The Portland daily press., 1875-01-27
Forty Third Congressional Session.
SENATE.

The chair laid before the Senate "a message
from the President transmitting the
report of the commission of engineers to in
vestlgate and report permanent plan for the
reclamation of the alluvlal basin of MissisSip
pi. Referred to the Transportation Committee
and ordered 10000 extra copies printed.
After the introduction of number of bills
and petitions, the business on the calendar was
proceeded with.
The following bills were disposed of: To ia
cilitate the disposition of cases in the Supreme
Court OF the United States and other purposes,
passed; a bill amending the act to re gulate the
fees and costs to be allowed clerks, marshals
and attorneys of the circuit and district courts
of the United States, approved Feb. 16, 1850,
passed.
Mr. Scott, from the Committee on Finance,
reportei with an amendment a bill to amend
the national bank act and fixing the compensa-
ton of the national bank examiner. The
amendment provides that persons appointed to
make examination of national banks in re.
sumption in cities, shall receive such compeu-
sation as may be fixed by the Secretary of the
Treasury upon the recommendation of the
Comptroller of the Currency. Placed on the
calendar.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
Louisiana resolution of Schurz. -
Mr.. Pease continued his argument
Mr. Edmunds of Vermont, introduced a bill
to provide for and regulate the counting of
votes for President and Vice President. Refer
red to Committee on Privileges and Elections.
The bill provides that from three to ten days
next prior to the last Monday in every January
following any election for President or Wee
President the Senate shall appoint four sena-
tors and the House of Representatives five of
its members, and such nine persons shall con-
stitute a committee upon the election of PreSi-
dent and Vice President. A majority of said
com nittee shall be a quorum, and the concur
renee of said majority shall be necessary in any
action thereof. Each member Of the commit
tee shall take a special oath to perform the du-
ties imposed upon him by the provisions of this
BILL The Senate and House are required to
meet together in the hall of the House at one
o'clock on said last Monday of January, and
herein are performed The President of the
Senate is to preside and open all certificates
and papers purporting to be certificates of votes
cast for President or Vice President and after
so opening them the papers shall be delivered
to the committee above provided for, who shall
proceed to examine the same and report in
writing as soon as possible the state of the vote
and what person or persons have been, pursu'
ant to law, elected President or Vice President.
IT, when the report is made, any question is
raised by any senator or member of the House
touching the legal validity of any vote or pro-
ceedngs of the committee the two Houses
shall consider the question separately, and II
they concur. their Judgment shall stand, and
the vote of the committee be modified accord
ingly. But if the two Houses do not concur
then the report of the committee shall stand,
and persons so declared elected shall be deem
ed prinad facie entitled to exercise the functions
of their offices, subject to any contest made in
due course OF law.
ciary Committee, reported adversely on the bill
to authorize the Attorney General to adjust the
claim of the government with the purchaser OF
the property of Harper's Ferry, and it was in
definitely postponed. u
Mr. Clayton, from the Committee on Militia
ffair xvithnut amQn0mant hill
limiting time in which applications for bounty
lands are to be received, and dsposing Of sus
pended cases after certain dates. Placed on
calendar.
Mr.. Boutwell, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported with amendment bill pro-
viding for the survey and disposal of the tim
Der lands of the United States. Placed on the
calendar. s.
Mr. Washburn of Massachusetts,, introduced
bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury
to issue an American register to the ScneOner
Matilda Commerce.
Mr. Pratt, from the Committee on Pensions
reported unfavorably on the bill to provide that
all pensions on account of death wounds or DIS
ease contracted in the service of the United
States since March 4, 1861, which have been
granted on applications which have been filed
previous to Jan. 1, 1875, shall commence from
date of date of death or discharge an for the
payment of arrears OF pensions, and IL was III
definitely postponed -
MT. scott, from Lne CCmmlCtee On EiuanCe,
reported with amendment the House bill to
amend the national bank act and fixing the
compensation of national bank examiners.
The amendment provides that persons ap-
pointed to make examinations OF natlonal
banks in redemption cities shall receive such
compensation as may be fixed by the Secretary
of the Treasury on recommendation OF the
Comptroller of the Currency.
Mr. Logan of Illinois, from the Committee
on Military Affairs, reported with amendment,
the bill for the relief of certain states and ter
ritories on account of ordnance stores issued to
them during the late civil war. Placed on CAL
endar. sT i... .-..
The bill to facilitate the disposition of cases
in the Supreme Court of the United States was
passed.
The House bill to amend the 23d paragraph
of section g. of the act to regulate fees and
costs of clerks marshals and attorneys of Cir
cult and District Courts of the United States,
approved Feb. 26, 1858, was amended and pass
ed.
The-Senate bill for the relief of the District
Judge of Vermont was passed.
The House bill to extend the provisions OF
the act approved March g. 1867, to provide for
the COLLECTION of debts due from southern rail
roads was amended and passed. AN u =
The House bill relating to the punishment OF
manSlaughter was amended and passed.
Mr.. Sprague, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported with an amendment in the ma
ture of substitute, a bill to secure homesteads
to actual settlers on the public domain. Placed
on the calendar. --i' il4-+ l.ili' i'- .ls''
Mr.. Cameron, from the Committee on For
eign Affairs, reported favOraby on the JOINT
resolution authorizing the President to appoint
a commissioner to attend the international PEN
itentiary congress at Rome, next year. Placed
on the calendar. 70 -. ..s.. ... .l. .IH e.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution of Mr.. Schufz.
Senate went into executive session and sub
Spuupntly adjourned. .lr..fss ..t.E- .erHElfr
HOUSE.
A bill to pay the February interest on the
3.65 bonds of the District of Columbia was re-
ported for passage, but on objection 1t was sent
to the committee of the whole, where 1T can
only be reached in its regular order or by sus-
pension of the rules on Monday. irg --1-
The bill to wind up the Freedmen's Bank
with one commissioner instead of three as re-
ported was discussed, hut sent over without ac-
ton. EE.-~Eaag. .tss-HE .l7 4sgs
The judiciary committee, having the day as
signed to it made reports on various subjects,
including one to amend the Constitution by
making the Presidential term six years. and
declaring the President eligible to office The
question was discussed.
The morning hour expired and bill went over
till next morning hour. III Et$k 3..t .
Mr.. French of Ohio, from judiciary commit
tee, reported a bill providing that Mexican cti,
Zens residing in territories acquired by United
States from Mexico who chose to retain their
those territories, shall havel and enjoy all the
rights and privileges of o. s. citizens, and may
become naturalzed without any previous decla-
ration of intention.
Mr.. Hale of New York offered an amend
ment providing that the bill shall not be con-
strued to give any person standing before the
American and Mexican committee who is not
now entitled to such standing. Amendment
agreed to and bill passed.
Mr.. Eldredge of Wisconsin, from judiciary
committee, reported adversely bill to create
new State out of certain portions of Louisiana
and Texas. Laid on table.
He also reported bill extending for 3 years
the time within which the claims for back pay
bounties, extra pay or pensions may be prose-
cuted in court of claims.
On point of order by Mr.. Willard of YER
mont, the bill was sent to committee of whole.
Mr.. Tremain of New York, from judiciary
committee made an adverse report on bill to
make further provision for arrest and detention
and delivery Of domestic fugitves from justice;
and on a petition of citizens of New York to
amend the naturalization laws; and on a prop
osition to amend the Constitution by providing
that nothing but gold and silver coin shasi be
made a legal tender. Reports were laid on the
table, r.
Mr.. Potter remarked he dissented from, last
report.
He also reported bill to provide for redemp-
ton of over due bonds of United States known
as the Texas indemnity bonds. There are 149
one thousand dollar bonds belonging to State of
Texas, which were taken from there during the
war and sold in Europe to Peabody & Co., for
which SAID State had received no consideration.
The party holding them refuse to present them