The Portland daily press., 1880-03-18
XLVIth CONGRESS-Ist Session
SENATE.

| SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March II.
Bill to remove the political disabilities of
| Roger A. Prior passed.
| Substitute for Senate bill relating to public
lands of the United States was placed on the
| calendar.
A bill was introduced to pay Samuel I. Gus
tin $1,000 for supplies taken by the United
States troops in Georgia during the war, after
the general in command had issued orders
stopping foraging and requiring all supplies to
| be contracted for.
| Mr. Edmunds said that as the committee
| had not reported that Gustin was loyal to the
| government his case could not have been IA
| vorably acted on by the Southern Claims Com
| mission. To allow his claim now would be to
| open t. door to vast number of similar
| claims. The Supreme Court had decided that
all citizens of states in the rebellion were sup
| posed to be disloyal unless the contrary was
| shown. Congress had frequently held that
even claimants in the loyal states had no right
to compensation for such losses, unless Con-
| gress chose to give it. If we were to pay with
out question all claims for losses sustained by
those in the disoyal states we might as well
| begin to issue more bonds at once. In spite of
the order stopping pillage this mans property
| was pillaged, and the action did not materially
differ from other cases of spolation inseparable
| from war.
| Mr.. Hoar thought as the property had been
| taken after the submission of the enemy, or
during anaarmistice,it was removed from ordin
airy Class Oh war LOSSES, anu he favored Inc Dill.
Mr.. Edmunds did not agree to this view. He
objected to the further consideration of the
bill in the morning hour, saying he wished
Senators, especially those in the majority, to
study the question. The bill was laid aside
Bill to provide a permanent construction
fund for the navy was referred.
Pending debate on the cordage bill the
morning hour expired and the House resumed
the star route deficiency bill. Debate was re-
sumed on amendment prohibiting increase of
trips.
After debate the amendment was rejected
An amendment appropriating $4,000 for
immediate use by public printer was incorpo-
rated in the bill. =
The committees amendment was amended
so as to read: Nothing in this act shall be
construed to affect the validity or legality of
the act, or omission of any officer of the Unit
ed States, or to affect any proceeding there
for.'
The preamble to the bill rejecting upon
the Postoffice Department was withdrawn.
Bill was then passed without division.
Mr.. Hoar introduced an amendment to the
Geneva award bill Referred.
Senate went into executive session, after
which it adjourned.
HOUSE.
Resolution for special committee to investi-
gate the present method of settling claims
against the United States was referred.
Resolution calling for information in regard
to the East River bridge as to whether it is an
obstruction to commerce was adopted.
Bill amending the laws relative to seizure of
vessels for breach of the revenue laws was
referred.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the deficiency appropriation bill.
After general debate the bill was read for
amendments which were offere and disposed
OF as follows: To reduce the printing appro-
priation to 100000; rejected. To change the
method of electing the public printer and
regulating the management of the printing
office; ruled out on point of order. To appro-
pirate 100000 for the salaries of agents and
surveyors, fees and expenses of gaugers and
salaries of storekeepers; agreed to. Appro-
priating $25, 900 for the expenses of collectors
of internal revenue; adopted. To employ
revenue steamer for the relief of whaling
bark Mt. Washington and Vigilant now inn
prisoned in the Arctic ocean and appropriatihg
$1,000; adopted.
Amendment appropriating S6,640,ooo for the
payment of army and navy pensions was
offered by Mr.. Mcmahon.
Mr. Reagan offered an amendment to it that
provisions of this section extend to all PEN
sioners; pending ruling of the chair the COM
mttee rose and the House adjourned.