The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-01
FOrtj Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 81.
Mr.. Cragih called up the Semitic bill for the
relief af Martha j. Coston, authorizing the
payment of $4,000 to her for the use of
the Coston signal light by the United States.
Mr. Wright moved to amend by striking out
$4,000 and inserting in lieu thereof $4,000.
Agreed TO, and the bill as amended passed
Mr., Allison, from the Committee on Peu-
sions, reported favorably on the Senate bill to
amend the pension laws so as to remove the
disabilities of those who having participated in
the rebellion, have siuce enlisted in the army
OF the United States. Placed on the calendar.
AT the expiration of the morning hour the
bill relative to the Japanese indemnity fund
was taken up, the pending question being on
the amendment submitted by Mr., Thurman
when the bill was last before the Senate, to
strike out the clause authorizing the return of
all accumulations of interest and insert in lieu
thereof a clause authorizing the return of the
sum paid by the government of Japan without
interest.
Mr. FreIinghuysen said the Japanese fund
now amounted to $1,4140 5l. The amount of
charges against it were $50 for money ex-
pended by the Navy Department, which should
be paid out of that fund, and $125,00O prize
money for the officers and crews of the United
States ships jamestown and Wyoming. The
amount received from Japan if returned with
8 per cent. interest would be $685. 56
After a long debate Mr. Thurman's amend
ment was.reJected-18 to %, and the bill re-
ported to the Senate, when Mr. Hamilton of
Texas moved to strike out the second section
of the bill, which authorizes the payment of
prize money to the officers and crews of the
Wyoming and jamestown. Rejected-yeas Is,
nays 30.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved to amend so as to
authorize the return of the money after de-
Quoting all payments properly chargeabe to
said fund. Agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman moved to amend by striking
out the clause authorizing the return of the
fund with all Accommodations of interest, and
insert in lieu thereof a clause authorizing the
return of the principal only. Agreed to-yeas
%, nays q.
Mr. Sherman moved to amend SO as to pro.
vide that the residue of said fund, after return
ing the principal so far as the same is in
bonds, shall be delivered to the Secretary of the
Treasury to be cancelled, and that portion of it
in money shall be covered into the Treasury of
the United States. Agreed to.
Several other amendments were offered and
rejected, and the bill passed-24 to 20.
Executive session followed, after which the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Jones of Ketucky offered resolution
declaring it the sense of the House that Con-
gress should pass without delay bill repeating
the resumption act and should prohibit any
further contraction of currency;Gf necessary to
meet the demands of the peope) should pro-
vide for its increase and should provide for the
displacement of national bank notes with U.
.. uOIeS. duu snOulQ also PROVIDE Tor speedy
return to gold and silver. Referred to tue Com
mittee on Banking aud Currency.
Mr.. Baker of Indiana asked leave to offer
resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for the report of the amount of internal
revenue taxes paid by the Baltimore and Ohio
r. r. Co., and by the Central Pacific r. r.
from the LIST of July, 1864, to 31st of Dece mber
1871.
Mr. O'Brien objected.
Mr. Morey of Louisiana rose to personal ex
PLANTATION in reference to the testimony given
by Mr.. Seelye before the committee charged
with the investestig alton of the federal offices
in Louisiana. he declared that all the state
ments made BY that witness charging him
with crimes and impugning his honor and in
tegrity we're false and Infamous.
The House proceeded to the consideration
Louisan contested election case of Spencer VS..
Morey.
After long discussion the minority resolu-
tions were rejected-Yeas TO- nays 100, and the
majority resolutions declaring Morey the sitting
member, not entitled to the seat and VIM. B.
Spencer entitled to it, was adopted without di-
vision.
Mr.. Durham from the committee on revision
of laws, reported a bill to perfect the statutes
of the United States He stated that the bill
was the joint work of the committee of the
House and Senate perfecting statutes as they
were on the LIST of January, 1873. No new leg
islation bad been entered upon but it was SIM
ply correction of errors and perfecting of
statutes. On suggestion of Mr.. Holman the
bill was postponed till tomorrow.