The Portland daily press., 1874-01-24
Forty Third Congress First Session.
SENATE. T9a.
Petitions were presented as follaws.-

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Petitions were presented as follows: 81
BY Mr.. Alcorn, asking that the bridge across
the Mississippi river at Clinton, Iowa, be OPEN
ed to all railroads desiring to cross the river on
it. Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
[ By Mr., Conkling, a resolution of the New
York Chamber of Commerce, asking an amend
ment to the law il relation to fines and notifies
under the custom house laws; also resolution
Of the National Board of Trade expressing the
opinion of the BOARD that the award made at
Geneva should be shared by underwriters Re.
ferred to the Committee on Judiciary. r .rL
Mr.. Upton, from the Committee on Public
Lauds, reported favorably on the bill to con-
firm the title to certain lands purchased on the
site of Fort Kearney military reservation. Pass
Mr.. Thurman presented a petition for the ap-
pointment by Congress Ola committee to ex-
anime into the manner the affairs of the gov
eminent of the District of Columbia are con-
Quoted, especially those of the board of Public
Works. Said petition is signed by many re
spectacle citizens Of the District Of Columbia,
and contains many grave charges against the
District government. Heasked to have the
petition printed. Hs s il91m A -4i-' '' ~
Messrs. Conkling,, Salisbury and Sherman
opposed the printing of the petition and the
motion to print was referred to the Committee
on Printing. y rosrt al T9flt' r -4a
Mr.. Wright, from the Finance Committee.
reported unfavorably on the petition for the APP
pOlntmert of a committee to Investigate as to
the traffic and manufacture of alcoholic Ii
quors, the House bill to accomplish the same
object having already been reported upon fay
Oraby. .2u35al.5i "'@A
Mr. Wright, from the Finance Committee.
reported favorally on the House bill to abolish
the office of Deputy Commissioner of Internal
Revenue. Placed on the calendar. S. .i .
MI. Kelley, from the Committee on Military
- Al e. III
izing the Secretary of War to deliver to the
State of Rhode Island the guns marked battery
B, LIST regiment of Rhode Island light artillery.
Passed t7,.9 f.s.lfIgm ~ = n1lilitl
Mr.. Conkling introduced bill to provide for
the establishment of an International commits
sion and otherwise provide for safety in sea
travel. Referred to the Committee on Com
merce. .,ycs, .,.il M
Mr.. Edmunds offered bill to change the
name of the registered steamer Cakes Ames
to Champain. Referred to the Commit tee ON
Mr. Wright's transportation bill provides for
the Incorporation of company thames of pro-
posed incorporates not mentioned) to construct
ship canal around Niagara Falls, the United
States Government to endorse the construction
bonds to the extent of 80 per cent. of the cost
OF the undertaking, and to reserve the right to
Mr. Hamlin intl oduced a bill donating GER
tain condemned cannon to the soliers monu-
ment at BiddefOrd, Me. Referred to the Mill
Cary COmmltL6e. .u-rT M FEl4'LE- '
Mr.. Wright introduced bill to provide cheap
transportation by way of the great lakes of the
Northwest. Referred to the Transportation
Committee. D ai - ,e
The bill to facilitate the extension and to pro-
tect certain public works of Improvement at
the mouth of the Mississippi river was taken
The bill directs that the Secretary of War
shall assume fall control over the particular
channel at the mouth Of the Mississippi river
which is being excavated. l-ft I51.
After debate, during which Mr. Window re
lated how the Tow Boat Company of New Or
leans Obstructed all the efforts of the govern
ment to deepen the channel in order tn at their
monopoly should continue, he urged the pas
sage of the bill ff q t&EsE shF9F
Messrs. Sherman, Carpenter and Conkling
all agreed that the monopoly should be broken
up and an excavation of the channel made but
opposed the bill as unconstitutional, giving il
legal power to the Secretary of War;
Mr.. Thurman thought the best plan would
be to pass law prohibiting TALL rivers and har-
bors from distinctions or from any interfer-
ence with public works. EssaI
After further discussion the bill was recon-
mitted.
The Finance Committees Resolution was
then taken up.
Mr.. Stewart spoke of the evils of deprecated
currency and advocated free banking on gold
contended, would be an evil No matter how
much should be issued, $50, 900 900 or 500 OOO,-
600, men would get in debt mere and another
crash would follow. Let step be taken to-
ward specie payments lin time of peace and
prosperity. Congress ought not to encourage
any speculation by, dealing out more money.
He thought we could stand efforts towards a
return to specie payments now, but if a step
be taken backwards it could not be retraced.
The further discussion of the resolution was
postponed to Tuesday. ---z--
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
post route bills, the question being on Mr.
Pratt's amendment declaring all bridges here
tofore or hereafter to be erected over navigabe
streams in the United STAGES or lakes or over
outlets of lakes or over arms of the sea or
other bodies of wafer, and all public roads es-
tablished or hereafter to be established in the
States or Territories and fused as public high
ways to be post roads, provided no service shall
be ordered on the routes until after an examio-
alton, and the report of an iagent of the Post
| Office Department, and that in the Judgment
of the Postmaster General such service is de-
manded by public convenience and necessity.
Mr.. Morton opposed the amendment and ex-
pressed the opinion that it would be delegating
| the power of Congress to the Postmaster Gen
| eral. Congress alone had the power to establish
Post offices and post roads, and it could not be
conferred upon any one.
every COW path in the country was to be opened
up and declared a mail route, he thought the
Postmaster General would be overwhelming
besides large expenditures would be requir-
ed
Mr. Morrill, of Vt, moved to insert in line
six after the word highways" the words cor
leading from one town to another or from anv
railroad depot to town or village" Agreed
to.
LIr. Pratt's amendmendment as amended
was rejected.
Mr.. Sargent moved an amendment that from
and after June 80. 1874, transportation in mails
of all bound books, seeds. cuttings, bulbs and
general merchandise be discontinued. In ad-
k1..
great Inconvenience resulting to the postal SER
vice from transporting freight through the
mails In some instances snakes and alliga-
tors were sent by mail and in one case bee
hive. .-
Mr.. Morrill, of Me-, said the adoption of the
amendment of the gentleman of California,
would be of a great benefit to special service
| The amount of freight curried through the pos
| tai service was overwhelming. ...5a .ssias
Mr. Ramsey appealed to the gentleman from
| California to withdraw his amendment. 1t al
| ways has been the practice OF the Senate not to
| put general legislation in the postal route bill
| and hoped the amendment would be offer ed at
| some otner time. --, sr -. t - y
Mr.. Sargent said he would withdraw the
| amendment, although he had been assured by
| the Postmaster General that its passage would
| be accepted. The bill then passed. HsHE7
| At O'clock on motion of Mr. Conkng, the
| Senate went into executive session. after which
| the Senate adjourned.
| The morning hour was occupied in the call of
| Committees for reports of a private character
| which were all referred to the Committee of
| Whole. - efTa7" .INH ..sf7
The House resumed the consideration of the
West Virginia election case
After discussing the West Virginia contested
| election case till 2 O'clock the District of Co
| lumbia affairs were considered awhile and the
| West Virginia case was again resumed After
further discussion and without a vote the
House adjourned To-morrow's session is to
| ha for oro neral dahata