The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-22
Fort. Fourth Congressional Session
SENATE.


Upon returning at II so, Mr.. Sargent, from
the Committee on Appropriations. reported
back the deficiency appropriation bill with
sundry amendments. Placed on the calendar
Mr.. Mitchell, from the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections, submitted lengthy re-
port in regard to the Oregon e!ector and it was
ordered printed
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported bill to aid the resumption of
specie payments. Placed on the calendar.
MIR. Merrimon reported favorably on the
House bill to prevent the sale and use Of adul-
terated and explosive Illuminating oils and
other fluids. Placed on the calendar.
The chair laid before the Senate a message
from the President of the United States in an
swer to the Senate resolution of the 18th inst,
inclosiDg a report of the Secretary of State in
regard to the expenditures of that department
ftom 1889 to 1876. Laid on the table.
Senate concurred in the amendments of the
House to the bill to ratfy an agreement with
certain bands af the Sioux nation of Indians,
and also with the northern Arrapahoes and
Cheyenne Indians, and the bill passed.
After the expiration of the morning hour the
unfinished business, being the Pacific railroad
sinking fund bill, was laid aside informally
with the understanding it should not lose us
place. and the Senate took up the postoffice APP
preparation BILL
Amendments reported by the Committee on
Appropriations were agreed to.
Mr.. Hamlin submitted an amendment allow
ing the Postmaster General to use $250,000 of
the amount appropriated for mail transporta-
ton to obtain proper facilities from the great
trunk lines of railroads for the railway service
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.
The amendment was agreed to without a di-
vision.
Mr.. Hamlin then submitted the following:
That the sum of 100000 is hereby appropri-
ated out of any money in the treasury not 9TH
erwse appropriated, to enable the Postmaster
(fanGral c0ntinuQ the stna m chin m ij
between San Francisco, Japan and China for
one year, and the Postmaster is hereby author
lied to continue with the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company upon the terms specified under
the act of Feb. II, 1865, and Feb. IS, 1867, for
transporting monthly mail from San Fran
cisco to Japan and China, upon the same terms
and conditions SO far as applicable, and the
Postmaster General is directed to continue said
service as herein provided.
The amendment was then agreed to and the
bill having been considered in committee of
the whole was reported to the Senate and the
amendments made in committee were concur
red in with the exception of the last one of
Mr. Hamlin in regard to the China mail SER
vice, upon which separate vote was demand
ed,
Mr.. Bogy submitted an amendment to that
of Mr.. Hamlin, appropriating 100000 Or SO
much thereof as necessary for the monthly
mail service from New Orleans to Rio Janeiro,
and the Postmaster General is authorized to
enter into contract for this purpose with any
parties to carry such mails in American vessels
of not less than 1000 tons burthen.
Mr.. Hamlin submitted an amendment to that
of Mr. Bogy, so as to provide that the ships
shall be built under the direction and inspec-
ton of some naval officer to be designated by
the Secretary of the Navy, and said ships shall
at times be subject TO the use of the govern
ment at reasonable rates for charter. Agreed
to.
The amendment of Mr.. Bogy as thus amend
ed was agreed to.
Mr.. ingalls, or Kansas submitted as substi-
tute for the amendment of Mr.. Hamlin agreed
to in the committee of the whole the following
And the sum of 100000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to
carry the mails between the United States,
China and Japan upon the best attainable
terms for monthly service, and the Postmaster
General be and is hereby authorized to contract
for such service; said mail to be carried in
American built and owned vessels of not less
than 1000 tons burthen. Agreed to-yeas q,
nays Is. as follows:
Burnside Cameron of Pa, Cameron of Wis, Chatfee,
Chrstiancy, Conover, Cragn, Dawes. Dennis, Ferry,
Goldthwaite, Hamlin, ingalls,, johnson, Herman,
West, Window anu WitheGs127. "''''''"' '"i s0n''
Nays-Messrs. Alcorn, Bailey, Clayton, Cooper
Davis, Hereford, Hitchcock, MeCreery, Mcdonald,
Maxey, MerrimOn, Randolph, Ransom, Robertson,
Sherman, Spencer, Teller and Wrght-1S.
The senators having retired lat 1860 the
Speaker announced the commencement of a
new legislative day, which was thereupon
opened BY prayer by the chaplain.
MIR. Saylor of Ohio, chairman Of the select
committee on the election 10 South Carolina
submitted the report of the majority of that
committee, accompanied, however. by no reso-
luton. Printed and recommitted
MIR. Hewitt of New York introduced bill
declaring Little He'll Gate not a navigable
channel and according the consent of the
United States to filling up of the same.
Mr. Holman of Indiana, chairman of the
civil appropriation bill and it having been pre-
viously printed, the House at 125 went into
the committee of the whole on that bill, Buck
ner in the chair
Mr.. Conger of Michigan raised point of or
der ON the paragraph which authorizes the
purchase of the Congressional Globe building
in Washington, together with the bound and
unbound volumes of the Globe contained there
in, on the ground that it was new legislation.
Ihe Chair sustained the point and the para
graph was stricken out.
MIR. Harrison of Illinois offered an amend
ment appropriating $4,000 for improving the
be expended under the architect of the Capitol
He explained that the amendment did not pro-
pose to change the system of ventilation, but
simply improve the present system. Mr.. Har-
rlson's amendment was agreed to.
Alter making some progress in the bill the
committee rose and the House at 4.45 took
recess till 7.3O this evening.
At the evening session the House went into
committee OF the whole on the sundry civil
bill, but adjourned without adopting any i'm
pOrtant amendment.