The Portland daily press., 1876-03-30

Mississippi. was taken up, and on motion of
Mr.. Cameron of Pa, the Senate at 80 o'clock
went into exective session and at 430 ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, from the Com
mittee on Rules, itroauced resolution author
izing the Speaker to appoint one additional
member to each of the committees on territor-
les, Indian affairs and public lands from among
the delegates from the territories. Adopted.
Mr.. Randall, chairman OF the Committee on
Appropriations, reported a bill to provide for
the expenses of the admission of foreign goods
to the Centennial exhibition. Mr. Randall ex-
planned the bill and said it had the unanimous
consent of the Committee on Appropriations.
In the course of his remarks he said that the
Secretary of the Treasury in December last
actually reduced the salaries of the custom
house officials in most of the large cities from
20 to % per cent. and thereby reducing the ex-
penses of the government about s., 100000.
Mr. Banks of Massachusetts, said he was in
favor of the passage of the bill and thought if
the Secretary of the Treasury would appoint to
the duties of the examiners provided for in this
bill, the men who had recently been discharg-
ed from the various custom houses on account
of reductions in force, the duty would be we'll
done. The bill passed.
Mr.. Banks from the committee on rules re-
ported a resolution fixing the compensation of
witnesses summoned to appear before the COM
mittee of the House at So per day and allowing
five cents per mile for mileage. Adopted.
Mr.. Thomas from the Committee on Ways
and Means reported bill relative to providing
for the redemption of unused stamps. Passed.
Mr.. Buchard of Illinois from the Committee
on Ways and Means reported bill authoriz-
ing the Secretary OF the Treasury to convert
into coupon bonds SO many of the five per cent.
registered bonds as may be necessary to pay
the the judgments of the Alabama claims COM
mission. After discussion the bill was pass
ed
The House as the regular order of business
proceeded to the consideration of the bill re-
mittee on Military Affairs, regulating the pay
and allowances of officers of the army.
Mr.. Banning of Ohio proceeded to address
tie House in explanation and advocacy of the
bill which he said would effect the annual saw
ing over one-half a million. The reductions.
he said, were made in accordance with the ad-
vice OF Gen. Sheridan, who said to the COM
mittee: Cut off at the head and not at the
foot" This bill was cutting down of the
pay of general officers. 1t pledged the general
$4,000 year, lieutenant general $4,000, major
general $4,000, brigadier generals $4,000, and in
these grades alone made the annual reduction
100000. The only other reduction of officers
pay was reduction of that of second lieuten-
ant for the first four years of Their service and
that the reduction was regarded as proper by
old army officers.
Mr.. Garfield sent to the clerks desk and had
read an extract from the testimony of
Major General Hancock before the committee
adverse to the proposed reduction.
Without further debate the bill was passed,
yeas al, nays 81.
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa moved to amend the IT,
tie of the bill SO it would read ga bill to punish
the army of the United States for gallant SER
vices rendered by it in preserving the Union"
Mr.. Banning-I move to refer that motion
to the gentleman from Iowa for gallant services
rendered by him during the war.
Mr.. KaSSOn-I will be clad TO take liz with
me and am ready to report on it immedi-
ately.
Mr.. Banning-You are more ready to report
now than you we're to report for carrying
found then.
The motion to amend the title was rejected.
Yeas SO, nays Isl.
Mr.. Banning, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported bill to promote the eff
cheney of the army of the United States and to
provide for its gradual reduction and to CON
solidate certain of its staff departments. Re.
ferred to the Committee OF the Whole and
made special order for next Wednesday two
weeks
the bill appropriatlng Sl63, GOO for the increase
of printing and engraving of the Treasury and
for the issue of silver coin in the place of frac
tional currency.
After the rejection of large number of
amendments the House at 30 took a recess
till half-past Z, the evening session to consider
the legislative bill.
Evening Session.
Mr.. Cox of New York in the chair
The bill for the equalization of bounties was
made special for next Wednesday.
The House then went into committee of the
whole Cox in the chair on the legislative and
Judicial appropriation bills, the question being
on several amendments to the item of Sena-
tors. The first vote was on the amendment of
Douglass of Va, reducing the salary of Sena-
tors to $4,000, and it was rejected The next
vote was an amendment of Mr.. OBrien of Nd,
to increase the salary to $4,000, and it was re.
jected yeas So, nays 106
The item was then passed as reported in the
bill at $500.