The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-26
Fort, Fourth Cougress-First Session,
WASHINGTON, April %.
SENATE

Il
reported back with amendments a concurrent
resolution TO secure uniformity in gold coin
moneys aud accounts between the Unit States
aud Great Britain. Placed on the calendar.
A bill removing the political disabilities of
James E. Slaughter OF Alabama, aud one for
the re ief of Postmaster Seeley OF Great Bar
ri gton, Mass. were passed.
The char aunouuced Mcmillan as member
OF special committee to inquire into the cir
cumstances Attending the late election in Mis-
sissippi in place OF Oglesby, who was excused
at his own request.
Mr.. Boutwell, presented petition Of the
Massachusetts Association of Classical and
High School Teachers in favor of the metric
system of weights and measures. Referred to
Committee on Finance
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, the Sen
ate insisted on its amendments to the deficiency
appropriation bill and agreed to to the confer
ence asked for by the House. Messrs. Morrill,
of Maine Allison and Davis were appointed
members of the conference.
The bill relating to the japanese indemnity
fund came up
Mr. Edmunds desired to speak but was phys
ically unable, and it was laid over till to-mor-
row.
BY vote of yeas 4s, nays Al, it was refused
to recede from the amendment of the Senate to
The diplomatic appropriation bill, and on mo-
ton of Mr.. Sargent it was ordered that the
Senate insist on its amendments and for COM
mittee of conference, and the chair appointed
Messrs. Sargent, Frelinghuysen and Withers.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the bill to amend the law relating to the
legal tender of silver coin, and Mr.. Jones re.
sumed his argument
Mr.. Logan announced that he would move to
strike out clause in the bill reported by the
committee making it legal tender to the
amount of 500, and leave it a legal tender for
any amount.
Mr. Bogy moved that the bill and pending
amendments be printed. TWAS SO ordered.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Jones' speech the
Senate went into executive session and at five
o'clock adjourned. s+'
HOUSE.
The District tax bill providing for a tax of
Il per cent Oh all real and personal property
was passed.
Mr.. Whitthorne of Tenn, chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, asked leave to
make report of the testimony taken before
that committee, and that it be printed and re.
committed. -
Mr.. Hurlburt objected to the printing of re-
port that was not read.
1t was theYeupon withdrawn.
Mr. Lawrence, from the judiciary Commit
tee submitted report in relation to the Pacific
railroads, proposing a bill to require them to
principal and interest of the subsidy bonds is
sued. 1t embraces discussion of the legal
right of Congress to require this sinking fund.-
and the necessity and justice of it.. 1t is
very full and elaborate report. Ordered print
ed and recOmmitted
The House at one o'clock went into Commi.-
tee of the Whole on the executive appropria-
tion bill. -r
A motion to amend by increasing the appro-
priatiOn for the San Francisco mint caused
quite bitter tilt between Messrs Piper of
California and Randall of Pennsylvania. The
former called Philadelphia mud village where
they grabbed all they could and gave nothing
for it, and said that the labor of casting metals
at Philadelphia required only as much science
as to cast bullets.
MI Randall said that Philadelphia contained
more houses than New York, Brooklyn and
San Francisco combined.
Mr.. Kelley of Pa, said that the money paid
to coin gold was wastage, and all the gold coined
between 1849 and 1870, amounting to $40, 000,-
900, had all gone abroad as merchandise.
Mr.. Piper-To pay the interest on the ma
tional debt.
Mr. Kelley-It would have paid every dollar
of the debt if it had gone as minted bars, for
the reduction of bars to coin was wasting part
of the gold
Mr. Kelley continued and held up ten dollar
gold piece in derlsion as specimen of San
Francisco manufactures, saying, GOD forbid
that such work should ever come from Phila.
delphia.''
The amendment to increase the appropriation
for the San Francisco mint was rejected.
The proposition to increase the appropria.
tons for the Carson City and Nevada minis
was also lost.
An item was inserted of $4,000 to carry on
the assay office in the mint building at New
Orleans; also $4,000 for the mint at at Char
l0tte, N. q also $4,000 for the assay office at
Boise City.
The consideration of the bill was interrupted
to allow Mr.. Lord of New York, chairman of
the impeachment managers, to present re-
joinder to the demurrer by w. W. Belknap.
The paper was read and is to the effect that the
House of Representatives, in the name of it
self and Of all the people of the United States
says the first replication to the plea of Belknap
to the articles of impeachment and the matters
therein contained are in matter and form sufi-
Gent in law for the House to maintain its arti-
cles of impeachment, and the Senate as court
of impeachment has jurisdiction to hear, try
and determine the same, and that as Belknap
has not answered such articles of impeachment
or in any manner denied the same, the House
of Representatives prays judgment thereon ac-
cording TO law As to the first and second sub
divisions of the rejoinder to the second replica
ton of the House to the plea of the defendant,
wherein the defendant demands trial accord
| ing to law, the House in behalf of itself and
| all the people of the United States does the
like and as to the third, fourth and sixth sub
divisions of the rejoinder, the House asserts
that it ought not to be barred from having and
maintaining articles of impeachment against
defendant because it denies every argument in
such rejoinder which denies or traverses the
acts or intents charged against the defendant,
and it reaffirms the truth of the latter and
therefore the House of Representatives prays
| judgment according to law.
The paper was approved by the House and
| the CLERK was ordered to file it with the secre-
| tary of tie Senate
The consideration of the legislative appro.
priation bill was resumed, the question being
| on the amendment offered by Mr.. Hurlbut OF
Illinois, to increase the compensation of terri
torial judges from $500 to $4,000. No quorum
voting it was agreed that the amendment be
| offered in the House and voted on.
| Mr.. Hoar of Mass, offered an amendment
| forbidding territorial judges accepting any
| compensation except that provided by Con-
gress. The fact had been stated in the debate
an appropriation to increase the compensation
| of U. s. judges who acted there In dual ca.
pacity. The amendment was agreed to.
After disposing of six pages of the bill, pro-
Department, the committee rose and the House
at Q OF clock adjourned. -fr-.4r