The Portland daily press., 1874-12-16
Fort, Third Congressional Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is.
Mr.. Scott presented the memorial Of:Louls A.
Cooley, alleging an unjust discrimlnatio1
against periodicals in the new postage law, ana
asking for a change of that law. Referred 10
the Postoffice Committee
Mr.. Conkiing presented the memorial OF \.
A. Lowdry of New York. reciing that the
District of Columbia is indebted to him, ana
that he is unable to obtain anything from tne
District bat bond upon which he cannot real
ize seventy per cent Mr.. Conkling said the
memorial was accompanied by bill whlch ne
had not examined, but be presented 1t az the
request of citizen OF his state. he therefore
asked leave, without previous notice, 10 lnIIo-
trict of Columbia aud to issue bonds OF the
United States in exchange for bonds OF tpe
District ~,
The bill and memorial were referred to the
Joint Select Committee to frame new gov
ernment for the District.
Mr.. r. A. Spencer of Alabama, introduced d
bill to provide for the appointment OF special
agents and superintendents OF the railway
postal service and other officers of the POST
office Department. Referred to the COMMITTEE
on Postoffices.
Mr. Davis gave notice that after the morning
hour to morrow he would call up the resolu-
tious of last week relating to defaulte1s.
Mr Wright of Iowa, submitted JOINT ESQ
luton proposing certain amendments 10 tne
constitution. A..
tbe President and Vice President of the United
States shall be elected by direct vote ot the
people and each hold office for six years; that
the President be Ineligible to re,eiectlon:
Every male citizen who has reached the age OF
21 wears aud has not been convicted OF lnfam-
Ous crimes shall have right to vote Inc
election for President aCd Vice President snaii
be held at the same time and require MAJOR
ity OF all votes cast to elect, but II no one re-
ceives majority, another election VIII De or
l..al,n ,1xTf fha fvun
est number of votes at the previous voting Shall
be voted for. Election returns shall be can
vassed by tbs Supreme court OF the Uniteo
States, and certificate issued by. that tribunal
referred TO the Committee on Civil Service he
form. !.
Mr.. Boutwell, presented the memorial OF
Frank Fraley of the National Board of Trade,
asking for the organization OF an additional
executive department to be known as tne De-
partment of Commerce.
Mr.. Wright of Iowa, introduced a resolution
instructing the Judiciary Committee to enquire
into the extent of the meaning OF the act OF
Juue %, 1874, entitled "an act comforting Juris
diction upon the criminal court of the District
of Columbia" and particularly whether nnder
or by its provisions persons charged with or
indicted of libel or other crimes in said Dis
trict. can be brought from state or other
place within the federal jurisdiction to SAID
District to answer thereto.
Mr.. Conkling moved to amend the resolu ton
Dy duuiUS luo lOluWfbs WINS ~~oN
whether said act has any application to the
prosecution or indictment for the crime OF
libel''
Mr. Washburne of Mass, presented the pc
tition of VIM. Giles Dix of Peabody, MASS,
setting forth the belief that the time had come
when the people, once for all, should decide
whether or not they desire and mean to
become one sovereign nation, claiming the d.
rect allegiance of all, and directly guarding the
rights of all, and asking that Congress appoint
s,xxb xb<,o inv n mo ha
deemed BEST for delegates chosen from each
congressional district to meet in Philadelphia,
to consider and form national constitution,
which, If approved by the people, voting as one
people, without the Intervention OF states shall
be the organic national law, supercedIng the
federal constitution. Referred to the Commit
tee on the Revision of the Laws.
The consideration of the bill to frame a new
government for the District OF Columbia was
resumed and the reading OF the bill concluded,
when it was laid aside till to morrow.
The House bill to cortinue the Audit Com
mittee of the District of Columbia, was passed
After an executive session of half an hour,
Mr.. Spencer. from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported bill to authorize the Presl-
dent to issue supplies to the sufferers in the
grasshopper region, and approprating 100000
for that purpose Put on the calender. Ad-
journed.
Mr.. Dawes report from the Ways and Means
Committee concurrent resolution Tor recess
from the 23d of December to the 9th of Janu-
ory. After debate the subject was postponed
till next Monday.
Several bills were introduced and referred,
when the House went into Committee of the
Whole on the legislative appropriation bill.
The committee proceeded with the considera-
tion of the bill, disposing of 16 of its 73 pages.
In the course of the debate MIR. Cox questioned
Mr.. Garfield on his statement made at the
close of the last session to the effect that its
appropriations were $25,00O,000 less than those
of the previous Congress. Toe latter maintain
ed that his statement was correct.
When the committee rose the Speaker an
rounced the appointment of the following COM
mittees: Select committee to visit Vicksburg,
Miss Conger, of Michigan, Hurlburt of Him
ois, Williams of Wisconsin, Speer of Pennsyl-
vania, and O'Brien Of Maryland; select COM
mit.ee on Louisiana and the Southern states,
G. f. Hoar of Massachusetts,, Wheeler of New
York, Frye of Maine, Foster Of Ohio, Phelps
of New Jersey, Robinson Of Illinois and Potter
of New York.
At A. 10 p M, the House adjou rned.