The Portland daily press., 1874-06-09
Forty Third COngress-First Session
SENATE.
IL IN "A L Lie
WASHINGTON. June 9.


| WASHINGTON. June 9.
| A bill was passed authorizing medals in COM
memoraton of the Tooth anniversary of the
| first meeting of the Continental Congress and
of the declaration of independence.
| A bill was passed Incorporating the First
| Presbyterian church at Salt Lake city.
| The reports of the conference committees on
consolidating the pension laws and on the bill
| increasing pensions of soldiers and sailors TO.
| tally disabled, were made and agreed to.
| A resolution offered by Mr.. Anthony was
passed, directing the Judiciary Committee to
| inquire II any change is necessary in publish
| ing and distributing the laws Of the United
| States.
Mr. Buckingham from the Committee on
| Commerce, reported favor ably bill to provide
| for the establishment of life saving stations
| and a house of refuge upon the sea and lake
| coasts of the United States, and to promote
the efficiency of the life saving service Placed
| on the calendar.
| Mr.. Buckingham also reported without
amendment the bill for the better protec-
ton of immigrants. Placed ON the Gale adar.
| Mr.. Wright, from the Judiciary Committee,
reported with amendments the bill providing
for the collection of money due the United
States from the Pacific r. r. Co.'S Placed on
the calender.
Mr.. Boutwell,, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported favorably on the bill to extend
the jurisdiction of the light house ard Placed
on the calendar.
Also a bill to authorize to construction of a
bridge across the Mississippi river at or near
La Crosse, Wis. Placed on the calendar
AT the expiration of the morning hour the
unfinished business came up, being a bill to
provide for the sale of extra copies of public
documents and for the distribution of the reg
ular official edition thereof
Mr.. Merrimon offered an amendment au-
thorizing Senators and members to frank the
documents now apportioned to them by law.
Mr.. Anthony expressed a hope that this
amendment would be made separate PROPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Sherman said it was evident that the bill
could not be passed without debate and he
therefore moved that it be laid aside and that
the Senate proceed to the consideration of the
Dill to amend the customs and revenue laws,
and to repeal mOietes.
Mr.. Logan asked that Wednesday next, after
the expiration of the morning hour, be devoted
to the consideration of the bill from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. Agreed to-
Mr. Shermans motion was agreed to, and
the motety bill taken up.
Mr. Bayard objected to the amendment of
the Finance Committee, inserted as the fifth
section, which authorizes the Uuited States
attorney to examine the books invoice, or
papers of the defendants. he said the revenue
had been collected down to 1868 without any
provision OF this kind, and in his opinion it i'm
paired the constitutional rights of citizens to
compel him to criminate himself
Mr.: Sherman argued that the provision was
of vital Importance 1t did not impair the
rights OF citizens, neither didiit compel him to
criminate himself, but only protected the gov
eminent. jackson S. Schurltz and other ln-
teligent merchants of New York, had express
ed to the committee that they were not oppos-
ell to this provision surrounded as it was with
safeguards for the protection of their inters
Mr.. Cameron said the idea of selling he
books and papers of merchant was horrible
and he would not vote for any such proposition
He referred. to the case of Phelps, Dodge & Co.
and defended the character of Dodge He said
he was robbed of hundreds of thousands of
dollars by pmp. During the war the spy
business was perhaps necessary to employ one
of no character to help save the government
but that was past now.
Mr.. Wright advocated the amendment and
said the bill would be of no use without it, 1t
prevented any unnecessary or improper prose-
cutlon OF the merchant as the books were not
to be produced without an order of the court.
The trouble now was that in consequence of
feeling against the informers, Congress might
go to the other extreme, and the result would
be that the government would be defrauded of
more revenue than heretofore.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that upon the general
question of notifies he had ex pressed an official
opinion more than four years ago in his annual
report as Secretary In 1870 he submitted a
bill to Congress for the abolition of the moiety
system and subsequently urged its passage. He
still adhered to the opinion that the moiety sys
tenn was bad one and ought to be abolished.
He thought the proposed section judicious
one and would therefore support it. He had
no judgment to express in regard to the char
acter and conduct of the firm of Phelps Dodge
~ Co., mentioped in the course of the discus
sion, but wished to lay before the Senate GER
tain facts which would justify what was done