Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-24
FO2TY.FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April %.
SENATE.

The bill prohibiting the coinage of silver TWEEN
" cent pieces passed.
The amendment of the house to the bill grant
ing pension to General James Shields so t.
increase his pension from fifty to one hundred
dollars per month, was referred to the pension
committee.
Mr.. Marcy, from the committee on military, re
ported iavoraby on the senate bill to prov ide TO
the sale of certain portions of the Font Leayeu
worth military reservation 10 Kansas.
Placed on the calendar.
lie also reported from the same committee ad
vtrsey on tie petition of certain officers of the
ordnance corps OF the United States army, pray.
ing for legislation to change their ranks.
Also on the senate bill to change the rank oil
k. {. Buc hanan, colonel on the retired list OF the
amy, and the committee be discharged from
further consideration.
Mr.. Maxey, from the committee on military af.
fairs, reported letters Ct the secretary of war and
the genei al OF the army, in regard to the amend
ment of sections 1916 and 1885 of the revised
statutes OF the United States, together with bill
to amend section 1916 so as to authorize the Pres
ident to grant certificate of merit for dislin-
guished serv ces to private soldier, non-com.
mlssloned officers and musicians.
Also bi ! to amend section 1885, granting two
dollars per month additional pay to those holding
such certificate of merit.
The bills were placed on the calendar.
On motion OF Mr.. Conkng, the committee on
commerce were authorized to sit during the s.
siOns.
AT the conclusion Of the morning business, the
senate resumed the consideration of the bill to
extend the time for the construction of the North
Pacific Railroad, which led to quite a long dis
cusslon.
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds, the words ebay
ing due regard for the lights of said company,
IN the last section OF the bill which reserves the
right OF congress to alter or amend OF appeal the
act, &c, ", re stricken out,
Mr. Teller moved TO strike out the proviso that
~ N hp s,aIIp In,
lands to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
have taken homesteads not exceeding eighty acres
shall have the privilege of increasing the amount
of the homesteads to 100 acres
The amendment was rejected--yeas 4, NAYS so.
Mr.. Bailey submitted the following ';When
SAID lands shall have been surveyed BY the United
States and the company shall become entitled to a
patent for the same they shall be subject to taxa
ton according to the laws of the state OF territory
within which they may be situated"
The anne ndment was adopted.
MIR. Christlancy moved an amendment so as to
provide that the amount paid for transportation of
mail. over the road be the same As the compensa-
ton for ike service in the States of Iowa. Kansas
and Minnesota.
The amendment was adopted
Mr.. Herman submitted amendment so As to
provide that the bonds of the company to he is
sued TO ard the construction of the road and to Sc
cure the same by mortgages, etc, shall not be is
sued unless on the affirmative vote or written
OF the entire preferred stock.
Agreed to.
MIR. Eaton moved to amend so as TO provide
that the consent of the State of Oregon should
first be obtained to construct the road around the
cascades OF Columbia river above mentioned.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Chrlstiancy moved to amend so as to pre-
vide that nothing in the act should be construed
as recognizing the existence of tie Portland, So
Pass x Salt Lake Railroad Co., or any right Of
said Ha nt At,.f.. Of
Agreed to.
MIR. ChrIstsncy submitted amendment con-
tinuing grants, rights privileges, &c. to the Co
subject TO any lawfully existing paramount ng hit
OF any stakeholder in, or the holder of any bond
against sall Co., under il, former organz ,tlon, If
such there be-
Agreed TO.
The bill was then read the third time and pass
ed without division.
MIR. Window, from the committee on appropiia-
tons, reported without amendment, the House
bill appiopi iatng 100000 to supply the def
cheney IN the appropriation for public printing and
binding during the present fiscal year, and asked
Tor present consider alton, but objection made
by MIR. Edmunds, who did not think it right to
rush through 500 900 bill on the run, and no
one would suffer If it laid over until tomorrow.
The bill was then placed on the calendar.
The Senate went into executive session, and
when the doors were re-opened adjourned.
HOUSE.
After some time spent in determining points of
order, and good deal OF confusion, the house
permitted protest presented by Mr.. Cox of New
York, against the passage of the river and haibor
bill, to be read
The reading of the protest was interrupted by
Mr.. Conger, who objected to some words therein
which reflected on members of the house
Immediately scene of confusion eosued. Mr..
Cox OF New York, thereupon modified his Ian
guage.
The speaker tnen put the question "Shsll the
gentlemen be allowed to proceed in order 7"
1t was decided IN the affirmative, and the read.
ing of the protest continued.
When the words were reached "And this en-
coursges similar attempts on the treasury to graft
~ local Interests" Mr.. Conger objected to these
words as impugning tue motives of the members,
and MIR. Cox declared (amid some applause and
laughter) that he would not take that back.
The speaker ruled that the words complained OF
were not disrespectiul TO the house, as they only
conveyed the idea that there might be q combine
ton of local interests.
The reading Of the protest having been com
pleted, MIR. Hale submitted the question whether
1t presented question OF privilege.
Mr. Reagan argued that it was not a question
of privilege, and quoted rules and precedenls
against II.
Mr. Hooker interrupted and objected to a dis
cussion of the merits of the bill.
MIR. Reagan urged that he was merely defend
ing the honor OF his committee and tue integrity
of the house, and asked whether il was expected
that lie would sit with his mouth closet and allow
written assaults made on himself and
the committee on commerce.
After long discussion, the question was finally
put to the house whether the paper III itself pre-
scented question of priv ilege, aud was decided in
the negative-yess 81, nays 1870.
MI Mills then moved as Il matter of courtesy
to those who signed the protest, that be entered
on the journal
The motion was rejected.
MIR Durham from the COZ ference comm ittee on
the deficiency bill for temporary clerk in the treas
ury cepartme Mt, reported that the committee had
agreed by compromising the disputed points.
The report was agreed to.
Mr. Sparks, from The appropriation committee,
reported the Indian Appropriation bill
Referred to the committee of the whole.
Adjourned.