The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-20
Forty Third Congress-First Session.
SENATE.


Commerce appropriating $4,000 for improving
the mouth Of the Mississippi River. Laid over.
A bill was passed amending the act for the
prevention of the determination of fur bearing
animals in Alaska.
A bill was passed authorizing certain aliens
to be employed as pilots and engineers.
A resolution was adopted that the Committee
on Commerce inquire into the expediency of
directing survey of the Colorado Desert, with
view of submerging it with water, and also
the effect OF such submergence upon the climate
in that locality.
A resolution by Mr. Buckingham, that the
Secretary of the Interior give the number of
Indians killed by troops in 1873, aud the num-
Der of citizens and soldiers killed by the In
dams was passed.
Several bills on the calendar were passed, in
Guiding one for the relief of Willard Home of
Massachusetts.
The army appropriation bill was then consid-
cred.
Mr.. Dennis from the Committee on Com
merce reported without amendment, Commits
sioners bill to protect the navigable waters Of
the United States from injury and obstructiors,
forbdding the dumping of ballast except in
such places as shall be designated by the col
lectors or surveyors of cOstOms; also without
amendment the House bill repeating the 18th
section of the act of March Sd, 1856, regulating
the carrying of passengers in steamships and
other vessels, &c.
The bill appropriating $4,000 to pay the ex-
penses of the Joint Committee to Investigate
the management of affairs of the District of
Columbia was passed
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
army appropriation bill, the pending question
being on the section approprating $4,000 for
the army medical museum and medical and
other works for the library of the Surgeon Gen
erals office. Agreed to.
The second section of the bill in regard to un-
expended balances was amended to read as fol-
lows: "That all balances of appropriations for
whatever account made for the service of the
departments of The Quartermaster General and
Commissary General of subsistence prior to
July LIST, 1872, which, on the 30th of June 1874,
shall remain on the books of the Treasury shall
be covered into the surplus fund except such as
the Auditor of the Treasury, whose duty it is to
settle the accounts against such appropriations,
shall certify TO the Secretary of the Treasury to
be necessary in the settlement of such accounts
pending in his office
The Committee on Appropriations have re-
ported in favor OF striking ont the last section
of the bill as it passed the House, which pro-
vidcd that all claims of all citizens who remain
ed legal during the war for stores or supplies
taken or furnished during the rebellion for the
use of the army of the United States and for
the use or loss of vessels or boats while employ
ed on military service of the United States, in
Guiding any such claims now pending and un
determined in any debt of the government
shall be presented to the Southern claims COM
mission before November LIST, 1875, who show
exclusive jurisdiction to her and determine the
same provided all snch claims now pending and
ter General or Commssary General of sub
sistence shall on the passage of this act be
transferred to the Southern Claims Commits
sion with the evidence thereon.
The House further provided there should be
two additional members of that Commission to
devote their time exclusively to the claims
ransferred, but the Senate Committee reported
in favor of striking out this section and insert
ing the following "The Quartermaster Gen
eral, Commissary General and the Sd Auditor
of the Treasury shall continue receive, exam
inc and consider the justice and validity of such
claims as shall be brought before them under
the act of July 4th, 1864, and the Secretary of
the Treasury shall make report of each claim
allowed them at the commencement of each
session of Congress to the Speaker of the House
who shall lay the same before Congress for con-
sideraton.
Mr.. Logan moved an amendment appropriate
ing $40, 600 to continue the experiment with the
modern breeeh loading system of ordnance.
Mr.. West raised point of order that the
amendment had not been submitted to the COM
mittee and no notice was given of an intention
to offer it,
Mr. Logan said the Secretary of War favored
such an appropriation, and real letter from
that officer in favor thereof. He asked that
the letter be referred to the committee on ap-
preparations and gave notice that he would
move an amendment to future appropriation
bill.
Mr.. West asked the unanimous consent to
offer an amendment repeating so much of the
act of Jnly 9TH, 1888, forbids detail of Off
thorizing the Secretary of War to make such
detail and prescribe bonds which he may con-
slider necessary. Objection being made it was
withdrawn.
Mr. West gave notice he would offer it as a
substitute for the bill to increase the pay of the
foff1 ,n hot Il oh
come up. upon the ground that there was no
use in increasing the staff of the army after the
rank and file had been reduced.
Mr. Stevenson offered an amendment, con-
ferring upon the Court of Claims jurisdiction to
determine all claims growing out of the war of
persons who remained loyal or who took the
oath of allegiance under the Presidents procla.
nation of Dec 1863 and aDolishng the South
ern Claims Commission.
Mr.. Stevenson, in support of his amendment
urged that no subordinate of the Quartermaster
General had the right to decide upon the 10y
alty of his stevenson constituents.
Mr. Frelinghuysen denied the obligation of
the government to reimburse citizens for prop
erty destroyed in the enemy's country.
Mr.. Stevenson argued that the government
was bound to make full compensation for pro p
city taken or used by its troops, or destroyed
otherwise than in actual battle.
Mr.. Carpenter said that if the country was
at war with England and sent its army into
Canada, the moment the line was crossed the
army would be in the enemy's country, and all
ing to the enemy. No distinction wonld be
made between that of an American citizen in
Canada and that of British subject.
Pending the discussion the Senateowent into
executive session and at o'clock the Senate
adjourned.
The bill and amendments relating to mines
and mining was considered.
After debate and without coming to a vote
the mining bill went over to Tuesday
Mr.. Albright of Pennsylvania introduced a
bill to amend the act of 1893, in regard to the
enrolment and licensing of vessels employed
in fishing and coast trade.
The House went into committee of the whole
on the legislative appropriation bill.
The item of $4,000 for the pay of the capital
police gave rise to much discussion.
The item OF $130,00 for the mileage of mem
bers OF the House having been reached, MI:
Smith of Pennsylvania, offered an amendment
combining the allowance for mileage actual
travelling expenses. Ruled out of order.
Mr.. Smith then moved to reduce the amend
ment to $20,0UO, and sent to the clerks desk
statements from the Secretary Of the Treasury,
showing that the amount mileage paid to mem
bers OF the AID Congress was $196,557, and the
| amount paid at the present session when only
actual travelling expenses were allowed was
only $23, 476. There was an opportunity Tor
reformers to save $15n,0 900 on that single item.
The amendment was rejected, "a to "a.
Mr.. Mellish of New York, then moved 70
strike out the item for mileage, and remarked
that it was time this great American swindle
was abolished.
Mr.. Clymer Of Pennsylvania, sustained the
amendment, saying the mileage feature OF
their pay had always been deemed odious by
the American people,
Mr.. Tremain Of New York, argued that as
nra h,I 1ol; hora al "
the compensation of members should be $5OOo
and mile ,ge, the House was bound to legislate
in conformity with that. He submitted that
they are trifling with the valuable time OF the
House and the country, and he therefore hopeo
that the amendment would not be adopted
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, advocated the
amendment, and declared that the best service
the House could render the people was to strlke
down expenses. He (RandalD proposed to hgh'
| the appropriations in this bill lille by line.
Mr. Mpllish ran, lrad th aft 10 would attpmD1