The Portland daily press., 1878-05-07
XLVth Congress-Regular Session.
SENATE.

States enclosing reports OF the Secretary of the
Treasury and Attorney Generals answer to Senate
resolution calling for Information in regard to the
alleged defalcation of w. K. Whitaker judge il
New Orleans, when he held office of assistant
and to lie on the table.
Mr.. Mcdonald presented petition signed by
Fremont be included iu the bill now pending t.
place Gen. James Shields on retired list of tn,
army. Referred to committee on military affairs.
Mr.. Sargent from committee on appropriations
reported with amendments the House bill making
appropriations for the payment of invalid pensions
and it was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Allison from the anne committee reported the
| Indian appropriation bill with amendments anG
| both were placed on the calendar.
The President laid before the Senate the House
bill to forbid further retirement OF legal tenders
Read the first time by title that it might be refer
red to the finance committee.
Mr.. Cockrell objected to its reference and moved
the bill be read the second tme his object being to
have the bill passed without reference.
Mr.. Morrill, objected to a second reading of the
bill today, and it was laid over.
The Senate took up the bill to repeal the bankrupt
law and Mr.. Beck submitted an amendment striking
out the LIST of JAM 1879 as the time when the repea
should take effect, and inserting an amendment SO
as to have the law repealed from and after the pas
sage of the act.
MIR. Thurman argued that the amendment of Mr.,
Beck to strike out certain words and insert others
would prevent any further amendment of that
clause In order that the Senate might not be con-
cluded by The amendment if adopted he moved to
strike out Jan list, and insert Sept LIST the time
when the repeal should take effect.
The bill discussued until the expiration of the
morning hour when the bill to repeal the specie re-
sumption act came up, in which Gordon was enti.
tied to the floor.
On motion of Mr.. Thurman the bill to repeal the
resumption act was laid aside that the Senate migh
continue the consideration of the bill to repeal
bankrupt law. Thurman then consented that the
latter bill be laid aside informally in order that Cor
don might address the Senate in favor of the repeal
Of the specie resumption act with the
that the consideration of the bankrupt bill be
sumed as soon as he concluded.
Mr.. Gordon then spoke at length in favor of repeal
ing the specie resumption act.
Mr. Gordon argued that the policy of contradiction
planted the seed not of resumption but the coDsump
ton of vas of the country until it swept all en-
ergies and enterprises away. Would Congress take
tary of the Treasury could maintain specie resump-
ton without bringing great distress the country
Mr.. Maxey from the committee on post Offices and
post roads submitted written report to accompany
the amendment proposed by him Thursday from thai
committee to the post Office appropriation bill in re-
gard to the Brazilian mail steamship SERVICE Refer.
red to the committee on appropriations
Mr.. Sargent from the committee on appropriations
called up the House bill making tho appropriation
for the payment of invalid and other pensions for thu
year ending June 3d. 1872 and in explanation of the
bill said that under the legislation of March 9TH any
person who served in the war Of 1872 even though
he had been in single engagement, was entitled
to pension. By this legislation nearly million
and a hat dollars was added to the pension roll
% 225 new names were placed on the rolls since lhs
amount appropriated by the bill as it came from tn,
House was $29 81, 574. 1t exceeded the amount ap
propriated by the bill of last year b, $s3S537 The
Senate committee appropriations had added S35.
900 additional tor fees to the examining surgeons il
order enable the commissioner to secure the ser
vices Of physicians of standing.
Referring to the second section of the bill as il
came from the House, which provides that from ana
after July list, 1878, the office of pension agent shall
be filled by wounded or disabled Union soiciers, Mr.
Sargent said that should that be adopted 1t would
require change in the Office of the pensions all ovel
the country on the list of July next. The committee
on appropriations therefore reported an amend mem
in 1iar
thereof as follows:
"That hereafter in the appointment of pension
agents the preference shall be given to wounded OF
disabled Union soldiers.''
He was not SO sure about the propriety of this
amendment, as il was probably unconstitutional, be-
sides the lowest bond given by pension agent was
quarter of million dollars, and it was not likely
that wounded or disabled soldiers who could give
such large bond could be found in SO short period
of time. He was not disposed to turn out pension
agents who had given bonds and were faithfully dis
charg their duties now. The clause in the House
bill providing that fee of one dollar and no more
shalt be paid to an examining surgeon for each ex-
animation Of pensioners, &C., stricken out and
the amendment reported by the committee on appro
pratons increasing the appropriation for examining
The next amendment was that quoted in Sargent'i
remarks in regard to the appointment OF pension
agents.
Mr Beck said it would be best to strike out the
amendment proposed by the Senate committee on
appropriations and disagree to the second section Of
the bill as proposed by the House. He denied the
power of Congress to impose such mi tation of the
right of the President of the United States in MAKING
appointments.
Mr. Dorsey read Sec. 1854, Revised Statutes of the
United States. to the effect that honorably discharg
ed soldiers shall be preferred for civil officers pro
vided they shall be found to possess sufficient capac-
ity, etc He argued that any number of Union sol
ders could be found who could give the bond requr-
ed. He submitted the amendment in lieu of that
reported by the committee appropriations, as fol-
lows:
"That from and after the LIST of October, 1875 the
terms Of office Of all pension agents shall expire and
hall no n Had
by honorably discharged Union soldiers
Mr.. Hoar moved to amend the amendment by ad-
ding cor to the widows or daughters of soldiers
Agreed to.
Quite lengthy discussion ensued on the amend
ment OF Mr.. Dorsey, during which Mr.. ingalls, said
in his judgement all pensions should belpaid directly
from Washington There was no coed reason why
the payment Of the 100000 pensioners should be
distributed among pension offices all over the coun-
try. The committee pensions at this time had I'M
der consideration proposition looking to their pay
ment from Washington. The present system of pay
ing pensioners cost between 100000 and $35O0Oo.
1t estimated that not less than 5000 900 would be
saved annually by the payment of pensions from
Washington and without delay or annoyance to PEN
siOners.
MIR. ingalls, said he was rather inclined to think
the Senators on the other side who opposed any
restriction of the power of the President were
concerned about the next president than thepresent
executive He referred to the section as originally
passed by the House. and said if Democratic
House could pass such bill he did not see why
Senate ostensibly Republican should object to it.
ls
his amendment to read as follows:
That on the LIST day of January 1879 the terms Of
office Of all pension agents shall expire and there,
Union soldiers or the widows or daughters of such
soldiers shall be appointed to such office.
Agreed to yeas II. naysl22.
Mr.. Sargent then submitted an amendment to that
of the committee providing that from and after the
passage OF the act in case of vacancy in the office
OF pension agent it shall be filled by the appoint
ment of wounded OF disabled Union soldier. The
amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Chrstiancy introduced bill to anne nd
States, and to punish forgery and other like crimes
injuriously affecting foreign governments. Refer ed
to committee on Judiciary. Adjourned
HOUSE.
Among the bills introduced was one to regulate
emigration, making it unlawful to bring the Uuit
ed States any alien who may be pauper lunatic or
convict.
Mr.. Thompson introduced a bill declaring all
propositions to change or modify the tariff law are
injurious and detrimental to the general welfare of
the people, and that it is Qnwise to waste time at
present in discussion of the Wood tariff bill He
moved its reference to the committee on appropra-
tions.
MIR. Wood moved its reference to the ways and
means committee.
Mr.. Page moved its reference to the committee of
the whole and the latter was agreed to-yeas 125,
NAYS 18
By Mr.. Jones, for the appointment of commits
sion, to be called the Farmers and Stockbreeders'
committee, and to consist OF a veterinary surgeon
and two practical stockbreeders at annual salary
contagious diseases of farm stock, their causes
means of prevention cure, etc., and to report from
time to time measures to prevent the importation of
such diseases from abroad and the spread of con-
tagion.
Mr. Shelley, at the request of Robbins and of
Tucker moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill
reducing the tax on stuff and chewing and smok-
ing tobacco to 16 cents pound on cigars to So per
on cigarettes weighing not more than 81
pounds to the thousand $l.25 per thousand, and
weighing over 81 pounds So per thousand.
The motion was not agreed to-yeas 100, nays lis,
not twO-thirds
1heHOuse proceeded to the consideration of the bill
permanent form of government for the
District of Columbia. The bill in its amended form
the property qualifications in regard to the
commissioner and members OF the council aud abol-
ishes the poll tax 1t also provides for the payment
of the interest OF the 1865 bonds but declares nothing
in the act shall be construed acknowledgment
OF any liability of the United States to pay the prn-
cipal otherwise than as provided in the act for the
issuance of those bonds.
Mr.. Cox of Ohio offered an amendment requiring
that the commissioners be appointed by the President
by and with the advice of the Senate.
Mr. Townsend offered an amendment recurring
the election of commissioners by joint ballot of the
Senate and House.
A long discussion ensued on these amendments and
on the bill generally, which provides for three com
one, engineer officer above the rank of
captain is to be appointed by the President. one to
be- elected by the Senate and the third to be elected
by the House.
Townsend's amendment was rejected.
The amendment by Cox OF Ohio was also rejected
yeas 81, nays 1877.
Mr.. Fort moved to strike out the words, sauthor.
zing the President to detail officer of the engineer
corps of the army one Of the commissioners and