The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-01

to carry out existing laws and protect or pre-
serve the improvements existing or incom-
plete.
Mr.. Dawes further argued that the District
Commissioners had no right to pay for work
work ordered by them in Is bonds,
Mr.. Morton said he did not vote for the act
of June 10th, 1874, when it was before the
Senate because he was not in the Senate. Had
he been here he wonld have opposed it. he
did not regard it as party measure as it had
received the support of both parties. He ar
gued that in assuming the government of the
District of Columbia the United States assumed
the debts. He referred to the clause authoriz-
ing the issue of the 365 bonds, and said the
government was bound TO provide for them
because Congress authorized their ISSUE
Mr.. Morton gave notice that as soon as the
bill to pay the interest on the $3.50 bonds was
disposed of he would ask the Senate to take up
and dispose OF the resolution submitted by him
in regard to tho late election in Mis- sissippi.
Mr.. Cameron said he hoped not as he desired
to have the centennial bill considered as soon
as that now before the Senate was finished.
The debate was continued by Senators Mer-
rimon, Allison. Thurman, Frelinghuysen, Og-
lesby and Bayard. The latter finally remarked
that the House having adjourned no final ac-
ton could be taken on the bill to-day, and
moved Mr.. Sargent's bill be printed and that
the Senate adjourn, which resolution, after the
presentation of some petitions and unimport-
ant bills, was agreed to, 80 to 26, and the Sen
ATE al 4. I'D aOJ0urned.
HOUSE.
A large number of bills were introduced and
referred.
By Mr.. Stone of Mo-, organizing the National
Railroad Co. for the purpose of constructing,
operating and maintaining double track cheap
freight railroad from the Atlantic seaboard to
ST. Louis, Chicago and Council Bluffs, with
branches to other centres of population pro.
duction and commerce, and to regulate some of
the interests OF commerce among the states.
Mr.. Buckner offered a resolution directing
the Committee on the District of Columbia to
investigate the allegations that the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia have en-
larged and extended contracts to an extent not
contemplated or authorized in the act of 1872,
SO that the amount of the certificates issued is
but little short of 900, 900; that many of the
Improvements were made in the interests oil
favorteS and friends, and that large amount
of the certificates were issued illegally and
without warrant of law, and that corrupt and
improper means had been used to obtain the
allowance of false and fraudulent claims and
that the subordinate officers of the board of au-
dit were largely interested in many of the
claims allowed. Adopted.
Mr.. Landers of Indiana introduced the pro-
posed amendment to the constitution for the
levying of direct taxes according to the wealth
of the respective states. Referred
Mr.. j. ii. Bagley of New York offered a
resolution directing the Committee on Library
to take into consideration proposition to pur-
chase collections of plaster cut busts of Adams
Jefferson, Madison. Munroe, Lafayette and
other publ men. Adopted
Mr.. Hewett of New York offered resolution
calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for a
detailed statement showing the amount of
actual cash on hand in the Treasury and tn e
several repositories of the government at the
close of business on the 25th of Jan. 1877, speci
tying how much in fractional currency, legal
tender notes, national bank notes, gold, silver,
gold notes. &c. Adopted.
Mr.. Luttrell of CAL, offered resolution re-
citing that all the Pacific Railroad and branch
es to which bonds and subsidies were granted
by government have received from the United
States money subsidies amounting to over $64,
1000, land subsidies amounting to over 22O,-
100000 acres of the public domain, bond subs
dies amounting to, and interest ,amuontne
to. That it is but just and proper thai
the government and people should understand
the status of such roads and the disposition by
the company of the subsidies granted by the
government, and therefore instructing the Ju
dietary COMMITTEE to enquire and report
whether such companies have fully compile d
with the requirements of the law.
Second, whether such companies have form
ed within themselves construction companies
for the purpose of sub-letting their roads,
whether the money, land and bonds subsidies
have been properly applied
Third, whether such railroad companies OF
any of them have forfeited their land subsidies
by falling to construct and equip their roads as
required by law, and that the committee shall
report to the House such measures as shall Sc
cure to the government full indemnity for all
losses occasioned By fraudulent transactions or
negligence on the part of such companies and
for non payment of interest lawfully due til {
government, and for any other claim that the
United States may have against such compan
les. Adopted.
Mr.. Holman Of Indiana offered resolution
lnstructing the Committee on Banking and
Currency to enquire whether the commercial
and industrial interests of the country do moi
require that the retirement and cancellation OF
the legal tender notes shall cease and whether
common and equal justice to the whole people
do not require that U. S. notes shall be subst
tuted for national bank paper instead of ma.
tional bank paper being substituted for U. S.
notes. Adopted.
Mr.. Page of California offered long pre-.
amble and resolution denunciatory of the Nor
mons and ''their vile and degrading dogma oil
polygamy," cold blooded and brutal murders
OF witnesses and the terrorism over courts to
shield and protect the most nefarious and in.
famous criminals, declaring that immediate
steps should be taken to compel the Mormons
to obey the constitution and laws of the United
States, and directing the Judiciary Committee
to report bill for that purpose so as to remove
this foul blot from the civilization of the 10Th
century.
Mr.. Atkins Of Tennessee offered resolution
instructlDg the Judiciary Committee to INQUIRE
whether or not the Union Pacific Railroad
Company has forfeited its charter. Adopted,
Mr.. Wallace Of Pennsylvania offered reso.
luton reciting the great depression under
which industrial pursuits are laboring, endors-
ing the protective policy, declaring that the
question of finance is but question of labor,
and the question of labor is but question OF
protection, and instructing the Committee OF
Ways and Means to consider the propriety and
necessity of increasing the import duties on a II
products and manufactures that come in com.
petition with those of this country. Referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Several bills providing for works of internal
improvement were introduced and referred.
The House then went into the Committee OF
the Whole, Mr.. Hoskins of New York in the
chair, on the military academy appropriation
bill.
Mr. Hurlbut of Illinois offered an amend
ment for detail of competent staff officer to
act as quartermaster and commissary for the
battalion of cadets, and that all the supplies
shall be furnished at actnal cost, sc. Adopt
ed.
The Committee rose and the bill was passed
The pay of the cadets is fixed at $40 with
out rations. No other amendments except
that offered by Mr.. Hurlbut was adopted. The
House at 3.20 adjourned.