The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-11
XLIID CONGRESS.
SENATE.


pay the expenses of a-seect committee to in
vestigate the charges against Senator Clay
ton
Mr. Wilson of Massachusetts introduced, by
request, bill to provide for the appointmentof
a commission on the subject of prohibition by
legislation for the suppression OF lntemperance.
Referred. - II
Mr.. Ames of Mississippi introduced a bill to
repeal certain provisions Of the law relating to
the organization of the army. The object of
the bill, he said. was to open all branches of
the army to all citizens alike without regard to
race or color. Referred to the Military commit
tee.
The Vice President presented resolutions of
the legislature of Massachusetts. demonstrating
against the passage of the bin which provided
that that the names of battles with fellow cit-
zens should not be continued in the army 3sais-
ter or placed on the regifnental colors * the
United States. Ordered to lie on the table and
be printed.
The Committee on Election obtained leave to
sit during sessions.
The bill amending the national banking act
and providing for the return of specie payment
was taken up.
Mr.. Buckingham of Conn. addressed the SEN
ate at length in advocacy.
| The bill was then referred to the Committee
on Finance, and the Senate resumed the con-
| sderation of the Indian appropriation BILL
| The question was on the amendment offered b.
| Mr.. Stewart yesterday, providing for the APP
| pointment of inspectors of Indian affairs, which
| was debated and amended and finally adopted
The amendment provides for the appoint
ment by the President of sufficient inspectors
not exceeding five, to hold office for four years
| unless removed by the President. and to receive
| $4,000 year each and necessary travelling ex-
| penses The inspectors are to visit each Indian
| SUPPLEMENTARY and agency as often as twice a
| year, and to Investigate all matters pertaining
| to its business and eacn inspector shall have
| power to examine the books and papers, to adj
minister oaths and examine all officers, en-
| ,1Ox-nn o,,I 4l&a, -
necessary. The INSPECTORS any of them shall
also have power to suspend any superintendent
or agent and to fill his place temporarily, sub
| ject to the approval of the President, and shall
have power by instituting Judicial proceedings
| to enforce the laws and prevent violations of
laws in the administration of the affairs of the
several agencies.
| On motion of Mr.. Thurman the appropra-
] ton for abe Yanktown Sioux was reduced from
| 81, 100000 to S900,0 600
The bill then passed and the Senate adjourn
| ed till Monday.
| HOUSE.
This being private bill day, the proceedings
| commenced by call of committees for reports
| OF private character.
On motion of Mr. Wilson of Ind, chairman
Of the Select Committee No.2, on the Credit
| Mobllier matter, was permitted to sit during
| the sessions, and to employ clerk.
| The House went into Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Dawes in the chair, on the Legisla-
| tive Appropriations bill
The amendment to increase the appropriation
| for the Bureau of Education was discussed aft
| some length by Messrs. Cox, Shellabarger.
| Beck Townsend of Pa, Burchard and Farms
worth of Ill, Bingham of Ohio, and Others
Mr. Beck of KY, denounced the principle of
| the Bureau as part of a scheme of centralza-
| ton and consolidation by which already one
! third of the States were controlled by federal
| authority, and by which Senators and Repre.
santatives, so called, occupied their positions by
federal authority. 1t was part of the general
| scheme which looked to the ABSORPTION by the
| government or the railroads and telegraph, and
| express lines of the country, and which would
| make the President as thorough an Autocrat
as The Emperor of Austria or the Gar of Rus
STA. This was no time to engage in such vast
enterprises, and Congress ought rather to re-
| duce taxation, tighten burdens, and enforce
economy and honest administration. He show
ed that in the Sc en- years from 1865 to 1872, the
| government collected from customs and inter-
| nal revenue, near So, 100000, 600, aud realized
| from the sale of stores $l35 100000 During the
same period the Postoffice Department collect
cd $125, 100000, and the Patent Office Depart
ment 81, 100000. The total amount received
into the treasury he st ted at So 402 $685. 49,, out
of which the debt had been reduced by the
payment of $427 1896, 541, leaving the sum of
$3.50, 1898 to be accounted for, being at the
rate Of $425, 019,9S7 year, and yet he said the
| gentlemen talked about economy, reduction of
! expenditures and honest administration.
The debate was continued by slessrs. Sar-
gent, KeEr, Stevenson, Storr, Pierce Maynard,
Hoar, Hawley of Conn, and Garfield. Finally
the amendment was rejeeted--74 to 49,
After the usual struggle over thesappropria-
tions for the Agricultural Bureau, which re-
suited in the increase of the item for the pur-
chase and distribution of seeds from $50, 900 to
$4,000, there was no question till the item was
reached approprating 100000 to pay judg-
| ments of the Court of CLAIMS
Mr.. Smith of New York, offered an amend
ment to that item, providing that no part of it
| shall be applied to judgments for the proceeds
of captured or abandoned property seized
before the 30th of June, 1865, and that no such
judgments shall be paid except under a special
appropriation by Congress. Mr.. Smith ex-
planned the object of and the reasons for the
proposition. He had carefully looked over
the record Of the judgments of the Court of
| Claims, and his eye rested on one item of over
$780, 900 for one man in Georgia, who had not
only not been loyal to the government but he
had been one of the commissioners to negotiate
a loan of SIS 900 for the Confederate gov
eminent. He also found on the docket of the
Court claim for 81 ,065, 900 in the name of G.
| B. Lamar, of Savannah, man who was cele-
brated, if not notorious. as the most daring
blockade runner during the rebellion.
Mr.. Young of Ga. explained that the noto-
| rious blockade runner was the son of this
| claimant and had been killed in the last battle
| of the war;
Mr. Smith replied that he had reliable infor-
nation that the claimant had been partner in
that notorious blockade running firm.
| Mr. Shellabarger of Ohio, suggested that the
| object sought by the amendment was provided
| for under an existing law.
Mr.. Smith admitted that, but stated that
| nevertheless as many of these judgments had
been paid, he supposed there was defect in
| the law.
Without disposing of the question the Com
mttee rose and the House adjourned.
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rhnl Hnfa ~ GU. a.