Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-15
FO.TY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, December IA.

WASHINGTON, Dece mber IA.
Tie Vice >ideHt l,d before the Senate a
communication from the Secretary of the Interior
calling attention to The law in reg ard 10 the CON-
pensatiOn for government advertising, and com
plants ale daily recounted As to the inadcquacy
of sUch comFt usaiOn. lie suggest. the law be so
ane uded as TO allow the department TO ray the
same rate for advertising AS papers received from
private indy EQUALS. Referred TO civil service and
retl cnchmeut
liotr presented u petition of the Merchants of
Boston, IN favor OF AN appropriation of portion
of the Geneva award, to reimburse those who paid
war premiums. Referred to the committee on ju-
dietary.
AT The expiration Of the morning hour the Sem
ate resumed the silver resolution. Hereford spoke
in favor thereof.
AT the conclusion of HereCotd's remarks the
S nate went Into executive session.
The do Is were lie opened at 0j o'clock, PM.
| aud the Weep esident announced a committee
to investigate the pracicability of prom citing n
tercOurse with Mexico, maintaining peace on the
Rio Granhe, &c, authorize under the resolution
OF C0nkling, recently adopted, Messrs. Conkling,
lIamlin,i Howe, Jones OF New, Cameron of Pa,
Eaton and MaXcy.
Sargent from the conference committee on the
deficiency BILL snbmit'cd report and in explans-
ton thereof said reductions had been made by the
committee IN The amount provide for in the Sem
| ale anne ndmens, as follows
In apr prlatlon for fuel, light and water for
rab,ic buildings, 5000; IN that for the contn-
gent expenses OF the treasury department, 5000 /;
ion railways. postal clerks, Sl4, 800; international
postal congress, S2UOU, Columbian institute for
the deaf aud dumb, 5000.
The senate amendments appropriating $4,000
for the uh cation of the official records OF the
beon, Sl420 for legislative expenses of Wash
ingtOn Territory SIG 0S6 for the payment of
claims of Oregon and Washington volunteers in
suppressing Indian hostlities IN 1855 and 1856,
were stricken out entirely.
The Senate amendment appropriaiing Sl3,559
far compensation and expenses of various Custom
House aud mint investigating commissioners, was
retained.
| The total amount appropriated by the bill as
agreed upon is 81 64j ,S73 81.
Davis inquired what was done with the amend
ment in regard to senators and representatives in
Congress being permitted to send and receive free
through the mails, all public documents.
SBrgent replied that 1t had been retained and
that the privilege was also extended to the Vice
President.
The report of the conference committee was
agreed to and the bill passed.
On motion of Edmunds, and by unanimous con-
sent, it was ordefed that the Vice President de
Glaze the Senate adj burned tomorrow, immed-
atey after the reading OF the Journal, and that no
business be transacted.
Sargent said the French exposition bill, the de-
| fciency bill and PROBABLY one or two other bills
would be passed by both Houses and be ready for
signatures Tomorrow. Tue order just made should
not pfevo the ' President signing these bills
and on his notion the announcement of the sign
Ing OF any bill was excepted from the above or
der.
Ferry moved to take up the bill establishing
post routes in the several states.
Matthews inquired what would become of his
resolution in case the post route bill taken up.
| The Vice President replied that it would not
| lose It's place as unfinished business
| On motion of Bayard it was ordered that the
, senator from South Carolina (Butler) should not
| be prevented from submitting resolution OF in
| curry tomorrow, on account of the order OF the
Senate ust adopted not to transact any business.
| The Senate proceeded to consider the post route
bill, which was read, the amendments agreed to,
and it was passed.
| On motion of Mcmillan il was ordered that the
! testimony taken in the investigation of charges
against Senator Grover Of Oregon be printed.
! Adjourned.
| House.
A bill was introduced by Quinn to fix the pay OF
letter carriers,