The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-17

100000. To this mind the proposition to in
fate the currency was pernicous.
Mr.. Cameron moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of the executive business.
The chair submitted communication from
the Secretary of War asking an appropriation
for commission to establish military prison.
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. Stockton was excused from serving on
the Committee on Manufactures, and MIR. Ha-
ger was appointed to the vacancy.
Mr. Cameron renewed his motion for an
executive session, but on motion of Mr.. Bore
man the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred:
By Mr.. McJunkin of Pennsylvania, granting
days.
BY Mr. kellogg of Connecticut, abolishing
sne once OF appraiser of imported merchan-
o'Se appointed under the act of July IA. 1910.
by MT. townsend of Louisiana, to provide
for the increase of national bank notes and
Tn withoraWai and cancellation of an equal
amount OF United States legal tender notes
by Mr.. Woodworth OF Ohio, imposing a duty
of six dollars ton on jute and jute butts inn
pOr' ed.
BY Mr.. Whittemere of Tennessee, to abolish
the navy yards at Kittery, Me-, Charlestown,
Mass, and New London, Conn.
BY MI Lawrence of Ohio, to abolish pension
masters and collectors of internal revenue, thus
effectng an annual saving of half million
dollars.
Several memorials and resolutions from the
Western States were presented and referred.
A large number of bills were introduced and
referred.
A resolution was adopted that the Committee
on Contingent Expenses investigate the judi
cial expenditure in the Western district of Ar
kansas since 1871.
Mr. RutIar IF aob,,sottS inf
bill to amend and codify laws in regard to the
payment of pensions so to secure efficiency and
economy
Mr. Duell of New York, introduced bill to
repeal the special tax on dealers in tobacco.
Mr.. Ma, nard of Tennessee, moved to sus-
pend the rules and make the bill reported from
the Banking Committee in relation to currency
special order for Thursday next, and till dis
posed of. The motion was rejected, yeas 143,
nays 80, less than 8 iu the affirmative.
Mr.. Maynard gave notice if the House went
into Committee of the Whole Thursday, he
would move to set aside other bills on the cal
endrr that precedo the currency bill.
Mr. Kelley of Pennsylvania, offered a reso
luton that the members of the House and Sem
ate reassemble in Carpenters He'll, Philadel
phia, on Monday, September 6, 1874, in the
Centennial Commemoration of the assembling
OF the delegates from the several Colonies AID
Provinces of North America on Monday, the
9TH of Sept. 1874, and that the Speaker of the
House be invited to preside over the meeting,
and that Vice President Wilson be requested to
deliver an address appropriate to the occasion.
MIR. Hale OF Maine, opposed the resolution as
an unprecedented thing.
This was but one of the many measures pre-
paratory to having Congress appropriate money
to pay the expenses of the great Centennial
Exposition of 1876.
Mr. G. F. Hoar of Massachusetts,. suggested
it's reserence to the Committee on the Centen
NAL Exposition. He thought something dis
respectful to the Senate to propose its presiding
officer TO deliver the address, and the Speaker
OF the House to preside over the joint cOnven-
ton.
The House refused to suspend rules by vote of
125 to 95, not 2 3 in affirmative, So the resolu-
ton was rejected.
Mr.. OF rien offered resolution directing
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to in
form the House as to the prosperity of the
sale CT the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia and
the erection of a suitable building at Annapo-
lis. Referred to the Naval Com mittee.
Mr.. Lamar of Mississippi offered resolu-
ton instructng the Committee on Military
Affairs to inquire into the propriety of the sale
of Horn Island in the Gulf of Mexico, held
but not used as q military reservation
MIR. Maynard introduced bill for the pur-
chase of site for coaling station, naval de-
pot and other government uses at Fort Point,
Port ROYAL, S. G. Referred.
Mr.. Kasson, from the Committee on WAYS
and Means, reported bill providing that mon
eys paid to any cOllecto- or into the treasury for
customs duties in accordance with any decision
or ruling previously made by the Secretary of
the Treasury, shall be refunded or repaid ex-
cept in pursuance of special appropriations
made therefor, or in accordance with the judg.
ment of the United States Court giving con-
struction to the law and from which the Attor
ney General shall Certify that no appeal or writ
of error will be taken by the United States;
also providing that any ruling or decision once
made by the Secretary OF the Treasury in re-
gard to the customs duties shall be changed by
the same or succeeding Secretary, except it be
in accordance with an opinion in favor of such
change given by the Attorney General or by
reason OF judicial decision of the United
States Court affecting the same from which
the Attorney General shall certify that no APP
peal or writ of error will be taken.
The discussion OF the subject was participant
ed in by Messrs. Butler and Dawes of Massa-
chusetts, Wood of New York. and Beck, Bur-
char6, Kasson and Kelley, the latter stating
that "a conspiracy of New York lawyers had
been formed to procure a -efunding of duties,
they to have one half of all the sums recover
ed. and that an enrolled bill in the State De
partment had been tempered with by the change
of comma in order to enable that conspiracy
OF lawyers to secure reversal of the decision,
and this had cost the government $4,000, 900.
Mr. Burchard explained how the error oc-
CURED, and held that the State Department
was not responsible
Mr.. Dawes went into further explanation
OF the matter. and argned that the Secretary of
the Treasury was right in his decisioc What
he Dawes objected to was that any Secretary
Of the Treasury should have the power to make
his own construction of a law and then draft a
warrant on the treasury for the amount which
he decides should be refunded. That should
require act by Congress.
Mr.. Kasson moved to suspend the rules and
pass the bill. Agreed to and the bin was pass
ed.
Mr.. Kelley then offered his resolution for the
celebration of the 9Th of September, 1874. 1t
was referred.
Mr.. Garfield, from the Committee on Appro-
priatops, reported the regular legislative exec
utive and Judicial appropriation bill, and NOV
ed it be the special order for next Wednesday
Mr.. WoodfOrd of New York, argued that the
first great question which called for decision by
the House was the status of the SAL, 900 900 re-
serve. :.
The House refused to make this bill special
order for Wednesday, and then it was ref erred
to the Committee of the Whole.
At 4.4O the House adjourned.