The Portland daily press., 1876-02-25
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session.
SENATE

Rock, at the entrance of Narragansett Bay. He
submitted a list of losses on account of wrecks
at Whale Rock within the past three years,
amounting to $50,0OO. and said he did not sup
pose lighthouse could be erected there, but he
would be pleased if an appropriation could he
made for the erection of monument or spin
die. Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Bills were introduced and referred, including
the following:
By Mr. Edmunds to amend the Revised Stat
utes relating to the District of Columbia. 1t
makes the I'D of February dies non in regard
to commercial papers, &c.
By MIR. Cragin for the relief of Nathaniel
Mickey. Referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs.
Mr. Hitchcock of Nebraska, ffom the Com
mlttee on Territories, reported without amend
ment House bill to amend the act of March 8,
1875. to enable the people of Colorado to form a
constitution and state government, and for the
admission OF said state into the Union on equal
footing with the original states, aud asked its
immediate consideration
MIR. Morrill, of Maine, objected and said he
desired to have it go over that he might exam
inc it. 1t was SO ordered.
Mr.. Withers called up the Senate hill IN
amend the act of Feb H. 1871, granting pen.
sions to certain soldiers and sailors of the war
OF 1olZ, and the widows of deceased soldiers
and to restore to the pension rolls those persons
whose names were stricken therefrom in conse
quence of disoyalty. Report of Committee on
Pensions was read, showing it would not re-
quire more than $4,000 annually to pay such
pensions.
Pending discussion the morning hour expired
and the bill was laid aside.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
unfinished business, being the motion of Mr.
Wadleigh to reconsider the vote by which the
report OF the committee of conference on the
joint resolution to pay the interest on the 3-65
District of Columbia boDds was passed.
The pending question being on the motion of
Mr. Morrill, Of Maina IN Law 10 70
consider on the table, it was agreed to, yeas 49,
nays %.
Mr.. Sargent submitted an amendment to the
bill, under consideration during the morning
hour in regard to the restoration of certain per-
sons to the pension rolls so as to provide that
no person be restored to the pension rolls under
the act unless the Commissioner of Pensions
be satisfied as to the identity of such persons
Ordered printed.
Mr.. West said that on coming into the Sem
ate chamber this morning his attention was
called to calumnious notice in the Baltimore
American. He sent to the Clerks desk CODY
OF that paper and had read despatch to the
effect that it had been telegraphed abroad that
the Attorney General was in possession of suf-
fcient evidence to ask for the indictment of
Collector Casey and Senator West for compli
cation in the New Orleans whiskey frauds Mr.
West said that upon reading the paragraph he
addressed communication to the Attorney
General, calling attention to the paragraph and
him. He sent to the Clerks DESC and had read
his letter to the Attorney General and the reply
of the latter, to the effect that there was not
one word of truth in it,
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill comforting exclusive jurisdiction over Indian
reservations upon the United States Courts, and
for the punishment of crime committed by and
against Indians,
The pending question being on the amend
ment OF Mr.. Window providing that the pro-
visions OF this act shall not apply to that part
of the Sioux reservation lying between the
north and south forks OF the Cheyenne river
and east of the east line of Wyoming territory,
after long discussion the amendment was re-
jected, and Mr.. Window moved that the bill be
referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
Mr.. WINDOW said that there were many things
in the bill which demanded its reference to the
Committee on Indian Affairs. 1t should not
be so referred. He had several amendments to
offer and would ask to be heard in support of
them.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that the government was
responsible for Indian wars. He referred to
the troubles in Minnesota or 10 years ago,
and said the Indians were then allowed to
talk for themselves, and they declared that
the troubles originated from the fact that the
government had not kept its engagement Is
with them. He, for one, would like to see a
Just Indian policy. He spoke of the invasion
of the Black Hills, and said that the men now
there had just as much right to come and drive
the senators out Ct their seats as they had to go
into the Black Hills That country had been
pledged to the Indians by the government.
Mr.. Window said that having lived on the
border the past twenty years. he probably had
as much knowledge of the Indians as the sena-
tor from Massachusetts (Boutwell), who lived
on the Atlantic coast The people of the west
who knew the Indians, knew they were the
greatest liars and vagabonds on the face of the
earth. He only wished that his friend bout
welD could have some of the Indans of the
West transported TO Massachusetts, and live
with them as neighbors. Then he would learn
little about them. He referred to the troub-
les in Minnesota mentioned by Boutwell,, and
SAID that 500 persons were murdered there by
the Indians. Infants were nailed up against
the Salls by their hands and feet in the pres
epce OF their mothers, while the Indians stood
off and threw tomahawks at them. He spoke
Of various acts of cruelty on the part of the In
dams, and said he had labored to keep the
peace with them. He had spoken ten words
in favor of feeding the Indians and keeping
our stipulation with them to everyone spoken
by the senator of Massachusetts.
After further discussion by Morton, Allison
and Oglesby, the motion to refer the bill to the
Committee on Indian Affairs was agreed to-
yeas Al, nays 49,
message was received from the House of
Representatives announcing the action of that
body in respect to the memory of the late Fl. H.
Starkweather of CT.
MI. English submitted a resolution that the
business of the Senate be suspended that the
friends of the deceased might pay fitting
tribute to his public and private virtues.
Agreed to.
Appropriate remarks on the life and charac-
ter of the deceased were made by English,
Dawes, Sargent and Eaton, and as further
mark of respect to his memory, the Senate at
AS on motion of Mr. Eaton, adjourned.
HOUSE.
The session for Saturday is fixed for debate
only.
A resolution authorizing the committee to
employ experts in prosecuting its inquiries in
to the affairs of the District, was adopted
Mr.. Wood, from the Ways and Means Com
mittee, reported a bill carrying into effect the
treaty recently made with the King of the Ha
waiian Islands. 1t was made a special order
for Thursday next.
invalid pensioners reported bill granting pen
siOners to certain soldiers and sailors of the
Mexican, Florida and Blackhawk wars referred
to committee of whole.
Mr.. Durham of Kentucky, from committee
on mines and mining reported bill to amend
sec. 1924 of the Revised Statutes concerning
mineral lands. Mand special order for this day
two weeks.
Mr.. Turney of Pennsylvania from same COM
mittee reported bill to exclude the state of Mo.
from the provisions of the act to pro-
mote the mining resources of the United States
Passed.
Mr. Vance from committee on patents re-
ported back adversely on bill limiting duration
of patents. Laid on the table.
Mr. Williams of Mississippi from committee
on public buildings and grounds reported bill
authorizing the purchase of additional grounds
for Custom House at Nashville Tennessee
which was passed.
Mr. Young from Tennersee from same COM
mittee reported bill to provide for the build
ing of custom house in the city of Memphis
This bill limits the appropriation for the build
ing to 100000
Mr.. Holman of Indiana moved to amend by
making the limit $500 900 which after discus
sion was agreed to. Yeas 131, nays LOG.
Without proceeding farther on the bill the
recent death of Mr.. Starkweath of Connecticut
and speeches were made in eulogy of deceased
hQ MeSSrS Phelns StarhanSoa aalo a.,a