The Portland daily press., 1874-05-27
Forty Third COngress-First Session
SENATE.
WASHINGrnN. Nav DC

WASHINGTON. May 26.
The amendments to the bill donating con-
demned cannod to Posts of the Grand Army of
the Republic were concurred in and the bill
passed.
MI. Howe presented communication from
Messrs. Rives and Bailey, making charges
against Congressional Printer Clapp and it was
referred to the Committee on Printing with
power to send for persons and papers,
The House bill of appropriations for the
military academy was reported and placed on
the calendar.
A bill providing for the payment of postage
on printed matter and for other purposes was
introduced by Mr.. Ramsey and referred to the
Post-office Committee
The bill for the relief of certain contractors
for the construction of vessels of war and
steam machinery passed.
A bill for the better protection of the frontier
settlements of Texas against Indian and
Mexican depredatons passed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
deficiency appropriation bill.
Several minor amendments were adopted and
the bill passed. The House section, making it
mIsdemeanor to exceed appropriations, was
stricken out
The House bill in relation to the Centennial
Exhibition was taken up; yeas 81 nays 8.
The Committee on Appropriations having
reported proviso that the United States
would not be liable directly or Indirectly for
any oNTcneo attending such Enru,itiuu or BY
reason of the same, it was agreed to in Com
mlttee OF the Whole and the bill was then re-
ported to the Senate
Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike out the proviso
Just agreed to, but it was rejected, and the bill
passed; yeas 26, nays II.
1.-The bill as passed does not satisfy the adyo-
Gates of government aid Mr. Morrill, of Me.
voted for it; Mr. Hamlin did not vote
Mr.. Window from the Committee on Appro-
priations reported back the Indian Appropria-
ton bill with various amendments the most
important one providing that all bidders for
Indian contracts exceeding $4,000 in amount
shall required to deposit certified check for 5
per cent. of the amount of the bill, to be for
feited in case of failure TO enter into or execute
the contracts.
At 4 o'clock the Senate proceeded to the hall
of the Rouse to attend the funeral of the late
d. b. Mellish; The Senate returned at AS
and adjourned
The House resumed the consideration of the
report OF the Committee on Ways and Means
on the Sanborn contracts and was addressed by
Mr. Beck, member of that Committee He
was very severe on Messrs. Richardson and
Sawyer and said they should be impeached and
Sanborn sent to the penitentiary. He dwelt
with special prominence ON the fact that Off
GERS of the internal revenue had beeu ordered
to help Sanborn collect taxes of which he re-
ceived 30 per cent Mr.. Beck, however, de-
clared that he believed Mr.. Richardson to be
honest but unfit for the office.
At the close of Mr.. Beck's speech, the previ-
over till tomorrow.
Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania asked leave to
report bill to admit free of duty animals,
birds or reptiles imported for exhibition at
Paramount Park, Philadelphia.
Mr.. Field of Michigan objected because
under itshorses and cows might be imported
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the bill to amend the existing GUS
toms and internal revenue laws.
Mr.. Dawes opened the debate on the bill
T. t1nG
had not been Indifferent to the intimations
made that it was afraid to report bill to in
crease the revenue nor had it been Indifferent
to the condition of the Treasury The commit
tee had devoted a great deal of time to hearing
the representatives of the leading manufactur-
ing interests of the country and also of the
officials of the Treasury. The bill before the
House was the result of its consultations He
congratulated the House on the gradual ex-
tinction of the deficit of $11,OOO,OOO which APP
peared at the opening of the session and state
that at the end of the fiscal year there would
be from five to seven millions of dollars to be
carried to the sinking fund.-
The pending bill he said made no material
changes. 1t changed from ad valorem to
specific duties in few instances. 1t nut a
stop to evasions of the law and in one or two
cases put articles on the free list that were not
there before and it put slight duty OH some
articles that were on the free list but altogether
the aggregate result was as near to nothing
as possible. =
Mr. Cox of New York followed in speech
in favor of the principles of a revenue tariff or
free trade.
numerous amendments were offered, the
most OF which were rejected but before com
pleting the bill the committee rose
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts introduced
joint resolution relative to the compensation of
representatives in Congress, which was refer
red to the Judiciary Committee IL provides
that in case of the death of a member, his
| compensation shall lbe paid to his widow or
representatives up to the election of | is sue
cessor and that the pay of his successor shall
commence from his election.
The Speaker announced the appointment of
Messrs Hale of New York, G.. f. Hoar of
Massachusetts,, and Young of Georgia as visit
ors to West Point Academy.
The House at 3.45 o'clock took a recess for
the preparation of the hall for the obseuuies of
Mr.. Mellish. Tie funeral services were SOL
emn and impressive.