The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-13
XLVth C0ngress-.Regular Session,

DENAlEs
WASHINGTON, Dec. 49,
great portion OF the morning hour was consumed
in the presentation OF petitions.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, to provide for COM
mission on the subject of alcoholic liquor traffic.
Mr.. Edmunds submitted a resolution auf horizing
state OF the law respecting ascertanng and declara-
ton OF the result of the election of Presden and
Vice President of the United States: also the best
service. Agreed to.
Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on public build
from the friends Of female suffrage, asking thew be
allowed the use of the Senate chamber sometime in
January to present arguments before the committee
on privileges and elections in favor Of 10th amend
ment granting female suffrage. In submitting the
report Dawes said the committee expressed no Opn-
ion adverse to the adoption of such amendment, hut
chamber to be used for any other purpose than the
business of the Senate.
MIR. Sargent, from the committee onEnaval affairs,
reported favoraby the Senate bill to regulate ex-
penditures in the navy. Passed.
Also the Senate bill authorizing general account
OF advances for naval appropriations. Passed.
He also reported from the same committee adverse
ly on the Senate bill to equaze the pay of Rear Ad-
mras on the retired list, and it was indefinitely
postponed,
Mr.. Davis of West Virginia submitted resolution
recitng the sections OF the Revised Statutes in re-
gard to the organization of the militia states maxi
ing an annual appropriation for arming and equip
ping such militia. &C., and calling upon the Secreta-
ry Of War to report to the Senate the condition and
strength OF the militia in the several States together
with any recommendations be may nave to make
looking to more thorough organization of the
militia, the amount OF money disbursed to various
states, what amount is due any state and if any
state has been excluded from the benefits of the law
and for how long, and if in his opinion the annual
appropriations for equipping and arming the militia
should be increased Ordered printed.
Mr.. Davis gave notice that he would call it up for
action at an early day.
The Vice President has appointed Mr.. Allison
consulting trustee of the reform school of the District
Of columbia in place OF Mr.. Hitchcock of Nebraska
his term OF service having expired.
He also lad before the Senate communication
from the Secretary of the Inteior in answer to the
Senate les u ion of the 10th inst enclosing report
from the commissioner general of the land office as
to the number of miles of the Oregon Central Rail-
road Company completed and number of acres of
the committee on railroads.
Mr. Jones of Florida, from the committee on ma
val I analrs, reported with amendments the Senate
transfer to the Secretary of heInteror for entry and
sale all lands in Florida not needed for naval mr.
poses Placed on the calendar. fN
Also from the same committee without amend.
ment the Senate bill to re rocede the state of For-
Ga jurisdiction oyer the lands reserved for a dock
calendar. VA WV
Mr.. anthony called up the joint resolution author
lzlng Commander E. o. Matthews of the navy to ac-
cept gift from the Emperor of Siam Passed
On motion OF Mr.. Allison the Senate Insisted unon
Its amendments TO the deficiency Approximation hiIl
a comml tee OF conference was ordered and Messrs
Sargent, Dorsey, and Beck were appointed A COM
mittee on the part of the Senate.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the res
ouuon declaring the rights of the government to pay
Mr.. Chafiee submitted substituts as follows.
That all bonds of the United States issued or an
heretofore recited, payable at the option Of he
government in coin of col or silver standard value
when such ponds were issued. and to restore to its
coinage such silver coin as legal tender co equal with
god not IN violation Of public faith nor deropatve
OF the rights of public creditors. Ordered printed
NJ, mr. Morgan spose in favor of the resolution and
MT, ClrstialCV against. SpOafa Than ;r+
ecutive session. Va
me yeas and nays on the motion for an executive
Yeas-Allison, Anthony, Bayard, Blaine, Booth.
burnside, Cameron Of Pa, Cnafee Coke Conkling.
G So1SN Davis of H. Dawes, Dennis, Dorsey,
ingalls,. Johnston, Jones of New, Kellogg, Kernan.
kirkwood, Lamar. Mcmillan, Merrimon, Mitchell
Mornli, OgIesby Paddock, Patterson, Rollins, Sar-
hees, Wadleigh and Whyte-44. ' '''-
ri, Nags-Bailey, Barnum. Beck, Cameron OF Wis.,,
Grover, Hereford, Hoar, Jones Of Fla, Mccresrv''
Mcdonald, Matthews, Maxey, Morgan, Thurman.
Wallace, and Withers-20.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the journal Mr..
Morrison said he noticed on the reading of the iour
raj members to different committees in place of 9th.
ers excused He desired to know when the House
excused the members.
The Speaker said that he had asked permission ot
the House 10 fill certain vacancies in committees
Mr.. Stephens introduced bill repeating the iron
clad which has to be taken by applicants tor pensions
Referred
Mr.. Harris Of Virginia. chairman of the Election
committee, called up the Colorado contested election
case majority report signed by the Democrats on
the committee declaring Patterson entitled 10 seat
and minority report signed by the Republicans de-
claring Bedford duly elected, were read.
, Mr. Cox OF Ohio, submitted another report, de-
claring there was no valid election.
The presentation of the arguments in sunnort ot
the majority and minority reports occupied the re-
mainder of the days session. Speeches were mostIr
written and read by the respective authors without
at racting any attention interest of the Honse at
large.
They were interrupted to permit the following pro-
;eedngs: F-'
Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia, from the Committee
On Foreign Affairs reported bill to provide for the
lisirioutlon Of the award made under convention
WIN Mexico OF the 4th of July, 1868. Ordered print
81 and recommitted.
1s PHI Is reported substitute for that refer
eu " te committee in relation to suspending paw
menu OF CLAIMS of Benz. We'll and the ia Abra silver
inning company 1t directs the State Denartment /
. receive the moneys paid by Mexico and distribnte
ne same pIo ra6d' IL also directs the PAYMENT to
hexlco OF Sh9,9ZS IN Mexican goid $40 $50 in Ameri-
AN gold and $6J,4lO IN United States eurrencv u, |
discharge OF the awards made in favor of Mexican |
itiZens. 'A''"N
conference committee was ordered on tbe dof |
lency bill and Messrs. singleton of Missssipnj At |
inns of Tennessee, and Hale of Maine, were an |
pointed. ~P |
MT. Money of Mississippi introduced bill to an |
horlze the Southern Pacific Railroad COMPANY tn l
xtend its railroad and telegraph lines eastwardiv |
rom the western terminus In Arlzona4to point on
ne no Grande, at or near Ell Paso, and to aid in