The Portland daily press., 1873-01-21
XLIId CONGRESS.
SENATE.


Mr.. Wilson Of Mass, presented petition of
Wendell Phillips and others for q prohibitory
law.
Mr.. Carpenter, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, submitted a majority report adverse to q
bill for the relief the sufferers by the Boston
fire. and Mr. Edwards, for himself and Mr..
Wright, submitted minority report in favor
of the BILL Both reports were printed.
Mr.. Stewart offered resolution instructing
the Committee on Postoffices to inquire into
and report as soon as practicable the cost OF
construction and the present market value OF
existing telegraph lines now in successful oper-
alton within the United States, and the char
acter of franchises and Special privileges con-
nected with them.
Mr. Edmunds from the Judiciary Commit
ee,reported adversely on several bills to amend
the bankrupt law.
Mr.. Wright, from the majority of tue Judi.
ciary Committee, reported new bill in relation
to the bankrupt law.
Mr. Cragin of N H. called up the the House
bill to authorize the construction of six steam
vessels of war
The amendment reported by the Naval Com
mittee is to increase the number to ten.
Mr.. Cragin stated briefly the condition OF
the navy and argued that more naval vessels
were required by the best interests of the coun-
tryt
statement of the number of war vessels now in
commission, and argued that there was no ne
cesSity for an increase.
Mr.. Conkling wished to offer au amendment
and it was laid over
A resolution was agreed to requesting the
Secretary of the Treasury to furnish the Senate
with information as to the condition of the De-
pal tment of Customs and tie amount of, force
employed and what increase is necessary to put
the business and accounts into proper condi-
ton. .sF
The House amendment to the bill fixing the
time for the beginning of the annual session of
United States Supreme Court was concurred in
The bill is therefore passed.
Mr.. Edmunds offered a resolution, which
was adopted, directing the Attorney General to
report as early as practicable the operations OF
the Department Of Justice for the past fisca
year, with such information touching the pres
ent year as may be available.
| Bills introduced: Fixing $3.50 as the mini
mum price at which the government shall sell
all the lands remaining in the United States
within the limits of grants for rail or Wagon
roads, excepting lands within the indemnity
! limits and claims of presumption settlers, and
| the privileges accorded by existing homestead
| laws to soldiers and sailors; making the pay of
civil engineers in the navy the same as thai
now paid by law for naval contractors by Mr.
Anthony. directing the Postmaster General
with the consent of the President, to contrac
with the lowest bidder within three months
after sixty days notice, for carrying the mail;
between San Francisco, Australia and New
Zealand, touching &C the Sandwich and Navi
gators Island, service monthly for ten year
from July LIST, 1874, in first class American
built steamships of not less than 1000 tons bur
then, and at compensation not exceedin'
$225,000 per annum. Referred to the Commit
tee on Postoffices.
Mr.. Wright's bill repeats the bankrupt act o
March I'd, 1867, and all supplementary an'
amendatory acts; said repeal to take effect OF
the LIST of July next provided this repeal doe
not in any way effect any proceedings in bank
ruptcy commenced before the first of mex
July.
Messrs Stewart, Stockton. Morrill, Of Me.
and Bayard advocated the bill, and pending
the action on the bill the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Several bills were introduced and referred, in
Guiding one providing for bringing suits TO
4 claims against the United States in U. S. Cir
cut Courts; also bills for the distribution G
tue Gcnev'a award; repeating taxes on saving
banks deposits; prohibiting State ana territoi
ial officers from holding federal offices, and I
refund the cotton tax collected in 1865, 1866
1867, and 1868.
A motion to reconsider the vote was tabled
90 to SO.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass, presented petition Q
the Secretary of the Sons of Temperance an
Good Templars of Springfield, Mass. askin;
for the prohibition of the manufacture, impoI
tatiOns and sale of intoxicating liquors to b
used as q beverage in the territories Of tn
United States and District of Columbia.
Bills introduced:-To regulate promotions i
the active list of the navy; to prevent abuse
the franking privilege ito protect the approacht
to the custom house at Bangor; (by Mr. Butte
of Mass. } to publish pretended counterfeitel
of the United States currency and coin; Thy M
Banks) directing certain surveys on the Pacifi
coast; Thy Mr.. Coburn of Ind. } to provide til;
no person be promoted in the army who
addicted TO the Incorporate use Of intoxicatiI
: | liquors or drugs.
. The House passed, ueder suspension of ii
, rules, bill to pay what is due to the takers
D the census of 1860 residing in the Southel
States, whose payment was withheld on accou
of the war or on account of their disloyalty.
Mr.. W. r. Roberts, of New York, introduc
G a concurrent resolution giving the thanks
e Congress to Capt. David Richie of the reven
S steamar Moccasin, and the officers and mi
G under his communal, for their heroic and h
: name action in saving AZ lives and rescung
dead bodies from the wreck of the steam
" Metis on Long Island Sound, on the 31st
August, 1872. Passed
Mr. Bingham of Ohio, from the Judicia
Committee, reported bill defining the true
. tent and meaning of the act of the 8th of Jun
! 2G2, amending the bankrupt act, to make t
y exceptions under the same as are allowed
:. in the various States. :
. Mr.. Hazleton of Wis, moved as a Substitr
u therefor, one repeating the bankrupt law emit
+ Carried, 1919 to 60, and under suspension
u the rules the repeating bill was passed.
L Mr. Sargent of Cal, presented the resoluti
of the National Women Suffrage Associate
and petition of 1900 citizeus asking Congr
lie to protect the women citizens in the seve
is States of the Union in their right to vote.
a, Adjourned