The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-06
XLVth Congress-Regulars Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. FEB. D.
Mr.. Conkling said he had received a large number
OF petitions from citizens Of many counties in New
York in favor of the reconciliation of silver He
observed that these petitions were all printed in one
and the same form, and were the product of organ
lied effort He denied they represented the opinion
or convictions of the people Of New York on the sill
yer question. Referred to the Committee on FL
nance.
Bills were introduced to protect the United States
against fraudulent claims. Referred to Jndic airy
Committee.
For protection of sub-contractors carving mails,
Referred to Post Office Committee.
To protect witnesses in United States Courts Re-
ferred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Wallace from the Finance Committee, report
ed with amendment the bill introduced by him some
time since, to authorize long bond for investment
Mr.. Edmunds submitted resolution authorizing
the Appropriations Committee to report bill maxi
ing adequate provisions for the employment of add-
tona clerical force in the pension and surgeon gen.
erals offices He asked for its present consideration
but Mr.. Davis CIV. Va) objected and it laid over
until tomorrow.
Mr.. Conkling presented petition signed by large
number of prominent citizens of New York in regard
to the famine and suffering in Northern China, and
suggesting commission be appointed from the resi-
dents Of China to act in connection with the U s.
Minister in procuring and distributing relief. They
also suggest that the unexpended balance of the
money received from China in 1858 be used to relieve
the sufferers. Referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
The Vice President submitted message from the
President enclosing reports of the progress of the
commission to enquire into the cause of steam
boiler explosions Ordered to be printed and referred
to Committee on Commerce.
Mr. Hoar presented 120 petitions from 6261 citizens
of the United States, praying for amendment to
the Constitution to extend the right of suffrage to
women Referred to Committee on Privileges and
Elections.
Mr.. Maxey from the Committee onsMilitary Al
fairs, reported substitute for the Senate bill to give
portion of the military reservation of Fort Harker
to the state of Kansas for the establish of an
educational charitable institution and to open the
remainder of said reservation to settlement. Placed
la al rfp1 f,,ar ,ap5
section 1910, r. 81 in regard to communication for fuel
and quarters Placed on calendar.
Mr.. Terry from the Committee on Post Offices, re-
ported with amendments the Senate bill to regulate
compensations OF postmaters and Ter other purposes
Placed on calendar.
MIR. Butler from same committee, reported favora-
bly, on House joint resolution to authorize the Secre
tary of War to issue certain arms to the Washington
Light Infantry of Charleston, s. c. Placed on cal
endar.
Mr.. Cameron of Pennsylvania, from same commit
tee, reported favorably the House bill to provide
come disabled while in the line Of duty.
Mr.. Hamlin from Committee on Foreign Relations
reported with amendment House bill to further sus.
guano islands.
A number of Senators by request introduced bills
for the relief of postmasters and late postmasters in
the various states. and authorizing the Postmaster
General to pay them in lieu of the nominal salary
heretofore paid in each case salary equal to 80 pei
tive offices. Referred to Committee on Post Oficel
and Post Roads with the understanding that they
ehOud not be printed.
Senate resumed the consideration of the silver bill
Mr.. Eaton OF Connecticut, moved to imend the bill
by striking out 4123 grains and inserting instead Al
grains ordered printed.
Messrs. Eaton and Howe spoke at great length or
the silver question, and at the conclusion of their
marks Mr.. Teller submitted the following amend
ment
That holders of silver bnlion may deposit with thu
treasurer any assistant treasurer of the United
States such silver bullion in amounts not less thar
1000 ounces of 900 fine and receive therefor Certificate
q of
grains;s the bullion received may be coined by tht
government Of the United States returned in tn,
treasury for payment of such certificates on presen
tatlon at the treasury where issued. If the bullion
so deposited shall be coined by the government such
coin certificates shall be paid in the bullion of like
standard. hneness and weight, or in coined dollars
or part in bullion and part in coin at the option of thu
government. The bullion so received shall not b.
included in the amount of silver to be coined eacI
act, Such certificates shall not be legal tender fol
payne Mt of any debts whatever. Ordered printed.
Senate at $50 adjourned.
HOUSE.
The time of thu House was consumed this morn
ing in the presentation and reference OF petitions,
resolutions etc. :
The bill extending the time for the completion o.
the Northern Pacific railroad, for ten years,
ported and recommitted.
Memorials from Boston and New York asking Con.
gress to adopt measure of relief for sufferers
by famine in northern China, were presented by Mr.
Hewitt and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
across the Mississippi river at Memphis was referred
to Committee OF the Whole.
Mr. Money offered resolution directing the POST
master General to furnish list of contracts on
which payments had been made for the quarter end
ing June 80, 1877, on power of attorney. Refer
red.
Mr.. Knapp offered resolution directing the Com.
mitee on Judiciary to ascertain whether the rail-
roads referred to in the various Pacific railroad acts
have issued bonds predcated condtionally on land
grants on lands in the Indian territory claimed by
said companies. Referred.
Mr.. Rice of Mass, presented majority report Of
Pacific Railroad Committee, to accompany the bill
extending the time Tor the completion of the North
cru Pacific railroad.
Mr.. Morrison presented minority report. Printed
Mr.. Shelley offered resolution calling on the
Secretary OF the Treasury for detailed statement
the expenses of the Southern Claims Commission.
Referred. :
Mr.. Knott, from the Judiciary Committee, report
ed back the bill introduced yesterday by Mr.. Hooker
authorizing the holding of special term of the U.
s. Circuit Court for the southern district of Mssis.
sippi the second Monday in March, for the trial of
causes arising out of alleged depredatons on gov
eminent lands and the cutting of logs aud timber
thereon.
The object of the bill was to afford the accused
parties speedy, convenient and cheap trial, which
they could not otherwise have.
Mr. Hooker described the utter prostration of bus
mess which had attended the seizure of the lumber
mills In that region, the aggregate business OF which
mills amounted to some 81, 900 900 year. Ali have
been stopped through the action Of the government
and vessels engaged in the carrying trade were left
idle or have gone into other business.
Mr.. Frye, member OF the Judiciary Committee,
advocated the bill as measure of justice to the 90
eminent and to the mill owners.
Mr. Foster opposed the bill as being in the interest
OF the timber thieves. 1t wight as well be proposed
to have courts for the trial OF whskey thieves re-
moved to distileries,
Finally the bill passed-yeas $780, nays 1922
MI. stephens, chairman OF the Committee on
Coinage, Weights and Measures, reported the test-
mony taken before that committee on the proposed
gooid coinage, &C., and asked that it be printed. So
MIR. Springer gave notice that he would tomorrow
call up the California contested election case of Wig
CLINTON against Pacheco.
The House at 3.45 O'Clock went into Committee of
the Whole (Mr. Blackburn in the chair) and resumed
bill.
On motion Of Mr. Durham the item of $1,000 for
struck out.
Mr.. Mayham moved to strike out the item of 5000
Tor the pay Of one instructor of practical military
ant.
Without disposing of the pending amendmen the
committee rose and the House adjourned.