The Portland daily press., 1873-02-07
XLIId CONGRESS.
SENATE.

tG tfEts WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.
Mr. Forney of Michigan, presented concur
rent resolution of the Legislature of Michigan
in favor of the bill setting apart portion of
the Island of Mackinaw for national park.
Mr.. Nye reported q bill to transfer certain
powers in reference toIterrtories to the Secretary
of the Interior. Passed.
e Mr.. Stevenson asked to be excused from serv-
ing on the special Credit Mobiler Committee.
Mr. Stockton made a similar request but the
Senate refused both.
Mr.. Stevenson entered motion to reconsider
the vote by which the specie bill was rejected
yesterday. -.-
Mr.. Rice moved to postpone the pending
order for the purpose of proceeding to a consid-
Grafton of his resolution directing the Commit
tee on Elections to enquire whether a legal
State government is existing in Arkansas
Mr.. Clayton said there were grave doubts as
to the constitutional power of Congress to make
such an investigation and announced that if
the res olution be taken up he would move to
refer it to committee.
Mr. Rice'S motion was lost.
MIR. Ames, from the Committee on Com
mefce, reported with amendments a bill author
izing the construction of the st. Clair and Ca
rondelet bridge across the Mississippi.
Mr.. Logan introduced a bill directing the
Postmaster General to advertise Immediately
for proposals from citizens of the United States
for performing weekly mail service for fifteen
years between New York and Liverpool by at
least six American built thousand-ton iron
screw steamships at a compensation not ex-
eeeding $500, 900 per annum.
Mr.. Sawyer, from the Committee ON Appro-
priations, reported with amendments bill to
revise and consolidate the exising statutes in
relation to appropriations and es Inmates there
for. .-r
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill, which passed. t7 4.t
On motion of Mr.. Cragin, the bill to establish
government iron shipbuilding yards on waters
falling into the Atlantic and another on the
Mississippi or one Of its tributaries, was taken
up and he addressed the Senate in its favor.
Also submitting the report of the Naval
Committee, which show that the proposals are
to create a building yard in which ores and
coal shall be made into superior iron for the
purpose of steamships and machinery, and that
| by various Improvements which that company
control. The methods proposed will so reduce
l. the labor and cost that iron steamers may be
built at a less price than in England or Scot
land. 10 prevent monopoly the committee
have added an amendment which compels the
company to supply all ship-builders with this
iron worked into the forms required at five per
cent upon the cost, this being not more than
the cost of supervision, and will enable all
builders to convert their wooden into iron ship
works and contend on equal terms for the
building of ships to restore and maintain our
carrying trade and ocean commerce
The aid proposed is a guarantee of bonds Sc
cured by the property of the company existing
and created before their issue and payable from
| a fund formed by five per cent. upon all work
done in the yard, which the committee, COM
| posed of the Secretarys of Navy, War and
Treasury, are empowed to collect and pay into
the United States Treasury, and which, it is es-
timated, will produce the fund therefor in half
the time of the bonds. -.f.f ,
Mr., Sprague called up the fortiication appro-
priation bill, which was passed
The report of the Conference Committee on
the bill amending the bankrupt law so as to re-
lleve the Boston insurance companies, was con-
| cured ill.,
The report of the Committee on Conference
ON the mint and assay Office bill was also con-
Cured in.
On motion Of Mr. Edmunds, the bill to pro-
vide for the distribution of the Geneva award
was taken up.
Mr., Morrill, of Vt, offered an amendmen to
the Vienna exposition bill providing that not
more than S50,000 shall be paid for salaries nor
more than $1,000 to any one person. 1t was
agreed to. The bill was then passed and the
Senate went into the executive session and soon
adjourned
a bill removing political disabilities of r. NJ.
L. Hunter of Va, was passed.
The Senate amendment to the bill appropri-
atlng $4,000 for a government building at
Atlanta, Ga, was taken up and concurred in.
Mr. Butler, from the conference committee
ON the bill to amend the bankruptcy law, made
report, agreeing to the Senate BILL with few
verbal amendments. The report was adopted.
The report from the conference committee
that eight steam sloops of war be constructed,
at an expense of $325,OO0, was adopted.
A resolution from the Election Committee to
pay G. G. Bowen of South Carolina, $4,000
for expenses in contesting the seat of DeLarge
was passed.
A bill appropriatihg $4,000 for expenses of
the Kansas, Louisiana and Arkansas investi-
cations, was passed. .
Mr.. Packer, of Penn, from the Committee
on Roads and Canals, reported a bill to author
ize the building of the Wyoming and Montana
Railway The bill simply Incorporates the
Company, and gives it the right of way through
public lands, but no subsidy in land or money.
The morning hour expired and the bill went
over.
The bill to revise the Consuler system was
postponed and made the special order for the
both inst.
Mr.. Shellabarger.of O., offered resolution au-
thorizing the select committee ON the Union Pa
ciic Railroad Company and Credit Mobiler,
(the Wilson CommiJtee) to consider and act on
the testimony taken before the Poland Com
mittee. Adopted.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole (Mr. Burchard in the chair) on the Post
Office Appropriation bill
Mr.. TWitchell, of Mass, sustained the appro-
priation of $500,00 as being necessary to main
tain the present postal-car system, which he
said had become necessity for the speedy and
efficient transport of the mails.
Mr.. Palmer Of Iowa, from the Appropriation
Committee, offered an amendment reducing
the amount of the appropriation to be paid out
of the treasury by $1,000, ,OOO
Mr.. Speer of Pa, moved to reduce it 81, $780,
600.
A long discussion ensued on this point, and
finally Mr.. Palmer's proposition was adopted
The Committee then reported the bill to the
House. The amendment providing for letter
carriers for all places having population of
10000 within postofice delivery, was agreed to,
yeas 9S, nays 7S, Other amendments were
agreed to without a division and the bill passed
Adjourned