Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-14
Congressional Proceedings.
Washington, D. c., 10.
SENATE.

ushuktoD, ~. u, 49,
SENATE.
Mr.. Conkling presented petition in favor
Of removing He'll Gate distractions; also q
message from Gov. Dix and resolutions of the
N. Y. legislature upon the resumption of
specie pay ments.
| The bill to authorize the issue Of arms to
the authorities of Nebraska was discussed till
the expiration Of the morning hour.
| Mr.. Bayard submitted an amendment to
Mr.. Carpenters bill, to provide for new
election in Louisiana, and it was ordered to be
printed.
In a long preamble it sets forth that Nc
Emery and Penn were duly elected Governor
and Lieutenant Governor of La, and requests
the President to issue q proclima'io within
ten days after the passage of the bill, notify
ing the people of the State that all hinder
ance, obstruction or impediments on the part
OF the general government to a public and
legal assumption of the office of Governor
and Lieut.. Governor by those persons are
withdrawn, so that they NAV without him
drence proceed to fill them.
Mr.. Dorsey from the District of Columbia
Committee, reported bill to establish the
Park and Geological Garden near the Capitol,
and to incorporate society to maintain the
same, and company to construct a street
abroad there.
: Mr.. Scott, from the Committee en- Claims,
reported unfavorably on the memorial of the
Mercantile Insurance Co., of New York, to
be reimbursed for $4,000 in greenbacks in
sured in that company and lost at sea. The
committee was discharged from further con-
sideration.
Mr.. Carpenter being entitled to the floor to
call up his Louisiana bill, gave way for a
short time, that the bill to provide for the in.
corporation and regulation of railroad COM
panies in the territories might be acted up
on.
The vote by which Mr.. Wadleigh's amend
ment was agreed to Friday, was reconsidered
and the amendment modified so that Congress
might alter, amend or repeal the act, and
then again agree.
Mr. Pratt offered an amendment, that stock
holders shall be individually liable for all
labor in the construction of a road after the
assets of the corporation 10 exhausted.
Rejected.
Mr.. Maynard offered an amendment that
any charter granted by the bill shall be re-
vokable by the legislature of any State which
may be formed out of any territory within the
limits Of which railroad is located.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Wood of N. Y. introduced bill to
regulate the service of collection of customs,
which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means. 1t enacts that no moieties
or perquisites or commission shall be allowed
collectors, naval officers, surveyors or other
officers, or employees of the collectors de-
partment and all laws providing such, are to
be repealed; that all proceeds of condemna-
ton by seizure shall be paid into the treasury;
that the district attorney, upon complaint,
shall make investigation of the facts before
commissioners, and then cause the arrest of
the offender; that compromises by special
agents or attorneys, shall be unlawful, with
penalties for felony, but the Secretary of the
Treasury may remit when no intention of
fraud was proved; that only single items of
merchandise shall be forfeited, instead of en-
tire invoices; that all settlement of duies
shall, in absence of fraud, and the absence
of protest, be final upon all parties; that
all books and papers must be ordered by
judge of the circuit court, and the books
must be accessible at all times to owners all
accounts inconsistent with this are repealed
and this is to go into effect Immediately.
The bill in relation to the transmission of
matter through the mails was taken up. The
text of the bill is as follows; That from and
after the passage of this act, the following
mail matter shall be allowed to pass free in
the mails: LIST, newspapers, periodicals and
magazines. reciprocally intercnanged between
publishers and not exceeding l6 ounces in
each publication. I'd, newspapers one copy
to each actual subscriber residing or receiv-
the same within the county where the same is
published, but carriers shall not be required
to distribute such papers unless postage is
paid upon them at the usual rates.
Mr.. Hayes of Ala. moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill for the tree transmits
sion by mail of all seeds, cuttings and plants
and cuttings sent by the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture.
The rules were not suspended-l4G to ST.
not tw thirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Hazelton introduced bill defining a
legal days work for conductors and drivers
on Washington street cars, to be not exceed
ing ten hours, the wages Of such conductors
and drivers to be not less than the amount
now paid.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Plat of Va. moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill authorizing and direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to defer
operations on any public building authorized
but not actually commenced or to proceed
with the same as in his opinion it is for best
interest of public service. The monies here
tofore appropriated for that purpose to remain
available until the completion of the work
for which they were appropriated.
The motion was reject6d-yeas l29, nays
95-not two-thirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Stone of Mo. moved to suspend the
rules and adopt a resolution reciting the
the gross abuses and irregularities in the let
ting of contracts, and providing FEY an invcs-
tigstion thereof.
The motion was not seconded and the reso-
luton was not entertained.
Mr.. Beck of Ky. called attention to the
fact that every democratic member voted in
the affirmative and every republican in the
negative.
Mr.. Stowell Of Va, member of the Post
Office Committee, said Mr.. Stone had an op-
portunity of making his proofs before the
committee and the committee would give him
hearing tomorrow.
Mr.. Packer of Pa, chairman of the com.
mittee, made like statement and said if the
preamble was struck out there was no objec.
ton to the resolution.
Mr.. Page OF CAL remarked that a state
ment had been telegraphed to the associated
press in California at the instieatiOn of his
colleague UuthrelD that this investigation
had been going on for weeks.
Mr.. Luthrell. (Excitedly). know moth.
ing about it and you have no authority for