The Portland daily press., 1877-10-20
XLvth CONGRESs.Extra Session.
SENATE.
WAaHINGTAN Oct lie.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.
Bills were introduced and referred as follows:
By Mr.. Edmunds to prevent abuses in respect
to mileage Of district attorneys of the United
STATES; by Mr.. Eatonsof Connecticut, authoriz-
ing the payment of prize money to the officers
and men of the Farragut fleet for the destruc-
ton of the enemy's fleet in 1862; by Mr..
Withers for the relief of owners and purchas-
ers of land sold for direct taxes in the nsurrec-
tionary states; by Mr.. Ingalls,, authorizing the
coming of standard silver dollar and restoring
its legal tender character; by Mr.. Merrimon, to
alter the time prescribed for holding elections
for electors flor president and Vice President,
and casting the vote in the electoral colleges
for those officers. 1t proposes to amend section
131 of the Revised Statutes, so that electors be
appointed in each state on the Tuesday next
after the first Monday in October, instead of in
November, and that the electors shall meet and
give their votes upon the first Wednesday in
January next after the year in which they are
appointed. instead of the 1st Wednesday in
December, as required by the present law.
Also bill to amend section 146 of the Re-
vised Statutes, relating to vacancies in the
offices of President Eand Vice President. 1t
provides that lin case of removal by death,
resignation or inability of both President and
Vice President of the United States, the Secre-
tary of State or in case there shall in that con-
tingency be no Secretary of State, or he shall
for any cause be unable to discharge the duties
of the Office then the Secretary of the Treas
ury, or in case there shall in the last named
contingency be no Secretary of the Treasury,
or he shall for any cause be unable to discharge
the duties of the office, then the Postmaster
General shall act as President until the dis
ability of the first aforesaid shall be removed
or President elected"
Also bill to repeal section AL of the Re-
vised Statutes, SO as to restore to the pension
rolls the names of all those stricken therefrom
on account of disloyalty.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont submitted a resolu-
ton instructing the Committee on Pensions to
inquire and report, by bill or otherwise, upon
reducing and properly adjusting the salaries
and fees of pension agents.
An amendment was submitted by Mr.. ingalls,
directing the committee to inquire into the ex-
pediency of abolishing all pension agencies and
having the pensioners paid in Washington.
1t was agreed to and the resolutions were pass
ed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution submitted by Mr.. Thurman yester-
day to discharge the Committee on Privileges
and Elections from further consideration of the
credentials of j. p. Eustis as Senator from
Louisiana.
Mr. Thurman spoke at length in favor of the
claims of Eustis.
During somewhat extended debate upon
Mr.. Thurman's motion, Mr. Davis of Illinois
made brief speech in which he said he knew
nothing about the claim of EuStis, on account
of having been member of another branch of
the public service during the discussion in the
Senate of the Louisiana controversy, and he
was not prepared to vote to-day upon the sub
ject. He favored an investigation by the COM
mttee.
Mr. Thurman sad it had been intimated
that the committee would soon report ON this
subject, and he therefore withdrew his mo-
tion.
The following bill was introduced by Mr. In
CALLS, authorizing the coming of q standard
silver dollar, and restraining its legal tender
character:
Be 1t enacted, &C., That there shall be from
time to time coined at the minis of the United
States, silver dollars of the weight of 4124
grains of standard silver to the dollar. as pro-
vided for in the act of January IS, 1887, and
and that said dollar shall be legal tender for
ment of gold coin is required by law.
The Senate then at !. 10 adjourned till Mon