The Portland daily press., 1876-02-04
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 3.

StrucJlng Inc COMMITTEES on Lne DlStflCt Ell Co
lumba to inquire inta the expedency of pro-
viding proper form of government for the
District and report by bill or otherwise Agreed
to-
Mr.. Wther, from tie Committee on Pensions,
reported substitute for the Senate bill to
amend the act of July IA, 1871, granting PEN
sions to certain soldiers aud sailors of the war
OF 1872, and WIDOWS of deceased soldiers, and
to restore to the pension rolls those persons
whose names were stricken therefrom in conse
dar.
Mr. Eaton submitted resolution that any
further issue of 1865 bonds, authorized under or
by virtue of the act of Congress of June 10th,
1874, is hereby prohibited. any law to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. He asked the present
consideration of the resolution and said that be
had been informed by the best authority that
one week ago to day the board having power to
issue these bonds passed resolution that no
more of these bonds be issued for one week,
they supposing the question would have passed
from the consideration of Congress by that
time. Since then, however, in defiance of that
resolution bonds to the amount of 100000 had
been issued.
Mr.. Sargent asked if that resolution was not
passed by the Sinking Fund Commissioners.
Mr.. Eaton replied that it was passed by the
board having power TO issue the bonds.
Mr.. Sargent-That is the Sinking Fund Com
mission, one of whom is W. w. Corcoran.
Objection was made to the present consdera-
manded the regular question, being bill to re-
peal section 2023, r. s., making restrictions in
the disposal of public lands in Alabama, Miss
issippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida, the
pending question being the amendment of Mr..
Thurman, that the repeal of said section shall
rot have the effect to impair the rights of any
homestead settlers and no land occupied by
such settlers at the time this act shall take eff
feet shall be subject to entry, presumption ar
SALE
Mr. DO in fau Of
The debate was oninued by Messrs. ingalls,,
Clayton and Norwood.
The Senate, at the expiration of the morning
hour, resumed the consideration of the bill to
pay the interest on the 8 65 bonds of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The pending question being on the amend
ment of Herman, that any further issue of 3 65
bonds under or BY virtue of said act If Con-
gress, approved June 20, 1874 is hereby prohib-
tied, was agreed to.
follows: "And there shall be no increase in
the present amount of total Indebtedness OF
the District of Columbia" 1t was agreed to.
Mr.. Hamilton of Texas submitted an amend
the paving and grading of streets and alleys be
discontinued until authorized by law"
The discussion was continued by Hamilton,
Morrill, (Me.), Salisbury, Sargent and Bogy.
Hamilton's amendment to discontinue the paw
ing and grading of streets, ETC., was objected to
by Mr.. Sargent as too sweeping and was reject
ed, yeas 81, nays 81. Messrs, Hamilton, Cra-
gin, Hitchcock, Logan and Oglesby voting
with the Democrats, in the affirmative
Mr.. Edmunds submitted an amendment that
any officer or person who shall knowingly in
crease or abet in increasing such total indebted
ness shall be deemed guilty of high misde-
meanor and on conviction thereof shall be pun.
ished by Imprisonment not exceeding ten years
and by fine not exceeding $4,000. Agreed
Mr.. Stephenson of Kentucky Submitted an
amendment providing that the board of audit
created by act, for the government of the Dis
trct OF Columbia, appointed June 20, 1874, is
hereby abolished and shall Immediately upon
the approval of this resolution transmit all
books and property in their possession, belong
ing to the district, to the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia and make report of pro-
ceedings not hitherto made. Agreed to.
Mr. Eaton of Connecticut submitted an
amendment, "and provided further, that this
| resolution shall not in any way or manner re-
cognize the liability of the United States to pay
either the principal and interest of any such
bonds as may have been issued on or since the
| 9th day of January, 1867 After debate
| the amendment of Mr.. Eaton was agreed to.
A joint resolution was then reported to the
Senate, and the question being first on the
| amendment proposed by the Committee on APP
preparations 10 strike out of the resolution as
| it came from the House the proviso that any
further issue of 365 bonds is hereby prohibited;
and provided further, that nothing in this reso-
| luton contained shall involve the government
| OF the United States in any obligation to pay the
| principal or interest of any such bonds which
| have been issued in pursuance of law, it was
concurred in.
The question then being on concurring in the
amendments made in committee of the whole
they were concurred in.
MIR. Hamlin moved to recommit it to the
Committee on Appropriations. Rejected,
The joint resolution as amended was then
passed.
After taking up the Pinchback resolution the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Clymer of Pa, offered resolution d.
recting the Secretary of War to report the en-
| tire cost for the last fiscal year of the signal
service. adopted.
MIR. Wheeler of N. Y, offered a resolution
directing the committee on appropriations to
insert an item appropriating $25OO to the wild
| ow of the late Ell. c. Starkweather. Adopted.
Mr.. Glover of Mo-, offered resolution re-
citing the belief that certain political and per-
| sonal influence had been exerted to secure the
removal of a certain federal judge and the ap-
| pointment of another in Colorado, for the cor
rupt purpose of procuring certain orders aud
| DEGREES concerning certain mining interest,
now in litigation, and directing the Attorney
| General to furnish copies of letters and papers
| asking the removed of Judge Bedford, and for
| the appointment of Judge Stone in his stead
| Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill reported by Mr.. Williams of Ind,
chairman of the committee ON accounts, for the
| payment of IA disabled soldiers on the rolls of
| the House, led to considerable discussion as to
| whether there were so many y MON soldiers
now on the rolls, Mr. FOort undertaking to de-
| ny that there were and Messrs. Holman and
Williams maintaining to the contrary. Final
| ly the bill was passed.
Mr.. Atkins of Tenn, from the committee on
appropriations, reported resolution request
| ing the President to appoint competent ex-
perieDced military officer to execute the duties
of an Indian agent so far as to repair to the
| Red Cloud and other Sioux agencies to inquire
into the deficiency of the appropriation for the
Sioux Indians.
The bill regulating practice in the q. S. Dis
trict Courts which was before The House yes.
terday, was taken up and passed.
Mr.. Coaltield of ILL.,, from the judiciary COM
mittee, reported bill providing for expenses
not exceeding $40 day, of district judges
when holding court outside of their own dis
tricts.
After discussion the bill was recommitted
Mr.. Hunton of Va, from the same commit
tee, reported back adversely the bill to provide
that the heads OF the executive department.
may occupy seats on the floor of the House as
representatives Laid on the table. He also
reported bill for the relief of owners and pur.
chasers of lands sold for direct taxes in the in
SurrectiOnary states. Referred to the commit
| tee of the whole
Mr.. Lord of N. Y, on the same committee,
reported bill authorizing the u s. Court to
appoint commissioners to take afidavits, dep
osition and verication of pleading to be read
| in U. S Courts, but who are not to possess the
other powers conferred by the statutes on Cir
cult Court commissioners. After discussion
the bill was passed.
Mr.. Lawrence of o., from the same commit
| tee, reported back bill authorizing action in
the District of Columbia for damages in cases
of death resulting from wrong act, neglect or
default. During the discussion the morning
hour expired and the bill went over till to-
morrow.
Mr.. Larson introduced bill to encourage
commerce in vessels owned by citizens of the
United States. Referred to the committee on
commerce.
The House at o'clock went into the COM
mittee of the whole on the consular diplomatic
appropriation bill.
Mr.. Singleton of Miss who had charge Of
the bill as a member of the committee on APP
preparations, advocated the principle of econo-
my. He gave the aggregate reduction as COM
pared with the diplomatic appropriation bill
| last year at about 100000. Mr.. Singleton re-
ferred to what MIR. Hale of Maine had said last
week in reference to the claims of Southern
citizens, and said he wac tired of these refiec-
| lions upon Southern men. He was himself q
Southern man, from the top of his head to the
| sole of his foot, but he had not come here for
the purpose of getting up discord. The South,
| he said, had three schemes to accomplish IN