The Portland daily press., 1876-07-22

SENATE.

WASHINGTON, u. w., July Il,
Mr.. Cameron of Wis, from committee on
Commerce, reported favorably ON Senate bill in
relation to vacancies in the office of Appraisers
of Customs at any port of the United States.
Placed on calendar.
Senate resumed the consideration of the bill
providing for the sale of the Usage ceded lands
in Kansas to actual settlers, the pending aues-
tion being on motion of Mr.. Edmunds to strike
out the Sth section. During discussion Mr. Ed
munds said he didn't wonder from the way
things went on that the country had trouble
with the Indians. 1t had become an axiom
with Indians that the pale face carried forked
tongue, and he did not wonder thrt the Indians
sometimes kicked out of the traces and behaved
in very rough way.
Pending discussion the morning hour ex-
pired, and the bill was laid over.
Mr.. Cragin from the committee on naval
affairs, reported adversely on the Senate bill
directing the transfer of certain amounts from
the naval pension fund, and it was indefinitely
posptoLed.
Owing to the illness of Mr.. CARPENTER the
impeachment trial was postponed till Monday.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
river and harbor appropriation bill, the pending
question being on the motion of Mr.. Thurman
to recommit the bill to the committee on ap-
preparations with instructions to reduce the
total amount appropriated by it to $40O0,0O0
Mr.. Withers spoke in favor OF the bill, and
argued that the expenditures proposed by it
would be of lasting benefit to the country.
Mr.. Dawes favored the substitute proposed
by Mr. Edmunds to appropriate $4 100000, and
have it expended under the direction of the
Secretary of War. He then referred to the
figures quoted by the Senator from North Car
olina (Morrson), on Tuesday, and SAID the
Senator had been misled in quoting from the
biennial register as to the number of employees
in the civil service of the Government In
making of that register in 1873, the names of
all persons employed by the Government were
inserted, and it did not consist of those en-
ployed in the civil service only. He also quoted
from figures stated by Mr.. Merrimon in regard
was in error there also.
Mr.. Dawes then read from an official state
ment, showing the expenditures of the Govern
ment from 1869 to 1875 inclusive as follows:
in 1871 $157 sS27 5S; in 1872, $175 POI, ,856 19;
in 18L3 $3.50 4SS 656 80; in 1874 $194, 1856; in
1875. $171, ,529, ,S4S q. Mr.. Dawes argued that
| the Republican party had cut down the expenses
as steadily as possible.
Mr.. Merrimon said that the tables from
| which he quoted he found in the Record as
having been delivered in the other House of
Congress by gentleman usually very correct.
He then sent to the clerks desk and had read
lengthy tables prepared at the statistical bureau
| to show that the expenditures had not been re-
duced.
Mr.. Cragin also referred to the bienuial regis
| ter to show that all the persons named in that
book were not employed in the civil service of
| the Government.
Mr.. Allison argued that the bill as it came
| from the House of Representatives was not
| based on the estimates of the engineers Com
| mittee on appropriations had endeavored to
consider the bill in the interest of economy but
| had not been sustained by the Senate.
Mr.. Cockrell said it did not become some
| Senators who had voted for improvements in
| their own localities to be lecturing other Sena-
| tors for wanting little appropriations for their
| sections. He commented on various provisions
! of the bill, and argued that no Senator wanted
| an appropriation stricken out where it was for
a river in his own State.
Mr.. Eaton referring to the improvement at
Hell Gate said, that was work of benefit to
| the commerce of the world. When that work
should be completed insurance and risk would
| be reduced. Senators should see the difference
between work OF that kind aud the improve
ment of a mountain creek 1000 feet above the
| level of the sea.
Mr.. Wallace spoke of tie gradual increase of
the river and harbor bills, and said that if this
system should 90 on the river and harbor bill in
| 1886 would be $50,000,000. He argued that the
| general Government should have no control
| over rivers and harbors not navigable in part.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke at length of the cOnsti-
| tutiOnal powers of Congress to improve rivers
| and harbors, and opposed the various provisions
OF the bill to improve rivers not navigable
Pending discussion Senate at 5 o'clock went
| into executive session, and when the doors
were reopened, adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Hopkins asked leave to offer a resolution
recting that former district attorney for the
western district of Pennsylvania had collected
money for alleged violation of internal revenue
| laws, which money it was claimed was not pa
into the treasury, and that the present district
| attorney is proceeding to collect again the
amount of judgments aforesaid, and directing
| the Judiciary Committee to inquire into the
truth of the statement
Bell objected.
A number of private bills were acted upon.
Mr.. Pratt of Iowa, from the Committee on
Public buildings submitted report in regard
to the New York post Office, which was referred
to Committee on Appropriations.
The House went into committee of the whole
on the private calendar, the first bill being one
confirming certain land claims in the state of
Missouri The enacting clause was struck out
and the bill SO reported to the House, which
confirmed the action of the committee, and so
the bill was defeated.
At 3 Is the House adjourned to Monday