The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-22
Forty Third Congress Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. May 81.
After debate on the motion of Mr.. Upton to
amend yesterdays Journal relative to the hour
of djournment and the laying of his motion on
the table, business commenced at O'clock
A large preamble and resolutions in behalf of
the Pacific Mail Cos subsidy was presented
from the Legislature of Pennsylvania and re-
ferred to the Appropriation Committee.
Mr.. West, from the Committee on Transpor-
tation, reported the two Senate bills for the
improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi
river with written report. Placed on the
calendar
Mr.. Fenton introduced bill to establish the
compensation of certain customs officers to reg
ulate services in the collection of customs at va
rious ports in the United States, and the dispo-
stion of fines, penalties and forfeitures incur
red under the law relating to certain customs
Referred to the Finance Committee.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
civil rights bill.
Mr.. johnson of Virginia, spoke in opposi-
ton thereto, and argued that in his State the
coored people were now kindly treated and
had equal rights under the law.
Mi. Morton contended the bill was constitu-
tonal and Congress had full power to enforce
the provisions of the 18th amendment to the
Constitution by appropriate legislation.
Mr.. Merrimon inquired if State should
think it proper to provide separate schools for
males and females, would the federal govern
ment have the power to prohibit such separa-
ton?
Mr.. Morton said the State could ruake such a
law, but there must be no exclusion on account
of race. The States were at Liberty to estab-
lish common schools or not as they thought
proper, but if they did establish them all must
be admitted.
Mr.. Boutwell, said the public school was an
epitome of life, and in it the children
were taught the requirements and coz
dition of life not to be gained afterwards He
therefore favored mixed schools, and said that
it would be in the highest degree inexpedient
to-either establish or tolerate separate schools.
In tie public schools the doctrine of human
equality could be taught 1t was the chief
means to secure the perpetunity of Republican
institutions, In the large cities it might be
possible to establish seperate schools, but he
was against it as matter of policy In large
portion of the South separate schools could not
be established and no attempt would be made
to do so. In speaking of the consttutionality
of the bill, with all due respect to the Supreme
Court of the United States he thought it made
a mistake when it intmated in the New Or
leans slaughter house case that there were two
classes of rights enjoyed by the ctizens-those
derived from the general government and those
derived from the State. In his opnion the
first privileges and immunties enjoyed by tn
citizen were derived from the general govern
ment He would not now speak of the general
question Of the constitutionality of the BILL but
desired to cal the attention Of the Senate to
the amendment submitted by him some DAYS
ago, which proposes TO strike out of the LIST
section the words "and also of the common
schools and public institutions of learning or
benevolent supported wholly or in part by gem
eral taxation and insert in lieu thereof "and
also of every common school and public insti-
tuition of learning or benevoence endowed by
the United States, or that may hereafter be en-
dowed by any State or supported in whole or in
part by public taxation"
Mr. Stockton said his colleague (Frelinghuy-
sem had quoted from the decision of the ST.
preme Court in the New Orleans slaughter
house case in support of the bill. Other Sena-
tors who favored it had quoted that decision in
its behalf, but the Senator from Massachusetts
(Boutwell) was frank and candidly told the
Senate in his opinion the Court in that decis-
sion erred and he saw it was too absurd to
quote it here in favor of this bill. He spoke
at some length as to the power of the general
government over States, but before concluding
his argument, Mr.. Cooper moved to proceed to
the consideration of the executive business.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen gave notice that to-mor-
row he would ask the Senate to remain in ses-
sion and finish the bill.
MI. Alcom hoped there would be nothing TO
prevent full and free discussion upon it.
The Post Office and pension appropriation
bills were received from the House and refer
red to the Committee on Appropriations.
The Senate at Ais went into executive ses-
sion, and after short time adjourned.
HOUSE.
TIE House went into Committee of the
Whole on the Pot Office. Appropriation bill.
Having disposed of this bill without discus
sion or important change, the Con mittee took
up the Pension Appropriation bill, appropriate
ing 500 100000. 1t contains provision thai
Pension Agents fee of 80 cents for preparing
vouchers and administering oath shall be re-
duced to 20 cents. After some consideration of
the bill the Committee rose and reported both
the Post Office and Pension Appropriation bills
to the House.
An amendment to the Post Office bill allow
ing agricultural reports to pass through the
| mails free was adopted, 1874 to II.
The Post Office and. Pension Appropriation
| bills were then passed.
| The bill repe ling the law which authorized
| the Sanborn contracts w3s here called I'D and
| Mr.. Tasker of Ohio made speech, it being
| understood that Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts
| can reply when he gets well.
| Mr.. Foster criticised Buffers speech some
| months ago in defence of the Sanborn con
| tracts and in regard to the Treasury officials.
| He could not overlook their carelessness and
| general loose management. Their attempt TO
| shift the responsibilities from one to the other
| was diScreditable to all of them. 1t was inn
| possible to determine exactly where the respon-
| sbility for the maladministration of the law
| restef, but it rested somewhere in the Treas
| ury Department He did not intend to reflect
on the integrity of the Secretary, in fact there
| was nothing to show that any Treasury Of
| fetal had had any corruption connected with
SanbOrn In conclusion, he complimented the
Republican party for its courage in purifying
itself, and said the Republicans were deter
| mined to have it understood that whenever and
| wherever corrupt official had presented itself
| there should be Republican club raised to hit
| it. The matter went over without action.
| Mr.. Maynard of Tennessee submitted re-
| port from the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency on the Senate amendment to the House
bill relating to the currency. The Committee
recommended concurrence in the same with
the following amendments: Strike out in Sec.
3D. the words, land each national banking as
ISOLATION now organized or hereafter to be or.
ganized shall kte and maintain as part OF
its reserve one-fourth part of the coin received
by it as interest on the bonds of the United
States deposited as security for circulating
notes or government deposits" Strike out the
third section which requires that each of the
banking associations shall within ninety days
after the passage of the act, keep lis lawful
money reserves within its own vaults where its
operations of discount and deposit are carried
on. In section eighth strike out the words
twenty five'' and insert the word fifty, sc
to require the Secretary of the United States
Treasury to retire an amount OF United States
notes equal to forty per centum on the circulat-
ing notes issued by national banks, and propose
| the insertion of the following words: Aud
the United States notes so retired Shall be can