The Portland daily press., 1876-02-03
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. q
Mr.. Allison, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported back the Senate bill to pro-
vide tor the payment of claims Tor Indian dep
relations and asked that it be referred to the
Committee ON Appropriations. 1t was so Or
dered.
Mr.. Clayton called up the Senate bill to re-
peal section 1908 of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, making restrictions in DISPOSE
ton of public lands in the states of Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.
He said the public lands in the states named
were restricted to the provisions OF the home
stead act and the object of this bill was to re-
store the lands to the same condition as the
public lands in ether portions of tie country.
The lands in question were only valuable for
the timber upon them, and were not such as
settlers were looking for.
Mr. Edmunds said there was danger of spec
ulatOrS getting possession of these lands and
preventing poor people settling upon them. In
order that the Senators may have an opportu-
nifty to examine the bill he moved the matter
be postponed until tomorrow.
Mr. Thurman submitted an amendment re-
pealing section 1908 of the Revised States, mak-
ing restrictions in the disposition of public
lands in the states named, provided that the re-
peal of the section shall not have the effect to
impair the right of any homestead settler and
no land occupied by settler shall be subject to
presumption or sale.
Pending the discussion the morning hour ex-
pred and the matter was laid over.
The chair laid beforeNthe Senate the unfn-
ished business being the House joint resolu-
ton directing the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia to pay the interest on the bonds
issued in pursuance of the act of Congress ap-
proved June 20, 1874, out of any funds in the
the U. S. treasury subject to requisition of
said commissioners.
ment of Mr.. Herman, submitted yesterday,
providing that any further issue of 365 bOuds
under or by virtue of said act of Congress,
approved juno 20, 1874, is hereby prohibited,
Mr. Sargent spoke at length in defence of the
Board of Public Works of the District and
investigating committee or not, to show where
any member of that board accepted a bride.
The statement of Mr.. Bayard of yesterday to
the effect that he had been informed that the
fees of the counsel for Shepherd and others
had been paid in 365 bonds was reckless. By
little examination the Senator could have
seen that the Board of Audit had all to do with
issuing these bonds, and not the old city gov
eminent. ~
MIR. Morton said he had the authority of one
OF the District Commissioners for the state
ment that the Commissioners never passed
upon or enter tanned any claim for payment of
counsel fees for Shepherd or any of the ex-
penses OF that investigation, and further, that
they never authorized the payment of any
money to any newspaper for publishing testi-
Mr. Herman argued that the proposition now
before the Seuate was simply to carry out the
pledges of the government by the payment OF
this interest.
Mr.. Christiancy said that as matter of JUS
tice, equity and law between the holders of
these bonds and the government of the United
States, the government was bound to make
good its guarantee. He was in favor of put
ting a stop to any further issue of them.
After further discussion by Messrs. Edmunds,
Allison, Logan and Morton, Mr.. Edmunds
gave notice that at the proper time he would
shall be no increase in the present amount of
total indebtedness of the District.
The Senate at $40 adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. O'Brien of Maryland offered resolu-
ton instructing the Committee on Foreign AT.
fairs to inquire into the expediency of request
ing the President to negotiate commercial
treaty between the United States and France
placing citizens of the United States on as ia.
vorable footing as the citizens of the most
favored nations in respect to duties and charg-
es imposed on imports with the republic of
France. Adopted.
The House took up the bill reported yester-
viding for the sale of the Kansas Indian lands
in Kansas to actual settlers. Alter discus.
sion the bill was passed.
Mr.. McCreary of Iowa, from the Judiciary
Committee, reported bill to Teorganize the
Judiciary of the United States, and it was
made special order for Wednesday, Feb 16.
The bill provides for circuit court in every
Judicial district and establishes in each circuit
a court of appeals which is to have appellate
JurisdctionIof cases arising in the court within
such circuit. Terms of court of appeal are to
be held in Boston, Albany, Philadelphia, Rich.
Francisco. The decisions Of these courts of APP
peal are to be final and conclusive, but re.
view upon the law may be held ON writ of er.
ror or appeal 10 the United States court where
the matter in controversy exceeds the sum OIL
value of $1,000, or where adjudication involves
constitutional question or any treaty or law
of the United States or where the court shall
certify that it involves legal question suffi.
Gent to require final decision by the Supreme
court
Mr.. Knott of Kentucky, from the same com.
mittee. reported bill regulating practice in
the United States district and circuit courts, as
to the time and manner Of instructing juries
and arguing cases, requiring them to conform
to the practice of the states in which they are
held. Bill was discussed till the close of the
morning hour when it went over.
House resumed consideration of the proposed
constitutional amendment limiting the Presi
Dental term.
Mr.. Woodwork of Ohio offered the amend
ment and declared that although he had voted
for the resolution offered by one of the War
Wicks Oh tue Otner sue against the tnlrd term
he would prefer thousand times to see Pres-
dent Grant reelected rather than to see the
office filled by one of those who twelve years
ago were in arms against the government.
Mr.. Young of Tennessee remarked, as a
Southern representative and as one vino had
borne arms against the government, that there
was no danger OF any such person putting him
self forward as Presidential candidate.
Mr.. Knott of Kentucky, chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, closed the debate. He
reviewed sthe discussions in the constitutional
convention and the early history of the govern.
ment on that subject aud alluded to the vote in
the House on the first week of this session, de-
claring departure from the time hon
ored custom in regard to the Presi
dental term to be unwise, unpatriotic
and fraught with peril to free institutions
course the limit should be fixed. Quoting thu
maxim in regard to Office holders, that 'feN
die and none resign" he pictured the allure.
ments of the Presidential Office as follows: A
salary of $4,000; mansion sustained in q
style of luxury that few persons dreamed of
furnished. repaired and heated, at an annual
expense of $4,000, the very air breathed there
perfumed by rare exotics propagated in a $685.
600 garden-house, maintained at an average
expense of $4,000; private secretary at $4,000 a
year to do the Presidene's writing; two assist
ant secretaries at $2500 year to do the work
OF the private secretary; two clerks at S2250 tC
do the work of the assistant secretaries Laugh
ter); q steward at $4,000 to supply the Presi
dents table with the choicest wines and rich
est viands that could tempt or satiate his appe
tite; with $4,000 year for books and periodi-
Gals, stationery kilograms and "a comcal pause
other contingencies. What that meant he did
not know, but he thanked God for tie contin-
gencies. (Laughter,) If the children of Israe
sighed for the fesh-pots of Egypt, what mus
be the anguish of sensitive soul when taking
a last long farewell of such salary and such
luxuries. He asked the gentlemen to go home
to their honest overtaxed constituents
and tell them why four years was
not sufficient length of time for any Ameri
can citizen to enjoy such an Office. Replying
to the suggestion that the experience gained in
the Presidential Office made the incumbent a
better President, he asked to be pointed to
any President whose second term was more
satisfactory to the people than his first one.
Mr.. Garfield suggested that Gen. jackson
second term was much more illustrious than
his first.
Mr.. Knott thought if the argument were
true that an experienced man was not quail
fled for the Presidential office school ought
to be established for the training of Presiden.
tal aspirants. SOme such institution as that
martinez factory" at West Point, which sup.
piled the army with officers at the rate of one
officer to every six privates. 1t had also been
suggested that the time might come when the
necessities of the case would imperatively de.
mand the reelection of a President III ever
that time did arrive the American people
would be unworthy of their liberties There
never had existed and never would exist time
WI OD1vy n ha