The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-16
Forty Fourth Congress-First Sessi en-
Final Adjournment OF Both Branches.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. D, c.. A

SENATE.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. August IA.
The committee on printing and public build
ngS ard grounds were authorized to sit during
recess.
The Senate considered the House bills grant
ing pensions to various persons and large
number were passed, but before acting upon
all on the calendar motion for executive ses-
sion was made by Mr.. Anthony and was agreed
to and at l.. 80 the galleries were cleared and
the doors closed.
At2o'clock the doors were reopened and
the House bill to provide for the payment of
full month wages to certain employees recently
discharged from the service of the
bureau of engraving and printing of the Treas
ury Department was passed without amend
ments.
Mr. West submitted a resolution to pay the
pages OF the Senate $3 per diem till Aug. 3Oth.
Agreed to, yeas %, nays Is.
On motion of Mr.. Window the Senate by ~
yeas to II nays, receded from the amendment
to the House bill to provide the necessary
means to defray the expenses of the District OF
Columbia till Dec LIST, 1876 and the bill was
passed MS it came from the House.
On motion of Mr.. Logan the Senate insisted
upon its amendments to House bill to authorize
the President to accept the services of volun-
teers to aid in the suppression OF Indian hos
tilities, and committee of conference was
asked.
Messrs. Logan, Hitchcock and Maxey were
appointed on the part of the Senate.
Mr.. Window called up the House res olution
providing for the final adjournment of Con-
gress and moved to amend it so as to provide
that final adjournment take place at 3 O'Clock
this afternoon.
Several Senators objected and the motion
was Withdrawn.
the President enclosing report from the Sec
rotary of State in answer to the Senate resolu-
ton of July 24th tosthe number of, civil Off
Gers and employees in The statesdepartment.
Mr.. Cragin said that the report of the Secre-
tary of State had just submitted completed
list of reports from the several executive de-
partments of the government as to the number
of civil employees therein from 1859 to 1875, in
elusive and proceeded to show that instead of
there having been S0,637 employees in all the
departments in 1873 as has been charged by the
Senator from North Carolina (Merrimon) there
were but 81, 312, and instead of "a, 119 in 1875
there were but 62,172. Then it had been said
again that the gradual increase in the post
Office department since 1871 of $4,000 per an
mum was caused by the appointment of new
postmasters, and in the Treasury Department
the total increase since 1871 had been $4,000 as
ing his reports. The increase in the War De
partment was but $500.
The report was ordered to be printed and
laid on the table.
The House bill to authorize the construction
of bridge across the Missouri river at or near
Sioux City, Iowa, passed.
The House bill relieving the state of Kansas
from charges on account of ordnance stores fur
nished Kansas territory was passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, by request introduced bill to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to re-
ceive the educational material now on exhibit
ton at the centennial exhibition. Referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The House bill to amend sec. 5 of the act to
provide for the requirement. of Pennsylvania
avenue so the same should be completed by
Jan. Is, 1877, was passed.
The amendment of the House to the bill to
encourage and promote Geographic commune
ration between America and Asia was agreed
to and the bill passed.
The Chair presented a message from the
President returning without his approval the
Senate bill to provide for the sale of port ion
of the reservations of the coufederated Otoe
and Missouri bands of indians and the Sac and
Fox in Kansas and Nebraska Also another
message from the President stating that he
was convinced after further consideration that
his message returning the bill without his sig
nature was premature and requesting that the
bill might be returned to him for his sigma.
ture.
Several Senators questioned the constitution
al power of the Senate to do so, and to avoid
difficulty the bill was passed over the veto
unanimously.
The Chair submitted a messge from the
President returning without approval the bill
for the relief of Maj Junius Tui ner, U. S. A
Referred to the Com mittee on Military Affairs
The House joint resolution appropriatne
$4,000 to defray the expenses Of the joint com
mission to frame permanent form of govern
ment for the District of Columbia was agreed
to.
The chair announced as members of the com
mittee on the part of the Senate, to frame
permanent form of government for the District
of Columbia, Messrs Sherman, Window and
Whyte.
The resolution of the House to pay the clerks
Of committees of the House, not receiving ar
annual salary, their per diem compensation fol
the month of August, was amended and
passed.
Mr.. Spencer of Ala, called up the resolution
submitted yesterday to provide for the appoint.
ment of special committee of five Senators to
inquire into the circumstances attending the
late election in Alabama. He argued that the
purpose of the Southern Democracy was tc
overcome the Republican majorities in that
section by fraud as fragrant and glazing as the
frauds were in that State in 1874. He was not
surprised to hear of ballot boxes being stuffed
now by the Democrats. 1t was declared by the
Democrats before the recent election that NO
matter how large the Republican vote NIGH
be the Democrats would carry the State. He
said the Republican administration in Alabams
had been marked by integrity, ability and
economy.
Several Senators on TIE Democratic side rose
to deba to the resolution.
Mr.: Spencer said if it would lead to debate he
would not press his motion to consider it, but
would let it go over till December next.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the House joint resolu-
ton providing for the appointment of COM
mission to inquire into the change which had
taken place in relation to gold and silver, the
causes thereof, &c. This resolution was pass.
ed.
The House bill relating to the promotion of
Commod0res on the retired list of the navy was
passed.
Mr.. Gordon submitted resolution reques t.
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a
commission to examine into the system and
devices employed in collecting theitax on dis
titled and fermented liquors and report to the
Senate at its next session. The resolution was
passed.
A large number of private bills passed and
the Senate at 6.15 went into executive session.
The report of the conference committee on
the bill to authorize the President to accept the
services of volunteers to aid in suppressng the
Indian hostilities was agreed to.
At 30 p. m. Mr.. Window called up the
House joint resolution providing for final ad-
houses adjourn at 7.30 p. m. to-day. Agreed
to and adopted.
Senate appointed joint committee with the
House to wait upon the President ands notify
him that Congress is ready to adjourn.
The Senate then at 6.45 took a recess till IT'S
Evening Session.
Mr.. McCreery submitted resolution return
ing the thanks of the Senate to the President
pro tenn. for the dignity, justice and impartial
ity with which he had presided over the delib.
erations of the Senate.
Mr. Ferry responded, and in conclusion
pronounced the first regular session of the SEN
ate of the Forty fourth Congress adjourne d
without day. Applause on the floor and in
the galleries)
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Randall the Senate amend
ments to the bill to defray the expenses of the
District of Columbia until Dec. 1st were non
concurred in.
Mr.. Morrison, chairman of the Committee
on Ways and Means, stated that the committee
had taken evidence in the alleged improper use
OF money to aid the passage of the Hawaiian
treaty bill, but there was nothing showing the
justice of such allegations. He therefore NOV
ed the committee be discharged from its further
consideration. So ordered
Mr.. Banning moved to non concur in the Sen
ate amendment to the House bill for volunteers
to aid in the suppression of Indian hostilities
He explained that the House bill provided fol-
5000 volunteer cavalry, and that the Senate
amendment provided for the increase OF the
regular cavalry regiment to 100 men for each
company. He asserted that the existing law
already authorized that increase, but if men
were needed for the Sioux war they were need.
ed Immediately, and could be got on the from
tier where men knew Indian oh a raoter ma how,