The Portland daily press., 1877-02-16
Forty Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE,


WASHINGTON, Feb Is.
The silver committee were given till Fec. "a
to report.
A resolution was adopted allowing the Elec-
tora Commission to sit in the Senate chamber
10 the evening.
Mr.. Dawes presented the petition of Isaac
Taylor & Co. OF Boston, in favor of legislation
authorizing contract with them for trans
portation OF the U. s. mails between the United
States and South Africa Referred TO Com
mittee on Commerce.
Mr.. Conkling introduced bill to facilitate
the settlement and development of the re-
sources of Alaska and for the survey of line
of railroad. Referred to the Committee on
Territories.
MI. Cragin, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported adversely on the Senate bill
to fix and determine the relative rank of Off
GERS of the several staff corps of the navy, and
it was indefinitely postponed. He also report
ed from the same committee bill for the relief
of certain contractors for the construction OF
vessels of war and steam machinery. Placed
on the calendar.
Mr. Cragin said the bill was in the line OF
number of bills for the relief of various con-
tractors, the committee deeming it advisable to
report a general bill on the subject.
Mr. C0nking called up the Senate bill TO
provide for the distribution of awards made In
the Convention between the United States and
Mexico, and said the statement made yeSter-
day as TO fraud in these awards was with
drawn, it having been ascertained that the
matter had been investigated and settled.
Mr. Stevenson objected to the bill and said a
distinguished citizen of Alabama had informed
him there was fraud in the award.
Mr. Conkling said he had no idea of press ing
the bill now in view Of the statement of the
Senator from Kentucky, but he hoped the gen.
tleman making the charge would take steps to
substantiate it as soon as possible.
The bill was then laid aside and Mr.. ingalls,.
frr tl,aH f%na i
verse'y on number of pension bills, among
them one increasing the pension of the widow
of Col. Fletcher Webster. Placed on the CAL
endar with the adverse report
Bill to amend the Pacific railroad acts was
laid aside temporarily, and the Senate proceed
ed to consider the House bill for the support Of
| the government of the District of Columbia.
After the District of Columbia bill was tax
| en- up an amendment was reported by the Dis
| trict Committee authorizing the Secretary of
| the Treasury to advance to the District Com
missioners, between July l, and Nov. 1, 1877,
such sums, not exceeding $4,000 as were re-
quired for the payment of interest on the old
funded debt and for the current expenses of the
District government, the treasury to be reim-
bursed out of the revenue of the District
| Agreed to.
Various amendments reported by the District
Committee were agreed to.
Mr.. Herman submitted an amendment ex.
| empting from taxation all property owned and
1 dCUudlly UCCup6Q duu uS6u lUT purposes Oh Gu
ucation by incorporated colleges and acade
| mics.
Pending discussion Mr.. Wright demanded
the regular order, being the bill in regard to thu
Pacific Railroad sinking fund.
A lengthy discussion ensued as to the order
of business, during which Mr.. Sargent said the
committee on appropriations would soon pres:
the appropriation bills and they would author
ize anything which might be before the Senate
| Mr. Window spoke of the condition Of the
| appropriation bills
| Mr. Wright withdrew his demand for the
regular order with the understanding that the
| District tax should be disposed of today. He
gave notice that tomorrow he would insist 10.
on vote upon the railroad sinking fund bill
which would come up as Unfinished business.
| The discussion of the bill for the support OF
the District OF Columbia was continued. The
| amendment of Mr. Herman was agreed to-
yeas 80. nays 10. The bill was then read
third time and passed-yeas 20, nays -.
The Senate resumed the Consideration of the
| Pacific Railroad SINKING fund bill.
| Mr. Allison submitted an amendment to the
bill reported by the committee on railroads. Or
| dered printed.
The Senate at 5 o'clock took recess until
| tomorrow.
HOUSE.
| On re-assemblipg the House went into com
mittee of the whole on appropriation bill.
| The naval appropriation bill was passed at
l
ed by Mr.. Whitthorne providing for the ap
| pointment of a ommisson to decide upon the
future naval policy of the United States, said
| commission to consist of the Admiral of the
navy, the General of the army, two Senator'S
| three Representatives and two naval officers to
be designated BY the President.
| The Dill was passed removing the political
| disabilities of Joseph E johnson
| The Speaker presented a message from the
President vetong the bill perfectng revision
/ r,f fhn To- off q n
ton is to the section which directs the clerk Of
the House of Representatives to select one
| newspaper in each of the states and territories
| IN which all treaties and laws of the United
| States as may be ordered for publication shall
be published. The veto was sustained-yeas
81. nays l.
Mr.. Durham of Kentucky then reported
back the bill leaving out the section objected to
by the President and it was passed.
| Some of the Senate amendments to the d.
| plomatic bill were agreed to and some non-con-
| CURED in.
Mr.. Hendee of Vermont introduced bill to
| prevent default or delay in the payment of in.
terest on the 3.65 District of Columbia bonds.
| Referred.
| The House proceeded to the consideration of
| the Senate bill to ratify the agreement with
certain bands of Sioux Indians and also with
| the northern bands of Arapahoes and Chey-
| ennes.
Mr.. Mills of Texas moved an amendment
| PioNiuius tudt HotutuS III JIG acG D6 CONSTRUED
as authorizing the removal of the Sioux Indians
to the Indian Territory. The amendment was
| agreed to and the bill passed.
The House then went into committee of the
whole (Buckner in the chair) on the bill limit.
ing the rates for transportation of freight over
| the bridge constructed by the Union Pacific
Railroad across the Missouri at Omaha, Neb.
The bill provides that the government directors
| OF said railroad shall enquire into and fix the
rates for transportion across said BRIDGE
Mr.. Phillips of Missouri, on behalf of the
minority of the committee on Pacific railroads
offered as substitute bill fixing the rate of
| toll at SIS for each car and % cents for each
| passenger.
Mr.. Crounse of Nebraska favored the substi.
tute in preference to the original bill. He would
rather bill were passed permitting no special
toll to be collected for transportation over that
bridge.
Without having disposed of the bill the com.
mittee rose.
The House concurred in the Senate resolu-
ton allowing the monetary committee until the
Ath OF February to make their report
At 4. 40 the House took recess till 10 to.
morrow.