The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-25


liquors was the cause of crime in all parts of
the world, ard caused begging and poverty.
This vice was almost universal, and it seemed
to him that the Congress of the United States
might well give the subject full and fair
examination He was not in favor of pro-
hibitory laws, but he believed the passage Of
this bill would promote the common good, and
Congress had the right to pass it,
Mr. Howe spoke in favor Of the bill and
hoped the Senate of the United States would
asked for.
Mr. Bayard's amendment was rejected.
MIR. Morrill, of Maine said that while the
whole question regulating the sale Of intoxi-
eating drinks belonged primarily to the states,
he could see that this bill was for the good of
the whole country, and the inquiry proposed
should be made. The use of liquor was the
gigantic crime of crimes in this country.
Pending the discussion, the Senate Tat 415
went into executive session and shortly ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Among the numerous bills introduced and
referred were the following: To provide for
the suspension of the sinking fuud till $780, to
amend the act authorizing the funding of the
national debt; to fund the legal tender debt of
the United States: for funding the legal notes
into ~ year four per cent. gold bonds to the
amount of $4,000 600 at a rate not to exceed
$3,O0O,O0O month; by Mr.. Harris of Mass. for
the improvement of Cohasset Harbor; BY Mr.
douglass OF Va to carry into effect the resolu-
ton OF Congress of the 26th of October 1871 in
relation to monumental column at Yorktown,
Va. also to indemnify St. Georges church at
Accomaco, Va, for damage done by u S.
troops during the civil war; to classify and
equallze the rates of postage in manuscript in
tended for publication; also for the purchase of
Professor Morse's picture of the House of Rep
resentatlves; by Mr.. Morrison of Illinois prep
aratory to the redemption of U. S. notes aud
the resumption of specie payments. 1t directs
the Secretary of the Treasury to retain coin in
the treasury until it shall amount 10 80 per
cent. of the outstanding legal tender notes, and
in the meantime 1t suspeuds the resum ption
bill until after the LIST of January, 1879 1t also
requires the national banks to retain the coin
interest received on its bonds deposited to Sc
cure circulation to the amount of their legal
reserves and such sum in addition thereto as
with the legal reserves shall equal 80 per cent.
OF their circulation, which they are to retain as
security for the redemption in coin OF their cir
culation. 1t also repeats the legal tender pro-
vision from the time that the banks have so per
cent in coin of their circulation; by Mr.. Will
liams of Michigan, constitutional amendments
providing Senators and Representatives from
sollcltatlng appointments to removals of Office,
and providing civil service commission; by
Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, constitutional amendment
providing that the term of Representatives
commence on the LIST of January instead of the
4th of March
By Mr.. Hereford of West Virginia to restore
to the pension rolls of pensioners of the war of
1872 the names of the persons struck off for dis
loyalty.
By Mr.. Faulkner of West Virginia for con
sideration by the court of claims of Southern
citizens for quartermasters' stores and sup
plies.
Mr.. Kelly, from the Committee on Bail.
roaCs, reported with amendments the Senate
bill to extend the time for the completion of
the Northern Pacific Railroad. Placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Stone of Missouri offered resolution
instructing the Postofice Committee to inves-
tiga!e the straw bid system. Adopted.
Mr.. Whitthorne of Tennessee offered reso-
luton calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
for Information as to the fund arising out of
the proceeds of captured or abandoned proper
The House refused to suspend the rules and
the resolution was not adopted.
Mr.. Walker of West Virginia introduced
bill to remove the political disabilities of Robert
Ranseme of Virginia. Passed
Mr.. Willard of Michigan offered resolution
instructing the Committee on Civil Service Re.
form to inquire what legislation is necessary to
prevent solicitation of appointments to office
and removals therefrom by Senators and mem.
bers of Congress.
Mr.. Kelly of Pa offered the following, which
was adopted:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury
be directed to report to this house what amount
OF specie was in the treasury on the 3lst of
December, 1875, designating the amount of
gold and silver respectively; also the amount of
silver purchased under the provisions of the act
approved Jan. 18th, 1875, entitled an act ''to
provide for the resumption ofspecie payments -
stating the date of the several purchases, the
prices paid and what amount of cost of any of
SUCH purchase OF silver has been paid for from
the surplus revenue in the treasury not other
wise appropriated and what amount of five per
cent. bonds bearing gold interest has been sold
or disposed OF with the purpose of providing
means for the payment of the several issues of
said bonds respectively, the amount Of interest
paid thereon and the amount that will have &C.
crued but remain unpaid on the day preceding
the date OF the report made in response to this
resolution.
Mr.. Morrison of Illinois reported resolution
directing the papers laid before the House and
the testimony taken before the Committee on
Ways and Means of last Congress in regard to
the Pacific mail subsidy be taken from the
Speakers table and referred to the Judiciary
Committee with instructions to inquire what
action should be taken by the House in refer
ence to persons now members of the House
charged with completely in the corrupt use of
money Tor that purpose or with giving false
testimony in relation thereto. Adopted
Mr.. KassOn of Iowa, offered a resolution for
the dlscontinuance of the annual agricultural
report and the publication in its stead of
monthly agricultural report.
Mr.. Buckner of Mo-, from the Committee on
the District of Columbia, reported bill direct
ing the Commissioners for the District to trans.
fer to the treasury of the United States for the
payment OF the interest on the 1865 bonds due
on the LIST of February next $222.797 from any
unexpended appropriations heretofore made BY
Congress or from any revenue derived from
taxation, provided that all certificates hereto
fore issued by the board of audit, including
those converted in 365 bonds and those not SO
converted; and all certificates hereafter to be is
sued by the board of audit shall not exceed in
the aggregate &15,000,00O.
Mr.. Randall of Pa, remarked that the
amount already issued was $14, 209, 900, and he
was opposed to allowing that amount to be in-
creased.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, moved to amend by
striking out the figures $222,7S7 and inserting
the words"the sum necessary to pay the same"
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Wood of New York, inquired of Buck
ner whether his committee had considered the
question whether the government was liable
for these bonds to greater amount than was
due at the time of the passage of the law.
Mr.. Buckner replied that the committee had
not inquired into that question. 1T was sup
posed the amount when the bill was passed
would not exceed $500, 900, but it,. had gone
far beyond that amount,
Mr. Randall moved to amend by limiting the
amount of $50 bonds to $14, 800, 600, and in his
amendment denounced the extravaganza of the
commissioners,
Mr. Wood questioned whether the House
was not in the passage of this bill, which au-
thor,zed indirectly the payment Of interest
upon THESE bonds in excess of the amount orig
inally authorized, recognizing the obligation of
the government to pay the principal and inter-
est on the bonds thus issued in excess.
: Mr.. Buckner replied that the question was
not necessarily involved in this bill and there
fore he did not intend to discuss it. 1t was
serious question whether the government was
not bound to pay the bonds illegally issued.
This bill provided that the interest should be
paid out of money in the United States Treas
ury and collected from the revenues of the
District, and that it would be in exact compli.
ance with the requirements of the law. 1t was
III the interest of law and justice that this bill
should be passed at once and that the commits
sioners should have authority, if they did not
have it now, to use money now in the treasury
for the payment of this interest
Mr.. Randall remarked that they had that
power now and he was not willing to take any
step which would increase the obligation of the
government in the matter.
Mr.. Holman moved to strike out the proyiso
limiting the amount of the 1865 bonds and in
serting in lieu of it the following proviso:
"And any further issue of thee 1865 bonds is
hereby prohibited"
Motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Tucker OF Va, then offered tie following
amendment: "And provided further that moth
ing herein contained shall involve the govern
ment of the United States in any obligations to
pay the principal or interest of any bonds that
have been issued contrary to or not in pursu-
anpa of law