The Portland daily press., 1874-12-15
Fort, Third Second Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. A.
Mr. Morton presented a petition from
the colored men of Indiana protesting against
the recent decisions of the Supreme Court of
that state, claiming that by the force of that
decision they are deprived of the rights of clti-
zenship and their children of the benefits edu-
cation, and asking that the proper law ohcer
be directed to appeal the case to the supreme
Court of the United States. Referred TO the
Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Anthony presented memorial of +. q
j. Rives, publishers of the late Congressional
Globe, asking Congress to purchase tnelr
building and materials. Referred to the Com
mittee on Printing
A resolution was adopted. providing for the
appointment of joint committee of two men,
bers of the Senate and three of the House to
ence at the Capital of His Majesty, Kaakaua,
King of the Hawaiian Islands.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill to amend the
existing customs and internal revenue laws and
for other purposes which was postponed last
session until the first Morday in December
The bill having been taken up to-day, Mr.,
Sherman moved that the Senate insist upon its
amendments ard agree to the conference asked
for by the House Agreed to and the chair APP
pointed Messrs Sherman. Frelinghuysen and
Cooper members of the committee
A bill was reported from the Committee on
Public Lands for the relief of settlers who have
suffered from grasshoppers, authorizing the
Commissioner General of the Land Office to
modify the homestead law in their favor.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Anthony was
adopted that the printing. comm ittee inquire
whether the Congressional Record cannot be
reduced.
Mr.. Morton submitted lengthy preamble and
resolution setting forth the facts in the recent
decision of the Supreme Court OF Indiana ex-
Guiding colored children from the common
schools, claiming that it is in violation OF the
recent amendments to the constitution OF the
! United States, &C., and alleging that the petit
TONERS are unable to bear the costs OF an appeal
| to the Supreme Court of the United States and
as great public questions are involved, directing
| the Attorney General, at the expense OF the
general government, to take writ of error
| from the decision of the Supreme Court OF In
diana to the Supreme Court of the United
States. Referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee
Mr.. ingalls, introduced a bill to refer to the
Court of Claims and the Supreme Court OF the
| United States for determination ofnthe rights
| of the central branch of the Union Pacific
Railroad Co. under the existing laws;
Mr.. Edmunds presented bill explanatory Oh
the act making an appropriation for the sup
port of the army for the fiscal year ending June
3Oth, 1875. Referred to the judiciary Com.
mittee.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported favorably on the
House resolution to continue the board OF audit
and examine and audit the uufunded or float
ing debt of the District of Columbia, which
was read end laid over as Mr., Edmunds wished
it,. ;, u WY
Boardman of Lowell, Mass, asking leave to
appear before the Committee on Patents to OPP
pose the extension of the Wellman patent for
stripping the top flats of cardng machines
Referred to the Committee on Patents.
Mr. Conking introduced bill to amend the
act for the distribution of the Geneva award
1t proposes to repeal that portion of the 18th
section which bears the claims of insurance
companies, except for excess OF losses over the
premium or other gains or war risks, ana pro-
vides that any insurance claimant, excluded by
this prohibition, shall have like period OF
time within which to present and prove his
claim as they would lave had if not so ex
cluded.
Mr. Morrill, of Maine, called up bill which
was reported from select committee, TO frame
a new government for the District of Column
bia, and it was read at length He moved that
300 extra copies be printed. Agreed to;
The chair appointed as members OF the COM
mttee on the part of the Senate on the recep.-
ton of King Kalakaua, Messrs. Cameron and
McCreery.
Several bills were introduced aud referred, to
repeal all acts requiring stamps on checks; for
continuing the improvement OF the Stoning-
ton harbor Ct; continuing the improvement in
M6QfOrQ maroon anu C06 I1OuSdbdulC IlNCl, W
amend the act for the distribution of the Ala
bama indemnity award in relation to indict-
ments for libel in the District of Columbia. The
latter provides that where libel appears in
any newspaper published elsewhere, but crcu-
lated in Washington, no Indictment shall be
found in the district, unless the party libeled
shall reside therein, and in that case it may be
removed to the United States Circuit or Dis
trict Court for the place where the paper is
published. Also bill reducing the letter post
<I,nN Tor, yfr1fi
corning the official term of the President; for
commission to investigate the political and
local conditions of the southern states; to re-
peal the laws requiring the prepayment OF
newspaper postage; to establish department.
of commerce.
Mr.. Young of Georgia offered bill for the
settlement Of accounts for carrying the mails in
the Southern states prior to 1861, the amount
not exceeding 100000
On point made by Mr.. Williams OF VT the
bill was referred to the Committee of the
Whole.
Mr.. Phelps of New jersey moved to take up
his bill repeating what is known as 1.-THE press
gag law in Washington.
Mr.. Hale of New York intimated that all
such legislation should come from appropriate
committees.
Mr.. Barry of Miss, suggested that the time
of the House should not be occupied in this
newspaper matter while citizens were belEg
murdered in Mississippi, and while he had a
House.
The House refused to second the previous
question on Mr.. Phelps motion.
Mr. Cox then moved to suspend rules and
pass the bill, which was refused, 6S to Ito. The
bill was referred to the judiciary Committee
with leave to report at any time,
On motion of Mr.. Garfield of Ohio it was
ordered that when the legislativebill is under
consideration in the Committee OF the Whole
various amendments indicated by him may be
Il hon 10
equalize the pay of the committee clerks in the
House and Senate, and fix it at five dollars
day.
MIR. Beck of Kentucky moved to suspend
rules and pass resolution for the appointment
of select committee to enquire whether any
official of the government of the District OF
Columbia or other persons have used any
means to obstruct the administration OF the
law in the district, especially with reference to
the trial of tho so-caled safe burglary conspira-
cy. Rejected-yeas 139, nays ". Not two
thirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Mckee of Miss, offered resolution for
the appointment or select committee OF i've
to proceed to Vicksburg and investigate and
report all the facts relative to the recent
troubles in that state, especially in Warren
county.
After long discussion in which Messrs
Lamar, Butler, Eldridge and Beck participated,
the resolution was adopted.
In the course of the debate Mr.. Be ok said
that the Attorney General should be impeached
for dismissng the safe burglary case.
Mr.. Woods resolution requesting the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to inform the House if
any changes in the tariff have been made in
consequence of the revision of the statutes, was
passed,
Messrs. Orth, E. r. Hoar and Cox were APP
pointed on the committee to receive King
Kalakaua,
Mr.. Holman Of Ind, offered resolution to
the effect that it is the opinion of the House
that in the present condition of the national
finances, no subsidies in money, bonds, lands,
etc., should be granted, and that appropriations
Without action, the resolution went over
until next Monday and the House adjourned.
THE S0TTNH