The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-30
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.

Edmund from the Judiciary, reported favor
ably on bills to remove political disabilities of
James Argyle Smith. Calendared.
Credentials of Hon. Henry B. Anthony, re-
elected United States Senator from Rhode Is
land foc six years, from March A. 1877, are
placed on file.
Bill authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to
sell unserviceable material was reported upon
adversely and indefinitely postponed.
Several pension bills were passed.
Senate then took up bill to issue coin and the
substitute therefor proposed by Senate commit.
tee on finance.
Edmunds thought it would be wise to recon-
nit the whole subject to the committee on
finance
Sherman said the finance committee had al
ready considered every phrase of this question.
The matter was recommitted to the finance
committee.
Resolution to pay Pinchback for the time he
was contesting the seat was made the special
order for Saturday.
Window, from the committee on appropria-
tions, reported the sundry civil appropriation
bill, which was placed on the calendar.
Quite a number of unimportant bills on the
calendar was passed.
At 3o'clock Senate went into executive and
at 5.15 the doors were reopened and Mr.. Sar-
naval appropriation bill made report that the
committee had agreed upon bill and in ex-
PLANTATION of the report said the House confer
ence committee had accepted the legislative
amendment of the Senate In regard to the en-
ployment of men in navy yards. In regard to
the amount appropriated for the pay of the
navy it was believed considerable reduction
in the amount could be made by furloughing
yaraus officers now on actual duty and commit
tee had agreed to try it,
In regard to the amendment making appro-
priations for the bureau of construction and re-
pairs the House met the Senate half way and
agreed to increasing the amount $250,000.
In regard to the amendment for the bureau
of steam engineering the House committee also
met the Senate committee half way and agreed
to increase the amendment appropriated by
the House to the extent of $57, 800. The appro-
priation for civil establishment at the several
navy yards had been fixed at $4,000 instead of
100000, the amount named in the Senate
amendment. Senate committee had agreed to
recede from the amendments of the Senate in
regard to the appropriations for the bureau of
equipment and recruiting and the bureau OF
yards and docks. In regard to the closing of
hospitals at either Washington or Annapolis it
han been greed to strike out the word CLOSE"
so as to leave it discretionary with the Secre-
tary of the Navy whether they be kept open or
closed. Report was agreed to.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, frem the Committee
on Appropriations, reported back the joint
resolution recently submitted by the President
to provide for defraying temporarily the ordi-
nary and necessary expenses OF the public ser
vice by extending the appropriation bills for
the present fiscal year into the next with an
amendment providing that in no case shall
such appropriations be continued for longer
period than thirty days. Amendment was
agreed to and the resolution passed.
Mr.. thurman at his own request was excused
flom service on the conference committee on
the naval appropriation bill and Mr.. Gordon
was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Senate bill to punish counterfeiting of trade
mark goods and sale or dealing in counterfeit
trade marx goods was taken mp.
The amendments heretofore reported by the
Judiciary Committee were agreed to and the
bill passed.
House bill to declare forfeited to the United
States certain lands granted to the state of
Kansas in aid of the construction of a railroad
by the act of March 3, 1868, was passed.
Senate insisted on its amendment to the Dis
trict of Columbia tax bill and the bill providing
for requirement. of Pennsylvania avenue, and
agreed to conference asked by the House.
Mr.. West from the conference committee on
the postofice bill, reported that the committee
were unable to agree and moved that the new
conference asked for by the House be granted.
Mr.. West said the committees disagreed main
Bill. ' WV W. 'D''''''' p''' ''''A' VI 'n'
Mr.. Hamlin, member of the conference COM
mlttee, said that the horizontal reduction of 10
per cent, proposed by the House would stop
every fast mail train in the country. He hoped
that no new committee to be appointed would
make the concession made by the committee
OF which he was member.
Mr.. Logan moved that the same committee
be reapponted on the part of the Senate.
Mr.. Sargent said it would be much better to
appoint new committee. The House had
appointed a new one and the Senate should
meet them half way.
Pending the discussion the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Senate amendments to the bill authorizing
the requirement. of Pennsylvania avenue and
llrnr rln fJT fhn ant av,I
ton of taxes in the District of Columbia were
non concurred in.
Mr.. Jones of New York moved to reconsider
the vote by which the bill authorizing the
Washington, Cincinnati & st. Louis Railroad
Company to construct narrow gauge railway
from the Atantic-.seaboard to st. Louis and
Chicago was referred to the Committee of the
whole.
Several speeches were made, when the mo.
ton was carried, but finally after further de-
bate the bill was again referred to Committee
of the Whole.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
the Geneva award bill. and was addressed by
Pierce of Mass, who spoke in favor of distrib-
uting the unappropriated balance to the insur
ance companies.
At the close of Mr. Perce's speech a mes
sage was received from the Senate informing
the House that the Senate had agreed to the
report OF the conference committee on the nav
al appropriation bill.
Mr.. Holman of Ind, from the committee of
conference on the postofice appropriation bill,
submitted report informing the House that
they were unable to agree and asked for an
other committee.
Mr.. Seelye of Mass, asked Mr.. Holman.o ON
what grounds the committee decided to dsa-
gree.
Mr.. Holman answered that the principal on
which the committee differed were, first in ref
erence to salarses of postmastors; second with
reference to reduction in the cost of transport
talon of the mails; third. in reference to third
class mail matter. The report was accepted
and the Speaker appointed Messrs. Holman of
Indiana, Clark of Maryland, and Hale of
Maine, as new conference committee.
Mr. Blount of Ga from the committee of
conference on the naval appropriation bill
made report in favor of the House concurring
in some of the Senate amendments, and of the
Senate receding from others of its own amend.
ments.