The Portland daily press., 1875-12-18
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
Mr.. English of CT, presented memorial OF
the citizens of Connecticut asking the repeal of
thesbankrupt act. Referred to judiciary commit
tee.
Various memorials askingl the appointment
OF commission to inquire into the alcoholic
liquor traffic We're presented and referred to the
finance committee of the House.
Mr.. Edmunds of Vermont submitted the fol-
lowing:
Resolved, That the 9TH of January next at 1
O'Clock in the afternoon, the Senate procede to
the election OF president pro tenn.
Mr.. Edmunds said he offered this resolution
and would like it to lie over and be printed in
order that during the recess, senators might
look up the presidents and consider the i'm
portant question which had been suggested in
the newspapers and otherwise, in respect to
the Speaker of the House of Representatives
and president of the Senate in the event of
what in the course of life was probable con-
tingency. He had no personal doubt that the
present presiding officer of the Senate was
president pro tempore within the constitution.
His opinion was that it was advisable is there
were any possible doubt about it, that the Sen.
ate should put the question at rest.
Mr.. Thurman suggested that the senator
from Vermont consent to have the resolution
referred either to the judiciary committee of
which he (Edmunds) was chairman. or to
the committee on elections. If referred to
committee. a report could be made and the
Senate shoald have report on it from some
committee.
Mr.. Boutwell, suggested that it be referred to
the judiciary committee.
MIR. Thurmansmoved that it be referred to
the committee on elections.
Mr.. Salisbury said he was a member of the
committee on elections, but he did not seek
to avoid any duty. 1t occurred to him that
this question properly belonged to the judiciary
committee, and he moved to refer it to that
committee.
Mr.. Edmunds said he was willing to have it
referred and the motion of Mr.. Salisbury was
agreed to- Subsequently that motion was re-
considered and the resolution was referred to
| the committee on elections.
Mr.. Dawes presented memorial of VIM.
Re urre and others of Pittsfeld. Mass, for the
repeal of the tax on proprietary medicines.
Referred TO the committee on finance.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine presented a memorial
of George w. Lawrence of Maine asking com
penSatiOn for extra labor and materials required
| in building certain gunboats forthe government
in consequence of changes of mode in the
| contract. Referred to the committee on naval
affairs.
Mr.. English of Connecticut presented me-
| mortal of the citizens of New Haven for an
amendment to the internal revenue laws with
reference to peddlers of tobacco. Referred to
the committee on finance.
The Chair laid before the Senate the unfn-
ished business, it being the resolution of the
| senator from Indiana (Morton) authorizing
the appointment of special committee to in
| quire into the recent election in Mississippi.
Owing to the absence of many senators it was
laid over till Monday, and the Senate went in
| to executive session after which it adjourned.
HOUSE.
Petitions were presented by Mr.. Ward from
wholesale grocers of New York, for the restor-
| alton of the former rates of postage on mer-
| chandse samples
| By Mr.. Starkweather, from citizens of Mys-
| tic Bridge and Harwch, Ct, for the establish
| ment of signal station on Block Island, to be
| connected with the main land by telegraph
| cable.
| Mr.. Blair of New Hampshire, rising to cor
| rection of the Journal, stated that he voted
| Wednesday for the resolution against the third
| term and was not so recorded.
The senate amendment to the resolution for
| adjournment, postponing the day of meeting
| from the 4th to the 9TH Of January, was agreed
| to.
The speaker, abiding to the necessity of hay-
| ing committee on enrolled bills in respect to
| bills that might pass congress before the holt
| days adjournment, appointed Mr.. Harris of
| Georgia as such a committee.
| BY Slemons OF Arkansas, resolution calling
| on the Attorney-G General for information as to
| the number of prisoners held by the authority
| of the United States government in the differ
ent state prisons, with the annual expense
| thereof Adopted.
By Mr.. Conger of Michigan, for better pro-
| lection of emigrants and to prevent the i'm
pOrtatiOn of animals.
By MIR. Oliver of Iowa, to abolish capital
| punishment.
By Mr.. Russell of Wisconsin, providing that
| all pensions on account of death from wounds
| or disease received in the service shall
| commence from the date of death or discharge,
also granting pensions to soldiers and sailors of
the Mexican war.
Mr.. Gage of California, offered the following
| resolution.
Whereas, The Constitution Of the Unite
States, as framed by the fathers of the repub-
| lie, imposes no limits on the eligibility of any
| citizens to the Office of President, farther than
that he must be native born and of certain
| age and time Of residence, therefore
| Resolved, That in the Judgment of this house
| the right of selecting candidates for Office of
President can only be lawfully exercised by
the people under existing constitutional restric-
| tions, Gnd has never been delegated by the peo-
pie to the house of representatives, or to any of
the members of the same, and that any attempt
by the house of representatives to limit or fore
| stall the public will, on question of such i'm
| portance, is an invasion of the powers reserved
by the people at large, to be freely exercised by
| them without any interference from any legis-
| lative body whatever.
The reading of the resolution was greeted
| with laughter on both sides of the house, and
| the house refused to second the previous ques-
| ton 80 to SO.
| By Mr.. Dunnell of Maine, to regulate the
| survey and sale of timber lands of the United
States; also to provide for the equalization of
| soldiers bounties.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio, introduced the follow
| ing which was agreed to:
Whereas, The incorporation of general legis-
| lation on appropriation bills sometimes re-
| quires either the support of Objectionable pro-
visions or opposition to necessary appropria-
| tions, and
| Whereas, Every measure should stand on its
own merit, therefore,
| Resolved, That the committee on rules be di-
| rected to report an amendment to the rules,
which shall exclude from appropriation bills
all general legislation either on reports of con-
| fetence committees or otherwise
Mr.. Cox of New York, offered the following
resolution, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the committee on foreign af-
| fairs inquire into, and report upon, the expe-
diency and justice of giving to the German EN-
pire the notice required by the fifth article of
| the treaty with the North German Empires,
signed February 22d, 1868, for the termination
| of said treaty or so much thereof, and of the
protocol of June 18th, 1871, as related to citi-
| zens of the United States and their renuncia-
| ton of naturalization, and their political con-
dition in Germany under said treaty and pro-
| tocol.
| The house at 2.15 p. m. adjourned until Mon
| day next with the understanding that the bust
ness on that day be confined to the presentation
| by the speaker, of any communications he may
| have to Make.
TRANSPORTATION Convention.