The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-11
Forty Fourth C0ngress-First Session.
SENATE.


polygamy law of 1862, and the Poland bill, and
that Utah be admitted as a state in the Union.
etc. In presenting the petition Mr.. Sargent
said he did not concur in the object of the petit
TONERS but believed in the right to petition,
and therefore laid the matter before the Senate
as requested. Referred to the Committee on
Territories.
The Chair laid before the Senate a communi-
cation from the Secretary of War showing the
expenditures made at the Springfield armory
the past year. Ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. Thurman of Ohio presented the petitions
OF citizens of Ohio asking the repeal of the re-
sumption act passed at the last session, and al
so the enactment of a law to provide for the re-
tirement of national bank notes aud the substi.
tuition therefor of legal tender notes and the
issue of 3.65 convertible bonds. Referred to
the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Sargent of California, presented the me-
mortal of the California Vinecultural Society,
setting forth the various facts in regard 20 the
culture of The grape vine and the manufacture
of brandy, and asking relief. Referred TO the
Committee on Finance. In presenting the me-
mortal Mr.. Sargent said :s'In France one billion
five hundred million gallons wine were produced
annually valued at $30,00O,00O. Five million
people were engaged in the culture of grape,
and it has been stated that two vintages paid
the indem atty exacted of France by Germany.
California has about the same area of land as
France, and one-half of it is suitable to grape
culture. At present there are 10000, 900 vines
in the state. There is prejudice against
California wine and frequently higher price is
paid for an inferior ferelgn article. The result
is that grapes in California are frequently fed
to hogs The remedy to be applied at present
is relaxation of the rules in reference TO the
taxation of brandy. The memorialsts desire
that there should be a species of government
warehouse provided in which the vine could be
stored and the tax paid to the government at
the time the vine or brandy went upon the
rIrnf
to fishermen, dscriminates in the tariff in ia
vor OF shipbuilding, etc., to all of which have
no objection, but hope the same policy will be
extended to the interests of California
Mr.. Sargent said he hoped the matter would
be considered by the Finance Committee,
though he knew no bill in regard to the sub
ject could originate in the Senate. The matter
could come up on revenue bill from the
House and he would then ask to be heard fur
Their on the subject.
Mr.. Conover Of Florida submitted the follow
ing:
Resolved, That in compliance with the will
OF the people the precedents of history the
best established principles of inter national law,
the precepts Of Christian rule and morality and
the requirements of the commercial and politi-
cal interests of the United States, and taking
into consideration the relations existing be-
tween the United States and Spain and it is
desirable that the reciprocal sentiments of the
good understanding between the tw1 people
and governments should not be changed by
reason of the grave events which for seven
the President of the United States be and
hereby is authorized and requested to
declare and maintain the strictest neutrality
between the government of Spain an the peo-
pie of Cuba. And be it futher
Resolved, That in making this declaration
through the usual form of a proclamation and
in order to protect the citizens of the United
States and merchants and navigators in gener-
al from injury in any way for want of precise
and clear regulations to govern them in this
matter, the President of the United States be
and hereby is authorized and requested to place
in full force and operation the same provisions
made and enacted by the government of Her
Majesty the Queen of Spain, on July 18th,
1861, on the occasion of the outbreak of the
civil war in the United States.
Ordered to be printed and laid on the table.
Mr.. Sargent introduced bill to amend and
supplemental to the act for the creation of the
court of Alabama claims. Referred to the
Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Hamlin Of Maine, from the Committee
on Rules, reported back the resolution submit
ted by Mr.. Edmunds before the holiday recess
to adopt the joint rules of the present session
with the recommendation thatit be passed, and
asked its present consideration.
Mr.. Morton moved an amendment to except
the 22d joint rule. Pending the discussion on
the motion of Mr.. Thurman further considera-
ton of the subject was postponed until to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Whyte of Maryland, submitted the fol-
lowing:
Resolved, That the people of the several
states, acting in their highest sovereign capaci-
ty as free and Independent states, adopted the
federal constitution and established form of
government in the nature of confederated Re-
public, and for the purpose of carrying into
effect the object for which it was formed, dele
gated t. that government certain rights enum-
Grated in said constitution reserved to the states
respectively, or to the people thereof all the
residuary powers not delegated to the constitu-
ton nor prohibited by it to the states Ordered
printed and to lie Oh the table.
The annual report of the Librarian of Con-
gress was ordered printed.
Mr.. Morton said it had been suggested to him
by several senators that the report Of the Com
mittee on Elections in regard to the President
pro tempore of the Senate should have been &C
companled by resolution embracing the con-
illusions of the committee. He therefore SUBJ
mitted resolutions to that effect.
The following are the resolutions:
Resolved, That the term of President pro
tenapofe of the Senate elected at one session
does not expire at the meeting of Congress af-
ter the first recess, the President not having
appeared to take the chair.
Resolved, That the death of the Vice Presi-
dent does not have the effect to vacate the Of
flee of President pro tenlpOre of the Senate.
Resolved, That the Hon. Thomas w. Ferry,
the Senator from Michigan, who was elected
President pro tenlpore of the Senate at the last
session, is now President pro tempore by virtue
of said election.
Ordered printed and to lie on the table.
Withers of Virginia, introduced bill appro-
priating 100000 for continuing the improve
ment of James River at aud below Richmond.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill authorizing
the appointment Of receivers of national banks
or,1 far nf1a Pnfar 4 81 ,oT ~,
mittee on Finance.
Mr.. Hamilton of Texas introduced bill to
secure the speedy completion of the Texas
Pacific Railroad from a point at or near Mar
shall, Texas, to the southeastern boundary of
the state of California, and to authorize the
Southern Pacific Railroad to aid in building
the same, and also to build a branch of its road
to San Diego, Cal. Referred to the Committee
on Railroads.
Mr.. Sargent of California introduced bill to
restore lands continually granted, the condi-
ton of which have lapsed, to the public domain
Referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. Anthony submitted resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds to inquire and report whether the
monuments erected by order of the Senate to
the memory of deceased Senators have been
placed over the remains of those Senators and
suitably inscribed, andalso whether there are
any deceased Senators unhonored by the erec-
ton of monuments. Agreed to.
Mr.. Ingalls submitted resolution that the
Secretary of the Interior be requested to report
to the Senate what amounts had been expend-
ed under the appropriation of 100000 for the
support, education and civilization of 5000 cap
tive Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Kowa and Comanche
Indians; for what purposes the money had been
spent. to whom it had been paid and whether
any Indians have received the benefit of said
expenditure. Agreed to.
Mr. Sargent presented memorial of officers
and seamen on vessels captured by rebel cruis-
ers and destroyed, they having been absent in
pursuit of their avOcation when the time ex-
pired for filing such claims before the Alabama
court, and asking that such time be extended.
Referred to the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Cameron of Pennsylvania presented the
petition of Jno. T. Pickett and Joseph j.
Stewart on behalf of certain claimants for in
demnity for spoiations committed by the
French prior to 1901, and praying that the gov.
eminent of the United States will take the nee
essary steps to obtain from the French govern
ment the evidence of such spoliations alleged
to be in possession of that government. Refer
red to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The Chair presented joint resolution of the
legislature of Michigan, asking Congress for an
appropriation for the survey of a Michigan ship
canal from the mouth of the Kalamazoo river
on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan to the
mouth of the river Raisin on Lake Erie Re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. Dorsey presented joint resolution of the
Arkansas Legislature, asking a donation of
public lands for educational purposes Referred
to the Committee on Public Lands.
The Senate al LIS proceeded to the consider
alton of executive business, and at ]. 80 the