The Portland daily press., 1878-03-09
XLVth Congress-Regular Session.
HOUSE.


WASHINGTON. Mar. 7.
Mr., o,NeilI presented cammunicailn Of Msssrs
James conuor. & Sons and Farmer. Lil1le = Ua
AGAINST certain petition for the abolition of tar III
dutv on type, consi lering it scandousy ia Sc as
containing statements, many of which are utterly
devoid of truth and as in the interest of foreign type
fuund,ie Referred.
of Section ASA of he Revised Statutes in regard
the guaDo Islands were eoDcurred in.
Long bond bill was referred TO committee on
The Speaser laid before the House the following
executive COMMUNICATIONS which we're referred:
Letter from the 'SecreaIy of War asking appro-
pria ion of $12,530 tor accommodation proving
ground. Sandy Hook.
Letter flom the Secretary of War stating the post
quartermasiers at Chicago and New York had been
ordered to appear before the comnittec on military
affairs.
upon the resolutions reported by the committee on
accounts for payment of anorers employed in the
CLOAK rooms which was finally referred to the com
mittee on civil service reform.
Reso uGioas adopted calling on the Secretary
Of the Interior and Secretary of War for all iDfcrma
tion in regard to geographical and geological sur
veys conducted by their respective departments
du ing the oast ten years.
The House then went into committee of the whole
upon tue private calendar, the unfinished business
being the bull for toe payment of certain ante
belum Southern mail contractors.
The bill makes available Immediately an appro-
praton of S375,000, already appropriated for the
May 81, 1851
M. FRYE said that it the United States govern
ment owed just debt to man who afterwards
went into the rebellion he n favor OF the govern
ments di-charging its just Obligations but this bill
provided that payments should be male up to May
81 1851 while in reality most of the states went INTO
rebellion in the previous January. He therefore
offered an amendment providing that no payment be
to mail contractors tor services rendered after
their respective states adopted the ordinance OF
secession.
Mr. Mills argued that inasmuch as the United
States did cuDniZa Ihe inSurrpc con
dtion OF the Southern until the 31st of May
the government should pay for the service rendered
in those slales up to that time
Mr.. Reagan pursued the same line of argument.
MIR Willetts denied the statement made by
MI Reagan some time ago toat the Confederate
contractors, and lead from act passed By thu
Confederate congress in which it assumed pay
every dollar, tie only limitation being that suct
contractors should be loyal to the Confederacy. He
had found upon examination of tie Confederate
record, that eighteen of those claims had been
admitted and psid and he Confederate government
had gone far to prov de that the United STATES
government should thereafter pay Them the con-
tractors should reimburse the Confederate govern
| ment for the amounts paid them. He ais quoted
from the report make by Mr.. Reagan Confederate
postmaster general, in wnich he credited himself
with $502,000 paid on account OF services rendered
| prior to May 81, 1851.
Mr.. Aiken inquired that if because eighteen claims
have been paid the government should repudiale
| MI. Reagan said he had not seen any of his
| reports since the end of the war but if he had al
MS reports ne tnought ne eOuiu prove what ne mac
| previously stated, but if the gentleman from
Michigan (Wiilets) right he would con ;eds to
| an amendment to exclude from payment such
contractors paid by the Confederate govcIn-
l meat.
After further DEBATE Mr.. Tucker moved that the
committee rise an recommil tue bill.
4 mmiifao oton hut the d )nt Of order was
raised that the bill still in committee of tbs
whole, The motion 10 The. bill to tue COM
mttee on post offices post roads could not be
entertained
The Speaker announced that he would be absent
tomorrow, and appointed Mr.. Blackburn speaker
pro tenn. Adjourned.