The Portland daily press., 1873-12-20
FOrty Third Congress First Session.
SENATE.

diuiutu Gut pTtCeueuIS duuEcdue W tue cOuCiu
sion that the ruling against the Senator from
Vermont was erroneous. The proceedings
therefore on that resolution under the ruling
were void and the resolution was now on the
table subject to the disposition of the Senate.
Mt. Sumner offered a petition from the citi
zens of New York for algeneral aldisarmamentIoi
the federal forces and the adoption of provis-
ion to settle all difficulty by arbitration.
Mr.. Sumner presented petition of the Civi
Rights Convention held in Washington, setting
forth the indignities the colored race were sub
ject to in schools, hotels, railroad cars &C., and
asking the passage of the civil rights bill. Ia
bled and ordered to be printed.
MIR. Sherman, from the Finance Committee
reported back the House bill to allow distilery
warehouses to be continued after changes in the
management. Passed.
Mr.. Fenton from the Finance Committee, re-
ported unfavorably on the resolution of the
North Carolina Legislature relative to the tax
on cotton. Tabled.
Mr.. Anthony, from the Committee on Print.
ing, reported back the bill relative to printing
public documents He hoped the bill would be
considered now. Unless some means could be
adopted for the transportation of these dOcu.
ments, It would be useless to print them fol
public distribution.
Mr.. Sargent said that the cost of printing the
agricultural reports would be $13S, 900, and
would cost the Senators and members S92,0 ,00C
to send out all public documents.
Mr.. Stevenson Dem.) was in favor of restor-
ing the franking privilege with some restric
tions.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment forbid.
ding the printing of all public documents fol-
popular distribution but not prohibiting stereo
typing such documents, which was agreed to
and the bill passed.
Mr.. Wright, from the Civil Service Comluit-
tee, reported back the House bill in relation to
Senators, representative and delegates with
amendments, and recommended the passage OF
the bill as amended. He gave notice that he
would call up the bill Wednesday, after the ex.
piratiOn of the morning hour.
Mr. Cragin of New Hampshire, introduced a
bill authorizing corrections to be made in prize
lists. Referred to the Committee on Naval AT.
fairs.
The morning hour having expired the Chair
announced that the resolution reported by the
Finance Committee was in order.
Mr.. Lewis of Va hoped that it would be laid
aside and that the Senate would take up the
resolution for adjournment
Mr. Bayard thought that holiday recess
would give tie Senators and members time for
consultation with their constituents on the
bankrupt bill.
Mr., Chandler hoped that if the new bankrupt
law was not passed, at least the the old one
would be rescnded.
Messrs Boreman, Morrill,, of Maine, Ferry of
Conn.,, Upton, Window and Logan each made
afew remarks upon the subject of adjourn
ment.
Mr.. Stockton favored the adjournment and
Mr.. Scott of Pa, opposed it.
Mr.. Thurman had come to the conclusion
that it it was no use to talk of amending the
bankrupt law before the holidays
Mr.. Boutwell, of Mass, said he had voted
uniformly against recess and had done so in
the hope that the Senate might amend the
bankrupt law before adjournment, but he en-
tertained the hope no longer He was opposed
the repeal OF the law and said its repeal would
be followed by evils and disasters in financial
circles of a serious nature. He had been per-
suaded that number of respectable business
men would petition against it's repeal if they
should have time to do so. He would therefore
vote for the resolution to take recess.
The resolution as passed by the House was
then cOncurred in, yeas 80, nays 27.
All the Democrats voted for the recess, with
Messrs. AlcOrn, Boreman, Fenton, Ferry of
Ct, ingalls,. Ramsey, Robertson, Lewis,
Schurz and Window.
Mr. Morton of Ind, submitted resolution
that the Committee on Judiciary be instructed
that in any bill they may report in regard to
the bankrupt law, whether for its appeal or
amendment thereto, that such repeal or such
amendments as relates to the acts, causes or
conditions of which any person may be thrown
into involuntary bankruptcy shall be made re-
troactive to date back to take effect at period
not later than the 1st of tDecember, 1873. He
desired to give notice that the Senate would
act upon this matter.
Mr. Sumner objected the debate and the
resolution went over.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Frye of Me-. offered a resolution in ref
erence to the comparative cost of the present
mode of printing debates in Congress aud the
old method. Referred to the Committee on
Printing
Mr.. Butler Of Mass, from the Judiciary
Committee offered a resolution authorizing
that committee to send subcommittee to
New Orleans and take testimony in the matter
n 10 InnYn noI,t 0E T,,I-
power to send for persons and papers. After
explaining the reason for making the request,
the resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Butler of Mass, called up the supple
mentary civil rights bill and proposed to limit
the debate to two hours.
Mr. Beck of KY, appealed for longer time
and said the Democratic side would not propose
dlatory motions if fair discussion was allow
ed, but certainly would in a contrary event.
Mr. Stephens of Ca. made similar appeal.
he said he desired to address the House on the
bill bnt was not in condition physically or
otherwise to do SO to-day
Mr.. Butler remarked that the amnesty bill
and civil rights bill were linked together in the
minds OF Republicans. The amnesty bill pass
ed the House without objection. The white
man had his rights now; it was time for the
black man to have his.
After considerable colloquy it was adgreed
that the discussion should go ou all day in ff-
teen minutes speeches and on the first and sec
Ouu udy dLOcI luc Tt-dSSCuDliDg OF CD0 House
the previous question to be considered opera
tive at four o'clock the second day.
The business of the morning hour was then
proceeded with the calling of committees
for reports of private character.
After the call, Mr.. Butler of Mass, opened
the debate on the supplementary civil rights
bill. He said that the bill proposed to. give to
whOmsoever rights were taken away the means
of overriding hostile State legislation and pun
ish the man who takes the rights from him,
That was the whole of it. Who could argue
against that?
Mr. Beck of KY, opposed the bill and Mr..
Rainey advocated it. No other member seek
ing the floor, the House at 2.15 o'clock adjourn
ed with the understanding that the session of
Saturday and Monday would be for general
debate only.
The resolution that the Judiciary report a
bill directing that suits be brought against the
Pacific Railroads for interest paid them by the
Government, was referred to the Committee on
Pacific Railroads.
A resolution was adopted that the Railroad
Committee enquire if unreasonable rates were
charged by the Rock Island road across the
bridges connecting Davenport with Rock Is
land.
Mr. Butler of Mass, offered resolution au-
thorizing the Committee on Appropriations to
send a subcommittee of three to Boston to ex-
anime the land for the Post-ofice extension
there and take testimony of it's value and pos
sibility of adjusting The controversies about
that property. Adopted
Mr. Coburn of Ind, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported resolution request
ing the President to convene court of en-
quiry to consist of not less than five officers of
the army, whose duty it shall be to investigate
all charges against Brig. Gen. o. O. Howard
contained in the communication of the Secreta-
ry of War of Dec. 5.
Mr. Butler of Mass, suggested that half the
court conist of officers who served with cOlored
troops, for he knew there was great prejudice
among army officers against Howard, because he
had been at the head of the freedmen's bnreau
which they thought not congenal with the dig.
nifty of an army officer.
Mr.. Coburn said it was within the jurisdic
tion of the President to select men without
prejudice and be could see no danger in trust,
ing to the President He sent to the clerk 4
desk and had read a letter from Howard court
ing an enquiry and waving all technical OBJ
jectons. After discussion the whole matter
was recommitted.
- Mr, Cessna of Pa, presented q petition
signed by 201 citizens of Somerset county, Pa,
relative to the claim of Geo. Chappenning
against the government, arranging re-ope.--
ing and re-eXaminatiOn. He proceeded tC
state the history of the case and defend his
own connection with it, and the action of Post
master General Creswell on it.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass. commenced on the un-
usual course pursued by Cessna, and suggested
that nobody who had confidence in his case was
apt to argue it before hand. The unfavorable
action of Congress on the Chappenning case
claim had been taken on a unanimous report of
the Committee of the House before which
avarv nprSon haVino an intaraSt in the case had