The Portland daily press., 1874-06-06

| tention of the franking privilege to evarv door
ment published by Congress, and said he would
| vote for an amendment to allow every Cocu-
| ment to go through the mail free which had the
| official stamp of the congressional printer upon
| it SO that people could have some information
| The amendment of Edmunds' was rejected,
| yeas 81, nays 28.
| Mr.. Stevenson moved to substitute for the
fourteenth section to provide for the printing
and distribution of 100000 copies of the agri-
cultural report $4,000 for the Senate ald 200,
900 for the House and %, 900 for the commits
sioner, such reports to be allowed to 60 through
the mail free upon being properly certified on
the envelope.
Mr.. Scott said he would oppose the restora-
ton of the frankIng privilege. shreds aud
patches in this manner.
Mr.. Stevenson said this was no restoration
OF the franking privilege and that the Con-
gressional Globe was distributed in the very
manner proposed by his substitute. The sub
stltute was agreed to, yeas A, nays 15
fendIng the consideration of the bill the
Senate adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
The report of the Conference Committee on
the diplomatic appropriation bill was agreed to-
6lll admitting free of duty all articles for
the Centennial was passed.
The bill for the Improvements of the mouth
OF the Mississippi river by permanent jettes
was taken up.
Mr. Crocker of Mass. supported it.
1uCoSlo. optcI VI IcuU. anu McCTdry OF llIS
opposed the bill and Mr.. Hurlbut of Ills sup
ported it. The latter said the condition of nav-
CATION at the mouth ct the Mississippi was
national disgrace and infamy.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa opposed the bill on the
ground that it gave Eads power to spend some
$4,000 ,0OO and he considered it was turning
over of the father of waters to one man.
Mr. Garfield Of Ohio asked leave to offer a
substitute for the bill, but Mr. Hnrlbut, who
has charge of the bill, refused permission
nhr 40
to reconsider the vote seconding the previous
question, and Mr.. Garfield's substitute was
not admitted.
A vote was then taken on a substitute offered
by Mr. McCrary, who is to provide for the con-
struction of the Fort st Philip Canal and its
maintenance as a national highway, which was
adoDted.
The bill as thus amended was then passed :;
yeas lao, nays go
Some two hours were spent over private bills.
but only two passed.
The House then took recess.
The evening session is to be for business of
the Committee on Public Lands.
Evening Session.
Mr. Townsend, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported bill to ascertain the DOS
sesslng rights of the Hudson Bay Co and other
British subjects within the limits which were
the subject of the award of the Emperor of
Germany under the treaty of Washington of
May Stb, 1871. Passed. The bill provides for
the appointment of a commissioner to visit the
land in question and report list of all the
British subjects in occupation of the land on
June 10Th. 1916, with proofs of occupancy, and
those where claims are approved to be allowed
to purchase such lands within year from ap-
proval at the ordinary minimum price per acre
outside of railroad limits, and at double the
minimum price within the railroad limits.
Mr.. MOrey reported bill to repeal the first
sections of the 2lst of June, 1856. for the dis
posa. OF public lands for homestead to actual
settlement in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Florida and Arkansas. The bill was dissed at
considerable length. Its object is to allow pub
lie lands in the South which were after the
war reserved for settlement, to be sold as they
strenuousy opposed by Messrs. Conger of
Mich, Willard of VT, Hawley of Conn, and
Holman of Ind Finally the bill was recon-
mtted, which is now tantamont to rejection.
Adjourned