The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-05

MI Sargent introduced bill to repeal Sc
, much OF the laws relating tothe organization
OF the army as established distinctions to the
Pieludlce OF one class of American citizens
referred to the Judiciary Committee
The House having returned the bill appro.
pratIng 1000 for the relief of persons suffer
ering by the overflow of the Mississippi or mo-
tlon OF Mr. Pease the vote by which the bill
was passed was reconsdered, and that gentle
man offered an amendment appropriating
$4,000 instead of $4,000. Referred to the
Committee on Appropriation.
Mr.. Goidthwaite introduced bill to aid the
construction of a steamboat canal from Gads-
den to Wetumpka, Ala. 1t provides for gov
ernment guarantee of interest on thirty years
ponds of the company to the extent of $50 900
per mile, and for grant of eight sections of
pubic lands for each mile of camel along the
coast river. The whole canal, 140 miles in
length, is to be completed within six years.
me morning hour having expired, the SEN
ate resumed the consideration of the supple
mentary civil rights bill, and Mr.. Norwood con-
o,uueu ms . argument against its passage. He
aIsueu tnat the Dill Was unconstitutional in its
| provisions
Mr. fenton asked that the pending bill be
iaid aside that he might move to discharge the
committee on Commerce from the further con-
slderation of the bill TO regulate the service
IN the collection of customs at the various ports
OF entry IN the United States and the DISPOSE
tion OF fines. penalties and forfeitures incurred
under the laws relating to customs and for 9TH
er purposes.
Mr.. Edmunds objected.
Mr. Fenton said he would then discuss the
Dill under consideration, (the supplementary
civil rights billy although that discussion
might be somew hat novel, He said more than
Two years ago, in advocacy of the bill, he had
previously introduced to regulate the service in
tue coilectlon OF customs revenues and to
remedy the growing evils of the moiety prac-
ice he had pointed out many of the defects of
| the system, the hardships experienced and the
| n Vol han thara,
Ief was his appeal to take up the bill. No one
mere or there came forward to encourage and
strengthen the movement. How the case is
| changed 1t is because of my fear that the
| sense Ut injustice and Indignation which at
| last qulckens the people has rot reached this
i chamber that am led to again engage in the
| discussion. do not complain that chiefly for op
| posing the unequal laws relating to the customs
revenue which were badly executed and likely
| to be worse in the hands of those who were be-
| ing called to administer them. l suffered party
| scription long before L went to Cincinnnti
| That is wholly unimportant to me personally
| and to my present purpose. but beseech Sena-
tors that no prejudice or political attitude shall
| be allowed to impair anything of merit upon
| this grave question to which may now fall from
my lips.
| The main objects of the bill are first to adjust
| the compensation of officers of customs upon
basis of salaries, having in mind fair pay for
| responsibility and labor.
Second, to dispense with the whole diso, ace
| full moiety business, allowing only reduced
| share IN case of smuggling to the officers who
| make actual Seizures.
| Third to simplify the cumbrons and intricate
| regulation and laws to the end that both the
| government and importers shall be justly used
| and protected
These features and the other points of the
| bill relating to differentiation, appointments,
| etc, on which l will not now. dwell, embrace
| the principal objects of the Chambers of Com
| merce OF New York, Boston and other cities
| and are the foundation of all other bills intro
| duced in either House during the present
| sion. After commenting various stages of
| the bill since its introduction he made "a brief
| reference to the course of the committee TO the
| end that whatever responsibility attached to
delay might rest in the right quarter.
Mr.. Fenton continued his remarks at length.
| Mr.. Boutwell, submitted an amendment to
the civil rights bill providing its provisions
shall apply to schools and public institutions of
learning or benevolence authorized by law and
endorsed by the United States or hereafter en-
dorsed by any State or the United States.
Mr.. Alcorn introduced a bill amendatory of
the 18th and 10th sections of the act relating to
mints, assay offices and coinage of the United
States.
The Chair submitted a communication from
the Surgeon General, estimating the expense of
publishing the medical surgical history Of the
war; The Senate at 4 80 adjourned.
HOUSE.
Under the call of States bills were introduced
and referred, including the following:-B Mr..
Hooper of Mass (for Mr.. Butler) for the issue
of additional bank note circulation to states or
territories having less circulation than ten dol
lars per capita of the population, and for the
withdrawal of legal tender notes at the rate of
% per cent of the additional issue of national
bank notes until the outstanding legal tender
notes shall be reduced to $780,, 100000, and pro-
hibting national banks from charging more
than7 per cent for interest or discount; by
Mr.. Mellsh of New York to regulate the pay
ment of custom duties and to secure a par in
value of gold for United States Treasury notes
and national bank notes.
Other bills referred were for the distribution
of the Geneva award, to prevent "hazing' at
the Naval Academy ito relieve Raphael Semmes
of Alabama from political disabilities; for the
construction Of the fort st, Philip Canal in
Louisiana at a cost not exceeding the estimates
and the yearly installments not to exceed $4,-
O,O00 requiring stock br Jkers to take out
license and to pay 500 year therefor, and also
to pay one-sxth of one per cent on the par
value of securities bought or sold by them re-
duclng the tax on manufactured tobacco to ten
cents per pound.
Mr., Vance of North Carolina offered a reso-
luton instructing tie Ways and Means Com
mttee to inquire into the propriety of repeating
the tax on leaf tobacco and of changing the
character of fines and penalties for the violation
of the internal revenue law. Adopted.
A bill to establish an assay office in Helena,
Montana, was passed,
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky moved to suspend the
rules so as to make in order an amend ment to
the Indian appropriation bill. Lost
Mr.. Foster OF Ohio, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, presented the report On the
Sanborn contracts which was ordered to be
printed and recOmmtted with leave to report
at any time.
The Committee recommends the passage of
the bill repeating the provisions of the act of
March 9Th, 1872, under which these contracts
were made and directs the revocation and anul
ment of all such contracts and provides that
the Court of Claims shall have no authority to
consider or decide upon any claims for damages
by reason of the discont inuance of such con-
tracts or for any profits or per centages under
them.
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, reported back the Senate
amendment to the fruit bill with an amend
ment The Senate amendment directs that the
clause shall read "fruit plants, tropical or
semi tropical for the purpose of propagation or
cultivation" The amendment reported by the
Committee is to add to the Senate amendment
these words, provided that the duties imposed
by virtue of this amendment shall not be levied
in port of entry prior to July l., 1874. The
amendment was agreed to with the Senate
amendment. The bill goes back again to the
Senate for concurrence.
Mr.. Ward, from the Judiciary Comm ittee,
moved that the Committee have leave to report
at any time the bankruptcy law. Agreed
Mr.. Phillips of Kansas introduced hill to
creG tie two additional land districts in Kansas.
Passed.
Mr.. Hawley moved to suspend the rules and
have an order made that the daily sessions of
the House commence at II a. m. Negatived.
Yeas 40, nays 49, Not two-thirds in the af-
firmatve.
Mr. Knapp of Illinois offered resolution in
structing the Committee on Pensions to in
qure into tie propriety of granting pensions
for the soldiers of the Black Hawk Indians.
Adopted.
Mr.. Mckee of Mississippi obtained leave for
the Committee on Territories to report for ac
ton on toe Dist of May, a bill for the adms-
sion of New Mexico as State.
Mr.. Dunnell of Minnesota, from the Com
mittee on Public Lands, moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill for the appointment of
| Commissioner of Forestry. The motion was
| not seconded.
| Mr. Tyner of Indiana moved to suspend the
| rules and make an order an amendment to the
| postoffice appropriation bill, limiting the free
delivery system to towns and cities where there
is a population of 10000 within the corporate
limits instead of being as at present within the
limits eff the office delivery. Agreed to.
| Mr.. Averill of Mimi, from the Committee
on Indian Affairs, reported . bill extending to
Indians the penalties provided against the
| in fraff I'll