The Portland daily press., 1873-12-12
Forty Third Congress - First Session.
SENATE.

| w OAcCucu IcSIucut TOttLu OI CQo senate.
| Thurman.
Messrs. Anthony and Stevenson were ap-
pointed tillers. The ballot resulted, Carpenter
~, Thurman 16, blank 2. The whole num-
| Der Of votes was 48, necessary to a choice 25.
MI. Carpenter was declared elected.
thanks 'o
The President and the House were notified
OF the election of Mr.. Carpenter.
A number of petitions asking the appoint
ment OF a commission to regulate the traffic in
| alcohalic liquors were presented and referred
to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Buckinghsm of Conn.,, introduced a bill
Tor the relief of certain Indian tribes in the
Northern superintendency. Referred to the
Committee
Mr.. Howe introduced bill for the appoint
ment of commission to regulate traffic on al
| cohalic liquors. Referred to the Finance Com
Mr.. West submitted concurrent resolution
| that when Congress adjourn on the 18th inst,
1t be to meet again Jan. 9th.
Mr.. Morton objected.
Mr.. Sumner called up the bill introduced by
aim on the first day of the session, for substi-
tuition of compound for legal tender notes and
addressed the Senate in favor thereof. He
sad he was for specie payment at the earliest
gay and would support any measure to secure
Inat END. he thought Onr currency artificial.
The only remedy is to make it cosmopalition
that 1t may be aided by the currency of the
world. He would make our currency as good
as gold, and the gold Of the world would come
TO our assistance. Imitation was death to bust
ness Contraction was the proper remedy
The present dsordered currency owed its orr
gin to Congress. The exigency of the war has
ceased now and Congress should improve our
financial condition. The bill was then referred
TO the Finance Committee.
MIR. Anthony Of R. l., moved that when the
Senate adjourned to-day, it would be to meet
again Monday. Adopted.
A bill removing the political disabilities of
U. s. Babcock of Va John H. Reagan of Tex
as and others was passed.
Mr. Davis of w. Virginia, introduced reso-
luton that the Secretary of the Treasury fur
nish information relative to the salaries Of con-
gresham and Senators since the formation of
the government, the names of the Senators
who drew back pay and of those who returned
it to the treasury.
Mr.. Gordon of Ga, offered resolution that
as the abolition of the franking privilege tend
ed to prevent the distribution Of seeds to agr-
culturfsts and the dissemination of books to
the people, the Postmaster General should re-
port in debate how much vas saved to the gov
ernment by such abolition, by the reduction of
employees and charges for transportation by
railroads
A bill was introduced, that customs duties
after April 1st next be paid half in coin and
half in legal tenders.
The bill authorizing the organization of ma
tional banks without circulation, after short de-
DaCo was Iau over. Adjourned,
HOUSE.
Mr.. Randall of PENNSYLVANIA, offered a reso-
luton calling for information as to refunding
and Means Committee
Mr. Orth of Indiana, offered a resolution pro
vidlng for survey to ascertain the practicable
ity OF ship canal connecting Lake Michigan
with the Wabash river. Adopted.
Mr. Parker of Wisconsin, offered resolution
instructing the Committee on Elections to ex-
anime and report the best and most practicable
method for electing the President, and provid-
iRg tribunal to adjust and decide all contested
questions Herewith.
Mr.. Harris of Massachusetts,. offered a reso
tuition for survey of the harbor of bingham,
Mass, With view to the removal of s1nken
rocks. Adopted.
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky. offered a resolution
directing the Postmaster General to report the
number of employees of all grades required for
postal savings institutions as recommended in
his report, also like information as to the DOS
tai telegraph system. Adopted.
u. +. Hoar OF Massachusetts, from the Com
mittee on Education reported bill to estab-
lish an educational fund and apply the proceeds
Of the sale of public lands to the education of
| the people.
The bill went over until Tuesday and the
House resumed the cons Iteration of the bill in
| relation to salaries
Mr.. Poland of Vernon, spoke in support of
| the amendment he offered some days since.
contending that the public demanded that all
the benefits derived from the increase of salary
| and back pay should be wiped out That and
that alone would satisfy the public demand.
He proposed to vote for bill that would carry
| out the decision of the people on that subject,
| and utterly wipe out all the effects and conse-
! quences and benefits derived by members of
| Congress under the act of March, 1873 He
| said he could preserve the habits of simplicity
| in Washington which he practiced while ia
| Office in Vermont; $4,000 was ample compensa-
| tion for his services and furnished him with
| means to live as he wished. The retroactive
feature of increase of salary especially excited
| condemnation, and the press said that those
| who took back pay were thieves, which was not
very palatable to him. He didn't propose to
be influenced by any threat of that sort there
fore had taken the money and still retained it.
MI. Stephens (dem.) of Georgia, spoke of the
comments OF the press aud would say nothing
derogatory Of the power of the press. Journal
lists should look we'll to truth and principle
when treating of subjects to masses of people
He was glad that the increased salary bill was
measure that neither political party was re-
sponsble for. Every Congress had, under the
Constitution, right to fix its salary, and its
increase was necessarily retroactive, and the
brightest ornaments in American history had
subjected themselves to be denounced as salary
grabbers and thieves. If it is wrong for mem
bers to take what is allowed by law, where were
men to find rule of right and wrong? The
last Congress had constitutional right to pass
for it. If he would state what he thought the
services of Representatives ought to be worth
it would be far above the figure of any law vet
passed. A Representative ought to be a man
OF that culture, virtue, information and trust
worthiness which would command the highest
remuneration. He held the same opinion now
as he held fourteen years ago. In speech
then made he said that if the salaries of Rep
ressntatves were $4,000. Senators $4,000,
Supreme Chief Justice $5O,OOO Associate JUS
tices $4,000 and President $3.50, 900, it would
be better for the country. He should not vote
for the repeal, but believed the most unwise act
Of the last Congress was the abolition Of the
frankng privilege.
Stephens, that it never had been the theory of
this government that the scale of pay was the
distinction between the common to the intel.
lectual. When public opinion holds that the
pay which Congress voted itself was too high,
it was ndelicate to resist that public opinion.
He believed if there was paid the equalization
of total payments under the old law, it would
satisfy all reasonable demands of the public
Mr. Randall, Dem, of Penn, reviewed past
legislation en- the subject He opposed any re-
enough to maintain himself and family.
Mr. Potter. Dem, OF N: Y, thought that the
true measure was that which would enable a
member to support himself plainly and vet not
be an inducement to seek Office Any increase
beyond $4,000 should be confined to future Com
gresses
Mr.. Kasson, Rep, of Iowa, favored the SUBJ
stitution of the minority report as he oonsid-
cred the majority report tended to strengthen
the personal government which for the past
four years has been dangerously growing. He
wanted no principles established by the House
which would further surrender the legislative
authority and agrandize the executive.
Mr.. Crocker of Mass. made a humorous
speech. He had put the back pay in his safe,
and was waiting until the papers and letter
writers should stop calling him thief. He
thought the matter should be settled
Mr.. Dunnell, Rep. of Min, said the only
way Congress could extricate itself was by re-
ducing all the salaries it had increased, making
the repeal retroactive.
Nh. Grassland, Dem, of KY, opposed the re-
peal. He could not return his back pay if he
would and wouldn't if he could. He ridiculed
Cox, whom he called the 'Dew Drop" and
then rdiculed Lawrence of Ohio, saying one of
the agricultural reporters had a picture of a
ram named Judge Lawrence" That ram had
been brought to Washington and branded at
the expense of the agriculral department
Mr., Hale of Maine now moved the previous
question on the third reading of the bill. The
vote taken by tellers, years 100, nays AS So
the House refused to second the previous ques-
tion and Mr.. Kasson, who reported the mirnori-
ty bill obtained controlled of the subject. He
yielded to Mr.. Orth who moved to recommit