The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-25

Mr. Hamlin submitted an amendment providing
that poll tax of 81 be annually assessed upon and
collected OF every male nhabitant of the District
who shall be 81 years old, said tax to be levied and
col ted as other axes.
The am n iment was agreed to-
The third section of the bill was then adopted and
the fourth also with some changes.
bills and amendments ZEN to the
went into executive session and adjourned.
HOUSE.
A bill providing that persons deprived of their
pensions from March, 1865 to June, 1866, by reason
of their being in the civil service shall be i'd their
pensions for that time, was passe |
bill repeating the section OF the revised statutes
which provides that no claim Tor a pension not
prosecuted to successful issue within five years from
the date of filing the same shall be admitted with
record evidence from the War and Navy Depart
ment was passed. .
A bill increasing to S72 per month pensions paid
to soldiers sailors who lost both arms OF poth legs
or the sight OF both eyes was passed.
A bill granting pension of $3.50 month to every
pensioner who has his leg amputated at the MP Joihe
was passed.
A bill making it unlawful for an attorney or claim
agent to demand receive for his services IN pension
case greater sum than $40 w3s passed.
On the expiration Of the morning hour House
went into committee of the whole springer in the
chair on the army appropriation BIZ s.ho h,u
Mr.. Foster moved to strike out Sec OF the Dill,
which reorganizes the Buieau of Military Justice.
and spoke in reference to the Importance OF the bu-
reau. The Democrats having mustered in greater
force than last night and there being large num-
Der of absentees on the Republican side the amend
ment was elected 80 to SO.
Mr.. Garfield moved to amend so as to direct the
board provided for in sec. II to report whether the
Bureau of Military Justice shall be composed as
provided in the bill namely, of one Judge Advocate
General with the rank of Colonel aud four Judge
Advocates with rank and pay of Major.
Mr.. COOK defended the officers OF the army from
the attacks made few highs ago upon them by the
gentleman from Wiscon in (Bragg), and denied that
the army was arstocratie in its tendencies.
Mr.. Bragg denied that he made any charge against
the officers OF the army. There were no more GAL
liant men in the world He had simply referred to
the fact that the need for the army small
that those officers had nothing to do and spent their
time in idleness.
After further discussion the amendment was re-
jected
Mr.. Foster moved to strike out Sec 10 reorganzing
the pay department. Alter long discussion mo-
ton was defeated SO to 96.
Mr. Hale made the point of order on Sec. 49,
which provides for board of three Major Generals
TO examine into the organization aud efficiency Of
several branches Of the service and to suggest i'm
provements, that it was new legislation and there
fore c. uld not be put in an appropriation bill The
Chairman sustained the point and then Mr. Hewitt
after modifying the section SO as to avoid the point
OF adverse ruling. offered the section as new
amendment
The same point of order was made az inst the
amendmcnt and it was again sustained.
Mr. Hewitt again changed the section to request
(not require) the President to convene such board.
Mr. Chalmers novel to amend SO as to provide
that the board consist Of the Secretary of War Chief
The section as amended was then incorporated in
to the bill
Mr.; Hale made like point of order against Sec.
~, NIL tuo ITtSutuI W ueCudi &c HUH
orabe officers who may apply to be discharged before
January next, such officers to receive as gratui y
one years pay for every five years. service.
The point was sustained and the section struck
out.
Mr.. Hale also made like point against Sec. IA,
which prOvees for the mus ering out of service by
the board to Reconstructed by the Secretary of War
of such off ers as may be reported by the heads of
of their duties
The point was sustained and the section struck
out.
Mr. Hewitt made several attempts to amend the
section so as to bring it within the rules, but being
unate to do so moved the committee rise, viii h
agreed to, and House adjourned.