The Portland daily press., 1877-11-09
XLVth CONGRESS-Extra Session
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. s.
Amoup the bills introduced were the follow
ing:
By Mr.. Matthews, supplementary to the act
entitled an act to provide for the resumption
OF specie payments, approved January 18th
1875.
MI. fEdmunds submitted a resolution iu
structiug the Judiciary Committee to inqur;
and report whether any legislation was neces-
sary in order to authorize the payment out oil
any moneys received or to be received from the
republic of Mexico or otherwise to American
claimants of awards made by the commission
created under the treaty between the United
States and that republic, the notifications
whereof were exchanged February 18th, A. d.
1869. Agreed to.
The resolution submitted BY Mr.. Maxey
Tuesday last, calling upon the President for
information in regard to the rescue of prisoners
from Stark county, Texas, Jail by outlaws from
Mexico in August last, was taken up and
agreed to-; also resolution by Mr.. Mitchell,
Tuesday, calling upon the Secretary of the
Interior for information as to the number of
miles Of the Northern Pacific railroad cou-
structed, what changes have been made 10 the
line, etc.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Anthony to
authorize the Secretary of tn Treasury to pur-
chase lot of land for the use of the govern
ment in Providence, r. l. ; also joint resolu-
ton authorizing Commander E. o. Matthews
of the United States navy to accept gilt
teapot from the Emperor of Siam.
Mr.. Chaffee offered a preamble and resolu-
tion requesting the President to inform the
Senate what legal impediments, if any, exist
which prevent his executing the laws in accord
ance with the obligations accepted and the
agreement made by the Union Pacific Railroad
Co. and branches with the United States, as
stipulated and agreed upon in several acts of
of Congress; that said railroad and branches
should be operated and used for all purposes of
communication and travel and transportation,
as far as the public and government are con-
cerned, as one connected continuous line. 1t
was laid over for the present.
MIR. Edmunds introduced bill to grant Mary
Kirby Smith Eaton, widow of the late Gen.
Amos b. Eaton, pension Of $50 per month
Referred.
The Vice President was ordered to fill va
cancies on the Committees CT Foreign kela-
tons, and Privileges and Elections. and
Railroads, occasioned by the death of Mr.,
Morton.
The Senate at 1926 went into executive
session, and afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE.
There being no chaplain present the House
opened without prayer.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Cox in the chair, upon the army ap-
preparation bill.
1ho EOuei "a uOuhte upon Cn6 Dill was limited
to two hours.
The House was addressed by Mr. Atkins of
Tennessee, chairman of the Appropri alton
Committee. He explained that the estimate of
the War Department for the present year
amounted to $50. 100000 while the bill appro-
priated S25,7OO,OOO, decrease Of SSooot.oOo
from the appropriation of last year. The bill
has been drawn up upon the basis of $4,000
m Tor the fret four months of the year, and
10000 for the remaining eight months. The
General OF the army had been before the COM
mlttee and had stated positively that there were
less than 10000 men in the service at the pres
ent time; he said he was still in favor of re-
ducing the army to $4,000 men, but he did not
think that it was the proper time to do SO since
the army had been SO long without nav. and
the question of reducing the force might DELAY
the passage of the bill With regard to the re-
strictions placed upon last years bill. he said
that it had been left out of the recent bin be-
cause the committee did not feel that in view
of recent events and the action of the Presi-
dent in carrying out the time honored doctrine
of non-intervention, and in allowing states to
regulate their own affairs in their own way, it
was necessary to place any restricting clause in