The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-19
XLVth C0ngress--Regular Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
Bills were introduced to repeal Sec 1911 OF tht
Revised Statutes fixing a standard for vinegar. Re-
ferred to the Finance Committee.
Reviving and continuing court of commissioners o.
Alabama claims and for distribution of unappro
priated moneys of Geneva award. Referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Conkling presented several petitions of cit
zens of Albany, N. Y, demonstrating against the
passage of the Bland silver bill Tabled. In pre-
senting the memorials he said the7 were signed by
men representing not only money and property but
enterprise also and they expressed the opinion that
the passage of the bill would be prejudical to the
honor ana credit of the government. He also pre-
scented a memorial of the Albany Board of Trade
against the passage of that bill. Tabled.
Mr.. Bayard presented petition of citizens of Del
against any reduction of duties imports ana
demonstrating against the restoration of the duty Oh
tea and coffee. Similar petitions from citizens o.
Pennsylvania were presented by MI. Matthews all
of which referred to the Committee on Finance
Mr. Christfancy from the Committee on the Re-
vision of the Laws, reported bill to amend act Of
March I'd, 1877, to provide for the preparation and
publication of edition OF the Revised Statutes
Placed on the calendar. He also reported from the
Committee on Judiciary adversely on Senate bill to
enlarge the jurisdiction of the court OF claims and il
was indefinitely postponed.
Senate resumed consideration of the resolution de-
caring the right OF the government to pay interest
and principal of the bonds in silver.
Mr.. Merrimon Of North Carolina spoke in favor
thereof.
Mr.. Maxey also argued in favor of double stand
ard OF coin, gold and silver, and for the passage
the pending resolution.
Tie Vice President submitted message from the
L
era in answer to the resolution of Senator Chaffee
agreed to on the 9Th of December last calling upon
the President to inform the Senate what legal i'm
pediments if any exist which prevent him executing
the laws in accordance with the obligations accepted
and the agreements made by the Union Pacific
Railroad Co., and its branches, with the United
States. Referred.
The Attorney General states that he has heard the
agreement of both parties interested and that the
the United States Court for Nebraska, and is now
awaiting decision: 1t is evident it is not intended by
the resolution that all questions in controversy
should be gone into. The resolution assumes that
the assertions OF the preamble well sustained and
he requests information upon that assumption. He
says: do not find any specific authority vested in
the President which enables hun in his executive ca
pacity to obge the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to de-
sst nom an unlawful use Of its road if such exists
nor Is he empowered to ascertain whether the law is
being violated. The railroad acts contemplate that
these questions are for the courts to determine
Whether add ional legislation should be had SO that
remedies other than judicial be applied in such
cases, is question for Congress to determine. In
conclusion he says it may be said that should legal
proceedings in behalf Of the public seem necessary to
determine the question involved, it seems desirable
that the legislation he had which would preclude all
questions as to the power Of the Attorney General to
referred to will be decided before any such proceed
ings could be put in motion. Until the rights of
these companies are judciay ascertained, it is not
advisable to have them defined through any crmi-
nal proceedings under the act of June 20, 1874.
The Vice President also presented message from
the President enclosing an extract from the annual
report of the General OF the Army and communica-
tions from commssary and quartermaster generals
OF the United States army in regard to the cause OF
the war with the Nez Perces, being answer to the
Senate resolution of Now 10. Referred to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs.
The Senate at 2.3O went into executive session and
when the doors were reopened adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Durham of Kentucky, from the Appropriation
Committee reported the Military Academy appro-
priaton bill. which appropriates 1922, 1856. 1t was
made thetspecal order for Tuesday.
Mr.. Singleton introduced bill extending the iu-
risdiction of the Southern Claims Commission. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Springer from the Election Committee, pre-
sented majority report in regard to the contested
election for the 4th District of California de-
clarlng the Democratic contestant, Peter d. Wggin-
ton, entitled to a seat.
Mr.. Hiscock submitted minority report, declaring
Pacheco entitled to the seat, Recommitted
Resolution of remOnstrance from the Union League
OF Philadelphia against the payment of United
States bonds in other than gold coin was referred.
Mr.. Frye of Maine, from the Judiciary Committee
reported bill to validate and confirm certain acknowl-
edgments Of deeds and other instruments of writing
under seal made in foreign countries for lands w.
ing in the District Of Columbia. Passed.
The House at LIS went into committee of the
whole, Caldwell OF Tennessee in the chair, on the
private calendar. The first bill on the calendar was
one for the relief of W. H. Newman for property de-
stroyed during the war at Alexandria, Va.
Mr.. Jones of Ohio said he opposed all that class Of
claims, and sent to the Clerks desk and had read
letter OF Samuel J. Tilden, written during the
paign, in which he declared his opposition to all such
claims, and stated that if he should be elected he
would deem If his duty to veto any bills for payment
OF LOSSES incurred during the war. called atten-
ton to the fact that this the first lime COM
nittee OF the House had opened the door to that
large class of claims.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois, said Mr.. Tilden had re-
terred to the claims arising from the acts caused BY
the war, while the case in question had nothing to do
with the operations of the war.
Without action on the bill the committee rose, and
Mr.. Hanna of Indiana called up the Senate resolu-
ton iu regard to the death Of Senator Morton and
eulogies on the life and public services of the dead
Senator were pronounced by Messrs. Hanna, Browne,
Hunter and Calkins of Indiana, Wilson of w. Vir-
gnia, Hardenburgh of New Jersey, Garfield of Ohio
Dunnell of Minnesota, Williams and Hazleton Of
Wisconsin.
The resolutions were adopted ind the House at 80
adjourned till Monday.