The Portland daily press., 1876-02-08

sert the word ''not'' before the word "admit-
ted"
Mr. Thurman spoke against the admission of
Pinchback
Mr. Christiaucy followed on the same side
Mr. Howe favored Pinchback's prina facie
right to the seat.
Senate then at o'clock went into executive
session, and at 80 the doors were reopened.
Adjourned.
HOUSE
Several bills were introdu ,ed as follows
By Hale OF Maine, borrowing the penal tom
mage tax on certain United States vessels to
the old rate of 30 cents per ton instead OF 81 80
Also for the repayment by the Secretary of the
Treasury of the tonnage tax illegally exacted
BY Mr.. Warren of Mass, to remit the duties
on certain goods destroyed by fire in the confa-
grafton in BoSten.
By Mr.. BALLAD of Rhode Island, to exempt
safety matches from stamp tax.
BY Mr.. Fort of Illinois, declaring the birth
day of Abraham Lincoln a national holiday,
and that on the 18th of April the national flag
shall float at half mast.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa, moved to suspend tn e
rules so that the House may proceed to vote
separately on the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the constitutional authority
OF Congress to coin money and to regulate the
value thereof and of foreign coin does not in
clude the authority to issue the paper OF the
government as money. and in the judgment of
the House the constitution nowhere confers on
Congress the power to issue in time of peace
the promises or obligations for the government
as legal tender in payment of debts.
Resolved, That any legislation touching the
legal tender currency of the government should
keep steady in view the resumotion of specie
payment and should tend to enhance the value
of that currency for the redemption of which
the faith of the United States has been pledged
to its citizens
The rules were not suspended-yeas 96, nays
l4U, and the resolutions not before the
House.
Mr. Cox of New York suggested to Kssson to
have the resolutions referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means or the Banking Commit
tee.
Mr. Kasson said he should be very glad to
have them so referred. The matter went over
without further action.
Mr.. Buckner from the Judiciary Committee
reported back the Senate's amendments to the
bill to pay interest on the 3-65 bonds of the Dis
trict of Columbia with recommendation that
they be non-concurred in and that they be re-
ferred to conference committee He made
that motion and it was agreed to- lThe Speaker
appointed Messrs. Buckner, Gate and Willard,
conferees on the part of the House.
Mr.. McCrary was at his own request, excus-
ed from further service on the committee for
the District of Columbia and MIR. Crapro was
appointed in bis place.
Mr.. Hoar was appointed to fill the vacancy
on the Judiciary Committee, caused by the
from further service on the Committee on
Elections, and Mr.. Townsend of New York
was appointed to the latter vacancy.
Mr.. Stevenson of Illinois offered resolution
instructing the District Committe to exam
| inc the expenditures and management since
the year 1862 (or since their respective crea-
| tions) of the government hospital for the in-
| sane, the deaf and dumb institute, the Colum
bia hospital for women the board of health and
the District of Columbia, the reform school
l and frap6 mans hOsnital for oil af which N.
| propriations have been made by Congress.
Mr.. Pierce of Massachusetts, offered resolu-
| ton instructing the Committee on Foreign At
fairs to ascertain and report what action if any
has been taken by the executive department Of
| the government in relation to the connection of
the United States minister at the Court of ST.
James with the directory of the so-called EN-.
ma mine and with the Machado claim. Adopt
| ed.
| Mr.. Bright of Tennessee, offered resolution
instructing the Committee on Expenditures in
the Treasury Department, to make careful
| examination of thesSmethod adopted by the
Treasury Department to print bonds, notes, and
securities of the government; what guards
have been adopted to prevent frauds or mis-
takes; whether there have been any fraudulent
issue OF notes, bonds or coupons, and if so by
| whose fault or negligence. Adopted,
| Mr. Fort of Illinois, offered a resolution t.
| pay the widow of the late James Burlington
Representative from Massachusetts, $1S76
/ hiCu oun Will Tue tuTb6 mOuGDS pay allowed
by law amounts to the sum which Mr.. Crapo
Mr.. Bufington's successor, was entitled, bu
returned to the treasury, being his pay to the
"a OF November 1876. Adopted.
Mr. Metcalf of New York, offered a resolu
tion instructing the Committee on Expendi
lures in Public Buildings to inquire as to the
amount expended in the construction and com
| pletion of the New York postofice. Adopted
| The House at ocock went into Committee
| Of the Whole, Mr.. Hoskins of New York, ir
chair, on the consular and diplomatic appropr
ton bill and was addressed by Mr.. Holman O
| Indiana, insthe enforcement of the necessity ot
economy in public expenditures. He declared
that this whole thing of diplomacy was shan
| and an obsolete institution. The only excep
tion he made was in the case of Mr.. Wash.
burne, Minister to France, who, he said, haG
| rendered important service to mankind in the
late Franco-Prussian war.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, opposed the reduction
in this bill because the foreign service of the
| government, both at home and abroad, ha(
been for years the most economically conduct
| ed, most hOnorably managed and most carefully
kept up of any department of the govern
ment.
| The committee then rose.
| On motion of Mr.. Metcalf the Senate amend
ments to the bill to provide for the payments
| of judgments of the Court of Commissioners
| of Alabama claims were concurred in.
House at O'Clock adjourned.