The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-03
XLvth CONGRESS.Extra Session.
SENATE
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2


illness and occupied bis new seat in the centre
of the chamber, being that formerly occupied
by Senator Morton
Senator Butler of South Carolina, who was
sworn in just before the adjournment this moro
ing was in his seat on the outer row of the
Democratic side, adjoining that of Mr. Voor-
bees, when the Ser ate was called to order Mr..
Kellogg was not in his seat when the Senate
convened.
Mr.. Conkling presented petition of the citi-
zens OF Albany, fayoring the repeal of the
bankrupt law
Mr.. Anthony from the Committee on Print
ing, reported favorably the House bill author
izing the binding of the pub ic documents for
members of Congress. Passed.
Mr.. Kellogg appeared and took his seat soon
after the Senate met,
Mr.. Conkling presented petition of August
Watson and William Coppinger asking an APP
Precipitation of $4,000 to pay the cost of the
preliminary survey by the army engineers or
naval officers of the beginning of the trans
continental railroad from the Republic Of Libe-
ria eastward one or two thousand miles, into
the Niger Valley, and to report upon the coun-
try. It's population, products, &C., with view
to opening market for our manufactures in
Central Africa. Referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
Several bills of private nature were Intro
duced, when Mr.. Davis of Illinois, appealed to
the Senators not to present any more bills or
petitions. They could be submitted next week
just as well, and there were important matters
to be acted upon today.
Mr.. Wadlegh from the Committee on Eec-
tions, submitted report in the case of j. B.
| Eustis, claiming a seat in the Senate from
Louisiana, accompanied by a resolution declar-
ing EustIs entitled to a seat in the Senate as
Senator from Louisiana, from tie 18th of jan
uary, 1876, for the term ending March g. 1879.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Ingalls, of Kansas, gave notice he did not
| concur with the majority of the committee and
| that he would hereafter present minority re-
| port signed by himself and two other members.
Mr.. VOORHEES, introduced bill granting pen
sions to soldiers and sailors of the war with
Mexico, and to the widows of deceased soldiers
| and sailors. Referred to the Committee on
| Pensions. Also, a joint resolution authorizing
| Capt Jonathan Young. q. S. A to accept GER
/ tain presents from the Emperor of Siam. Re-
| ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Mr.. Howe presented memorial of G. 7. An
4 gel, President of the Massachusetts Society for
| the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 10 re-
gard to the existing evils in the transportation
| of animals from the West to the seaboard. Re-
ferred 20 the Judiciary Committee.
MI. Sargent called up the House bill to pro-
vide for deficiencies in the appropriations for
the service of the government for the fiscal
year ending June 3d. 1873, and for prior years
Mr.. Sargent in explanation of the BILL said as it
came from the House it appropriated $685.
1892, and re-appropriated unexpended bal
| ances amounting to 1851, 6S7,27, making total
of 81, 579, 1863 SO. The Senate Committee on
Appropriations added new matter amounting
| to 81, 094 $40 55, but half million dollars of
this amount for what is known as the ''Star'
l mail service. Various amendments reported by
/ the Committee on Appropriations were then
agreed to without discussion.
The bill having been considered in committee
| of the whole was reported to the Senate, read a
| third time and passed.
The Vice President laid before the Senate the
House bill for the relief of the sufferers by the
wreck of the Huron.
Mr.. Beck asked unanimous consent to pass
| the bill now.
Mr.. Morrill, suggested that it be referred to
the Committeen on Naval Affairs that the dis
aster might be inquired into.
Mr.. Sargent SAID the first impression of the
public press and the people throughout the
country upon hearing of this wreck was that
an old vessel, unable to stand the wind and
waves had been wrecked, and gIeat deal of
unjust criticism was heaped upon the navy.
Subsequent events showed that the vessel was
out of her. course and struck upon
| dangerous shoal. No matter how strongly
built, no vessel would stand for an hour in such
a position as this vessel was placed Had she
not struck the shoal but kept in deep water, she
could have weathered the storm although il
was severe Upon learning these facts public
opinion changed. This should be lesson to
those censorious people who are always ready
to say when an accident happens that it was
the fault of the public officer.
| Mr.. Morrill, said he made no suggestion of
1 ANY Dldulo VI pdTb Vi puUHC OuC6IS, DuG I'D
a matter of this importance there should be
| some investigation.
Mr.. Sargent said he had been told that tie
vessel had not gone to pieces yet, which showed
she was strong. Besides the assistant engineer
testified that the engine continued to work af-
ter the vessel struck.
| Mr.. Howe said the Senator had made good
case to show that the fault was not with the
vessel, but he had not made an equally good
case to show the fault was not one of seaman
ship.
Mr.. Sargent said he did not wish to have the
duty assigned to him to say whether Captain
Ryan was brave and competent officer or not,
but he had always held that our present sys-
tenn OF naval education was not adapted to
| practical seamanship.
The bill was then referred to the Com mittee
| on Naval Affairs.
| A joint resolution authorizing Rear Admiral
Reynolds to accept certain presents from the
Emperor Siam was passed.
| Several private bills were passed, and the
Senate at 30, on motion of Mr.. Allison, went
| into executive session and at $50, when the
doors were re opened adjourned until o'clock
Monday.
HOUSE.
| A resolution instructing the Committee on
| Patents to report bill prohibiting the bringing
or maintaining OF suits for damages for in
frlpgement of patent against any person who
| purchases for his own use and not for sale or
barter, any article or implement in the market,
unless at the time he purchased the same be
knew it infringed some existing patent, was
adoped, yeaJ LIZ, nays 43, two-thirds voting in
| favor thereof.
| A resolution was adopted for the final ad-
| Journment OF Congress at 8 p. m. today.
Mr. Knott moved to suspend the rules and
pass bill appropristipg to each of the sur
| viving officers of the U. s. steamer Huron
$1,000, to each of the surviving seamen $780,
and to the widows and children of those lost an
| allowance equal to years pay of their respec-
tive relatives. Mr.. Knott said the country
| should never forget the relatives of the gallant
men who went down in the awful wreck of the
Huron. The bill was not an appeal to the SYM
| pathy of the country; it was simply to afford
the American Congress an opportunity to do an
act OF justice which would meet a response in
the heart of every generous American. He
hoped the bill would pass without dissenting
l voice.
Mr.. Whtthorne agreed that there was no
class of men who should call upon the sym
pathies OF the representatives of the people
more than those men who periled their lives for
the honor and name of the United States
| Mr.. Garfield suggested that the bill should
also make provision for the case of Captain
Guthrie and his crew lost in endeavoring to save
life from the wreck of the Huron.
| Mr.. Butler of Mass as reed with Mr.. Gar
field in regard to making some provision for
that case and also called attention to the fact
that the law did not require that members OF
life saving stations should be on duty prior to
L DcCObUoi ISt, dpu budI tUGT6lOTo Tue laSb C0Q-
gress should not be blamed fer Gripping the
service by making insufficient appropriations
After the bill was so amended as to include
/ within its provisions the crew lost from the B.
& j. Baker, when making an attempt to save
lives from the Huron, it was unanimously pass
ed.
Mr.. Goode of Va, moved to suspend the
| rules and pass bill to, remove disabilities i'm
posed and remaining upon any person by virtue
of the 18th section of the 14th amendment of
the constitution.
MI. Garfield said if clause was inserted that
amnesty should be granted after application in
writing to the Attorney General for the re NOV
al of disabilities, there would be no objection
| to the bill.
Mr. Goode signifed his intention to accept
the suggestion.
Mr. Baker of Indiana, objected to the m cdi-
| fication
Mr. Goode withdrew the bill and imm ediate-
| ly thereafter introduced it modified as sug-
gested and moved that the rules be suspended
| and the bill pass.
The motion was rejected, yeas &c. nays 81,
not two-thirds in the affirmative.
A bill changing the name Of Brashear, La,
to Morgan City, was passed
Mr. Mills moved to suspend the rules and
| adopt resolution instructing the Committee of
Ways and Means to revise the tariff so as to
/ make it purely and solely n tariff for revenue