The Portland daily press., 1876-04-28

Mr. Holman of Indiana, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported the .post-oflice
appropriation bill, which was made special
order for Tuesday.
Mr.. House of Tennessee, from the Commit
tee on Elections made report in the Louis-
ana contested election case, that Mr. Morey,
the sitting member. was net entitled TO seat,
and that w. D. Spencer the contestant, is.
Mr.. Wells of Missouri presented the views
of the minority report. Ordered printed
Tennessee, that all the testimony taken by the
Naval Committee and that to be taken bs
printed was adopted after notice had been
given by Mr.. Hale of Maine that he should
insist that all the testimony, not sthat which
might be culled. be printed.
The legislative appropriation bill was then
taken up in the Committee of the Whole.
All the items for surveyors general WERE on
motion of Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, struck
out of the bill on suggestion that the Com
subject and provision could be made for it in
the civil appropriation bill.
The items of the Post-office Department
brought up the question of fast mails, Mr..
Foster of Ohio charging that the committee
was going back to the old stage coach system,
and Mr.. Randall insisting that the recon-
mendations of the committee were fully
approved by the Postmaster General, and that
the mail service was not to be in the slightest
degree diminished by economy in the expendi.
ture provided In the bill.
On motion of Mr.. Caldwell, the salary of
Com missioner OF Agriculture was raised from
200 to $3000
On motion of Mr.. Holman of Indiana, a
paragraph was added making it the duty of
the Commissioner to collect the agricultural
statistics, compile the same and publish
monthly q statement thereof.
Mr.. Whitehouse of New York offered an
amendment to section 2 prohibiting any en-
ploye of the government giving to or receiving
from any other persons, directly or indirectly,
any money or thing OF value for political pur-
Mr.. Frye of Maine offered an amendment
providing that no member of Congress shall
recommend an appointment to, or continuance
in Office or removal therefrom, any clerk in
OF shall hrst apply for his advice in writing.
Rejected-57 to 81.
Mr.. jerks of Pennsylvania offered On
amendment transferring the Pension Bureau
from the Interior to the War Department.
A point of order being made that the amend
ment was not german to the BILL the amend
ment vas withdrawn.
Mr.. White OF Kentucky moved to amend by
inserting provision that no money appro-
priated by the act should be paid to spies OF
| informers. Rejected.
Mr.. Dennison of Vermont moved to insert
a provision that all moneys paid under this bill
| should be paid in lawful coin of the United
| States.
| Mr.. Holman moved to amend the amend
ment by striking out ''lawful coin" to inser,
lawful money"
| Mr.. Holman'S amendment was adopted and
| then the whole proposition was rejected.
MI. Hoar of Massachusetts, moved an addi.
| lional section, providing that whenever in the
| Judgment of the head of any department the
| duties assigned to clerk of one class can be as
| we'll done by a clerk of a lower class, or by q
female clerk, it shall be lawful for him to
| diminish the number of clerks of the higher
| class and to increase the number Of clerks OF
the lower grade to the same extent. Agreed to-
Mr.. jerks again submitted in modified
| form his amendment transferring, after the Isl
| of July, 1877, the Pension Bureau from the
Interior Department to the War Department
Mr.. Rusk of Wisconsin made a point OF
| order against the proposed amendment, but
| the point was overruled by the chairman, The
| amendment was rejected-55 to 80,
Mr.. Vance renewed the amendment offered
| by Mr.. White, that no money appropriated by
this bill shall be paid to spies or informers
| Rejected-75 to 78.
Mr.. Glover of Missouri moved to insert an
| additional section prohibiting executive officers
| OF the government from employing clerk
| agent, engineer, draughtsman, messenger
| Waterman, laborer or other employees in any
| OF the executive departments in the city OF
| Washington or elsewhere, except those fol
| whom specific appropriations are made in the
| bill. Agreed to.
| The Committee rose and reported the bill
| to the House.
Without voting on any of the amendments
the House at O'Clock adjourned.