The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-12
XLVth COngress-Regular Session.
SENATE,


WASHINGTON. Feb. Ii. 6
Matthews presented petition from national and
state banks and private bankers composing the
repeal of the portion of the national bank act which
imposes tax of one-half of one per cent upon de-
posts.
large number of petitions in favor of the amend
ment to the Constitution prohibiting states from
DISTINGUISHING persons on account of sex were pre-
sented.
Mr.. Conklng said he held In his hand memorial
from the New York Chamber of Commerce remon-
tratng against the reconciliation of the silver dol
The rules of the Senate didn't permit him to have
it read at length. He regretted the fact as the ar
gument contained In the memorial was so clear and
comprehensive.
Several bills were introduced and Mr.. Conkling
presented petition OF 103 persons doing business
silver,
The Senate agreed to take recess at o'clock to-
morrow in order to take part in the ceremony of
accepting the picture of the signing OF the emancpa
ton proclamation in the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives.
Mr.. Dorsey, from the committee on the District
OF Columbia, reported fayorably on the Senate bill to
amend the Revised Statutes to make the 22d Of
February legal holiday in the Dristrict Placed
the calendar.
The Vice President submitted message from the
PRESIDENT endorsing the report of the Secretary Of
State IN IN answer to resolution by Mr.. Burnside on
Dec. 9th i'll regard to the FrancoPrussian war. Or
dered printed and lie on the table.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
silver Pill and Mr. Davis of West Virginia spoke in
Mr.. Mcdonald then took the floor with the un-
derstandlng he 1would proceed with his remarks to.
morrow and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker announced the regular order to be the
motion to lay the table the motion to reconsider
the vote by which the House last Friday refused to
pass the bill for the relief of W. III. Newman and L.
A. Vanhofman, known as the Alexandria mill BILL
Motion to lay on the table prevailed-yeas126 nays
119. which disposes of the bill
Among the bills introduced was one BY Mr. AIackey
prohibiting the Secretary of the Treasury from pur-
chasing any bonds for the reduction of the principal
of the national debt until strict compliance with the
provisions of the laws shall require it.
MIR: Cox OF the Committee on Library. made re-
port in connection with the presentation of the paint
son. 1t provides that the Senate and House shall
meet in the hall of the House at O'Clock Tuesday,
made By Hon. j. A. Garfield, Hon. Alex. Il. Steph-
ems, the donor of the gift and the artist to whom is
granted the privilege of the floor during the occa-
By Mr.. Shelley of Alabama, to abolish the South
ern Claim Commission and to enlarge the jurisdiction
OF the Court Of Clsis also to regulate appointment
The House at o'clock went into committee of the
whole blackburn in the chair upon the Military
Academy appropriation bill, the pending amendment
being to strike out the sections which allow additions
al pay to first eutenants acting as instructors at the
institution
After short discussion the amendment was de-
feated.
Mr.. Aiken of South Carolina, moved to amend SO
as TO reduce the pay Of cadets from $40 to $780, He
criticised the action OF the Appropriation Committee
IN several OF its appropriations. In conclusion, he
said; West Point is incubus on the people of the
country. 1t the people knew for what the S275,OOO
was appropriated annually, in less than thirty days
the House would be flooded with demands to put
West Point under the hammer or give it to New
York, and he was bold enough to say that he would
vote for either proposition.
MT. Hewitt-No doubt, no doubt. The gentleman
coming from the state he does, would be glad to give
west POINT to anybody else; but West Point has vim
dcated itself in the history the country and the
people will never allow it to go under the hammer or
be closed up (Applause.)
Mr.. House of Tennessee (excitedly)-I think it
would better become the gentleman from New York
to answer the arguments of the gentleman from
South Carolina, than to make tue Gd captandun ap-
peal OF demagOgue which ISLANDERS the whole rep
resentatives OF the Southern people. Applause on
The amendment was rejected and without further
action the committee rose and the House then adj
journed