The Portland daily press., 1878-05-22

Mr.. Hamlin, from the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, reported with amendment the Senate bill to
to the judicial powers and functions of United States
consuls. 1t was placed on the calendar.
Mr. Conkling from the Committee on Commerce,
reported adversely on the Senate bill to amend Sec
ton 2763 of the revised statutes, relating to employ
of boats by the collector Of CUSTOMS and it was
indefinitely postponed
on the Senate bill to authorize the construction of
bridge across the Mississippi river at Memphis.
MT. Paddock, from the Committee on Lands, re-
ported back the House bill for the relief OF settlers
on public lands under the pre-empton laws. Placed
Mr.. Window, from the conference committee on
the military appropriation bill reported they were
unable to agree. The Senate insisted on its amend
ments and agreed to the conference asked the
House. MessTs Window, Blaine and Withers were
appointed as such committee.
Mr.. Davis, from the Committee on Judiciary, re-
ported favorably on the Senate bill to provide for
the appointment of district Judge for the western
district of Tennessee. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Maxey, from the Military Com mittee, reported
with an amendment of the House the joint resolu-
ton for the issue of arms to territories Placed on
the calendar.
ments to the bill to amend the revised statutes rela
ing to the cultivation of timber on the public domain
and committee OF conference was appointed.
Mr Voorhees, said that in consideration of the
fact the committee finance this morning reported
the House bill to forbid further retirement OF legal
tender notes and notice was given that it would be
called to He had concluded not to call for
the regular order of the bill to repeal the specie
resumption act this afternoon. After discussion it
agreed that the bill forbid further retirement
of legal tender notes be taken up tomorrow and
then laid aside informally to enable the Senator
from Mississippi to speak.
Mr. Bayard stating he would very cheerfully
yield the floor.
Mr. ingalls, introduced a bill to amend Sec. 4702 of
the Revised Statutes in re- alton to pensions to chill
dren. Referred to the committee on pensions. Also
ti relating to claim agents and attorneys and an
regard to the time for filing pension claims, both of
which were referred to the com mttee on pensions.
Mr.. ingalls, called up the House bill to provide a
permanent form of government for the District of
Columbia, and it was read at length. When the
reading concluded there were from Is to 20 SEN
Pending the discussion the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session and when the doors were reopened
which the bill to place Gen Shields on the retired
list of the army was rejected.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House went into committee of the whole on
the army appropriation bill.
Mr.. Hewitt gave notice that at the conclusion Of
today's session he would move to close all general
| debate upon the bills.
ton committee, supported the army bill. He said
the attempt OF the committee to reorganize the army
| dian uprising. There was not a man the flool
who would say the bill did not appropriate suff
| Gent amount for the maintainance of the army.
| Mr.. SchIcher stated that if he could obtain the
| floor he would say it was not so.
| Mr.. Sparks replied that the appropriation was
900 larger than that of last year He was op
posed to the theory that large standing army was
necessary to protect Canadian and Mexican borders.
In his judgment it was most preposterious propo
| stion to have an army to arrest Cortina and h
| band of thieves on the Mexican frontier. Comm.
down to the question of the Of the army in sup
pressing domestic influence he read portion of the
report Of the Secretary of War in which he declare
that the army should be to the United States what
local police is to city.
Mr. Phillips OF Kansas said the appropriation com
| mittee had come forward with an almost revolutions
| airy attempt to cut down the standing army Refer
ring to the danger of Indain hostilItes he said th
army was needed to preserve the peace of the from
tier and give the settlers security, which had neve
been given. Within Is months two of the mos
country have taken place, and yet the gentleman
| from New York (Hewitt) had told the House Their,
| would be n more Indian wars.
| Mr.. Banning, chairman of the committee on In
dian affairs spoke in advocacy of the bill He refer
red to Gen. Sherman's New York speech last SUM
mer Ito the effect that without the regular army thu
nation would be mob, and to the report OF the Sec
rotary of War as to the necessity of army il
maintaining peace and suppressing rioD and he ex
pressed decided dissent from these doctrines
He appealed to the House to pass the bill it would
give the country better, more efficient and less ex
| pensive army.
Mr.. Caldwell dissented entirely from the views ex
pressed in the debate in regard to strikes and riots
and he held that when the strikes and riots Q
last summer occurred it was the duty of President
| ernments of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Mary
land. He then drfted off to the question OF tn
liver anu narDer OIL, winch ne SAID ne voted against
and to the Southern claims, which he wished t.
see go down with all the passions and bitterness o
the war; and to the question OF substituting the Texa
Pacific Railroad, to which he also declared him sell
| opposed. He thought there enough rail
roads ia the country and it would be good policy OF
| the part of the government to turn its attentio
more to the promotion Of foreign commerce. Refer
ring incidentally to the Presidential question h
stated that the people of the South were grateful t
President Hayes, and no Southern Representative
Were in gayor of disturbing his title.
After speech by Mr.. Boone of Kentucky, in ia
of the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the Wa
| Department, the committee rose.
| On motion of Mr.. Hewitt of New York general de
bate on the army apr opriasion bill was ordered
be terminated with tonlght's session and at 43O th
| House took recess.
Evening Session.
The Senate bill fer the distribution of Mexica
awards W as taken from the Speakers table and re
! ferred to the committee of the whole.
The House then went into the committee of tn
whole on the army appropriation bill and was ad
| dressed by Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts,
He was followed by Garfield, Bragg and Harrison
At II O'Clock the committee and House adjourned.