The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-17
xLvTH CONGREss-sECOND SESSION.
SENATE.
Emigration Of Ne rOes-Fhc House Bill
Passed.

rights and promotion of the best interests of the
whole country by the elimination OF sectionalsm
from politics, committee OF seven Senators be ap-
pointed by the Chair and charged with duly eDquir
inc to the efficiency and pract,cabiliry OF encour
aging and promoting by all just and proper methods,
the partial immigration of eOored person from those
states and ressons districts wDere tney are not
allowed to freely and peacefully exercise and enjoy
their constitutional rights American citizens into
such states as uay desire to receive them and will
protect them 10 said rights into such territory
territories of he United States as my De provided
for their e and occupation and said committee
shall deem such mmigl alton expedient and practi-
cable they report by bill or otherwise what in their
judgment is the most effective metnod Of accom-
plshiug that object, aud that ssld commlttee have
leave to sit during the recess.
Laid on the table for the present at the request OF
Mr. Window and he gave notice he would call it up
soon for remarks.
Mr. Blaine from the committee on rules, reported
favorably on Mr.. Thurman's resolution to admit
Geo. Bancroft to the privileges of the floor, aud it
was unanimously agreed to.
Mr.. Dorsey submitted a resolution calling upon
the Secretary of the Treasury for statement of all
appropriations and expenditures for paying the ex-
penses of the Indian department from Jnly 1st $780,
to June 30th 1878. Agreed to.
Mr.. Thurman from the judiciary reported with
amendment the Senate bill to extend operation of
act OF Feb 9th, 1876 to provide for settlement with
certain railway companies for one year. Calendared
1t refers to various Southern roads.
The Vice PRECEDENT submitted a communication
from the Secretary of War enclosing report CT the
engineer corps in regard to surveys at Linconvile
Harbor, Me-, Portsmouth harbor New Hampshire,
and other points in New England. Referred to the
commerce committee.
Mr. ingalls, from the committee on pensions re-
ported favoraby the bill granting pension to the
widow of Rear Admiral Paulding. Placed on the
calender.
Also favoraby on the bill to repeal see 4717 Of the
Revised Statutes in regard to the ruling out Of PEN
sion claims not filed within five years unless accom-
panied by evidence from the War Department.
Placed on the calendar.
The Senate during the morning hour took up the
House bill providing for the payment of arrears OF
pensions. Some discussion ensued and several
amendments were offered and rejected. The bill was
then passed as it came from the House Yeas A,
nays T. The bill provides that all pensions on ac-
count of death wounds received, or disease con-
racted in the service of the United States during the
late of the rebellion, which have been granted or
will hereafter be granted shall commence from the
date of death discharge from the service Of the
United States for the payment of of pensions
and other purposes; that the commissioner of pen.
sions is directed to cause to be paid to such pension
their heirs all such of pensions as the
pensoner may be entitled to under this act that sec
477 of the Revised Statutes which provides that no
claim for pension not prosecuted to successful issue
within five years from the date of filing the same
shall be admitted without record evidence of the
injury or disease which resulted in the disability or
death OF the person on whose account the claim was
made provided that in case in which the limitation
prescribed by this section bars the further prosecu
ton of claims. the claimant may present through the
pension office evidence that the disease or injury
which resulted in the disability death of the per-
son on whose account the claim Is made originated
IN the service and in the line of duty, and if such
evidence is deemed satisfactory by the officer to
whom it may be submitted, he shall cause record of
the fact SO proved to be made and copy of the
same to be transmitted to the commissioner of PEN
sions and the bar to the prosecution OF the claim
shall thereby be removed" be and his hereby re-
pealed.
No claim agent other person shall be entitled to
receive any compensa ton for services in making APP
plication for arrears of a pension.
The bill goes to the President for his Signature
Mr.. Saunders submitted a letter from the commits
sioner of Indian affairs in regard to the remarks in
the debate in the Senate tle Indian appropriation
bill to the effect that the Nez Peces Indians were
removed in violation OF the law.
The commissioner states that they were removed
preparation for that year.
The Senate resumed the consideration of unfin.
ished business being bill to amend the patent laws
the pending question being on the amendment of
Mr. Matthews to strike out of the bill as reported by
the committee the various provisions in regard to the
damages for infringement of patents and insert in
lieu thereof the following:
No account of the profits or savings shall In auy
be allowed, but the evidence thereof may be ad-
mitted as tending to prove what shall be deemed a
reasonable license fee compensation for infrnge-
meut.
The vote resulted yeas 6, nays 80. No quorum
voting the call of the Senate was ordered,
After the quorum responded, the Senate at 20
o'clock proceeded to the consideration of executive
business. and when the doors were reopened the
House bills to facilitate the rending of the national
debt to authorize the issues of certificates of deposits
in aid rvrunQlng OF the pubic debt and to
make United States notes receivable for duties on
imports were referred to the committee on finance.
The Senate took recess until 7.45 o'clock for the
purpose of attending the memorial services in the
House at o'clock.
Upon the reassembing the Vice President was di-
reced to adjourn the Senate until IL O'Clock tomor-
upon the return of that body from the ceremon-
les in the House. and the Senate at $50 preceded by
its officers repaired to the hall of the House. At the
conclusion of the ceremonies the Senate returned to
is chamber and adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bill for Refunding the Debt PASSED.
Mississippi Improvement Scheme.
The regular order was bill reported last night
from the ways and committee to facilitate the
funding of the national debt, the pending question
being on the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Mills asked Mr.. Wood to yield to him for
n
taxation.
Mr.. Wood declined to yield for that purpose and
the bill was passed without division.
The House went into committee Of the whole on
the bill organizing the Mississippi river improve
ment commission to consist of five persons appointed
by the President and to have charge of the surveys
of the Mississippi and take into consideration plans
and estimates for the improvement Of its navigation
and the protection Of aluvial lands. When such
plans are prepared and approved by Congress it
shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to cause
such improvements to be made, and an appropra-
ton of $3.50 is made for the payment of salaries
and the committee which reported the BILL has as an
amendment, added section appropriaing 1851 100
for strengthening the Mississippi levees.
Nearly an hour was occupied in reading the report
accompanying the bill.
Mr.. Gibson gave notice that he would, if he had an
opportunity, offer as substitute an amendment ap-
propriatng $2,5OOO00 for the improvement of the
Mississippi from the head of the passes to the mouth
Of the Illinois river.
Mr. Reagan gave notice that he would offer an
amendment directing the commission to take into
consideration the practicability of improving the
Mississippi by opening add tional outlets for the flow
of the river into the Gulf of Mexico.
Mr.. Ellis submitted an amendment as a substitute
appropriating 900 for the purpose of repairing
levees Of the Mississippi and improving the naviga
ton of the river such money to be expended under
the direction of the Chief Engineer Of the army.
During the discussion Mr.. Robinson of Massachu-
sets spoke in favor of the bill itself but utterly
opposed the amendment appropriatipg 1881 200 for
the repair of evees, and said that if that amendment
were adopted he would vote against the bill. The
government should not be committed to any pan
previous to the report OF the commission.
The committee rose and 1t was agreed that the de-
bate be continued on Wednesday evening.