Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-02
PORTY.SByEyrH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l.
The President pro tenn. submitted from the
commissioner of internal revenue, response
to the resolution of Dec. 18th, relative to the
sale of farms off plantations in South Caro-
lima, under the act of 1862, for the collec-
ton of direct taxes in insurrectionary dis
tricts.
Petitions were presented by Mr.. Hoar, from
the officers Of the Womans' Suffrage Asso-
citation, of Missouri, protesting against legis-
laiion for unconditional acknowledgements of
women in Utah, and praying for the extirpa-
ton of polygamy.
A petition was presented by Mr.. Hawley,
from the president. faculty and students of
Yale College, for reform in the civil service.
Mr.. Harris, from the committee on cpl
demic diseases, reported favorably. with
amendments, a bill for the distribution of
pure vaccine virus to the people.
The Senate took up Morgan's funding res
olution calling for the authentic statement Of
all the tests made by the mixed commission
in reference to the heavy ordnance being
built By the United States, and also for print
ing and testimony taken in the last Congress,
on the subject O: heavy ordnance and projec-
tiles, and the tests to which they have been
subjected. Mr.. Morgan charged that the
ordnance department was controlled by a
sift the whole matter to the bottom. The
resolution was laid aside informally without
action.
The Senate then took up the three per
cent bond bill, and MIR. Morgan advocated as
an additional section an amendment as fol-
lows:
That the agreement made with the holders
of bonds of the United States since the ad-
journment of the 10th Con yress. by which
the rate of interest on such bonds is reduced
to 81 per cent. per annum, is hereby fully rat
flied and confirmed according to the terms
and interest of said agreement.
4 long debate followed, in the course of
which Mr.. Window was severely CRITICS ed
as having exceeded his legal authority in
funding five and six per cent. bonds at
lower rate. The claim being made that such
action was virtually the making of a new
contract without authority of law.
Mr.. Window, in reply, recited details of
his funding operations, holding that his course
had been entirely constitutional and legal. He
admitted the dates, numbers and rates of in
tercst on these pieces OF paper, or new bonds
and on the old bonds were different, with
these exceptions the two were alike. He
added that the government bound itself TO
pay 81 when it authorized bonds at ard &
per cent. The obligation to pay the lesser
rate was assumed when it contracted to pay
the higher rate.
Upon the suggestion of Mr.. Ingalls, the
amendment was modified by the insertion of
the express recognition of the agreement as
valid and binding upon the government. The
amendment was then adopted without a vote,
as was also the provision offered bv Mr..
Davis, of West Virginia, declaring that moth
ing in the act shall be so construed as to au-
thnrixa of tha puh1i,. lob rhn
bill was then reported to the Senate from the
committee of the whole, and the question
being upon agreeing to the amendments as
whole. Mr.. Sherman asked for separate vote
upon Mr.. Plumb's amendment, applying the
surplus revenues, over 500, ZOO, 200, to the
reduction of the public debt.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, offered a resolu-
ton setting apart Monday, the 9th OF Feb
ruary, for the memorial services upon the
late President, j. A. Garfield. Adopted.
Mr.. Hill, of New Jersey. introduced bill
reducing the postage on letters and sealed
packages to two cents per half ounce or
under, four cents for over half an ounce and
under two ounces, and for each additional two
ounces, or fraction thereof, two cents Re-
ferred.
| nder the call of the committee, bills for
the erection of public buildings at Louisville,
Ky, Rochester, N. ", Minneapolis. Mimi,
aud st. Joseph, Mo-, were reported from the
committee on public buildings.
At the conclusion of the morning hour, the
House went into committee of the whole,
Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana, in the chair
On the postoffce appropriation bill, Mr..
Caswell, of Wisconsin, explained the pro-
visions of the bill The amount appropriate
ed was $40, 529, 800, only S7,s17.5S of which
would come out of the general fund in the
| Treasury
Since the estimated revenue of the post
office department amounted to S42.74I, 722,
the committee on appropriations had cut down
the estimates of the department in several
particulars.
The general debate having closed the COM
mittee arose without further action.
Several voluntary changes in the commit
tee membership were announced and the
Speaker laid before the House a message
from the President, transmitting a commun-
ication from the Secretary of the Interior,
| inclosing letter from the commissioner
of pensions giving an estimate of the amounts
to be required annually to pay the pensions
for the next % years under certain condi-
tions; referred. Also letter from the Sec
rotary of the Navy transmitting the report of
the minority board organized to consider the
condition of the Navy; referred.
Adjourned.