The Portland daily press., 1874-05-28
Forty Third Congress-First Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. May q.
The bill to prevent hazing at the Naval
Academy was passed.
The bill to pay E. M. Randolph $12, 200 for
legal services was passed.
Mr.. Hamlin presented a memorial of the
shipmasters of Maine and Massachusetts, ask
ing that shipping commissioners shall have
their offices in the custom houses and that they
shall be appointed by the Secretary of the
Treasury. Referred to the Commerce Commit
tee.
Mr. Anthony introduced bill granting con-
demned cannon to the Prescott Post of the
Grand Army of the Republic at Providence.
Passed.
Mr. Morrill, of Vt, from the Committee on
Finance reported favorably bill changing the
name and location of the Irashburgh National
Bank, Orleans county, VT. Pass ed.
A bill to revise and consolidate the statutes
of the United States in force December 1, 1873,
was passed.
A bill revising and embodying all laws Great
ing post routes to December 1, 1873, was pas
Mr. Hamilton OF Maryland called up the
Alabama contested election case of Sykes VS..
Spencer, and spoke in favor of the minority
re ort, declaring that Sykes was elected to a
seat instead of Spencer.
After some discussion by Messrs Morton and
Salisbury and the transaction of some unim-
portant business, the Senate, without action on
the Alabama case, went into executive session
and soon adjourned.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the journal
the House proceeded to the consideration of the
report OF the Committee of Ways and Means in
the matter of Sanborn contracts, and Mr..
Niblack of Indiana, member of the committee
addressed the House on the subject. He re-
garded all the Developments connected with
these contracts, which had brought such scam
dial on the Treasury Department., as showing
most remarkable case of mal-administratiOn
The whole theory of the law had been pervert-
ed as to who was responsible he could not pre-
tend to say.
Mr.. Kellogg presumed that few members, if
any, would vote against the repeal of the law
and the amendment of the contract. The
House had been ready to vote on the subject
four months ago, but as to censuring the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, he agreed with Mr..
Eldr.dge that the proper course was to prefer
articles of impeachment The Committee on
Ways and Means should either recommend
that course or modify the language of the re-
port. He held that those who uoted for the
law, and he had done so himself, were more
responsible for it than the Secretary of the
Treasury. No unprejudiced mau could read
the evidence without coming to the conclusion
that the Secretary was entirely Innocent He
thought Mr.. Richardson was as honest sec
rotary as ever filled the Office He urged that
the committee report articles of impeachment
instead of resolutions of censure.
Mr.. Clymer of Pa, denounced the whole pro-
Ce6ulDSS uuutT Tic SduDOTU COUlFdCt, anu U0
considered Secretary Richardson an imbece.
An amendment that no member of Congress
shall act as an agent, attorney, proctor, advo-
cate, solicitor or counsel for any person in con-
nection with the violation of the customs or
rev, uue laws was adopted. The bill which
fepeals the law authorizing the SanbOrn con-
tracts was then passed without division or OBJ
lection.
A bill was passed for the deduction from
terms of service as prisoners five days for five
days for each calendar day of good conduct
Also bill declaring all coored persons resid-
ing within the limits of the ChOctaw and Chick
aSaw nations at the time the thirteenth amend
ment to the Constitution took effect and their
children, part of those nations with all their
rights and privileges, after having been
amended to provide that no provision of e
treaty of 1866 with those Indians be affected
thereby. Also bill to transfer from the State
Courts to United State Courts cases for seizure
of captured and abandoned property
Petitions that Iinco,9s birthday he rnh
lie holiday; that U. 5. Senators be elected by
the people; and for woman suffrage, were re-
ported on adversely.
bill was passed providing that no person
serve as a juror in U. S. Courts who cannot read
and write English.
bill was passed that the pay of deceased
congressman be given to the widow or heirs up
to the date of the election of his successor.
The bill removing political disabilities OF
Raphael Semmes was passed.
The bill regulating the details of the remov
al OF causes from the State Courts to the
United States Circuit Courts was passed.
A provision there authorizing such change
when one of the defendants resides out of the
State where the suit was brought, having been
opposed by Messrs. Potter, Eldrdge, and E. Il.
HOar and others as unconstitutional was strick-
en- out
Mr.. Poland of Vermont reported resolu
ton for the appointment of select committee
To inn into ISt
| of government affairs in Arkansas and to as
| certain facts in relation thereto, whether that
| State has now government. republican in
| FORM the officers of which are duly elected and
| which as now organized bv the government of
| the United States, with power to send for per-
sons and papers, or proceed to Arkansas and
| report at any time
Mr.. Eldrdge of Wisconsin desired to Offer
an amendment to include South Carolina, but
MT; Poland refused to yield for that purpose
and moved the previous question, which was
seconded. The resolution was adopted yeas
Ky, NAYS 81; nearly party vote
MT Frye OF Maine. from the Judiciary Com
mlttee, reported a bill to euahle the Central
branch of the Union Pacific Railroad Com.
Pahy to submit the claims ag INST the United
| states under existing laws. The point OF order
was made that the bill involved bonds and
lands to the amount of $S,00O.0OO, and should
| nrst receive consideration in Committee OF the
Whole. The Speaker sustained the point or
| Two grounds first that it referred the claim oil
the railroad company to the court OF claims,
and second that it extended the time for tine
| completion of the road. Such a land bill ex
tending land grants had always been held sub
| Ject to all the rules to which the original bill
was subject. The bill was accordingly referred
TO the Committee of tn, Whole.
MIR. Frye of Maine reported bill to provide
i for taking land Nv the United States govern
ment for public uses and for a Just compensa
ton to the owner. Passed. Also bill t.
make valid the assignment of wages or salaries
OF government officers in the military, naval
and civil service, and making it the duty
pay officer to pay the assignee. Passed.
Also bill for the adjustment of the claim
of purchasers of government property at Har
pers Ferry. Referred to the Committee of th