The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-09
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE

Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb g.
A number of House bills were referred to an
propriate committees, among them bill max
ing aa appropriation to pay fourteen crippled
and disabled Union soldiers from Dec. 6, 1872,
to June 30, 1876.
Mr.. Sherman from the Finance Committee
reported adversely on the bill to secure depos-
itors in the Freedmen's Bank from ultimate
loss Tabled.
Mr.. Wright from the Finance Committee re-
ported bill to pay the First National Bank of
| notes held by said bank as the financial agent
OF the United States and forciby taken there
from by raiders from Canada in 1864 The hill
proposes to pay said bank $2S,65O.
Ihe Committee on Finance proposed an
amendment to strike out that portion allowing
| interest on the amount from Oct 10Th, 1864, to
the time of payment.
Mr.. Wright asked for the present considera-
| ton of the bill
After some discussion, Mr. Sherman asked
ed.
MT Morton submitted a resolution instruct
Ing the District committee to consider the pro-
pretty OF reporting plan for an elective
Agreed to.
:. A bull repeating certain restrictions in the
| disposition of public lands in Alabama. Missis-
lppi, Arkansas and Florida, with an amend
ment, was discussed till the expiration of the
morning hour.
After the morning hour Mr.. Wright of Iowa
moved that the Senate pro Iced to the consider
alton of the executive business.
Mr.. Morrill, OF Maine said that yesterday he
| gave notice that he would call up the centen-
MAJ oil, at one o'clock to-day. He now desired
to say that whatever was the pleasure of the
Senate on this subject should be expressed at
the present time. The financial condition of
| the company was such that the Senate should
say what it proposed to do. If they proposed
TO turn their backs on it, very we'll. He gave
notice that he would urge the consideration of
the bill at the earliest moment.
MIR. Edmunds did not think the centennial
bill should be considered until the information
| called for from the Secretary of State was re
celVed He, however, would not oppose the
present consideration of the bill.
The Senate, by yeas IS, nays 80, refused TO
go into executive session.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, the Senate then
took up the centennial bill.
Mr.. Morrill, then yielded the floor to Mr., Ea-
ton of Connecticut, who offered a resolution in
respect to the memory of his late colleague O.
| 5. Ferry, the understanding being that the CEN
tennlal bill should come up as unfinished bust
ness tomorrow.
Mr.. Cooper of Tennessee was appointed a
member of the Senate Committee on Finance.
IN place OF Mr. Ferry, who at his own request
was excused this morning from further service
on that committee, as it confiicted with the re-
qulrements Of presiding officer.
Mr. Boutwell, submitted an additional section
to the bill regarding the sales of public lands
IN Alabama, Mississippi and other states. 1t
provides for the appraisement of the tim Der
lands before sale and that no sale be made at
less than 81. Is per acre. Ordered prin ted.
correspondence between the state depart
ment and foreign governments regarding the
centennial was received from the President
| Most of it has already been published
Mr. Eaton submitted a resolution providing
that as a mark of respect to the memory of o.
| S. Ferry late Senator from ConpecticHt the
business of the Senate be suspended, that his
former associates might pay their tribute of
respect to his character and services Agreed
to.
Appropriate eulogistic remarks were made by
Messrs. Eaton, Sargent, Bayard, Howe, FREE
linghuysen, Thurman, Wadleigh and English.
and as further mark of respect the Senate at
o'clock adjourned.
HOUSE.
| The bill authorizing that actions is cases of
death resulting from wrongful act, neglect or
default in the District of Columbia, and pro-
vlding that the amount recovered shall not be
| above $40. 600 was passed.
Mr.. Hunton of Va, from the Judiciary
committee, reported bill to amend section
| 500 of the Revised Statutes, adding the follow
ing: I'm the adjustment of the accounts of
sad officer an appeal shall be from the decision
OF the accounting officers of the treasury to
the Attorney General, whose determination
| shall be final" Passed
Bills were introduced as follows: Repealipg
the bankrupt act. The first section repeals the
bankrupt act of March Dist, 1867, and sall laws
and parts OF laws amendatory thereof and
supplemental thereto; the second section pro.
vides that all suits and processes now pending
IN U. ). Courts where an adjudication 10 bank
ruptcy has been made. shall be proceeded with
and be governed by provisions of the existing
laws which are continued in force only for the
purpose OF closing up the suits and proceedings
now pending. The act is to take effect from
and after July LIST, 1877. After some discussion
OF technical points the bill was passed. 17S to
The nays were as follows:
Ballou, Banks. Blaine. Blair, Blount, Cook Grape,
Ounnell, Eames, Felton,, Freeman, FRYE Garfield
GAuze, Gqnter Hamilton Of N. j., Harris of Ga,
Hurlbut, Hasson, Kelley, Ketchum, King, Lamar
Leavenworth, MacKey, MacD ougalI, Mutchler, Oil
bins Robbins of N. G., Smith Of Ga Stoweii, Teese.
Townsend Of Pa, Voorhees,, Vance of O., Vance of
N Mt;;,.,D Wallace g, Of Pa, Mang, Ward warren
Williams Of Mich, Wood of N. " and Yeates-57.
After the passage of the bill it was discov-
cred that there was an error in its recital the
date of the original law being given as the I'd
instead of the 21st of March.
Mr. Lynde of Wis, asked unanimous con-
sent to have this corrected, but Mr. Kasson of
Iowa, objected, remarking that the bill placed
the whole creditor class of the country in the
power of the debtor class. The bill therefore
goes to the Senate with that mistake in it.
The House at 2 O o'clock went into committee
of the whole, Mr.. Hoskins of New York in the
chair, on the consular or diplomatic appropria-
ton, and was addressed by Mr.. Dnnnell of
Minnesota in opposition to the bill, which he
declared struck at American commerce and
American honor.
Mr. Wood, in speech of some length,
warned the House to do nothing to impair, to
retard or to injuTe the foreign commerce of
this country. If this bill we're to save 800
100000 from the Treasury instead of 100000,
he would not vote for it if by so doing he
would impair the efficiency and progress of the
foreign industry of the nation. AS to foreign
missions, he regarded them as secondary to the
consular system, and did not attach so much
importance to the necessity of keeping them
up bnt so long as they were kept up, American
ministers abroad should be paid enough to
enable them to live respectfully in the European
aoceptation of the term.
The committee rose without taking action on
the bill, when message was received from the
Senate, announcing the action of that body in
regard to the death of the late Senator Ferry of
Connecticut EulOgies in honor of the de-
ceased were pronounced by Messrs. Phelps of
Connecticut, Seelye of Massachusetts,, and Gar
field. AID interesting feature in the proceed
ings was the fact that Mr.. Garfield, in lieu of
any remarks OF his own, read speech which
had been prepared on the subject of Mr. Stark
weather of Connecticut, since dead At the
close Of the eulogies the House at 4.4O o'clock
adjourned