The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-28
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June q.
A communication was received from Mayor
Stokely of Philadelphia, requesting that the
document entitled the administrators of the
government at the beginning of its second GEN.
fury be brought to Philadelphia by Congress
and there unveiled, and a member of Congress
otficiate as orator on the Fourth of July. The
document contains the names of all the leglsla-
tive and executive members of the government
Referred to the Committee on Privileges.
Mr.. Anthony reported back a letter of the
Secretary of the Treasury containing long list
of names of persons said to be defaulters or
debtors to the Treasury since 1886. The report
recommends laying it on the table and it be
not printed.
Mr.. Anthony said in the long list he found
the name of Washington Irving mentioned as
defaulter to the amount of three cents An
other high officer was put down as defaulter
to the amount of one cent. He also found in
the list the names of the Washington bankers
Corcoran and Riggs, and the English bankers,
Barring Bros, and it was well known they were
not defaulters. Worse than that, the English
government itself was put down as defaulter.
1t was about matter which occurred in 1813
amounting to $2100, but the Secretary of State
said he had no doubt it had been settled long
ago Nevertheless it stood OF the books of the
Treasury Department. He mentioned these
cases as instances of the many useless ones re-
ported, and argued that it was not the object
of the Senator from West Virginia to have the
names of theseipersons published as defaulterS
when he submitted the resolution. The defal-
cation in the administration of Martin Van
Buren, average $21 Is in every $1,000 of revenue
collected. Since then there has been steady
decline in the amount of defacaton down to
the present.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, from the Conference
Committee on the legislative, judicial and exc
cutive appropriation bills, reported that the
committee had been unable to agree. He NOV
ed that the Senate insist upon its amendments
and agree to the new conference asked by the
House,
Mr.. Morrill, said that the chief points of DIFF
ference between the two Houses were first up
on the general reduction of salaries and upon
the reduction touching the municipal force in
the departments proposed by the House.
On the latter question the action of the Sem
ate had been to concur in the action of the
House to ascertain its extent, but on the first
the Senate committee felt bound to appropriate
money to carry out the existing law.
MIR. MOrrilPS motion was agreed to- and the
Chair appointed Mr. Morrill, of Maine, Allison
and Norwosd as members of the committee on
the part OF the Senate.
The bill to regulate the assessment and COL
lection of taxes for the support of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia was amneded
and passed.
Mr.. Bogy withdrew his amendments hereto
fore submitted fixing the relative value of gold
and silver at 159 to ], providing that silver shalt
be received for duties on imports and issued in
| payment of interest on the public debt leaving
| his third amendment to make silver legal
tender for all sums, standing.
Mr.. Logan reported from the Committee on
Military Affairs the House joint resolution to
| authorize the issue of arms, &C., with lamend-
ments,a (which provide that the number of arms
| to be issued to any state mentioned shall not
| exceed 500; also that the government of sue b
states and territories shall certify to the Secre.
| tary of War that the issue of such arms is eec-
| essary to protect said states and territories
| against Indians, and shall give good and suffi
| Gent bonds to return the same when called for.
The amendments were agreed to and the
| joint resolution passed.
Mr.. Sherman gave notice that he would ask
| the Senate to remain in session to- morrow and
| dispose of the DILL for the issue of COIN
The Senate held an executive session and adj
| journed.
HOUSE.
Mr..Dibbrell OF Tennessee, from the Commit.
| tee on Public Expenditures, reported bill re-
duclng the expenses of collecting customs.
referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsylvania, from the Com.
mlttee on Manufacturing, reported bill pro-
vlding for commission of skilled mechanics
to attend the Centennial exhibition 1t au-
| thorizes the President to appoint one mechanic
| from each congressional district to attend the
| exhibition and make full report in writing of
all thatise important and useful to the industries
of the country. Referred to the Committee Of
| the Whole.
MT. SeelYe OF massachusetts, from the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs, reported bill in re.
gard to the sales of spirituous liquors in Indian
Territory. Passed.
Mr.. Boone of Kentucky, from the same COM
mittee, reported bill providing for the sale of
| the Cherokee strip of land in Kansas Passed.
A bill was reported from the Committee on
| Indian Affairs declaring the country north of
North Platte and east of the submits Of Big
Horn Mountain in Wyoming open to explora-
| ton and settlement
Mr.. Payne, chairman of the select committee
| on charges against the clerk of the House, SUBJ
mitted an unanimous report generating Mr..
Adams from all the charges made against him
IN regard to receiving pecuniary consideration
Tor appointments made by him. Adopted.
MIR. Jones of Kentucky called up as special
order the bill authorizing the Washington. Gin
cinnati 81 st. Louis Railroad Company to con-
Struct narrow gauge railroad from the tide
water on or at the Atlantic Ocean to Chicago
and st. Louis.
Various amendments were offered and adopt
ed, among them one by Mr.. Douglass provid-
ing that this corporation sh all not have author.
ity to survey or locate its line through any state
until such state shall by legislative enactment
confer the power. The bill was then referred
to the Committee of the Whole
Senate amendments to the army appropria-
alton bill were referred to the Committee on
Appropriations.
Mr.. Banks of Massachusetts, introduced a
joint resolution authorizing the President to
invite the international congress to hold its 10th
session in the United States. Referred
Adjourned.