The Portland daily press., 1874-04-30
Forty Third Congress- First Session
m l
SENATE.

w ASHlNGTON. AUTH ~.
The bill removing the political disabilities of
d. A. Telfair was passed. ~ -57.s
The House bills for the increase of national
bank notes and to amend the national currency
act and to establish free banking were introduce
ed and referred.
Several bills on the calendar were acted on
during the morning hour.
Mr.. EdmuEds' bill relating to the Court of
Claims, provides that a majority of Judges
shall constitute quorum and that no judg
ment be rendered without the concurrence such
majority
MIR. Wright's bill in relation to salaries and
civil service, provides for a reduction from and
after the first day Of next October of ten per
cent. in the compensation of all officers and
employees of the Senate, including the Capitol
police. except the Secretary, Chief Clerk, Ser
geant-at-Arms and Assistant Door Keeper and
excepting the clerks of committees, whose pay
1T proposes to cut down 30 per cent. The bill
also proposes to repeal the law of March Sd,
1871, under which the Civil Service Commits
sioners were appointed and now hold office, and
provides that clerks be appointed to the vari-
Gus executive departments, subject to such ex-
aminations as the heads of the respective de-
partmeuts may prescribe. The bill, however,
provides that the clerk in each department be
classified geographically to correspond with the
congressional districts and that when vacan-
cy occurs it be filled from the district which has
the least representation, until the clerkships,
Sc, are equally divided among the congress
sional districts.
The Senate bill declaring the true intent and
meaning of Union Pacific Railroad acts, APP
proved July LIST, 1862 July I'd, 1864, and July
Sd, 1885, was read, but objection was made to
its present consideration on the ground that it
caused discussion and should not be consider
ed in the morning hour.
MIR. Wright gave notice that as the bill was
of an important nature he would move to take
it up.
Mr. Ramsey asked to take up for consid-
Grafton the hill IN rayiva nj
grants of lands heretofore made to the territory
and State OF Minnesota to aid the construction
of several lines of the st. Paul and Pacific
Railroad Co. Objection was made and it went
over at the expiration of the morning hour
Mr.. Frelinghupsen moved that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No.
l, known as the supplementary civil rights BILL
Agreed to. The amendments made by the Ju-
didiary Committee were concurred in and the
bill was reported to the Senate.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen explained the provisions
of the bill and said he invoked for it the calm,
impartial, unpartiZan consideration of the
Senate. He asked its passage only as it should
commend itself as consistent with the constitu-
ton and with justice TO all classes of society.
He would be glad if he who was the author of
the measure (Sumner) was here to put the cap
stone upon the structure he was instrumental
in erecting. The bill was then intended to Sc
cure equal rights to the white people IS well as
to the colored race. 1t did not touch a point of
citizenship. The white race is the dominant
race in this country and will always rule it. The
strength of the strong should enure to the bene-
fit of the weak, the wealth of the rich to keep
the poor. ,I4 Ii eaffG
The eolored people now produced ever wear
about $100,000,000 worth of cotton. They had
done much to develope the resources of the
country and should be vested with all the
rights Might it not be that it was the lesign
of Providence that these people should become
p0upafpd in the nrinciplac of uhlioo
errment here and then themselves SOW the
seeds of free government and pure religion in
the wilds of Africa. The trustee of public
school who would deny the admission to school
OF any child because he was German who had
been naturalzed, would violate his duty, and
Congress had perfect right to make it GRIM
inal offence to exclude any child for such
cause. The same law to protect the Ger.
man should protect the African, as all were
citizens. He quoted at some length from de-
cisions of the Supreme Court in regard to the
late amendment to the constitution of the
United States, and argued that Congress had
full power under the constitution to pass the
bill and make any violation of its provisions
penal offence.
Mr.. Thurman moved to strike out the Sec
ond section of the bill. This section imposes a
fine of $500 for any violation Of the aet to be
paid to the person agrieved, and provides fur
thur that the party violating the act shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
than $1,000 or be imprisoned not less than 80
days nor more than one year. He argued that
the punishment provided was monstrous, and
that besides the section provided for double
punishment. -- .-t
Mr. Conkling said if the Senator thought the
punishment toe large be could offer an amend
ment reducing it. The punishment was for
wrongng man on account of prejudice-a
prejudice which has been pretty effeetualy
trampled out in blood upon this continent for
how ho n or>In a1al
count of anger, violence, drunkenness or any
other cause which often times induce men to
the preparation of wrong.
Mr. Carpenter introduced bill providing for
the settlement and payment of damages aris-
ing from the seizure and detention of the steam
ferry boat "Unestra Sonora de Reg,a' by the
authorities of the United States. Referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
HOUSE.
The bill to carry into execution the 14th
amendment and to define the rights of citizens
in foreign countries, was taken up.
MI Hale of N. Y, said this bill met his I'M
qualified condemnation and gave his reason
therefor.
Mr.. Hale of N. Y, gave notice that at the
proper time he would move to lay the bill on
the table. The bill then went over till to NOR
row.
The House went into the Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Poland in the chair on the Indian
appropriation bill, and Mr. Longbridge of
Iowa, who had charge of the bill proceeded to
| give "a resume of its provisions
The speech was mainly directed to the histo-
ry of the Indian wars in order to prove that
they were generally provoked by troops and
consequently that it would be bad policy to
| place the Indians under the control of the War
| Department
| -, Mr.. Parker of Mo-, made similar remarks.
| The Committed then rose.
Mr.. Sawyer of Wis, from the Committee of
commerce, reported the harbor and river APP
| preparation bill. Referred to the Committee Of
| the Whole Adjourned