The Portland daily press., 1881-02-05
XLvITH CONGREss-2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.
Conference committees were appointed on
the Indian appropriation and naval appropria-
tion bills.
Mr.. Bayard from the committee on finance,
reported the refunding bill with amendments.
The bill will be called up early next week.
The amendments of the committee provide
that the bonds shall be redeemable, in five
years and payable in twenty; that the interest
shall be 81 per cent per annum; that the 1-1O
certificate authorized by the bill shall bear in
terest not exceeding 81 per cent. per annum;
and that interest on each shall be payable semi
annually. The committee strike out the fifth
section (knOwn as the Carlyle amendment),
which provides for the compulsory use of the
new bonds as security for national bank circu-
lation and for a change in the law concerning
the retirement of circulating notes. The COM
mittee recommended that the allowance for ex-
penses of placing the new bonds and certifi-
Gates be increased to one half of one per cent
instead of one quarter as limited by the House.
MIR. Pendleton from the select committee on
the subject reported favorably with an amend
ment the Senate bill to allow the principal Of
ficer of each of the executive departments to
occupy seats on the floor of the Senate. The
House amendment permits the House to dis
pense by standing orders with the attendance
of one or more of said officers on either of the
days respectively assigned for their attendance
The bill was accompanied by an elaborate re-
port, and will be called up at an early day.
The bill to provide for sending vessel to
the relief of the Jeanette was passed with
amendments increasing the appropriation to
$175,0O0.
The calendar of unobiected bills came up as
the order of business.
Motion for its postponement, and to take up
the Grant retirement bill, was rejected as was
a motion to take up the franking privilege re-
solution.
Morgan's resolution denying the right of the
Vice President to make the electoral count was
then taken up.
After discussion Mr.. Edmunds' amendment
was rejected.
Mr.. Hoar moved an amendment adding to
the resolution the words, "And that it is the
duty OF Congress, without delay, to institute
measures to execute the due and orderly per-
formance of said duty in the future" Adopt
ed on a viva voce vote.
Mr.. Morgan's resolution, as thus amended,
was agreed to, and the Senate then resumed
the pension bill and without action adjourned.
HOUSE.
The bill providing for the sale of certain In
dian lands in Kansas was amended by fixing
the price at 50 per acre and passed.
The House went into committee on the pri-
vate calendar.
Mr.. Goode, of Va, said that since the discus
sion of last Friday he had received letter
from the widow of Capt. Hugh N. Page in
structing him to withdraw her petition.
The bill was laid on the table.
Conference committees were appointed on
the naval and Indian appropriation bills.
A message was received from the President
transmitting communication from the Secre-
tary OF the Navy concerning the despatch of a
vessel for the relief of the Jeanette, and COM
mending the recommendation of the Secretary
Referred. Adjourned.