The Portland daily press., 1874-06-15

lor ming claims Tor additional bounty undel
the act OF July %, 1866.
On motion of Mr. Window the resolution in
STRUGGLING the Committee GU Appropriations tc
report amendments to the river and harbor an.
preparation bill for the survey of routes, rec.
commended by the Committee on Transports
tlon was taken up.
Ihe Senate then adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
The proceedings opened amid great noise and
confusion, many members striving to be recog-
nized for motions which they wished to put
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, in order to get out of
the tumult, moved that the house resolve it
self into Committee of the Whole. but the
Speaker suggested that the House had already
resolved itself into utter confusion.
AT last Mr.. Roberts of New York, from the
ways and Means Committee, was recognized
and reported back the Senate amendments to
the House bill repeating all matters. The
House proceeded to vote upon them without
discussion The material amendments, which
Were concurred in, were the following:
Appropriatihg 100000 to make suitable COM
pensatlon for information, &c; declaring that
the settlement of duties shall be final and con-
elusive upon parties after the expiration of two
years from the time of entry. The Senate
amendment hxed three years, but the House
amended it to two years.
The amendmant fixing the salaries of Gus
toms officers was amended on the motion Of
MIR; ONeil of Pa, by putting Philadelphia
ana Baltimore in the same class with Boston
and San Francisco, and was amended on rec
ommendation of the Committee, by striking
out all of it except such relates to collectors,
naval officers and surveyors, but on the motion
OF Mr.. Beck of KY, the whole amendment
was struck out
The amendment providing that the public
carriage shall be subject to the regulation of
the Secretary of the Treasury, was amended,
on motion of Mr.. Randall of Pa, by requiring
1t to be the lowest bidder after July 1876, and
was then agreed to. All the other amendments
to the bill were rejected.
The bill was then sent to a conference
committee, and Messrs. Roberts, Sheldon
and Wood were appointed a conference COM
mlttee on the part of the House.
Mr.. Maynard of Tenn, then lat noon) made
tne conference report on the currency bill.
he proceeded to explain the report and to
specify the changes between the bill as passed
by the House and the substitute as reported
back back from the conference committee, the
two material points being first as to the pro-
portion of legal tenders to be cancelled on the
issue of more bank currency lit now being
dxed at three eights); and second as to the
time for the redemption of United States gold
bonds (which is now fixed for first of January
1881 These, he said, were concessions made
in opposite directions.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio, asked Mr.. Maynard
whether he believed it to be practicable to re-
sumo specie payments the first of January,
1878.
Mr.. Maynard replied that it would be prac-
ticable to redeem United States notes, if not
in specie, at least in bonds issued under the act
of 1871.
Mr.. Lawrence-Of what advantage will that
be to the public at large.
Mr.. Maynard-It will allow the holders of
legal tenders to purchase gold interest bearing
bonds, and then the Secretary of the Treasury
can use these very notes for the purpose of call
ing in the outstanding debt bearing a high rate
81 Into affA oE % vrrsn hnN f,x.,
few years the entire public debt at low rate
of interest.
Mr.. Lawrence-Is there not danger that that
would be followed by a rapid contraction of the
currency?
Mr.. Maynard-Not at all.
The House then proceeded to vote on the re-
port of the conference committee, and it was
Psychologists 10S, nays 140. RID
The New England members voted in the neg
alive.
Mr.. Negley of Pennsylvania in voting aye
said he did SO in respect for the views of his
constituents, but personally he was opposed to
several provisions of the bill
Mr.. Dawes moved the subject be sent to the
new conference committee. Agreed to, yeas
1893, nays 48. Mr.. Frye was the only Maine
member who voted in the negative
The Speaker announced the following con-
ference committee: Dawes, McCreery, Nc
Cremy 9d iR .4as.
The House went into committee of the whole
on the sundry civil appropriation bill. .
An item of $40 900 was inserted for the re
moval of the powder magazine at Norfolk, Va,
and on item of $4,000 was inserted for print
ing agricultural reports for 1873 and rs.
Appropriations were made for public build
ings under the supervising architect of the
treasury to the amount of nearly $3,0O0,00 900.
When the item of 500, 900 for the new build
ing for the state, war, and navy departments
was reached, Mr. Coburn moved to reduce the
amount to $500, 900 and to postpone the con-
struction of the wings for athe war and navy
departments.
intmatcd that some Government officials were
interested in the quarres from which the
granite rs obtained, bat Mr.. Platt, chairman of
the Committee on Public Buildings, emphati-
cally denied it, and explained that one OF the
quarries is in Maine and the other near Rich
mond, Va. He himself had been very active
in procuring the contract for the Richmond
quarry, but had no pecuniary interest in it,
direct or indirect, and had never been rem-
bursed even for his personal expenses in the
matter. i-a4t
Mr.. Coburn's amendment was rejected.
On motion of Mr.. Randall of Pa. the item
OF $4,000 for furniture for the new state de-
partment building was reduced to $4,000, and
the item of 100000 for furniture for all public
buildings was reduced to $15O,0OO
Mr.. Butler of Mass. offered an amendment,
of which he gave notice yesterday, to abolish
the civil service commission. He accepted a
proposition made by Mr.. Kasson of Iowa,
which makes it the duty of the head of each
executive department to prescribe and publish
rules for ascertaining the qualifications of
applicants for appointments at his disposal,
and to make such appointments only from can
didates who have the qualifications of honesty,
efficiency and fidelity, and not a reward for
mere party zeal, giving preference only to those
who have the additional qualifications of an
honorable record in the military or naval ser
vice of the United States, and to make such
appointments as equitably as possible from
candidates from congressional districts, and re-
quires reasons for removal to be entered on
records of the department..
Mr.. Haskins moved to amend the amend
ment by striking out that portion proposed by
Mr.. Kasson and insert in lieu thereof para
graph to give the preference to soldiers and
sailors and their dependent relations. Agreed
to. e.
Without dsposng formally of Buffers
proposition as amended the committee rose and
the House adjourned.