.
Mr.. w. R. Roberts of New York, offered
resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for information as to why work is suspend
ed on the New York post Office building in New
York, and instructing him, if not incompatible
with the public interests, to order the resump-
tlon OF work at the earliest possible moment.
Adopted.
Tue House went into Committee of the
Whole on the legislative appropriation bill
The pending question at the adjournment yes
terday was an amendment offerered by Mr..
Smith of New York. forbidding the payments
of judments of the Court of Claims for cotton
captured before June, 1866, except special ap-
Preparations were made for them.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, replied to Nj. Smiths
speech made yesterday. repeating the idea that
any judgments had been paid by the Secretary
OF the Treasury except in compliance with the
law. 81
Mr.: Smith of New York, did not favor Con-
gresslonal opposition to the decision of the Su-
preme Court, but if such men as Lamar of
Georgia, who was a rebel loan commissioner
had recovered $474s 600 from the government on
judgments, by that court he admonished Con-
gress, the Supreme Court and the administra-
.rion, thatif the government was liquidatng
war debts the people demanded that loyal peo-
pie should first be paid. That was the object
of this amendment.
Mr.. Perce of Mississippi, opposed the amend
ment as being an attack on the Southern sec.
ton OF the country. sus
Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut sustained the
ampnNmnnt ha tod ,,,J.r
ment of this kind reported to Congress SO that
Congress might exercise its discretion whether
1T would pay them in preference to the claims
Of loyal men whose property has been taken or
destroyed during the rebellion.
After further debate the amendment was "a
jected.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, offered an
amendment that no money shall be paid to
railroads for transportation of mails or troops
while any such company is in default for inter-
est on bonds issued by the government
Mr. Sargent of California, made point of
order that there was nothing in the bill to
which the amendment could apply.
The chairman (Mr. Dawes) sustained the
point OF order and excluded it.
Subsequently MI. Randall found an item to
which he hooked his amendment, being an item
for contingencies in the War Department The
point of order was overruled.
Mr. Holman of Indiana, moved to amend the
amendment by repeating the law under which
the necessity of allowing charges against the
government for transportation to be withheld
from the amount of interest paid by the gov
ernment on bonds given or loaned to the compa
ny.
Mr.. Sargent made point of order against
Mr. Holman's amendment, and it was ruled
out of old.r.
MIR; Holman appealed from the decision OF
the chair but the decision was sustained by a
large majority.
Mr.. Sargent opposed Mr. Randalps amend
ment and argued that even if it were applca-
bic it would only be applicable to the item of
OF $1,000 to which it was attached and would
not be otherwise binding on the executive. He
denied that the legislation relieved the Pacific
railroad companies was got through in sur.
reptious manner as is charged by Mr.. Randall
The committee rose.
Mr.. Myers of Pennsylvania, presented me
memorial of the board of trade of Philadelphia
for the passage of q bill authorizing Collectors
OF Customs to refund in ull the amount of the
differential duties which have been or ma,
hereafter be collected on merchandise which
was actually afoat in French vessels destined
for the United States, ON the 3Oth of Octobe
last. The House then adjourned.