The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-27
Forty Fourth CCnsress-First Session.
SENATE.

The Secretary of the Treasury reported the
action taken by him in regard to the collection
of money due by the Pacific railroad compa-
MES.
Mr.. Wallace presented a memorial and reso.
buttons of the Franklin Institute of Pennsylya-
MIA an appropriation Of 81, SOC, 900 for the Cen
tennal exhibition. Referred to Committee on
Appropriations.
A memorial signed by severa! members of
the Senate Of Louisiana, in reference to the Gre
dentlals OF Mr.. EIstis, claiming seat in the
U. s. Senate. Referred t. Committee on E!ec.
tons.
Mr. Howe of Wisconsin, from the Judiciary
Committee. reported favorably on the House
bill to amend the revised statutes relating to
naturalization. Passed.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported with amendment
the House joint resolution directing the COM
missioners of the District of Columbia to pay
interest on the 60 bonds issued under the act
OF June 10th, 1874. Placed on the calendar.
Mr. Morrill, gave notice that he would call it
up Tomorrow
MT West of Louisiana submitted a resolu-
ton requesting the Secretary of the Treasury
TO submit to the Senate copies of any PROPOSE
ton made by the Pacific Railroad for the crea-
ton OF sinking fund for the redemption of
government mortgage, together with a state
ment OF the action of the government thereon
and OF the reasons therefor. Agreed to.
a resolution allowing Consul Heap of Tunis
10 ACT as centennial commissioner for the Bey
OF runs, provided that he draw no pay while
acting as commissioner, was passed.
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin reported with
amendment the Senate bill to pay the First
Natlonal Bank OF st. Adams, VT. the value of
certain United States treasury notes held by
SAID bank as financial agents of the United
states and iorcibly taken therefrom by raiders
from canada in 1864. Placed ON the calendar
The bill was then taken up to confirm the
presumption and homestead entries of public
lands within the limit of railroad grants in
cases where such entries have been made under
the regulations of the land department.
Mr.. Christiancy moved the bill be referred to
the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Bogy said Congress might pass the bill
to enable these settlers to get their lands, but
the railroad committees would contest their
right and be successful in oustipg them.
MIR. Sherman said this was really conflict
between railroad grants and grants made to
preemptors and homestead settlers. 1t affected
millions of people in Western states He had
beard complaints growing out of doubts as to
the rights of settlers.
After further discussion Edmunds' amend
ment was rejected
Mr.. Howe submitted an amendment provd-
ing that nothing in the act shall be construed
to affect the title which the state Of Wiscon-
SID, assignee, may have to lands granted that
state to aid in the construction of railroads in
the state by the act of June Sd, 1856, and acts
amendatory thereof.
Pending discussion MIR. Howe moved an ex-
ecutive session.
Mr.. Conking, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported adversely on the House bill to
provide for vessels of the United States haiing
from places where they were owned or built,
and it was indefinitely postponed.
The House bill relating to the centennial cell
ebration of American Independence was refer
red to the Committee on Appropriations.
The Senate at 4 30 o'clock went into eXecu-
tive session and after short time adjourned.
HOUSE.
The following bills were introduced aod re-
ferred;
By Mr.. Hunter of Indians, in relation to &C.
counting officers of the Treasury in default
BY Mr.. Jones, repeating all laws authorizing
the appointment of civil engineers in the navy.
Mr.. Douglass of Virginia, from the Commit
tee on Patents. reported bill to amend sect.
l9O II. s., in regard to prohibiting clerks or en-
ployes in any department of the government
prosecuting claims or applications for patents.
Passed.
Mr.. Clark, from the Postofice Commi ttee,
called up the bill regulating postage on the
third class, referred to in Sect 1878 and 3911 r.
S.,which may weigh not exceeding four pounds
to each package, and that the postage there on
shall be one cent for every two ounces or frac-
ton thereof Mr.. Clark explained that this
bill proposed to repeal the law which passed in
the last House in the form of an amendment
inserted obscurely in the Sundry Civil Appro-
priation bill with the evident intention of mis-
leading the House. The bill proposed to REIN
state the postage on third class mail matter as
it was before, to one cent for two ounces.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois addressed the House
in further explanation, and advocacy of the
bill.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio gave history of the
legislation of last session which it was now
proposed to repeal. 1t had originated in the
Postot1ce Department in the shape of letter
to the chairman of the Senate Postofice Com
mlttee, suggesting that the rate of postage on
merchandise be doubled. He had been then,
and was still in favor of the legislation then
had in reference 10 merchandise but it was
against all his notions of postal propriety 10
double the rate on printed matter. 1t was
wrong to say, however, that it had been SNUG
gled in.
Mr. Randall-Why did the Postmaster-Gen-
eral wait till the last hour of the session to put
such matter on, when he had an entire ses-
sion to bone to conclusion about it?
MASTER Generals reasons. am not the keeper
of his discretion nor in his counsels. Mr.. Gar
field then went on to argue against the pro-
priety o. carrying merchandise in the mails.
The Postoffice Department in entering on th at
business of merchandise transportation was
ultimately bound to absorb the entire freight
transportation of the country.
Mr.. Clark-Is not merchandise carried in the
mails of every other country?
/ Mr.. Gardeld-Perhaps; [ am not informed.
The postoffice was established to transmit in
telligeace and anything else is departure
from the original idea.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio advocated the bill and
said that the legislation of last session increas-
ing postage on third class matter was undoubt-
eddy at the instance of express companies, to
the great detrment of public interests. He
favored this bill because the mails reached
every village in the land and the express COM
did not, and if the people of those remote
places were cut off from the privilege of receiv-
ing packages of seeds, books and merchandise
by mail they could not rece We them at all.
He also favored it because these merchandise
packages could be carried without loss to the
Postoffice Department.
Mr.. Randall also supported the bill and ex-
pressed his qualification that those who had
any connection with the legislation of last year
(now to be repeatedly disavowed it.
The bill was then passed without division.
The House at 2 o'clock went into committee
of the whole, Haskns of New York in the
chair, on the military academy appropriation
bill, which appropriates 1921 ,241, and was adj
dressed by Mr.. Hale of Maine who gave
carefully prepared and philosophical review of
the natural tendency of governments to in
crease their expenses, promising it with the re-
mark that governments, like families, cost
more and more as they grow, and that they are
as apt to increase like that of families in geo.
metrical ratio with their growth. He opposed
the reduction of the pay of West Point profess
sOrS and cadets.
After remarks by Hamilton of New Jersey
and Chittenden of New York, without action,
the committee rose and the House adjourned
Grimes and Casualties.
In Newport about II o'clock Tuesday night
Timothy Sullivan was arrested while in the
act of outraging the wife of A. A. Carson.
plav Rallion's nlanino mill in Rrooklvn