The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-04
xL1Id CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Mr.. Conkling presented memorial from
man ieaolng business men of New York
against the repeal of the bankrunt law.
Mr.. Wright, of Iowa, presented Joint resolu.
tons OF the Legislature of Iowa asking the mas
sage of Uill to relieve the people from onnroS.
sive freight charges by railroad companies.
Mr.. Clayton presented the credentials of s.
w. Dorsey, Senator elect from Arkansas
Mr.. Wilson presented a bill to Settle the &C.
counts of Gen. Dyer.
A resolution was adopted desiring the Secre-
tary of State to make inquiry through our Min
lister in Mexico concerning Mexican records re-
and the best method and probable cost of pro-
curing transcripts of the same.
Mr.. Ames introduced bill to authorize the
appointment of Major Of Artillery in the ar
my.
Mr.. Hamlin offered resolution instructing
the Committee on Appropriations to inquire
into the expedency of reporting such appropri-
atons as well as to include just proportion of
the expense of the improvements now making
by the Board of Public Works in the District
of Columbia, which should be borne by the
United States. Adopted
The Vice President appointed as Com
mittec of Conference on the bill to provide for
the building of six new sloops of war; Messrs.
Cragin, Morrill, Of Maine, and Bayard.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, from the Committee
on Literary, reported bill providing that in
the construction of the seth section of the pa
tent and copyright act of July s. 1870, the words
"cut'' print and engraving" shall be re-
strcted to pictorial illustrations. That no label
designed for use upon manufactured articles
shall be copyrighted, but may be registered at
the patent office as trade mark, and the word
'books" shall be held TO include any pamphlet
or periodical publication in which copyright
is or may be claimed
MIR. Wright, from the Committee on Judici-
airy, reported with amendments a bill to pre-
vent and punish unlawful making, passing and
selling or holding any false coin or token in
resemblance OF any coin of the United States.
AS unfinished business the Webb Australian
Steamship Subsidy bill came up.
Mr., Ramsey offered an amendment providing
that the subsidy shall take effect from date Of
contract with the Postmaster General.
Mr.. Humans pending notion to table the
bill, made for the purpose of killing it, was
agreed to-yeas 80, nays 81.
The bill to provide for United States public
building at Atlanta, Ga, was passed
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the substitute re-
ported from the Committee of Finance for the
Buckingham banking bill, was taken up. AT
ter some debate in which Messrs. Thurman,
Sherman, Fenton, Buckingham, Morrill, of VT,
and Cole participated the Sd Sc tion of the SUBJ
stitute was amended SO as to make it manda-
tory on banking associations on and after JAN
uary, 1874, to redeem heir notes at such locali-
ties as are now, or may be hereafter, designated
by law either in coin or United States legal ten
der notes. The 9th section was strdsk out as
being already in substance a law.
Mr.. Shurz said hat this bill would enable
everybody to convert his greenbaoks INFO Uni
ted States securities, and it might be presumed
that when money was easy the amount of
9reenbacks flowing into the treasury for con-
version would be very large. He therefore
would ask the Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee whether the Secretary of the Treasury,
with the permission given by the bill. would
not have it in his power whenever there should
be little stringency to flood the market with
those accumulated greenbacks and thus con.
troll the money market of the United States.
Mr.. Sherman replied that under the existing
laws the Secretary of the Treasury had power
to do just what Mr.. Shurz feared he might be
able to do under this bill. Indeed all our laws
relating to the treasury depended for their val
ue upon the fidelity and integrity of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury. If the Secretary chose to
do anything harsh to promote his own interests
or any other interest, he has the necessary
power
Mr. Bayard said that after such an admission
as to the power of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, Congress could hardly be too quick in plac-
ing that officer under the control of the law so
that the welfare of the country should not lon
ger be subject to his Judgment or his caprice.
Mr.. Sherman said be was in favor of limit
ing. the power of the Secretary of the Treasury
so far as it could be done, but he thought they
were already limited as far as the nature of
things would permit. He would be glad to have
some one point out what further limitation was
practicable.
Mr. Buckingham said that in his Judgment
there was not provision in the bill of the COM
mittee tending to the resumption of specie pay
ment, and indicated some amendments he
would offer at the proper time.
Mr.. Thurman moved an amendment reduc-
ing the interest on the bonds to be exchanged
for greenbacks from 5 to 2 per cent.
MIR. EdmundS reported from the Judiciary
Committee an amendment to the bankrupt bill
for the relief of The Boston Insurance Compa-
min xuI,t ntl sniff Inv fba
which passed
Pending further action on the Finance bill,
the Senate went into executive session and soon
after adjourned.
A large number of bills were introduced and
referred, including the following:
By Mr.. Hale of Maine,-To provide for day of
national thanksgiving.
By Mr.. Banks of Mass.-Recommending the
President to open communication with foreign
government for the purpose of devising sufti-
Gent measures to protect non-combatants and
enforce rigid observation Of the rules of civil
lied warefare, encourage emancipation and pro-
mote just and permanent peace between the
people of Cuba and the Spanish government
By Mr.. Twitchel of Mass.-The right of way
through public lands to the Kansas and Coora-
do railroad; also to the Atchison, Topeka aud
Santa Fee railroad
By Mr.. Statkweather of Conn.-For the erec-
ton of floating lighthouses and to provide
means of saving life.
Bills were also introduced for negotiations for
the re-opening with Chill the adjustment OF
American claims; ,refunding the five eper cent.
income tax to soldiers and sailors; to abolish
the tax on spirits distilled from fruit; to remove
disabilities from all citizens the latter by Mr..
Young of Georgia.
The call of States being concluded, K. Rob-
erts of New York, offered resolution declaring
it the opinion of the House that it is not wise or
expedient or for the public interests that any
part of Goat Island, San Francisco Bay, shall
be coded for railroad purposes.
Mr. Sargent of Colorado, moved to lay the
resolution on the table. Negatived-yeas II
nays 102.
While the question on the adoption of the
resolution was pending, Mr. Sargent rose to
question of order, which was that lobbyists
were on the floor abusing the privileges of the
House.
The Speaker said that the question of order
was well taken if the gentleman would name
the person he referred.
Mr.. Sargent named D. McRouer of CAL t
The Speaker remarked that the gentleman
named was an ex-member of Congress and had
right to the flour.
Mr.. Sargent-Certainly, but under the pledge
that he will not abuse the privilege of the floor
in lobbying for or against any pending meas
ure of legislature.
that an ex-member of Congress was acting il
legitimately
Mr.. Banks of Mass, suggested that the ques-
ton would have to be examined before an ex-
member of Congress was condemned and de-
prived of the right extended him under the
rule. Tea
AL Sargent. THAT is simply my PROPOSE
ton. y
Mr. Banks objected to it as question of or
der
The Speaker referring to the rule and
to the proposed modification of it, said
that the decision of the House at the last ses-
sion was that the rule applied only to members
interested inprivate claims and did not extend
to matters of general legislation. The rule did
not therefore affect this case.
Mr.. Sargent then made the point that Mr..
McRuer had not registered his name in accor-
dance with the rule.
The Speaker ruled that the objection was not
a point of order.
Mr.. Sargent remarked that members were
embarrassed by persons coming on the floor to
lobby for the scheme. The resolution was then
adopted without division.
Mr.. Stevenson of Ohio, introduced board of
three commissioners to inquire and report at
the next regular session the condition of all
railroads that have received aid from the gov
ernnient in land or bonds, with power to send
for persons and papers. Referred to the Select
Committee on Union Pacific Railroads and
Credit Mobilier.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means reported back adj
versely sundry bills for refunding the cotton