198 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DEOEl\IBER 14, anv other committee. When .I introduced the resolution my inten the Department of Justice; which, on motion of l\Ir. EDMUNDS, was tion was to let it be printed and lie on the table until to-morrow, and referred to the Committee on the J ucliciary, and ordered to bo printed. theu call it up; but the Senn.tor from Ohio has moved its reference He also laid before the Senat-e .a, letter of tlle Secretary of War, to the Committee on Finance. I hope he will withdraw his motion transmitting, in obedience to ]a.w, the report of Major C. B. Comstock, or not insist upon it. Tho resolution asks for no printing, and would Corps of Engineers, of his recent inspection of the work of improve cause no delay. It will certainly cause some delay to send it to the ment of the South Pass of t he Mississippi River; which was ordered Finance Committee. It is, I think, a fact-I believe it after exam to lie on the.table and be printed. ination-that no rep01;ts of this kind have been made since 1865. I PETITIONS AND MEl\lORIALS. said in my opening remarks that it w~ not my intention in any way or manner to reflect upon the present incumbent of the Treasury Mr. CONKLING. Mr. President, I present a communication which Department, for I believe he is doing his duty; and I had no thought may be termed a memorial to the two Houses of Congress by Mr. about the present session. The present session has been named, and Thoma..s J. Durant, who had much to do with codifying the statutes, I referred to this practice that far only; but my thought was, why pointing <,mt some imperfections in those statutes. I move its refer fop the last ten years these reports have not been made; and when ence to the Committee on the Revision of the Laws. ever such resolutions have been offered here-I believe I have offered The motion was agreed to. two or t.hree myself in some way or other-they have been disposed Mr. CONKLING. I present a petition of the First Baptist church of by the Senate so as not to get the information. Now, I hope that of Harlem, New York, signed by the p~tor and others, asking for a the chairman of the Finance Committee will withdraw his motion commission Gf inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic ; a like for reference. If not, I ask for the yeas and nays. petition of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars of the State of New Mr. SHERMAN. If the Senator des.ires to have this matter go York, signed by the officers; and a similar petition from the Grand over until to-morrow, I have no objection; but I will not withdraw Temple of Honor and Temperance of the State of New York, signed my motion to refer. I give notice, on the contrary, that I will offer by the proper officers. Such petitions, I think, went at the last ses this motion to refer all resolutions of inquiry where disputed ques sion to the Committee on Finance. I move the reference of those I tions of fact or law are involved. now present to that committee. Mr. CONKLING. Let it go over now. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SHERMAN. I am perfectly willihg to let it go over until to Mr. HAMLIN presented the petition of the Methodist Episcopal morrow. church of Newton, M.assa .Association of Florida, praying Congress to set apart in that State a better not to attempt to open those questions at this time, inasmuch distri\}t where mn.y be concentrated the different plants which might as the chief object of the bill would be very likely to fail in that be favorably propagated on its soil, and that for this purpose skilled case. Therefore we report this bill without prejudice to any of these horticulturists mn.y be employed to locate such grounds, and that other questions surrounding the matter. sections of the garden be appropriated to the different cla-ssifications There being no objection, the bill (S. No. 78)to extend the duration of the flora of the 1·egion of Florida; which was referred.to the Com of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims was considerf'\d as mittee on Agriculture. in Committee of the Whole. By its terms the court of commission~ Mr. BAYARD. I am requested by Mr. A.M. Powell, of Washing ers of Alabama claims, created by the act of June 23, 1874, is to be ton, to present the petition of Jabez Hodson and John R. Bayliss, on extended to the 2'2d day of July next, and all the provisions of that behalf of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Delaware, actaretocontinueinfullforceduring theextendedperiod. The pow representing 535 members, asking for the n.ppointment of n. commis ers of the clerk of the conrt are extended for an additional period, not sion of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic. I move its ref to exceed two months from and after the termination of the existence erence to the Committee on Finance. of the comt, for the purpose of closing his accounts, depositing the The motion was agreed to. records, documents, and all other papers in the possession of the court Mr. ffiTCHCOCK presented the petition of the Grand Lodge of or its officers, in the office of the Secretary of State. Good Templars of Nebraska, signed by their officers, asking for the The bill was reported by the Committee on the Judiciar,Y with appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic amendments. The first amendment was in line 3, before the worus liquor traffic; which was referred to the Committee. on Finance. ''court of commissioners," to insert "existence of the;" so as to read: Mr. MORRILL, of Maine, presented the petition of the Grand. Lodge That the existence of the court of commissioners of ·A.la.bama claims, created by .of Good Templars of Belfa t, Maine, signed by the secretary, repre the act entitled, &c. · senting 14,000 members, and the petition of the Methodist chmch and The amendment was agreed to. congregation of Saxonville, Massachusetts, signed by the pastor and The next amendment was in line 11, before the word "extenueu," officers, asking for the appointment of a commission of inquiry con to insert "continued and;" so as to read, "and the same is hereby con cerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which were referred to the Com tinued and extended to the 22d day of July next." mittee on Finance. The amendment was agreed to. Mr. WALLACE presented the petition of the northern district con The next amendment was to strike out lines 12 and 13, in the fol- vention of the Good Temphrs of Pennsylvania, signed by the officers, lowing words: and the petition of the Centml Congregational church of Philadelphia, And all the provisions of said act shall continue in full force during said pel"iod. Pennsylvania, signed by the 1)astor and officers, asking for the ap And in lien thereof to insert: pointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor With tho same effect, and no other, aa if said last-named day had been named in traffic; which were referred to the Committee on Finance. said act for the termination of the powers of said corut; and said act is hereby con Mr. INGALLS presented additional evidence in support of the tinued in force during said period. petition of Lieutenant Abraham Ellis, praying to be allowed a pen The amendment wa~ agreed to. ·sion; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. The bill wa-s reported to the Senate as amended, and the amend Mr. OGLESBY presented the petition of the Chicago Woman's ments were concurred in. Christian Temperance Union, and the petition of the Galesburgh and The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a thir(l reading, was read. Freeport (Illinois) Temperance Unions, signed by the officers, a-sking the third time, and passed. for the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alco holic liquor traffic; which were referred to the Committee on Finance. BILLS INTRODUCED. Mr. BOUTWELL presented the petition of the Methodist Episco Mr. ALLISON asked, and by nnanimou.s consent obtained, leave pal church of Riverdale, Gloucesi:-er, Massachusetts, and the petition to introduce a bill (S. No. 7D) to amend section 10 of an act ent-itlNl of theWesley Chapel church of Salem, Massachusetts, signed by the "An act making appropriations for the cuiTent and contingent ex pastor and officers, askintJ' for the appointment of a commission of penses of the Indian Department and forfulfi.lling treaty stipulations inquiry concerning the aJcoholi~liqnor traffic; which were referred with vn.rious Indian tribes for the year ending June 30, 1876, and for to the Committee on Finance. other purposes," approved March 3, 1875; which was read twice by Mr. THURMAN presented the petition of J. R. Mower and .other its title. ·citizens of Springfield, Ohio, asking for the appointment of a com Mr. ALLISON. This bill is accompanied by a letter from the mission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which was Secretary of the Interior; and a-s it relates to a subject about which referred to the Committee on Finance. a resolution wa-s submitted by the Senator from Kentucky [Mr. STE Mr. ROBERTSON presented the petition of Elizabeth B. Thomas, VENSON] yesterday, I should be gla-d to have the letter read. widow of the late General Lorenzo Thomas, prayin~ to be allowed a The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair hears no objection, and pension; which was referred to the Committee on .Pensions. the letter will be read. Mr. CLAYTON presented the petition of the Grand Lodge of Good The Chief Clerk read as follows: Templars of Arkansas, &igned by its officers, representing 1,000 mem DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, bers, asking for the appointment of a commission of inquiry con Washington, December 11, 1875. Sm: I have the honor to invite your attention to section 10 of the act makin ~ cerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which was referred to the Com appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department mittee on Finance. for the year ending .Tune 30, 1876, which is as follows: PAPERS WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED. "That hereafter the security or securities upou the bond required by the act of February 27, 1851, to be given by each Indian agent before entering upon the duties On motion of Mr. HITCHCOCK, it was . of his office, shall file a s worn statement with the Secretary of the Interior, settiog Ordered, That the petition and l?apers in the case of C. H. Frederick be taken forth the nature and kind of property owned by such security or securities, the from the files and referred to tho Committee on Military Affairs. value of the same, and where situated; and that no money appropriated by this act shall be paid to any Indian agent hereafter a.ppointeU until the soctu'lty or On motion of Mr. HITCHCOCK, it was securities shall have tiled such statement. Each Indian agent shaJ.l k eep a book Ordered, That tho petition and papers in the case of John S. Wood be taken of itemized expenditures of over.v kind, with a record of all contracts, together from the files and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. with the receipts of monev fmm all sources; and the books thus kept shall always be open to inspection; and the said books shall remain in the ollice at tho respect On motion of Mr. KEY, it was ive reservations, not to be removed from said reservations by said agent, but shall Ordered, '.rhat the petition and papers in the case of Cowan & Dickinson be be safely kept and handed over to his successor; and true transcripts of all entries taken from the files and referred to the Committee on Claims. · of every character in said books shall be forwarded quarterly by each agent to tho Commissioner of Indian Affairs: Provided, That should any agent knowmgly make On motion of Mr. WALLACE, it was any false entry in said books, or in the transcripts directed to be forwarded t-o the Ordered, That the petition and papers of Henry C. Waterson be taken from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, or shall knowmgly fail to keep a perfect entry in tiles and referred to the Committee on Claims. said books as herein prescribed, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, a·Lu, on conviction before any United States court having jurisdiction of such o:!.,nse, REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. shall be fined in a. sum not less than five hundred nor more than one tho-.:.-;and dol :Mr. CAMERON, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Foreign lars, at the discretion of the court, and shall be rendered incompeten~ w hold s3id office of Indian agent after conviction under this act." Relations, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 62) to authorize The reference in the above-quoted section to the act of Febrr;_ary 27, 1851, limits George P. Mar h to accept a certain present from the government of the application of the provision of the above section to a po-:-"..... on oil.ly of the Indian Switzerland and a certain present from the government of Ita.ly, re agents in the employ of the Government. I have r61l.;.ured the Indian Office to extend the provis10ns of said section to all Indian a6ents, sub-agents, and special ported it without amendment. agents, so far as the preparation of their bonds wd the keeping of the books of EXTENSION OF COUI~T OF ALABAMA C~1S. itemized expenses are concerned, but am with0ulipowertoextend the penalties pro vided by srud section to any other agents than those referred to therein. I there Mr. EDMUNDS. I am instructed by the Committee on the Ju fore have the honor to request that the section may be so amended as to extend the diciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 78) to extend the dura provisions antl penalties of said section to all aa-ents in the Indian service; and an tion of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims, to report the amendment is herewith submitted which it is"'believed will accompli..sh the object same favora.bly, with some slight verbai amendments; and as it is desired, if the same shall be enaeted into a. law. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, very desirable that this bill should pass both Houses before the holi Z. CHANDLER, days, in order to keep the court in existence, I a-sk for its present Secretary. consideration. I will state that the bill merely provides for continu Ron. W. B. ALLISON, ing the court, with its present powers and organization, for six Ohairman Oommittee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate. months, iu order that it may complete tJJe business it ha~ before it. Mr. ALLISON. I now move that the bill be referred to the Com The bill does not open any of 'the disputed questions which sruTound mitteeonlndian.Affairs, with the accompanying letter, and be printed. other parts of the subject, and all the committee thought that it was The motion was agreed to. 200 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEI\IBER 14, Mr. ALLISON asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to The CHIEF CLERK. The resolution submitted by Mr. DAVIS, calling introduce a bill (S. No. 80) to transfer Indian trnst-funds·to the Treas on the Secretary of the Trea-sury for the reasons why certain reports urer of the United States; which was read twice by its title, referred required by law to be made to Congress have uot been made. to the Committee on Indian Affairs, and ordered to be printed. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The resolution was read yesterday; Mr. DAVIS asked, a.nd by unanimous consent obtained, leave to and the pending question is on the motion of the Senator from Ohio introduce a bill (S. No. 81) making an appropriation for continuing the [Mr. SHERl\1AN] to refer it to the Committee on Finance. improvement of the Great Kanawha River, in the State of West Vir 1tlr. DAVIS. I clid not understand that the motion to refer to the ginia; which wa-s rea-d twice by its title, referred to the Committee Committee on Finance was persisted in. I understood that motion was on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. withdrawn for the purpose of lotting the resolution lie on the table. Mr. HARVEY asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to The PRESIDENT pro ternpore. The Chair did so state, but was mis introduce a bill (S. No. 82) for the relief of Amos B. Ferguson; which informed, and corrected the statement. The Senator from Ohio did was read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Military not withdraw his motion, but only suspended it for the purpose of Affairs, and ordered to be printed. allowing the resolution to be printed and laid on the table, renewing 1\Ir. ANTHONY asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave it this morning. to introduce a bill (S. No. 83) providing for the completion and loca Mr. DAVIS. Mr. President, the resolution is now printed and on tion of the naval monument; which was read twice by its title, re our desks. It will be seen by every Senator that it simply asks the ferred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed. question whether certa.in reports required by law have or have not ?rlr. PATTERSON asked,· and by unanimous consent obtained, leave been made. It asks for no further information whatever. Of course, to introduce a bill (S. No. 84) extending the time for tho redemption upon the answer coming in, other things may follow; but a-s it now of lands held by tho United States under the several acts levying only asks the question whether or not the reports have been made, direct taxes; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Com and as I believe the law requiring them to be made is still in force, I mittee on Finance, and ordered to be printed. see no reason why it should go to the Committee on Finance or any Mr. PADDOCK asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave other committee. to introduce a bill (S. No. 85) for the relief of J. W. Pearman; which The PRESIDENT pro tem,pore. The question is on the motion to was read twice by its title and, with the accompanying papers, re- refer the resolution to the Committee on Finance. ferred to the Committee on Claims. · Mr. DAVIS. I ask for the yeas and nays on that motion. Mr. CAMERON, of Wisconsin, asked, a.nd by unanimous consent The yeas and nays were ordered; and being taken, resulted-yeas obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 86) to aid the Winnebago 35, nays 25 ; as follows : · Indians of Wisconsin to obtain subsistence by agricultural pursuits YEAS-Messrs. Allison, Anthony, :Booth, Boutwell, Bruce, Cameron of Pennsyl and to promote their civilization; which was read twice by its title, vania, Cameron of Wisconsin1 Chlistiancy, Clayton~....-Conkling, Conover, Cragin, referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, and ordered to be printed. Dawes, Edmunds, Ferry, Frelinghuysen, Hamilton, Hamlin, Harvey, Hitchcock, Howe, IngallsJ McMillan, Mitchell, Morrill of Maine, Morton, Oghiby, Paddock, Mr. SARGENT asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to Patterson, Rooertson, Sar_gent, Sherman, West, Windom, and 'Vright-35. introduce a bill (S. No. 87) to repeal the last clause of a.n act making NAYS-Messrs. Bayard, Bogy, Cockrell, Cooper, Davis, Eaton, English, Gohl appropriat.ions for ~mndry civil expenses of the Government for the fis . thwaite, Gordon, Jones of Flonda., Kelly, Kernan, K y, McCreery, MoDonalU, Mer rim on, Norwood, Randolph, Ransom, Saulsbury, Stevenson, Thurman, Wallace, cn,l year ending June 30, 1874, and for other purposes, approved March Whyte, and Withers-25. · 3, 1~3; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Commitee ABSENT- Messrs. Alcorn, Burnside, Caperton, Dennis, DorseyJ Johnston, Jones on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. of Nevada, Logan, Ma.xey, Morrill of Vermont, Spencer, a.nd Waaleigh-12. · Mr. INGALLS asked, and by unaniiqous consent obtained, leave to So the resolution was referred to the Committee on Finance. introduce a bill (S. No. 88) for the relief of the officers of the Fourth and Fifth Indian Regiments; which was read twice by its title, re SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA. ferred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair under the rules calls the Mr. MERRIMON a-sked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave attention of the Senate to an order lying over, which will be stated to introduce a bill (S. No. 89) to amend the act entitled "An act by the Secretary. granting pensions to certain soldiers and sailors of the war of 1812, The CHIEF CLERK. Motion submitted by Mr. WEST, that the r - and the widows of deceased soldiers," approved February 14, 1871, quest of W. L. McMillen, heretofore claiming a seat in the Senate from and to restore. to the pension-rolls tbo~e persons whose names were the State of Louisiana, for the withdrawal of his credentials from the stricken therefrom in consequence of disloyalty; which was read files of the Senate, be granted. twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Pensions, and ordered The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on agreeing to the to be printed. order. He also asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to intro Mr. SAULSBURY. I do not know that I have any special objec duce a bill (S. No. 90) granting pensions to certain soldiers and sailors tion to the withdrawal of the credentials of this o-entleman if be of the war with Mexico, and the widows of deceased ~oldiers; which desires to withdraw them; but I cannot understand the object of a was read t~ICe by its title, referred to the Committee on Pensions, request of that kind, to withdraw the credentials, at this time. and ordered to be printed. What is the object of introducing a resolution to withdraw the creden Mr. HAMILTON asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave tials of a gentleman who bas had them presented here, but upon which to introduce a bill (S. No. 91) for the relief of John N. Reed, which there has been no action taken f The whole subject has been before was read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Claims, and the Committee on Privileges and Elections. If the party wishe to ordered to be printed. resign any right or claim that be may have to a sea.t in this body, I Mr. IDTCHCOCK (by request) usked, and by unanimous consent apprehend this is not the place to make his resignation. I do not, obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 92) to survey the Austin however, rise to interpose any objection, except that it is a very Topolovampo Pacific route; which wa-s read twice by its title, referred anomalous proceeding. I cannot understand why this application to the Committee on Railroads, and ordered to be printed. on the part of Mr. McM:illen is ma-de at the present session to with Mr. CLAYTON (by request)· asked, and by unanimous consent draw his credentials, when they have not been noticed by this Seua.te obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 93) for the relief of William except simply to refer them to t,be Committee on Privileges aud Elec G. Ford; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Commit tions and that committee ba-s taken no action upon them. tee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. Mr. EDMUNDS. Mr. President, I wish to inquire of the Chair 1\lr. CRAGIN a-sked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to whether the credentials tha.t it is proposed to withdraw are those introduce a bill (S. No. 94) to regulate the pay of certain officers of which were submitted by a Senator as coming from Mr. McMillen or the Navy; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Commit whether they are those which the law requires to be submitted by tee on Naval Afl:airs, and ordered to be printed. the executive authority of the State to the President of the Senate f The PRESIDENT pro tentpm·e. The Secretary will report the TREATMENT OF UNITED STATES PRISONERS. status of the case. 1\Ir. CLAYTON submitted the following resolution; which was con The CHIEF CLERK. The credentials were presented by 1tlr. Mc sidered by unanimous consent and agreed to : CREERY, Senator from Kentucky. . Resolved, That the Attorniw-General be requested to furnish the Senate with The PRESIDENT pro tempm·e. The papers presented by the Sen any information that may be in his possession relative to the treatment of the ator from Kentucky it is prtlposed to withdraw. United States prisoners CO)lfined in State penitentiaries, if not in his judgment in Mr. EDMUNDS. Then I have no objection to their being with ~mpatible with the public interest. drawn; not the slightest. T. 1: REES, DECEASED. Mr. THURMAN. What was done with the motion of the Senator Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont, submitted the following· resolution; from Louisiana f which was considered by unanimous consent and agreed to : The PRESIDENT pro tempm·e. That is the motion now pending. Mr. THURMAN. I only wish to say that it seems to me, without Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate to the mother of T. M .. Rees, deceMed, late clerk to the Committee on Fi having- reflected. upon it much, that it is a matter of no consequence nance, three mouths' pay of his annual salary. wba.tever whether those credentials be withdrawn or not. Uniloubt edly their withdrawal and the acceptance by Governor McEnery of REPORTS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. the resignation of Mr. McMillen, which I have seen in the papers, The P;RE~IDENT pro tempo_re. If there be no further resolutions, put an end to any claim of Mr. McMillen to a seat in this body; but the Cball" Wlll call the attention of the Senate, under the rules, to a that can have no effect whatsoever upon the claim of Mr. Pinchback resolution which lies on the table, and which will be stated by the to a seat in this borly. His title does not in any manner depenclnpon Seeretary. what the Senate might decide in reference to the claim of Mr. 1\Icl\Iil------~------.·--=-.-~~... ~------~ . 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 201 len. Indeed, our committee on this subject reported that neither the error. It is a question of first impression, and i should therefore have boJy that elected Mr. Pinchback nor the body that elected Mr. preferred, as it establishes a precedent, that it should have gone to McMillen was the lawful Legislature of that State; so that it is very the Committee on Elections. I must therefore vote against the mo probable that the same Senators who would vote against the admis tion. No reasons have been given why the motion is made. As to sion of Pinchback on the grouncl that the body that elected him was what the' Senator from Indiana [Mr. MORTON] said about the utter not the Legislature would also have voted against the seating of invalidity and fraud of the McEnery government, I take issue with McMillen on the ground that the body that elected him was not a him on the facts. H~ says there wa.s not a pretense, in law or fact, lawfully-constituted Legislature. I do not say that would llave been that :McEnery wa-s ever elected governor of Louisiana. He insists the case, but it might have been the case; and I mention it only to that Kellogg was the only valid and duly-elected governor of Lonisi· show that whether these credentials remain on the Clerk's desk or ana at the period .when the election of McMillen took place. I whether they be withdrawn cannot in the slightest degree affect the deny it. The statement of the Senator is contra-dicted by a report of question yet to be determined, whether Mr. Pinchba.ck is entitled to his own leacling political parti ans in this Chamber. None know bet a seat in this body. . ter than the Senator from Indiana [1\lr. MORTON] that leading and Mr. MERRIMON. Mr. President, I confess that I know of no rea among the ablest republican Senators in this Chamber- after weeks son now that ought to weigh with me in opposing the passage of this of patient investigation and labor and the examination of very many resolution without a reference of it to some appropriate committee, witnes as-reported to the Senate that the Kellogg government was but I make this point: By presenting th&~e credentials to the Senate, the creature of the most unblushing usttl'pation and vilest fraud this party submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the Senate. that ever disgraced and degraded the annals of a free people. Re Whether he is in condition to make this application does not appear. pn blicans and democrats were alike shocked by the monstrous iuiqni He may be; he may not be. If the resolution were referred in the ties under which the Kellogg government was sought, in defiance of regular order of things, the committee could make proper inquiry on the popular voice, to be forced upon the people of Louisiana. That that subject, and report for or against it. It seems to me that is or government wa-s the spawn of fraud and violence, no matter by whom uerly, and that is the course it ought to take. He certainly is within it was recognized. Whatever may have been the irregularities or the jurisdiction of the Senate. If he has done anything, or if any frauds in the McEnery government, they sank into insignificance thin~ has occurred which makes it unwise that he should be allowed when compared with those by which Kellogg was, through Fed to withdraw these papers simply on motion, t he committee ought to eral power, made governor of Louisiana. McEnery wa.s the duly report that fact. elected governor of Louisiana, althougll there may have been, and Mr. DAVIS. I will inquire whether or not there are two sets of probably were, fraudulent votesca.st. for him; still, as between Kellogg credentials of Mr. McMillen before the Senate, one from the governor and McEnery, we have the highest official republican testimony in and one from himself, and which it is he seeks to withdraw, if there this Chamber that the people of Louisiana would have, without Fed be two. eral interference, acquiesced in McEnery's election. The Sena The PRESIDENT pro tentpore. The Chair will inform the Senator tor from Indiana is therefore unsupported by the record in stating in a few moments, after an examination has been made. [After a that the McEnery ~overnment had never the semblance of existence, pause. J There are two sets. This resolution relates to the set pre but was a mere figment of the imagination. It seems to me he is sented by the Senator from Kentucky, [Mr. McCREERY.] estopped by the report of his own party friends in the Senate on Mr. MORTON. As far as I am concernen, I am perfectly iniliffer Louisiana affairs, and by the action of his own committee, and by all ent as to whether this order is made by the S-enate or not; I think it the history of Louisiana affairs touching the Kellogg election, from is a matter of no importance whatever; but I hope no committee will the broad statement that the McEnery government was a pretense, a be troubled with it, as was suggested by the Senator from North Caro fraud, a. mere semblance, whi-le the Kellogg wa-s the only true, valid, lina. These credentials were a.fways the merest sham, the merest pre legal government in Louisiana. In view of the past history of Louisi text in the world. There never was such a Legislature as the McEnery ana, I wonder at the boldness of this statement. It has nothing solid legislature; there never was such a government as the McEnery gov to rest upon. The McEnery government was the pri'llta facie govern £'rnment. There has been but one government in the Stat-e of Louisi ment of Louisiana, as reported to us by republican Senators and a.na, now recognized by every department of this Government, and democratic Senators alike; while the Kellogg government was the it. has been recognized by the courts down there. This whole pretense emanation of fraud, corruption, and violence unsurpassed in the his of a McEnery government has been a fraud and a sham from the begin tory of any freo people, a ribald and barefaced usurpation, which ning; and, so far as these credentials are concerned, I am perfectly will be a stain upQn American legislation so long a.s the American indifl'erent whether they are returned to Mr. McMillen, put on the confederacy endures. table, or put under the table, or in a waste-basket. It is a matter of Mr. HOWE. Will the Senator allow me to inquire to what record no importanM whatever. he refersY Mr. STEVENSON. Mr. President, I concur in a portion of what Mr. STEVENSON. I refer to the record of the Committee on Pri vi has fallen from the Senator from Indiana, [M.r. MoRTON,] that so far leges and Elections of the Senate of the United States, of which the as the pending motion affects the individual right of Mr. McMillen Senator from Indiana. wa-s then and is now the distinguished chair- it amounts to very little; but upon a higher plane, affecting as it m~ • does the uniform pract.ice of the Senate in parliamentary procedure, Mr. HOWE. Does the Senator from Kentucky say that that com it may amount to a great deal. The Senate, therefore, cannot be too mittee decided tbat the McEnery government wa.s the true govern cautious. in allowing a cla.imant for a seat in this body to withdraw mentt his credentials, a8 it ~ht hereafter become a bad precedent. I do not Mr. STEVENSON. I say that that committee reported that he regard the right to withdraw the credentials of a Senator as purely a Kellogg government was a fraud, a usurpation-born in iniquity and personal privilege. I do not admit that Mr. McMillen ha8 a right to established by force! I repeat that the proofs of all this were pa.tent withdraw these credentials. They constitute a part of the records of and unanswerable. I say that the late Senator from Wisconsin, tlle the Senate, and are a muniment of title to a seat in this Chamber. former collea.gue of the distinguished gentleman who now interro These credentials are certified by the governor of each State to the gates me, [Mr. Carpenter,] ma.de an argument in this Chamber-1m Senate, informing us and designating the individual whom his State swervable and unanswerable-in which he demom~t.rated that the has elected as its representa. tive in this Chamber. The govern or sends whole Kellogg ~overnment wa8 the emanation of a. stupendous francl the credentials of every Senator-elect to the Vice-President of the and a bold, danng usurpation. United States, who presents them to the Senate. The governor is Mr. HOWE. I understood the Senator to say that that committee the agent of his State in communicating the election of those who reported that the McEnery government was the true government of have been elected Senators to the Senate itself. The credentials be Louisiana. come then the property of the Senate, and not the property of the Mr. STEVENSON. O, no; I did not say that. What I did say I Senator-elect. Suppose a claimant to a seat in this body desired, for repeat, that the Kellogg government wa-s an open, unblushing fraud personal or political reasons, to waive his t.itle to a seat in this body, and. usurpation, and that, while the McEnery government was prima can he do so by asking to withdraw his credentials' Can he by any facie the government, yet many frauds and irregularities had marked personal right or act waive the rights of the State which elected him llis election. That committee differed in their conclusions, antl reachetl, by withdrawing the evidence of his election, committed by law to as I remember, different results. But most of the committee, repub the custody of the Senate and becoming part and parcel of its records f licans and delUocrats, agreed that the Kellogg government, which Other rights than mere personal rights are involved in this motion. the Senator from Indiana tells us to;day was the only true, valid gov A claimant may resign his title, whether perfect or inchoate, to a seat ernment, was a fraud and usurpation. I think, too, a majority of the in this Chamber. But I deny his right to withdraw his credentials, committee concurred t.hat the McEnery government waR the prirna because instances may occurw hen such withdrawal might aid a claim facie government of Louisiana. ant to a seat in this Chamber who was not elected by withdrawing Mr. HOWE. That the majority of the committee so reported Y the credentials which showed that another was the legally-elected Sen Mr. STEVENSON. Such is my recollection. I do not know how at-or of the State. I do not mean to intimate that such is the ca e here. the committee· were divided. I repeat, however, that my remem But this motion iB of doubtful propriety. I think, when credentials, brance is that the Senator's late colleague, [Mr. Carpenter,] so long properly authenticated by the governor of a State, are received by and a republican leader in this Chamber, reported-- placed in the custody of the Senate, that they beeome a part of the Mr. HOWE. Did my colleague say the McEnery government was archives of this body, which should not be withdrawn. Let the ap valid Y plicant take a copy, but let the original evidence of election remain Mr. STEVENSON. Your colleague, I think, reported that the where the law has placed it--in th cnstody of the Senate. I McEnery government, so far as the returns went, was the prima facie cannot understand why such a. motion shonld be made. I may be in elected governmeut of Louisiana, and of course the valid govern- 202 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEMBER 14, ment until supplanted under the form of the constitution and laws Senator from Kentucky, for it might impugn my political character. of Louisiana., which was never done. But your colleague also re Nevertheless I am not going to be deterred by that. ported that there were frauds in the election on the McEnery side, The only point upon which I wished in the first instance to take which induced him to recommend a new election. issue with the Senator from Kentucky was upon what I understood Mr. HOWE. And therefore that that government was not entitled to be his statement, and which I think he reiterated just now, that to represent the State of Louisiana. the majority of the Committee on Privileges and Elections did declare Mr. STEVENSON. That is your deduction, not mine. The only that the McEnery government was the true government of Louisiana. point I thought of the Senator's interrogation w~s whether I declared My recollection of their conclusion wa,s that that title, whether it that a. committee of this Senate had ever declared in a report to the was prim,a facie or anything else, which wn.s set up by the McEnery Senat.e the Kellogg government to be a fraud and usurpation. I an government, was based upon palpable fraud, and for that reason the swered that I did so declare upon republican testimony, that should majority of the committee, and a large majority of the committee, estop the Senator from Indiana [Mr. MORTON] and his republican recommended that it should be disregarded; and they also recom colleagues from impeaching that statement. mended for similar reasons that the Kellogg government should be Mr. HOWE. Why, Mr. President, let me correct the honorable disregarded. Of that I have nothing to say. Senator from Kentucky on one or two points. First, I did not inte r Now, a word upon another point. The Senator from Kentucky says rogate him anything about the character of the Kellogg government. that we are estopped by the report of that committee from disputing I understood him to say that the McEnery government was declared the title of the McEnery government. I think he is mistaken a.bout by that committee to be the true government of Louisiana. that. He rather undertook to argne that I waa estopped by the Mr. STEVENSON. Then you misunderstood the exact scope of my speeche · that my late colleague made here. He is decidedly mistaken statement. about that. I never felt myself entirely estopped by any speech from Mr. HOWE. Then I leave that matter as corrected. The Senator saying what I thought to be true myself in the Senate, upon the does claim on the authority of that committee, then, that the McEnery Louisiana or any other question; and certainly, if I were to be estopped government was the true government of Louisiana- by any speech, I shonld as readily be estopped by such speeches as Mr. THURMAN. Will the gentleman allow me to interrupt him a the Senator from Kentucky makes as by any speeches I have ever moment! listened to upon this floor; for he makes from his stand-point about Mr. HOWE. Just as soon a,s I can ascertain the position of the as conclusive speeches as can be ma-de. The simple fact I suppose is, Senator from Kent ucky. if I understand the Constit ution, that no one Senator has his mouth Mr. THURMAN. If the Senators will allow me to say one word stopped absolutely, and in a constitutional sense, by the speech of both of those Senators wi11 understand what that committee did do. any other Senator, nor even by the report of a majority of a committee. That committee reported t hat the election of 1H72 must be disregarded Mr. \VHYTE. Mr. President, without any reference to the merits of entirely, or, if it was not disregardeu ent.irely, the only alternative was the discussion in regard to the State of Louisiana, it occurs to me that to sustain McEnery as the lawfully-elected governor. That was what the credentials of any person claiming to be a Senator, after having the committee said. My impression is that they did not carry their once been placetl in the possession of the Senate, cannot be withdrawn declarations so fa1· as to include what was called the McEnery legis by him. He has no personal control over them whatever. They come lature, but they did sustain McEnery and the others who ran with to the Senat-e from the executive of the State, and that executive certi him on the State ticket. . ties that the State, through its Legislature, has acted upon the subject; Mr. STEVENSON. It has been some time since we went into this and, though his name may be mentioned in the body of the certificate, Louisiana mat ter, but I will answer the Senator from Wisconsin by he has no personal right to withdraw that certificate. It is the right a reference to t he record. Here is what his late collea~!le, (Ron. Matt. of a sovereign State layin~ upon the table of the Senate of the United H. Carpenter,) JOHN A. LOGA..t~, J. L. ALCORN, and .ti. 13. ANTHONY States a certificate certifymg that it in its sovereign capacity has exer ~:>aiu in their report in 1873 on Louisiana affairs : cised a power which it has under the Constitution of the United States, It is the opinion of your committee that, but for the un,justifiable interference of that of electing a Senator. Without reference, therefore, to the question Judge Durell, whos_e orders wer eexecute . -- 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 203 estoppel advanced by the Senator from Kentucky this morning, that On the 7th of Mafch, 1873- the report o.f a majority of a committee would estop the Senate, and Mr. West presented the credentials of William L. McMillen, elected a Senator that the speech of one Senator would estop his colleague-- by the Legislature of Loui.<;ia.na for the term of six years, commencing March 4, Mr. STEVENSON. Allow me a single word. The gentleman mis 1873; whicll were road. states my position. The speech does not estop; but when a Senator Ordered, That they lie on the ta.blo and be printed. rises and says that there is not a shadow of foundation in fact for the I take it for granted the gentleman then reJ}resenting the State of existence of a government, then I say that the report of a committee Louisiana, and the sole represf\ntative of that State upon this fl.oor stating a fact that has not been contradicted as to the validity of a at that time, received them not from this individual, by whom they particular government ought to estop those who make such a sweep were not ma-de, to whom they did not belong, bnt received them in ing assertion. due course of law from the proper authorities of that State. Now, it Mr. MORTON. The very report declared that the McEnery gov seems to me that, when the question is a-sked and when the question ernment had no existence. I did not say that there was anything of is answered which I . have propounded, the conclusion ought to be it; but said, on the contrary, that there was nothing of it. that the satisfactory to us all that these records may not pass into the hands whole election was a fraud. The Senator falls back on' a report of any but those lawfully entitled to receiYe them. It is not Mr. which declares that the McEnery government had no existence, and McMillen; it is not the honorable Senator from Indiana. His custody sustains what I said, that these credentials are a mere sham and a of these papers is nothing more than that of any of us ; but they are mere fraud. The report stated other things that were not correct, in his proper custody when committed to his charge as chairman of that have since been admitted not to be correct by a majority of the the committee. But I a-dmit that neither he, nor I, nor any of us, have men who signed the report. As I said before, every departm~nt of the right to the personal custody of these papers. They belon~ to the this 'Government, and every department of the State government, archives of this body. Mr. McMillen may have duplicates of hi& own; and all the courts have recognized that there was but one govern but the law under which Senators are sent to. this body, the law of ment of Louisiana, and that was the Kellogg government. ·congress, prescribes the mode of election and the mode of certifica The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on the motion to tion, and I believe part of that law requires that the credenti~ shall refer. be sent to the Vice-President of the United States. That is the law. The motion was not agreed to. Therefol·e, when he receives .them, they are presented to the Senate, The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question recurs on the passage they are filed, and they become part of the records; and, without any of the order proposed by the Senator from Louisiana. regard to what may be the effect of the presence or the absence of The question being put, the Chair declared that the noes appeared this particular paper, it would, as I understood my honorable friend to prevail. · from Ohio [1\Ir. THURMA.t"'] just now to state, amount to an absolute Mr. HOWE called for the yeas and nays, and they were ordered. mutilation of a public record to withdraw a paper which was sent Mr. HOWE. If it is seriously intende{l to refuse this gentleman here from the State of Louisiana, presented here by her authorized the privilege of withdrawing his pretenses from the Senate, it occurs agent, the Senator who is now upon the floor, [Mr. WEST,] on the 7th to me that we ought to inquire whether there is some power dor of March, 1873. These papers are not the private property of 1\fr. mant in the Senate to prohibit him from doing this hereafter. Can McMillen or of the honorable Senator from Indiana, nor of any one we issue a writ of prohibition or something of that kind to prevent of whom either :Mr. McMillen or the honorable Senator from Indiana his coming in some other day when the Senate is not quite so full as is the representative. They bfllong to the Senate of the United States, it is now and doing this thing T If he is offending against public they belong to the people of the United States, whose representatives justice by this step, there ought to be some power in the Senate to we are. prevent its being done at any time. I do not know but that we may 1\-fr. HOWE. Mr. President, I do not want to make an issue with perhaps issue a writ of prohibition, or perhaps a writ of procedendo, any Senator on the other side upon the title to this valuable piece of or something, requiring him to proceed on his credentials and fight, · property; and if such an issue is to be made, I want it to be tried whether he will or no. Unless we have some jurisdiction, I think we before some judicial forum, because it is evidently too precious for us had better let him retire, as he asks to retire. I have always thought to pass upon in legislative form. But I conceive my elf that the Sen he had been here too long. ator from Delaware [Mr. BAYARD] is partially right in the remarks Mr. THURMAN. I shall vote against this order, for these creden he bas just sn hmitted. Undoubtedly these papers have come here in tials belong to the archives of the Senate. They are not the private a shape which has placed them upon ourJom·nals, and has made them property of the individual named in them. Unless some good reason for the time being a part of our records; and if there is any private can be shown for withdrawing a paper that belongs to the archives or any public interest to be subserved by keeping them here, it is the of the Senate, I shall vote against it. I can see that it may be very duty of the Senate to keep them here. But every day shows us gentle proper, especia-lly when.it may become important to know the whole meu coming in who have presented claims of one sort or another, who history of this transaction, to have this piece of evidence, and that have become tired of prosecuting those claims, and who ask leave to the official papers, or those claimed to be official, which have become withdraw them from the- Senate; and, so far a.s I remember, unless part of the files and archives of the Senat~. should not be withdrawn. there has been a decision adverse to the claimant, he has been allowed No prejUflice to the individual can happen by refusing t-he motion, to withdraw them; and if there has been a decision adverse to t-he while it may, and very properly, be said that these papers, which claimant, we allow him, by the established usage of the Senate, to belong to the files of the Senate, ought not to be taken from them. I withdraw his papers, taking care to protect ourselves against the repe shall therefore vote against the resolution of the Senator from tition of a fraudulent claim by retaining copies. Now, here were Louisiana. some papers presented a.s the foundation of a claim to a seat in this Mr. BAYARD. Mr. President, it perhaps is not very important, for body. Well, if we see fit to retain those papers here wo eau. The the proper solution of this vexed question of the representation of claimant himself, the man who once preferred the claim, hlu~ become Louisiana in this body, what may be the personal action of 1\fr. sick of it, disgusted with it. I w~nt to emphasize the fact, because McMillen in the case. I do not think it is. · As I apprehend, his indi it is highly creditable to the individual. He aBks to withtlraw that vidual conduct cannot cbanO'e the right of his State or affect the pretense and the papers upon which it is based. We shall not tlo him rights of other claimants. Bnt the question might he asked, and I any injustice if we allow: him to do what he a-sks permission to a pretext. There is but one other party who can possibly be injured Senate by the Senator from Louisiana, [Mr. WEST,] and it was then by allowing this withdrawal, and that is the-party referred to Just ordered to lie on the table and be printed, which was done; and now by the honorable Senator from Delaware for the first time. That therefore in that way, under a public law, it became part of the is the party known as the people of the United States. It was inti records of the Senate. mated by him, if I understood him, that the people of the United Mr. HOWE. It is upon that fact that the Senator from Delaware States had a right to illsist upon keeping these credentials here. That and myself are at issue. Undoubtedly it is the duty of the governo~ is so; and, if I thought they would insist upon it, I should vote against of a Stat.e to certify credentialR. What I said, and what I repeat., giving permission to withdraw them; but I am satisfied that the peo was that no governor has ever certified these credentials. ple of the United States will condone the offense: will pardon the act, Mr. BAYARD. Now the honorable Senator simply begs the ques- if Wf' let Mr. McMillen take this spurious paper off our files this morn tion. . ing. So I shall vote to give him the permission he a-sks. Mr. HOWE. I state the fact. Mr. BAYARD. Mr.· President, I wish it again distinctly under Mr. BAYARD. He begs the question, and he begs the whole que stood that the ef(ect of making this order upon the right of a.ny other tion, and, without his being estopped in the least, he is perfect.ly claimant to a seat in this body from Louisiana is, in my opinion, aware that whether Mr. McEnery was or was not the governor of tho absolutely nothing. I wish it to be understood that I consider it can State of Louisiana is a fa-ct that this Senate have not yet settled, be have nothing to do with it, one way or the other; but there is a ques cause they have certainly for two years past refused, in respect of tion of regularity which, having been raised, I think should be de that part of the case which the Senate can take cognizance of, to cided correctly. Is this credential a private or a public paper 7 Is recognize the appointee of his opponent, Mr. Kellogg. it an official document or is it the private paper of the individual Mr. HOWE. The Senator is entirely right, I believe. This Senate claimant or of his individual friends T Is it, or does it not purport has not settled the que tion whether McEnery is Governor of Louisi to ue, the officia.l certificate of State a~tion in regard to so important ana or not. I do not know that this Senate has settled the question a mf-l.tter as membership in this body f Certainly all these inquiries whether Taylor is governor of Wisconsin or not. There are several must be answered in the affirmative. It is a. public pa,per; it is a governors upon whose title t·his Senate has not passed; but I think credential, ma-de in accordance with law, and has been pres~nted to the Senator will agree with me that, although the Senate has not set this body by the proper agent of the State of Louisiana, the Senator tled the questiOn, there is not a Senator on the floor wP.o does not who now sits upon the floor. He has presented it; he has bad it know that McEnery is not and never was governor of Louisiana. ordered to be printed and laid on the table. Mr. BAYARD. I do not know, so far as personal knowledge goes; Now, in this ca.se, to illustrate this question, suppose I, or any other . but I believe in my soul (and I koow it so far as I know any fact member of the body, shoulll ask leave to witJ:l.draw my credentials ; which I believe from informatism) that that man was and is to-da.y what would the Senate sayf The wisdom or the unwisdom of IDJ' the lawful choice of the people of that State, duly elected, 'and kept request matters not; it is the propriety, or the contrary, of granting from his place by the usurpation of Feder~l power, under the order of it that the Senate is to decide upon. My credentials are part of the the President of the United States. records of this body, and the Senate has no right, either on my appli The PRESIDENT P'I'O tempore. The question is on agreeing to the cation or any other application, to change the truth of facts as they resolution, npon which the yeas and nays have been ordered. appear upon the records and by the Journal of the Sena.te. :Mr. STEVENSON. Will the Chair state the exact question on which I do not mean to intimate that any ulterior object is in view by we are called to vote f the honorable Senator who has made this motion, because I will give The PRESIDENT p1·o ten~1Jm·e. The question is on the passage of him credit, with his well-known intelligence and ability, for com the resolution. prehending that it would be impossible to affect the right of another Mr. STEVENSON. · I thought there was a motion m.'lde to refer claimant nuder a totally different government by the action of this these credentials to a committee. Has that been passed upon t individual, Mr. McMillen, who, as the Senator from Wisconsin says, The PRESIDENT pro ternpo're. That motion was negatived. The has become disgusted and tired and weary of pursuing his rights question now recurs on the passage of the resolution. Does the Sen before this body. Whether that shall be held hereafter a subjecp of ator desire that it be read f reproach to this body or to him, is a question that the people of tbiS .Mr. STEVENSON. No, sir. I only desire briefly to state that I country will decide; for, if he has come here with just rights, and utterly elisavow any feelinf(T of partisanship a.s to the past in regard to they have.been disregarded, then upon those who have disregarded the contest in Louisiana. shall vote against the withdrawal of these them will rest the condemnation of justice, when justice shall be credentials because I believe them to be a part of the records of the had ancl heard. But in this case it is plain that neither the creden Senate. I do not recognize and do not acquiesce in the legal proposi tials of the honorable Sena.tor from Wisconsin, nor mine, nor those tion of the Senator from Wisconsin, that the credential of a sover of any other duly and regularly elected member of this body can be eign State, in this Chamber of equals, rests upon the footing of a mere withdrawn with propriety. As a matter of fact there are duplicates, private claim. · and probably a duplicate in possession of the party, should he desire The question being taken by yeas and nays, resulted-yeas 30, nays from curiosity or interest to hold it; or copies may be ha-d by him if 28 ; as follows : he desires to possess them; but the original papers belong to this YEAS-Messrs. Allison, Boutwell, Bruce, Burnside, Cameron of Wisconsin, body, that is to say, they belong to the Government of the Uniterl Christianoy, Clayton, Conklin_g, Conover, Cragin, Edmunds, Ferry, Frelinghuysen, States, of which this body is a part, and we are the custodians, and Hamlin, Harvey, Hitchook, Howe, Ingalls, McMillan, Morrill of Vermont, Morton~ Paddock, Patterson, Robertson, Sargent, Sherman, Spencer, West, Windom, ann we have no right to give them up, because they are public property. Wright-30. Mr. SAULSBURY. Mr. President, in making the suggestion which . NAYS-Messrs. Bayard, Bogy, Caperton, Cockrell, Cooper, Davis, Dawes, Eaton, I did at the commencement of this discussion, that there might be Eng_llsb, Goldthwait-e, Gmxlon, Johnston, Jones of Florida, Kelly, Kernan, Key, some impropriety in adopting the order proposed, I was not promptecl Mclireery, McDonald, Merrimon, Norwood, Randolph, Ransom, Saulsbury, Steven son, Thurman, Wallace, Whyte, and Withers-28. by any desire to have Mr. McMillen seated as a member of this body. ABSENT-Messrs. Alcorn, Anthony, Booth, Cameron of Pennsylvania., Dennis, I believe I have never advocated his admission to a seat on this floor, Dorsey, Hamilton, Jones of Nevada., Logan, Maxey, Mitchell, Morrill of Maine, either in this body or in the Committee on Privileges and Elections, Oglesby, and Wadleigh-14. of which I have the honor to be a member. But it did occur to me So the resolution was agreed to. that there was some impropriety at least in allowin~ an applicant EXECUTIVE BUSINESS. who has come here claiming a seat in this body to w1thdmw on his own petition the certificate of his election. I could not exactly see Mr. l"RELINGHUYSEN. I move that the Senate proceed to the how it could affect in any way the rights of any other applicant to a consideration of executive business. seat, and I was not clear in my own mind at that time that there The mot.ion was agreed to ; and. the Senate proceeded to the con would be any great impropriety in permitting the order to pass; but sideration of executive business. After twenty-five minutes spent I am now satisfied, after the discussion we have heard, that we should in exec.utive session the doors were re-opened, and (at two o'clock and do injustice to the records of the Senate in mutilating them by per five minntes p.m.) the Senate adjourned. mitting the withdrawal of the certificate of election of Mr. McMillen by the State of Louisiana. I have no cli&position to enter into the discussion of the Louisiana question; I had hoped that we were done with that question; but it does strike me as being highly improper that we should at this time HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. p rmit this gentleman on his own petition to take from the files the certific-ate of his election as a member of this body. I shall therefore TUESDAY~ December 14, 1875. vote against this order. The House met at twelve o'clock m. Prayer by the Chaplain, Re,·. Mr. BAYARD. I merely rise to ask leave to read the a-ct of Con I. L. TOWNSEND. gress on this subject of the certificate, to be found at page 312 of the The Journal of Friday last was read. . Manual: The SPEAKER. Unless objection be made, the Journal of Prilla~ SECTION 3. That it shall be the duty of the governor of the Sta.te from which any last will stand approved as read. Son a tor shall have been chosen as aforesaid to certify his election, under the seal uf the State, to the President of the Senate of the United State , which certi.ficate CORRECTION OF RECORD. ~hall be countersigned by the secretary of state of the State. Mr. STARKWEATHER. I rise to a con-ection of the Joornal. In this case a certificate purporting to be the certificate of the gov The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman refer t.o the J ournaljust read f t:rnor of the State of Louisiana, under the seal of the State, cotmter .Mr. STARKWEATHER. On the 11th of December, Friday last,, I sigued by the secretary of state of the State, was presented to the introduced a bill in regard to postage. A copy of the bill I have 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 205 before me. and will send it to the Clerk. It should read the " 1st of AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION• .January" instead of the" 1st of June." AP, printed in the REcoRD Mr. RANDALL submitted a joint resolution, H. R. No.2; which was the bill reads "1st of June" instead of "1st of January." read a first and second tim-a, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, The SPEAKER. The Chair learns from the journal clerk that the and is as follows: Journal as it stands is correct. - Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Amer Mr. STARKWEATHER. Then I ask that the correction be made ica in Congress assembled, (two-thircls of each H ouse concurring Uterein,) T.ha.t the in the RECORD, and I give notice that on the first Monday on which following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amend we are in session I shall offer to put this bill upon its passage on the ment to the Constitution of the United Btates, which, when ratified by three-fourth$ second cal1 of the States, as I presume the gentleman will not yield of said Legislatures, shall be valid as p.art of th.e Constitution, namely : to let me make t.hat motion now. ARTICLE XVI.. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. From and after the next electiuu for the President of the United States the Presi dent shall hold his office during the term of .six years, and, together with the Vice Mr. BLAINE. I ask leave to offer the joint resolution which I send President chosen for the same term, be elected in the manner as now provided or to the Clerk's uesk. · may hereafter be provided; but neither t-he P resident nor the Vice-President in theo Mr. RANDALL. I must ask for the regular order. office of President, as devolved upon him, shall be eligible for re-election as President. Mr. BLAINE. Does the gentleman object to my offering the joint REPEAL OF TAX UPON BANK-CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. resolution for reference T Mr. TOWNSEND, of Pennsylvania, introduced a bill (H. R. No.9) Mr. RANDALL. I a~k for the regular order of business. When to repeal the tax upon bank-checks, drafts, orders, and vouchers for the gentleman's State is called he can introduce the joint reBolution the payment of moneys; which was read a first and second time, re • and have it referred. fened to the Committee-on Ways and Means, and ordered to be The SPEAKER. There being no committees to be called, it is in printed. order to introduce resolutions upon a call of the States in their order. RATES OF POSTAGE. Upon t he call it will also be in order to introduce bills on leave. Resolutions or bil1s are now in order from the State of Maille. Mr. TOWNSEND, of Pennsylvania, also introduced a bill (H. R. Mr. BLAINE introduceu a joint resolution, H. R. No.1; which was No. 10) to fix the rates of postage on mailable matt.er of the third read a first anti second time, and referred to the Committee on the class; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com Judiciary: mittee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, and ordered to be printed Re8olved by the Senate and House of Representatil,es, That the following be pro ELIZA JANE BLUMER. posed to the several States of the Union a~:~ an amenilinent to the Constitution: Mr. MUTCHLER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 11) to grant a • ARTICLE XVI. pension to Eliza Jane Blumer; which was read a first and second No Stat-..3 shall make any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit ing the free exercise thereof; and no money raised by taxation in any State for time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to the support of public schools, or deriveu ft·om any pulllic fuml therefor, nor any bewinted. public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be unuer the control of any religious sect, BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE. nor shall any money so raised or lands so devoted be di \"ided between religious sects or denominations. · Mr. O'BRIEN. I have a resolution which I ask unanimous con REGISTRY OF VESSELS. sent to have adopted now. It merely calls for information from one Mr. HALE introduced a bill (H. R. No.1) to provido for vessels of of the Departments. the United States bailing from places where they are owned; which The resolution was read as follows: was read a first and second time, referred to tho Committee on Com Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury, if not incompatible with the pub lic interests, be directed to communicate to this House, at the earliest practicable merce, and ordereii to be printed. moment, in what manner, with due regard to economy :rud dispatch of public busi FREE IMPORTATION OF ANIMALS. ness, the various duties now assigned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue may be absorbed by the Bureau under the charge of the Commissioner of Customs. Mr. HALE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 2) to amend the laws relating to the free entry of animals temporarily imported into the Mr. HOAR. I desire to ask whether the rule does not prohibit the United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to Speaker from asking un3jllimous consent during this call, to the in the Committee 8n Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed. terruption of the regular order of business. REDUCTION OF POSTAGE ON MAILABLE MATI'ER. The SPEAKER. The Chair does not so understantl the rule; but Mr. EAMES introduced a bill (H. R. No.3) to reduce the rates of if any gentleman rises to debate the resolution, it must go ovet'. postage; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Mr. KASSON. I rise to tliscuss it. Let it go over. Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, and ordered to be ?t.h. O'BRIEN. Very well; let it go over. ptinted. · Tile SPEAKER. The resolution will go to the Speaker's table. ALABAMA CLAIMS. SINKING-FUND COMMISSIONERS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Mr. STARKWEATHER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 4) to extend Mr. DOUGLAS introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 3) to limit the duration of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims; which the sinking-fund commissioners of the District of Columbia in was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on tho iSsuing bonds tmder the act of June 20, 1874, and changing the mode Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. aml time of paying the interest thereon; which wa~ read a first and Mr. COX introduced a bill (H. R. No. 5) to amend the act entitled secontl time, referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia, "An act for the creation of a court for the adjudication and disposi and ordered to be printed. tion of certain moneys recetved into the Trea.sury under an award made by the tribunal of arbitration sitting by virtue of the first article THOMAS W. TANSILL. of the treaty concluded at Washington the 8th day of May, A. D. 1871, Mr. DOUGLAS also introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 4) between the United States of America and the Queen of Great Britain," authoriz:ing the Secretary of the Trea~ury to adjuet the accounts of approved June 23, 1874; which was read a first and second time, re Thomas W. Tansill, late quartermaster anrl commissary under the ferred to the Commitwe on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. joint commission to run the boundary-line between the.United States FUNDING OF LEGAL-TENDER NOTES. and Mexico; which was read a first and second time, refen-ed to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. Mr. CHITTENDEN introduced a bill(H. R. No. 6)to fund the legal tender notes of the United States and to prepare the way for a resump ADVANCES BY STATES IN WAR OF 1812. tion of specie payments as soon as may be practicable; which was Mr. TERRY introduced a bill (H. R. No. 12) to re-open, state, and read a ·fi.rst and second time, referred to the Committee on Banking settle the claims of the several States against the United States for and Currency, and ordered to be p1inted. advances made in the war of 1812; which was read a first and second SALE OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. time, referred to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be Mr. BLISS introduced a hili (H. R. No. 7) to provide for the sale or printed. exchange of a certain piece of land ou the Wallabout Bay, in the PORT OF ENTRY, WEST POINT, VIRGINIA. Stat.e of New York, to the city of Brooklyn; which was read a first Mr. DOUGLAS introduced a bill (H. R. No. 13) to establish a port and second time, refen-ed to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and of entry and deli very at the town of West Point, Virginia; which was ordered to be printed. read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, GENERAL MEIGS. and ordered to be printed. Mr. ELY submitted the following resolution; which was read, con sidered, and agreed to : JAMES GREEN. Resolved, That the Secretary of War be respectfully requested to transmit to Mr. HUNTON introduced a bill (H. R: No. 14) for the relief of this House copies of the orders and instructions um\er which Qllllrtermaster-Gen James Green, of .AJexandria, Virginia; which was read a first and eral M. C. Meigs i~ acting during his absence from the United States. second time, referred to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered IMPROVEMENT OF HARLEl\i UIVER. to be printed. Mr. WILLIS introduced a bill (H. R. No. 8) to provide for the im R. B. HACKNEY. provement of the Harlem River between Ward's Island and the Hnd Mr. HUNTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 15) for'therelief of aon River, in the State of New York; which was read a first and R. B. Hackney, of the State of Virginia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to second time, referred to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be bo printed. . printed. ' '' - 206 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEMBER 14, DANIE L F . DULANY. First Lieutenant Henry Jackson, Seventh Cavalry, United States Mr. HUNTON also int roduced a bill (H. R. No. lG) for the relief of .Army; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com Daniel F. Dulany; whicu was read a :first and second time, referred mittee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. · to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be r,rinted. REPEAL OF SPECIE-RESUMPTION A.CT. EPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEl\fiNARY, VIRGINIA. Mr. SOUTHARD introduced a bill (H. R. No. 30) to repeal an act Mr. HUNTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 17) for the relief of entitled ".An act to provide for the resumption of specie payment," the trustees of the Episcopal Theological Seminary, in Vh·ginia; approved January 14, 1875; which was read a first and second time, which was read a :first and second time, referred to the Committee referred t,o the Committee on Banking and Currency, and ordered to on War Claims, and ordered t o be printed. be printed. TAX SALES IN ~S URRECTIONARY STATES. PATRICK GLACKIN. Mr. HUNTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 18) for the relief of Mr. VANCE, of Ohio, introduced a bill (H. R. No. 31) granting a owners and purchasers of lands sold for direct taxes in insurrection pension to Patrick Glackin; which was read a :first and second time, ary States; which was read a first and second time, referred to the referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be Committee on the Judicia.ry, and ordered to be printed. printed. IS.AAC ANDREWS. EPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEML.~ARY:, VIRGINIA. Mr. HUNTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 19) for the relief of Mr. VANCE, of Ohio, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 32) granting a pension to Isaac Andrews, a soldier of the war of 1812; which was the trustees of the Episcopal Theological Seminary, in Virginia; read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Revolu- which was read a :first and second t ime, referred to the Committee on tionary Pensions and War of 1812, and ordered to be printed. • War Claims, and ordered to be printed. JUDICIAL COURTS OF UNITED STATES. THOMAS LE.ACH. Mr. HUNTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 20) to amend the 1t1r. VANCE, of Ohio, also introduce-d a bill (H. R. No. 33) granting fourteenth section of the act to establish t he judicial courts of the a pension to Thomas Leach; which was read a first and second time, United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. printed. REGULATION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS' PAY. JUDICIAL DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA. Mr. SAYLER intl'Oduced a bill (H. R. No. 34) to regolate the pay Mr. HUNTON also int1·odnced a bill (H. R. No. 21) supplementary of certain officers; which was read a first and second time, referred to the third section of the act entitled "An acL to divide the State·of to the Committee on Naval .Affairs, and ordered to be printed. · Virginia into two judicial districts ; " which wa-s read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and o~d~red EQUALIZATION OF PENSIONS. to be printed. Mr. SAYLER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 35) equalizing pen PAYMENT OF CLAIMS. . sions of certain officers; which was read a first and second time, re / l1r. DAVIS introduced a bill (H. R. No. 22) to repeal so much of ferred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be section 3480 of the Revised Statutes as forbids the payment of the printed. accounts, claims, and demands therein named, and alllawsand clauses CAPTAIN EDWARD 8. MEYER. of laws forbidding the payment thereof, and appropriating money to Mr. WOODWORTH introduced a bill (H. R. No. 36) to restore the pay the same when doly established; which was read a :first and sec name of Captain EdwardS. Meyer to the active list of the Army; ond time, referred to ·the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on to be printed. Military .Affairs, and ordered to be printed. OFFICIAL OATH FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. WILLIAM H. NESSLE. Mr. FELTON introduced a bill (H. R. No. 23) to prescribe andes tablish a form of oath or affirmation to be t aken and subscribed by Mr. WOODWORTH also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 37) for there members of Congress before entering upon the duties of their office; lief of William H. Nessie; . which was read a :first and second time, which was read a :first and second time, referred to t he Committee referred to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. · MRS. MAR:Y A. DOYLE. DISTRICT COURT IN MISSISSIPPI. Mr. DANFORD introduced a bill (H. R. No. 38) granting a pension Mr. LYNCH introduced a bill (H. R. No. 24) to provide for the to Mrs. Mary A. Doyle, "\rldow of David H. Doyle, late private of holding of an additional term of the United States district court for Company C, Thirty-second Regiment Ohio Infantry· which was read the southern district of Mississippi; which was rea-d a first and second a :first and second time, referred to the Committee on invalid Pensions, time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be and ordered to be printed. printed. FREDERICK YOUNGBLUE. TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY. Mr. DANFORD also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 39) granting a pen Mr. DARR.A.LL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 25) amendatory of, and sion to Frederick Youngblue, of Company A, Twentieth Regiment supplementary to, the act entitled "An act to incorporate the Texas Ohio Volunteers; which was read a first and Recond time, referred to Pacific Railroad Company, and to aid in the construction of its road, the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1871, and an a-ct supple mentary thereto, approved May 2, 1872, and an act entitled "An act B. F. WEST & CO. wanting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph Mr. DANFORD also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 40) to re-imburse une from the States of Missouri and Arkansas to the Pacific Ocean," B. F. West & Co:z.. of Martin's Ferry, Ohio, for internal-revenue stamps approved July Z'l, 1866; which was read a fhst and second time, re stolen from the tJambridge, Ohio, post-office; which was read a fu·st ferred to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad, and ordered to be and second time; referred to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to printed. be printed. FRANCIS T. ~"TJCHOLLS. WAGGONER, HOWELL & CO. ])fr. GillSON introduced a bill (H. R. No. 26) to remove the disabili Mr. DANFORD also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 41) for the relief of ties of Francis T. Nicholls, of Louisiana; which was read a first and Waggoner, Howell & Co., of West Wheeling, Ohio; which was read second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered a first and second time, referred to the Committee on War Claims, to be printed. and ordered to be printed. REMOVAL OF POLlTICAL DISABILlTlES. FRA.NClS llll!RNARD. Mr. MOREY introduced a bill (H. R. No. 27) to remove the legal Mr. FOSTER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 42) granting a peDBion and political disabilities of all citizens of the United States subject to :Prancis Bernard; which was read a first and second time, referred thereto, and to prescribe an oath of office; which was read a first and to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. second time, referred to the Committee on the J niliciary, and onlered to be printed. ll:LIZA.BETR A. Nl!:lBUNG. ALABAMA CLAIMS AWARD. Mr. FOSTER also introduced~ bill (H._R. No. 43) granting a pen Mr. MONROE introduced a bill (H. R. No. 28) to amend an act sion to Elizabeth A. Neibling; which was read a first and second entitled "An act for the creation of a court for the adjudication and time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be di position of certain moneys received into t he Treasury onder an printed. award made by the tribunal of arbitration constituted by virtue of RICHARD T. ?40a8EU.. the :first article of the treaty concluded at W asbington the 8th of Mr. FOSTER also introduced a bi11 (H. R. No. 44) for the relief of May, A. D. 1871, between the United States of America and the RichardT. Morsell; which was read a first and second time, referred to Queen of Great Britain," approved June 23, 1874; which was read a the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed. tirst and sesond time, referred to the Committee on the JudiciaTy, and HANNAH ?tl. DALEY. ordered to be printed. ~ Mr. FOSTER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 45) granting a pension / FIRST LIE~N4N'J' llENRY JACKSON, UNITED STATES ARMY. to Hannah M. Daley; which was read a first and second time, re- Mr, GARFIELD introduced a bill (H. R. No. 29) for the relief of ferred totheCommitteeonlnva.lldPensions,andordered to be printed. ~\ · 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 207 SPECIE . PAYMENTS. ees of Bethel College; which was read a :first and second time, re Mr. JONES, of Kentucky, introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. ferrecl to thl:' Committee on W n,r Claims, and ordered to be printed. 5) for the repeal of the a.ct of January 14, 1875, providing for ·there HEIRS OF JOHN EVANS. turn to specie payments; which was read a first and second time, l\Ir. ATKINS ::tlso introduced a bill (H. R. No. 61) for the relief of refened to the Committee on Banking and Currency, and ordered to the minor heirs of John Evans, deceasecl; which was read a first and be printed. second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and Mr. BRIGHT introtluced a bill (H. R. No. 46) to repeal the act of ordered to be p1inted. January 14, 1875, for the resumption of specie payments;. which was NANCY H. BLACKNALL. read a. first autl second time, re.ferre REDUCTION OF REGULAR ARMY. · generally of all matters included in the navigation laws; and shall have the super vision and control of all the officers and agents appointed to carry all such laws into Mr. SPRINGER submitted the following resolution, on which he effect. demanded the previous question: SEc. 3. Th~tt said Depa.rtment shall also be charged with the execution of the R.esolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be requested to inquire into the laws of the United States imposing duties on imports, and taxes and excises per expediency of reducing the Re~ar A.rmy t.o 10,000 men, or to 11uch uum ber as will taining to internal revenue, and shall have the supervision, direction, and control insure an efficient public sei'Vlce at an expense of not exceerling $20,000,000 annu of the collectors and other officers employed under such laws. ally, and that said committee report by bill or other·wise. SEc. 4. That said Department shall •ollect, collate, and tabulate statistics relat ing to the agricuiture, commerce, manufactm;es, and mining of tho United States, Mr. KASSON. Is that a resolution to "inquire into the expediency ana publish and circulate the sa-me in such way as may be provided by law. or a ·resolution of instruction Y SEC. 5. That said Department shall from time to time commnnicate to the other Execntive Departments the information received by it from its correspondence and The SPEAKER. It is merely a resolution to inquire into the expe- inquiries on matters under the care of said Department, accompanying the same diency. wi.t·h such suggestions as may be useful for correcting defects in treaties, laws, or The resolution was again read. regulations, or for the amendment of the same, for the protection of the persons and Mr. CONGER. I wish to say a few worus on that resolution. interests of the people of the United States. SEc. 6. That said Department shall carefully examine and compare all State The SPEAKER. The gent-leman from Illinois introducing the res laws and regul&tions on the subject-s of agriculture, manufactures, mining, trade, olution demands the previous question, and debate is not in order. and commerce, and also all local usages, customs, and charges which affect com Mr. CONGER. Does he ask it to be put on its passuge at this merce among the several States; and where the same shJJ.l be found solely under timeY the control or the several States. endeavor, by correspondence with the State gov ernments, to secure uniformity in the State laws on those subjects. Mr. . STARKWEATHER. Is this a billY SEc. 7. _That in RO far as this act shall operate to transfer powers and duties from The SPEAKER. It is merely a resolution that the Committee on other Executive Departments to the Department hereby established, the Secretary 'Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of what ,is suggested, of snid Department shall, after conference with the Secretary of the Department ·and the gentleman introducing the resolution demands the previous from which such transfers are to be made, report to the President what transfers should be made, and on the approval thereof by the President, such transfer~:~ shall qlilestion. be carried into eftect, and the clerks and other officers connected therewith sha.ll be The previoUB question wa~ seconcled and the main question or placed under the supervision and control of the Department of Commerce. dered; and under the operation thereof the resolution was adoptecl. SEc. '3. 'l.'hat the officers of the said Department shall be a Secretary and Assistant Secretary, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of . INELIGIBILITY OF PRESIDENT. the Senate. They shllll hold their offices for the same time and under the aame Mr. MORRISON introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 7) to fix tenure, and receive the same compensation as may be payable to the Secretaries and Assistnntl Secretaries of the 'l.'reaBury Department. In the absence or inability of the term of the presidential office at six years and to make the Presi the Secretary to act, the Assistant Secretary shall net pro tempore. dent ineligible for more than six years in any term of twelve years SEc. 9. That there shall be a. chief clerk, and such additional clerks and other after the next presidential election; which was read a first and sec officers as may be provided by la .w~ who shall be appointed by the Secretary, receive ond time, referred to the Committee on the Jndiciary, and ordered to such compensation aa may be fixea by law, and hold their offices at the pleasure of the SeCI-etn.ry. be printed. SEc. 10. That the Secretary of said Department shall annually, in the month of PAYMENT OF IMPORT DUTIES IN LEGAL-TEXDER TREASURY NOTES. October, make a report to the President, to be by him L'lid before Congress at its next session, which rel>ort shall contain an account of the operations of the Depart Mr. SPARKS introduced a bill (H. R. No. 78) authorizing the pay ment for the year ending on the 30th day of June preceding said report; and in ment of duties on imports in legal-tenuer Treasury notes; which said reports the Secretary shall make such suggestions for the amendment and was read a first and seconcl time, referred to the Committee on Ways improvement of the la.ws and regulations that perta.in to the matters confided to the care of the Departmenlias from the information received by it, or from the ex and Means, and ordered to be p1inted. pmience of the practical working of such laws, he shall deem of importance to the NATIONAL CURRENCY. public interest. SEC. 11. That so much of any law as is hereby altered or supplied be, and the Mr. CAMPBELL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 79) to provide ana same is hereby; repealed. · tional currency and to provide for t.be collection and disbursement ERRORS IN l'RIZE-LISTS. of the public revenue, and for other purposes; which was readafirst Mr. STONE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 85) authorizing cor and second time, referred to the Committee on Banking nnd Cur- rections to be made in errors in prize-lists; which was read a first and rency, and ordered to be printed. . second time, referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered ELIZABETH B. DYER. to be printed. · Mr. CLARK, of Missouri, introduced a bill (H. R. No. 80) granting SOLDIERS .AND SAILORS OF MEXICAN WAR. a pension to Elizabeth B. Dyer, wjdow of Alexander B. Dyer, late Mr. STONE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 86) granting a pension brigadier-general and Chief of Ordnance United States Army; which to certain soldiers and sailors of the war with Mexico, and the wid waa read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on In ows of deceased soldiers and sailors; which was read a first and second valid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to SW .Al\fP-LA.!-.T])S. be printed. l\1r. CLARK, of Missouri, also presented concurrent resolutions of SALE OF LEAF-TOBACCO. the General Assembly of the State of Missomi in regard to swamp Mr. STONE also presented a joint and concurrent resolution of the lands; which were read, referred to the Committee on the Public General Assembly of the State of Missouri, in regard to the sale of Lands, and ordered to be printed. leaf-tobacco as affected by the provisions of the revenue law of the WILBER F. CHAMBERLAIN, LEWIS COUNTY, MISSOURI. United States enactecl June 6, 1872; which was referred to the Com Mr. GLOVER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 81) for the relief of Wil mittee on Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed. ber F. Chamberlain, of Lewis County, Missouri; which was read a SW .A..MP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS. first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, Mr. STONE also presented a concurrent resolution of the General and ordered to be printed. Assembly of the State of Missouri, in regard to swamps and overflowed THIRD-CLASS MAIL MATTER. lands; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, Mr. GLOVER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 82) to regulate post and ordered to be printed. age on third-class mail matter; which was read a first ancl second CESSION OF LAJI..T]) L"i NEBRASKA. time, referred.to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, Mr. STONE also presented a concurrent resolution of the General and ordered to be printed. Assembly of the State of Missouri, in regard to ceding a portion of . J.Al\IES A. HILE, LEWIS COUNTY, MISSOURI. Nemaha CQunty, in the State of Nebraska, to the State of Missouri i Mr. GLOVER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 83) for the relief of which wa-s referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered. James A. Rile, of Lewis County, Missouri; which was read a first and to be printed. second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and or- l\11NT AT SAINT LOUIS. dered to be printed. • Mr. WELLS, of Uissomi, introduced a bill (H. R. No. 87) to estab DEPARTMENT OF CO~IERCE. lish a mint for the coinage of gold a.nd silver at Saint Louis, in the State Mr. STONE introduced a bill (H. R. No. 84) to establish a Depart of Missouri; which was read a fi1·st and second time, referred to the - ment of Commerce; which was read a first and second time, ordered Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Mea-sures, and ordered to be to be printed, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. printed. Mr. STONE. I ask unanimous consent that this bill may also be IIARLON J. PHELPS. printed in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. ~{r. WELLS, of Missouri, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 88) for There was no objection, and it was so ordered. the relief ofHarlon J. Phelps; which was read a first and second time, The bill is as follows : referred to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed. A bill to establish aDepartment of Comm-erce. TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD. Be it enacted by the &nate and H'ouse of Representatives of the United States of Mr. WELLS, of Mis ouri, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 89) A1nerica in Oon.gress aBsembled, That there shall be, and is hereby, established an Executi'"e Department to be called the Department of Commerce. Said Depart amendatory of, and supplementary to, the act entitled "An act to in ment shall be charged with the supervision and care of the agricultural commer corporate the Texas Pacific Railroad Company, and to aid in the con ci:Ll, manufacturing, and mining interest-s of the united States in so far as the. struction of its road, and for other purposes," approved March 3z 1871, same may be confided to the National GQvernment by the Constitution. and the act. supplementary thereto, approved May 2, 1872, and tne act SEC. ~- That said DeJ?artment shall be charged with the execution of all laws of tho Umted States r~ati.ng to trade and commerce, both foreign and domestic· to entitled "An act granting lands to aid in the construction of a rail rivers and harbors; to light-houses, port charges, quaranHne, emigration, pilobge, road and telegraph line from the States of Missouri and Arkansas to tonnage, and the measurement~ registry, enrollment, and licensing of ves~els, _and the Pacific Oceau," approved Jnlr 27! 18(;)6 i which was read a first IV-14 , 210 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEMBER 14, and second time, referred to the Committee on the Paciiic Railroad, REMOVAL OF EX-SENATOR HENDERSO:N. and orderecl to be printed. Mr. BUCKNER. I submit the following resolution, upon which I DONA'IION OF CONDEMNED CANNON. call the previous question : Mr. WELLS, of Missouri, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 90) au Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to transmit to the. House all correspondence in reference to the dismiss.'ll of Ex-Senator John B. Hen thorizing the Secretary of War to deliver to the commissioners of derson, of Missouri, as one of the special counsel of the United States in the prose Forest Park, Saint Louis, ·1\fissomi, eight condemned cannon, to be cution of the wbish.-y-fraud casfls before the United States courtatSaintLouis. used in constructin~ the base of t.he statue of Ex:-.A.tt.orney-General Mr. LAWRENCE. .A.llow me to sugr.est that there should be incor Edward Bates; which was read a first and second time, referred to l)Orated into the resolution the words 'if not incompatible wi~h tho the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. public interest." That is the usual form of resolutions calling upon POSTAGE ON MATTER OF THE THIRD CLASS. the President for information. Mr. DE BOLT introduced a bill (H. R. No. 91) esta,blishing the mto Mr. BUCKNER. I object to any modificat.ion of the resolution. Mr. KASSON. I ask that the resolution lie over one day, under th of posta~e on matter of the t,hird class; which was read a first and second tune, referred to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post rule relating to resolutions calling upon the Executive DeJ:Iartments Roads, and ordered to be printed, for information. The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman from Missouri [llr. BucKNER] VAN B. BOWERS. call the previous question on "his resolution T Mr. DE BOLT also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 92) for the relief of Mr. BUCKNER. I do. Van B. Bowers, postmaster at Bucklin, Missouri; which was read a Mr. KASSON. I make the point of order that under the rule-Rule first and second time, referred to the Committee on Claims, and or 53, I believe-all resolutions calling upon the Executive Departments dered to be printed. for information must lie over one day if objection be made to their TAX ON TOBACCO. immediate consideration. That objection to this resolution I now lli. DE BOLT also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 93) to regulate the make. tax on dealers in and producers of tobacco; which was read a first Mr. BUCKNER. If that is the rule I must submit to it. and second time, referred to the Committee on Ways and Mea.ns, and The SPE.AKER. The Cha.ir sustains the point of order, and the ordered to be printed. · resolution goes over. Ell:l:MA. A. Poncn. SW.Al\IP-LAND SOLD BY THE UNITED STATES. lli. DURAND introduced a bill (H. R. No. 10'2) for the relief of Mr. DE BOLT also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 94) granting indem Mrs. Emma A. Porch, of Centre Town, Missouri; which was read a. nity to States for swamp-land sold by the United States; which was fu"St and second t.ime, referred to the Committee on War Claims, a.nd read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Public ordered to be printed. · Lands, and ordered to be printed. STEAMBOATS. PERNETTA HENDLEY. Mr. CONGER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 103) to reviBe, amend . Mr. DE BOLT also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 95) for the relief of and consolidate the laws relating to t.he security of life on board Pe1·netta Hendley; which was read a first and second time, referred vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and for other pur to the Committee on Pensions, and ordered to be p1·inted. poses; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com mittee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. TRANSFER OF LAND. 1\llCffiGAN SHIP-CANAL. Mr. DE BOLT also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 96) detaching lands :Mr. W .A.LDRON presented joint resolutions of the Legislature of from the State of Nebraska and attaching the same to the State of the State of Michigan, asking an appropriation for survey of ?tfiehi Missouri; which was read a first and second time, and ordered to be gan Ship-canal; which were referred to the Committee on Commerce, printed. and ordered to be printed. Mr. DE BOLT. AB there are but few States interested in this bill, I would ask that it be referred to a special committee, composed of GILLING-TWTh'"E. the members fromMissouri and Nebraska. Mr. W .A.LDRON also presented joint resolutions of the LegislatUl'e The SPEAKER. That can only be -done by unanimous consent, of the State of Michigan, asking that gilling-twine be admitted free under this call. of duty; which were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. DE·BOLT. I ask unanimous consent. and ordered to be printed. Mr. RANDALL. That is an unusual request. EDWARD C. WHEELOCK. The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman objectY Mr. ,V. B. 'VILLI.A.liS introduced a bill (H. R. No.104) granting a Mr. R.ANP.A.LL. I do. pension to Edwa1·d C. Wheelock; which was read a first and second The SPEAKER. The bill will tl1en be referred to the Committee time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to on Public Lands. be printed. SAMUEL WARE. REPORTS OF RAILROAD CO:r.IP ANIES. Mr. PHILIPS, of Missouri, introducecl a bill (H. R. No. 97) direct Mr. W. B. WILLiiliS also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 105) to ing the Commissioner of the General Land Office to issue a certificate amend an act entitled "An act relative to filing reports of railroad of relocation of six hundred and forty acres of land in the Territory companies," approved June 25, 1868; which was read a first and sec of Missouri to the legal representatives of Samuel 'Vare; which was ond time, referred to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad, and or- 1·ead a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Private dered to be printed. . · Land Claims, and ordered to be printed. JUDICIAL DISTRICTS IN llfiCffiGAN. · SALE OF LEAF-TOBACCO. Mr. HUBBELL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 106) to divide the State Mr. PHILIPS, of Missouri, also presented a joint resolution of the of Michigan into three judicial districts and to establish the northern Legislature of the State of Missouri, in regard to the sale of leaf district of Michigan ; which was read a first and second time, referred tobacco; which wa.s referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. . · and ordered to be printed. W. W.VA...'!" ANTWERP. JAMES SMITH. Mr. WILLARD introduced a bill (H. R. No. 107) for the relief of Mr. MORGAN introduced a bill (H. R. No. 98) for t.he relief of W. W. Van Antwerp, of Jackson, Michigan; which was read a first James Smitht !ate first lieutenant Company F, Forty-six:t.h Missouri and second time, referred to the Committee on War Claims, and or Infantry; ~nich was read a first and second time, referred to the dered to be printed. Comniittee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. POYERTY ISLAND LIGHT-HOUSE. REVENUE LAWS. Mr. .A.. S. WILLI.AMS introduced a bill (H. R. No. 108) for the relief Mr. REA introduced a bill (H. R. No. 99) to amend existing rev of workmen employed in the construction of Poverty Island light enue laws; which was read a first and second f,ime, ref:!rred to the house, Lake Michigan; which was read a first and second time, re Committ-ee on Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed. ferred to the Comm~ttee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. :NEW MADRID LAND PATEJ\"TS. PENSIONS FOR WAR OF 1812. . Mr. BUCKNER intx:oduced. a ~ill (H. R. No. 10~) gr~ting le~al Mr. HANCOCK introduced a bill (H. R. No. 109) .to amend an act titles to the New Madrid location rn the State of 1\IIssoun for whwh entitle(l "An act granting pensions to certain soldiers and sailors of patents have not heretofore been issued; which was read a fu"St and the war of 1812 and the widows of deceased soldiers," approved Feb second time, referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims, and ruarv 14, 1871, and to restore to the pension-rolls those persons whose ordered to be printed. names were stricken therefrom in consequence of disloyalty; which JAMES B. ARMSTRONG. was r~ad a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Revo lutionaiy Pensions and War of 1812, and ordered to be printed. • .Mr. BUCKNER also introduced a bill (H. R. No.lOl) amendatory of an act entitled ".A.n act for the relief of the heirs and next of kiri HENRY WARREN. of James B. Armstrong, deceased," approved March 3, 1873 ; which :Mr. HA..!.~COCK a1so introduced a bill (H. R. ~o. 110) for the relief wa.s read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Claims, of Henry 'Varren; which was read a first anu second time, referred to and ord•n-ed to be printed. the Committee 011 Indian Affairs, aud ordered to be printed. 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 211 DAVID J. GARRETT. road grants in cases where such entries have been made under the Mr. KASSON introduced a bill (H. R. No. 111) granting a pension regulations of the Land Department; which was read a :first and second to David J. Garrett; which was read a first and second time, referred time, referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. be printed. . Mr. OLIVER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 121) providing for :final D. E. COOPER. proof of settlement and cultivation by homestead claima-nts in the Mr. KASSON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 112) for the relief of counties in which the land is situat-ed in certain cases; which was D. E. Cooper; which was read a first and second time, referred to the read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Public Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. Lands, and ordered to be printed. ROBERT COLES. Mr. OLIVER. I offer the following resolution, upon which I move Mr. KASSON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 113) for the relief of the previous question: Robert Coles; which was read a. first and second time, referred to Resolved, That the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures be instructed to inquire into the best method to be taken on the part of the United States with. a the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. view to t.he establishment of a uniform decimal system of weights, meaanres, and ARLOFF JOHNSO:N. coina..ge throughout the civilized world, and report to this Hoillle by bill or other Mr. McCRARY introduced a bill (H. R. No. '114) for the relief of wise. Arlo:ff Johnson; which was read a first and second time, referred to The question was put upon seconding the call for the previous the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. question ; and on a division there were- ayes 73, noes 91. So the previous question was not seconded. ADAM IDNE. :Mr. OLIVER. I move, then, that the resolution be referred to the :Mr. McCRARY also introduced a bill (H. R. No.115) for the relief Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. of AdamHine; which wag read a first and second time, referred to The motion to refer was agreed to. · the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed. PO:NTON BRIDGE ACROSS THE ?.llSSISSIPPI. DANIEL WORMER. Mr. KIMBALL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 122) to authorize the lir. McCRARY also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 116) for the relief constmction of a ponton brid~e across the Mississippi River from of Daniel Wormer; which was read a first and second time, referred some feasible point in Buffalo lJounty, in the State of Wisconsin, to to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed. some feasible point in Winona County, in the State of Minnesota; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee UTILIZATION OF WATER-POWER. on Commerce, and ordered to be print.ed. Mr. McCRARY also introduced a bill (H. R. No.117) to provide for utilizing certain water-power; which was read a first and second J. H. JONES. time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be Mr. KIMBALL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 123) for the relief prinred. of J. H. Jones; which was read a first and second time, referred to S. T. MARSHALL. the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. Mr. McCRARY also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 11A) for the relief 1\IRS. T. C. WATSON. of S. T. Marshall; which was read a first and second time, referred Mr. LUTTRELL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 124) granting a pen to the Committee on Indian Aff'1irs, and ordered to be printed. sion to llis. T. C. Wn,tson; which was read a first and second time, HEIRS OF 0. H. BREWER. referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered _to be Mr. McCRARY also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 119) for the relief printed. of the heirs or legal representatives of 0. H. Brewer, deceased; which DESERT LA.....~DS I:N CALIFOR~'IA.. was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on \Var Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 125) to provide Claims, and ordered to be printed. for the sale of desert lands in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, Califor nia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION. mittee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. Mr. McCRARY also introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No.8) con cerning international arbitration; which was read a :first and second I:NTER:NAL-REVENUE TAX O:N APPLE BRANDY, ETC. f.ime, referred to the Committee on Foreign A:ffail-s, and ordered to be Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 126) to remove printed. all internal-revenue taxes from apple, pea-ch, grape, or fruit brandy AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTIO:N. manufactured in the Unit-ed Stutes; which was read a first and second Mr. McCRARY also introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 9) pro time, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and ordered to posing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; which be printed. was read a :first and second time, referred to the Committee on the PAYMENT OF DiPORT DUTIES IN CURRENCY. Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 127) authorizing payments for import duties to be made one-half in legal-tenders or CHARLES M. BLAKE. national-bank notes; which was read a :first and second time, re Mr. McCRARY also introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 10) for ferred to the Committ.ee on Ways and Means, and ordered to be the relief of Char]es M. Blake, late chaplain of the United States printed. Army; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com DUTIES ON GRAI:N-8ACKS, BAGGING, ETC. mittee on Military Aft'airs, and ordered to be printed. Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 128) repealing Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I submit the following resolution, on which the duty on grain-sacks and ba~ging used for grain, cotton, and wool, .I demand the previous question : and all burlaps and gunny-clotn; which was read a first and second Ruolved by the J!ouse of .Repr~entatives, That it _is the d_uty ?f Congress to regu time, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and ordered to late commerce on mter-state railroads by appropnate legtslabon, so that the agri- be printed. · ~~;o:~~~~~~ ::;g dl~~i~u~.al interests of the country may be pro. GRAZI:NG LANDS I:N CALIFORNIA. Mr. HAMILTON. I raise the point of order on that 1·esolution that Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 129) to provide it must lie over one day. for the sale and pre-emption of the grazing lands in the State of Cali The SPEAKER. The Chair overrules the point of order, as the fornia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com gentleman from Iowa moved the previous que{ltion on the resolution mittee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. when he offered it. HARBOR AT CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA. Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I call for tellers upon seconding the de- Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No.130) to appropri mand for the previous question. · · ate money for the improvement of the harbor at Crescent City, Cali Tellers were ordered; and Mr. KNoTT, and Mr. WILSON of Iowa, were fornia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com appointed. mittee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. The House divided; and the tellers reported-ayes 77, noes 93. So the call for the previous question was not sustained. HARBOR AT HUMBOLDT BAY, CALIFOlli~. Mr. WTI...SON, of Iowa. I move, then, that the resolution be Mr. LUTTRELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No.131) to appropri referred to the Committee on Railways and Canals; and on that ate money to improve the harbor at Humboldt Bay, California; which motion I move the previous question. was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Com 'l'he previous q nestion was seconded and the main question ordered ; merce, and ordered to be printed. and under the operation ther~of the resolution was referred to the Committee on Railways and Canals. · POST-OFFICE BUILDING, SA...~ FRANCISCO. Mr. WILSON, of Iowa, moved to reconsider the vote by which the Mr. PIPER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 132) ·authorizing the con~ resolution was referred; and also moved that the motion to reconsider struction of a post-office in the city of San Francisco, California; be laid on the table. which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee The latter motion was agreed to. on Public lluildings and Grounds, and ordered to be printed. CONFIRMATION OF LAND CLADiS. WAR EXPENSES O:F P .ACIFIC STATES. Mr. McDILL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 120) to confirm pre-emp- Mr. PIPER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 133) to re-imburse the tion and homcsteatl entries on public lands within the limits of rail- States of California) Qregon1 an.d Ncyada. fo:r e-BJenses incurred in the • 212 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEMBER 14, late rebellion; which was read a first and second time, referred to tho ESTATE OF JOHN S. WALKER, UNITED STATES ARMY. Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed. Mr. LANE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 148) for the relief of the STEAM FOG-SIGXAL, CALIFORXIA. estate of the late Paymaster JohnS. Walker, United States Army; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Mr. PIPER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 134) authorizing the Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. construction of a steam fog-signal at the South Farrallones Islands, in California; which was rea-d a first and second time, referred to the CANAL AT CASCADES OF CO~UMBIA RIVERJ OREGON. Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. Mr. LANE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 149) to provide for the INDIAN Al?F AIRS. construction of a canal at the Cascades of the Columbia River, in the State of Oregon; which was read a first and second time, referred to Mr. PIPER also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 135) to transfer the the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. Office of Indian Affairs from the Interior Department to the .\Var De pa-rtment; which was read a first and second time, referred to the EQUALIZATION OF BOUNTIES. Committee on Indian Affairs; and ordered to be printed. Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, introduced a bill (H.'R. No. 150) for the AME!\'DMENT OF REVISED STATUTES. equalization of bounties; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be Mr. PIPER also introduced a bill (H. R. No.136) to amend section printed. 840, chapter 16, Title XIII, Revised Statutes of the United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee RAILROAD FROM MISSOURI RIVER TO PACIFIC. on Revision of the Laws of the United Stat.es, and ordered to be printed. lli. PHILLIPS, of Kansa-s, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 151) to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act to construct a rail G. HARRIS HEAP. road and telegraph line from the Missouri River-to the Pacific Ocean, Mr. PIPER also introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 11) author and to secure the Government the use of the same for postal; mili izing G. Harris Heap, United States consul at Tunis, to accept the tary, or other pmposes," approved July 2, 1864; which was read a trust of commissioner of the Bey of Tunis; which was read a first and first nnd second time, referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, second time, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ordered and ordered to be printed. to be printed. IXDIAN DEPREDATIONS. WILML~GTOX IIARBOR, CALIFOUXIA. Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No; 152) Mr. WIGGINTON introduced a bill (H. R. No. 137) to appropriate for the relief of certain persons, sufferers from Indian depredations; money for the improvement of the harbor at Wilmington, California; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on on Claims, and ordered to be printed. Commerce, and ordered to be printed. PP.E-E~TION Al\'D HOMESTEAD E.NTRIES. SAN DIEGO HARBOR, CALIFOR."\IA. Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 153) · :Mr. WIGGINTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 138) to appro to confirm pre-emption and home tead entries of public lands within .priate money for the improvement of the harbor at San Diego, Cali the limits of railroad grant.s in cases where such entries have been forr.ia ; which was read a first and second time, referred to the made under the regulations of the Land Department; which was Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Pub BREAKWATER AT SA.~ LOUIS OBISPO, CALIFOill\"'IA. lic Lands, and ordered to be printed. Mr. WIGGINTON also introduced a bill (H. R. No.139)toauthorize RAILROAD L.Al\"'1>-GRANT CLAIMS. the construction of a breakwater at San Louis Obispo harbor, Cali Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 154) to fornia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com define and limit the claims of certain railroad companies to certain mittee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. land grants; which was read a first and second time, referred to the FORFEITURE OF RAILROAD GRANT. Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. :Mr. PAGE introduced a bill (H. R. No. 140) to forfeit cert::Lin pub PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN LEAVENWORTH. lic lands granted to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No.155) to line from the States of Missouri and Arkansas to the Pacific coast; provide for a Government building in the city of Leavenworth, in the which was rea-d a first and second time, referred to the Committee Sta,te of Kansas; which was read a first and second time, referred to on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered to be TDIBER LANDS IN CALIFOR~"'lA, OREGON, AND WASHL.,GTON. printed. LEAVE~ORTH STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. Mr. PAGE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 141) for the sale of timber lands in the States of California and Oregon, and in Washing l\Ir. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introdnced a bill (H. R. No. 156) ton Territory; which was read a first and second time, referred to the granting aright of way to the Leavenworth Street Railway Company Committee on the Public Lands, and oruered to be printed. across the Fort Leavenworth military reservation; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, PLACER-MINING LA.~DS L"'i CALIFO~TJA. and ordered to be printed. · l\fr. PAGE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 142) relating to placer TREATY WITH THE POTTAWATOMIE L~DIAXS. mining lands in the State of California; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on l\fines and Mining, and or Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 157) to dered to be printed. carry into effect the tenth article of the treaty with the Pottawato mie Indians of February 27, 1867; which was read a first and second JOHN 1\L DORSEY AND WILLIAM SHEPEARD. time, referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, and orderetl to be Mr. PAGE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 143) for the relief of printed. John M. Dorsey and 'Villiam Shepeard; which was read a first and JAMES W. CROWLEY. second time, referred to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No: 1t8) printed. granting a. pension to James W. Crowley ; -which was read a :first and CHRISTOPHER GREEN Al\"'1> HUGH C. TRAINOR. second time, referred.to t.he Committee on Invalid Pensions, and or Mr. PAGE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 144) for the relief of dered to be printed. Christopher Green and Hugh C. Trainor; which wa-s read a first and SAMUEL B. · IIANWAY. second time, referred to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be Mr. PHILLIPS, 'of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 159) printed. for the relief of Samuel B. Hanway, late second lieutenant Company NATURALIZATION. F, Third Regiment Indian Home G:uards; wh~c_h was rea~ a :first'and Mr. DUNNELL introduced a bill (H. R. No. 145) to amend section second time, Teferred to the Comm1ttee on Military Affa1rs, and or 2165 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, .relating to natur dered to be printed. alization ; which was read a first and second time, referred to the PAYl\:lENTS TO POTTAWATOMIE Th"DIANS. Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. lli. PHILLIPS, of. Kansas, also ·introduced a bill (H. R. No. 160) HEIRS OF CHAUNCY 1\I, LOCKWOOD. to make certain -payments to the Pottawatomie Indians; which·was Mr. D1Th"'NELL also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 146) for the relief read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Indian of the heirs of Chauncy M. Lockwood, contractor for carrying the Affairs, and ordered to be printed. United States mails; which was read a firstand second time, referred J. C. IRWIN AND W. PHILLIPS. to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, and ordered to be printed. Mr. PHILLIPS, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No: 161) for the relief of Joseph C. Irwin and William Phillips; which was REPAYl\IE.NT OF INDIAN WAR EXPENSES. read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military . / Mr. LANE introduced a bill (H: R. No. 147) to authorize the Secre A.fl'airs, and ordered to be printed. tary of W ai' to pay the expenses incurred by the State of Oregon and citizens of California in suppressing Indian hostilities in the States of SHREWSBURY, SLEMMO~S & CO. Oregon and California in the years 1872 and 1t!73; which was read a l\Ir. PHILLIPS of Kansa~ , also introduced a bill (H. :R. No. 162) first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Ailairs, for the relief of the surviving partners of Shrewsbury, Slemmons & and orden~ d to be printed. · Co., Governme11t transporters; which was rea-d a first and ·second 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 213 time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, antl ordered to second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered lle printetl. to be printed. MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE. EXTRA FEES TO DISTRICT ATTOR~YS OF TITE tn-.~D STATES. A message n·om the Senate, by Mr. McDONALD, its Chief Clerk, in 1\fr. FAULKNER also offered the following resolution; which was formed the House that the Sena.te ha.d passed a bill (S. No. 78) to ex read, considered, and agreed to: • tend the duration of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims; Resolved, That the Committee on the .Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the ill. which the ,concurrence of the House wa.s requested. expediency of repealing all provisions of existing law which allow to the district COURT OF ALABAM:A CLAL11S. attorneys of the United States extra fees and compensation for professional serv ices, and to limit their com~ensation to the salaries prescribed by law, and that tho :Mr. STARKWEATHER. I ask unanimous consent that the llill said committee report by bill or otherwise. just-received from the Senate to extend the dumtion of the court of FORT KE.AITh"EY 1\ill.J.TARY RESERVATION. commissioners of Alabama claims may be rea.d and put on its pas sage. The time is running out, and this legisla.tion is necessary. Mr. CROUNSE introduced a. bill (H. R. No. 172) providing for settlement upon the lands known as the Fort Kearney military res The SPEAKERp1·o tempore, (Mr. RAL~DALL.) After the present call ervation, in the State of Nebraska; which was read a first and secorid is through, the Chair would ~uggest that a motion be entertained by unanimous consent to go to business on the Speaker's table. He sup time, and ordered to be printed. Mr. CROUNSE. r ask that this bill be referred to the Committee poses there would be no objection to that, and this bill would be im on the Public Lands. mediately :reached. 1\fr. CONGER. I think it should be referred to the Committee on Mr. STARKWEATHER. Very well. Military Affairs, as it relates to a military reservation. :U"'ID!At'i ~'DS IN KANSAS. 1.-fr. CROUNSE. The reservation has already been abandoned, and Mr. BROWN, of Kansas, introduced a bill (H. R. No. 163) providing it is now, as I understand, a part of the public lands, and therefore for the s;1le of the Kansas Indian lands in Kansas to actual settlers, the bill should be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands. and for the disposition of the proceeds of the sale; which was rea.d a Mr. CONGER. That being the case, I have no objection to the first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, reference proposed. and ordered to be printed. The bill was accordingly referred to the Committee on the Public CONEBURG TOWN COMPANY. - Lands. BR.A.l~CH MlliT AT 01\IAHA. Mr.BROWN, of Kansas, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 164) provid ing for the repayment to the Coneburg Town Company, of Marion 1\fr. CROUNSE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 173) to establish a County, Kansas, of the purchase-money paid for the northeast frac branch mint of the United States at Omaha, in the State of Nebraska; tional quarter and the northwest fractional quarter of section 4, town which was read a :first and second time, referred to the Committee on ship 22 south, of range 3 east; which was read a first and second Coinage, Weights, and Mea.sures, and ordered to be printed. time, referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to JOHN S. WOOD. be printed. Mr. CROUNSE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 174) for the I'elief BENJAMIN P. :M1DO"NALD. of John S. Wood, late first lieutenant Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; Mr. GOODIN introduced a bill (H. R. No.165) for the relief of Ben which was read a first and second time, referred-to the Committee ou jaminP. McDonald, of Kansaa; which wasreadafirstand second time, Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. referred to the Committee on 'Var Claim , and ordered to be printed. PONTON RAILWAY BRIDGE. MRS. O. F. SHORT. 1\Ir. CROUNSE also introduced a bill(H. R. No.175) authorizing the Mr. GOODIN also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 16G) for the relief of Nebraska City BriclgeCompany to construct a ponton railway bridge Mrs. 0. F. Short, of Kansas; which was read a first and second time, across the Missouri River at Nebraska City, in Ot.oe County in referred to the Committee on Claims, a.nd ordered t o be printed. Nebraska; which was read a first and second time, referred to the SOLDIERS OF THE LATE WAR. Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. Mr. GOODIN also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 167) amendatory of GEORGE ARMSTRONG. an act entitled "An act providing for the bflnefit of soldiers and sailors Mr. CROUNSE also introduced a bill (H. R. No.176) for the relief of of the la.te war, their widows and minor orphan children," approved the heirs of the late George Armstrong; which was read a first and June 8, 1872; which was read a first and second time, referred to the second time, referred to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered Committee.on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. to be printed. · J. F. JAVENS. APPROVAL OF BILLS I~ UTAH. Mr. GOODIN also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 16 ) for the relief of Mr. CANNON, of Utah, introduced a bill (H. R. No. 177) relating J. F.' Ja.vens, of Kansa ; which was read a first and second timo, to the approval of bills in the Territory of Utah; which was read a referred to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed. first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and J. W. THORNTON. ordered to be printed. Mr. GOODIN also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 169) for the relief of ADMISSION OF UTAH AS A STATE. J. W. Thornton, permanently disabled in the Quantrell raid a.t Law Mr. CANNON,- of Utah, also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 178) to rence, Ka.nsas; whiCh was read a :first and second time, referred to enable the people of Utah to form a constitution and State govern the Committee on Pensions, and ordered to be printed. · ment, and for the admission of the said State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States; which was read a first and PAY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS. second time, referred to the Committee on the Territories, and or Mr. HEREFORD introduced a bill (H. R. No. 170) to repeal joint dered to be printed. resolution prohibiting payment by any officer of the Government to any person not known to have been opposed to the rebellion and in LAND OFFICE AT COLFAX, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. favor of its suppression; which was read a · first a.nd second time, Mr. JACOBS presented a memorial of the Legislature of the Ter referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printell. ritory of Washington, relative to the establishment of a land office at Colfax, ·washington Territory; which was referred to the Com GOVERI>.J.\1ENT DEFAULTERS. mittee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. Mr. HEREFORD. I offer the follo~ng resolution, and upon it I move the previous question : DIPROVEMENT OF COLUJ.IDIA RIVER. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to furnjsh the Mr. JACOBS also presented a memorial of the Legislature of the Rouse of Representatives with the following mformation, namely : The nr.mes of Territory of Washington, for the improvement of the navigation of the various persons or officers whose accounts have not been settled or who have the Columbia River; which was referred to the Committee on Com- been defaulters to the General Governm~nt since March 2, 1865, together wit h the merce, and ordered to be printed. - amounts of each, and by whom appointed. ELECTION OF TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. 1\Ir. OLIVER. I must raise the point of order on that resolution; it must lie over one day under the rule. Mr. STEELE introduced a hill (H. R. No.179) to enable the people Tlle SPEAKER. Why! of the Territories to elect their governors and all other territorial offi Mr. OLIVER. It is a resolution calling for executive information, cers; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com and nuder the rules of the Honse it should lie over. mittee on the Territories, and ordered to be printed. Mr. HEREFORD. I think the objection comes too late. MILITARY WAGON-ROAD IN WYOMING AL~D MONTANA. The SPEAKER. In the judgment of the Chair it is bu~ right that Mr. STEELE also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 180) for the location he should assume what he knows to be the fact; but the gentleman and construction of a military wagon-road from Green River City, was strugglin~ to gain his attention. It is therefore the duty of the W yorning Territory, to the Yellowstone National Park and to Fort Ellis, Chair to sustarn the point of-order, and the resolution will lie over Montana Territory; which was read a first and second time, referred for one day under the rules. to the Committee on the Territories, and ordered to be printed. u:r-.,TED STATES .DISTRICT COURT FOR WEST VIRGINIA. CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Mr. FAULKNER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 171) to provide for the Mr. COX. I am requested by the United States Centennial Com- holdin~ of a district court of the United States at 1\!artinsburgh, 'Vest mission, and also the centennial board of finance, to present a me Virginia, in the district of West Virginia; which was read a first and morial asking for an appropriation. I will not ask to havo it read, CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECE1tfBER 14, lmt, as it is short, I will nsk for it the courtesy of being printed in full Weare only the servants of the Governn1ent~ carrying out its orders in celebrat. ing the centennial anniversary of the national independence., and conducting, in in the RECORD, and that it be referred to the Committee on the Cen the words of the law, "an exhibition of tllo natural resources of the country and tennial Exposition when appointed. their development, and of its progress in those arts which benefit mankind, in No objection was made. comparison with thoRo of older nations." The 111emoria.l is as follows : The peculiar occasion attracts uni-versal attention. The best products of all nations will be here. Am,erican progress in art, science, Memorial of the United States Cent.ennhl Commission and centennial bo~trd of and manufactures; American resources and capabilities ; American life, education, finance. and character, and the effect thereon of our soil, climate, and political institutions, will be the subjects of study and report by able men from all quarters. The great To the Congress of tha United Statts: value of such exhibitions bas been proved. Their purpose is the advancement of The undersigned memorialists, a joint committee of the United States Centen the people by the most direct methods of diffnsin~ nsefnl knowled~e. Thel pro nial Commission and the centennial board of fin MAILABLE :MATTER 01!' TIITRD CLASS. COURT OF CQ)IMISSIO~"'ERS OF ALABAMA CLAIMS. :Mr.· PACKER nlso introduced a bill (H. R. No. 189) to reduce the Mr. STARKWEATHER. Mr. Speaker, I move, by unanimous con rate of post~ge upon mailable matter of the third cla s; which was sent, to take from the Speaker's table an act (S. No. 78) to extend the read a first an(l second time, referred to the Committee on the Post duration of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims, for pas Office and Post-Roads, and ordered to be printed. sage at this time. 'There was no objection . .NICHOLAS WffiTEHALL. The bill, which was read, in the first section proviues that the exist Mr. CASON introduced a bill (H. R. No. 190) for the relief of Nicho t;lnce of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims, created by the lAs Whitehall, of Fountain County, Indiana; which was read a first act entitled "An act for the creation of a court for the adjudication and second time, referred to the Committee on Patents: aud ordert}ll and disposition of certain moneys received into the Treasury under an to be :printed. award made by the tribunal of arbitration constituted by virtue of JOH.."{ DALTOX. the first article of the treaty concluded at Washington May 8, A. D. 1871, between the United States of America and the Queen of Great . Mr. CASON also introduced a bill (H. R. No. 191) granting a pen Britain," shall be continued and extended to the 22cl day of July next, sion to John Dalton; which was read a first and seconl). time, referred with the same effect, and no other, as if saicllast-named day had been to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. named in said act for the termination of the powers of said court, '.l>nd SALE OJj' l.AJ."{DS AT ~CEI'IT.NES, Th""DIANA. said a.ct is continued in force during said period. The second section provides that the powers of the clerk of said Mr. 'VILLIAMS, of Indiana, introduced a bill (H. R. No. 192) comt are extended for an additional periou, not to exceed two months authorizing the sale of certain lands at incennes, Indiana; which from and after the termination of the existence of the court, for the w~s read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on 11:i purpose of closing his accounts, depositing the records, documents, vate Land Claims, and ordered to be printed. and all other papers in tho possession of the court or its officers in tho ALASKA SEAL FISHEUlES. Office of the Secretary of State, as provided in said act; n.nd all dis bUl'sements made by him during this period shall be under the direc Mr. PAYNE, by unanimous consent, submitted the following reso tion of the· Secretary of State. lutions; which were read, considered, and agreed to: :Mr. STARK,VEATHER. I demand the previous question on the · Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy is hereby directed to furnish to the passage of the bill. It merely extends the time for closing the busi House of Representatives a copy of the report of Lieutenant Washburn Maynard, is United States Navy, on the subject of the Alaska seal fisheries, made by that offi ness now before this court. I snppose there no objection. cer in compliance with ~he provisions of an act of Congress app.~:oved April 22, Mr. LUTTRELL. I 4ope the gentleman from Connecticut will 1B74. withdraw his demand for the previous question to let me make a • Resolved, That the Secretary of the Tre!lsury is hereby directed to furnish to the brief statement. . House of Representatives sueh information as be Rossesses touching the man agement of the Alaska seal fisheries by the Alaska Uommercial Compa.ny of San Mr. STARKWEATHER. I do not yield the floor, but will hear Francisco, California, from tho date of its lc:1se from the United States to the what the gentleman has to say. present time. Mr. LUTTRELL. Mr. Speaker, I have been recently in receipt of LIQUOR PEDDLL~G IX SOUTH CAROLIXA.. letters from prominent citizens of California who have claims which ·Mr. RAINEY, by unanimous consent, submitted a concurrent res ought to be acted on by this court of commissioners, but which claims olution of the Legislature of tho State of Sout-h Carolina, relative for some reason or other have not been submitted for adjudication. to the peddling of spirituous liquors within that State; which was re They desire to be heard; and I submit to the gentleman that he make ferred to the Committee on 'Vays a.ud Means, and ordered to be this a special order for to-morrow at any hour he may please, so that I may have an opportunity to present the papers in these cases, which printed. are now at my room, as I coul(l not expect this bill would be called WlllSKY FRAUDS. up to-day. · Mr. RANDALL. I desire to submit the following resolution, on Mr. STARKWEATHER. The Secretary of Stnte, who has this mat which· I demand the previous question: ter specially in charge, presented it fully in the papers accompanying .Resol11ed, That the Secretary of the Trea.'lnry bo, and be is hereby, directed to trans the President's message. It appears the claims presented are in such mit to this House copies of all letters, telegrams, orders, and instructions relating number that this court cannot possibly consider and decide them be· to the organization and prosecut-ion of the present movements against the so-called fore the 2-2d of Jannary next, when the court expires by limitation "whisky rings" at Saint Louis, Chicago, anrl Milwaukee. of law. The Secretary of State and the court of commissioners Mr. KASSON. If I understand this resolution correctly, it calls for are anxious the claims already submitted under the award shall be information from the Treasury Department, in which case I sha.ll have disposed of. If we go into the question whether we shall take up something to say upon it. I ask, therefore, tllat it may go O\er un all cases of insurance and premium risks not now before the court, der the rnle. Any 1·esolntion on this subject shonld be very carefully the time fixed for its existence will run out, and we shall then lose worded to save the interests of the Government now penuing. all it ha already done. Let me suggest to the gentleman from Cal Mr. RANDALL. I have no objection to the resolution lying over. ifornia-in regard to these claims which have not come in-the claims I hope, however, that to-morrow the gentleman will not object to its of sa,ilors away o.t sea, and like cases which have not been presented adoption. for adjudication to this court-that I have no doubt this House will Mr. KASSON. I make no objection to anything consistent with the :pass upon them effectually in some other form. In n.ccordance with successful :prosecution of proceedings now pending. the recommendation of the Secretary of State, and of the President Mr. RANDALL. The first effort on the part of this House should in his recent annual message, we must provide for the extension of be to be well informed. the court beyond the 2'2d of January next, or else we shall lose what :Mr. HOAR. Is not the eft'ect of this resolution to expose to the has been done for many months past. I hope, therefore, he will with "whisky ring" the :purposes of the Government f hold objection to the passa ,~e of this bill at this time. At all events, Mr. RANDALL. No, sir. I must insist on my demana for the previous question. Mr. HOAR. It appears to be. Mr. LUTTRELL. Will the gentleman from Connecticut answer The SPEAKER. Objection being made, the resolution goes over. me one question f · Mr. STARKWEATHER. I will hear the ~entleman. EZRA B. ·BARNETT. Mr. LUTTRELL. When will this act exprref Mr. MILLER introduced a bill (H. R. No. 193) for the relief of 1\Ir. STARKWEATHER. On the22dof January. Therewillprob Ezra B. llarnett, postmaster at Norwich, New York; which was read ably be an adjournment in the course of a few d.ays, a.nd we may not a first and second time, refened to the Committee on the Post-Office be b::wk in time to take up a new bill, or to amend this bill. That . aml Post-Ron.ds, and oruered to be printed. this bill ma,y become a law, and that this class of claimsmaybepassed upon, we must a-dopt it now. SA.,fUEL COOPER, JR., OF VIRGL'\IA. 1\Ir. LUTTRELL. Will it not do to take it np to-morrowf Mr. HUNTON introduced a bill (H. R. No. 194) toremovethepolit l\Ir. COX. Will t.he gentleman from Connecticut yield to me for n. ical disabilitieg of Samuel Cooper, jr., of Virginia; which was 1·ead moment n first ami second time. 1\fr. STARKWEATHER. I yield tothegentleman:fromNewYork. The bill, which was read, provides (two~thirds of each House con Mr. COX. I beg to state very briefly to the House that the amount cun;ng therein) that all the politi~al _disabilities im:posecl by the received from Great Britain in July, 1873, to pay for the damage done fourteenih ·amendment of the Constttutwn of the United States by by the Alabama, Plorida, and Shenandoah, was, in gold, $15,500,000. reason of p&rticipation in the rebellion shall be removed from Samuel Add interest at 5 per cent. to the 1st of January, 1876,$1,937,000, ancl Cooper, Jr., of Virginia. premium on gold at 15 per cent., $2,325,000, and the present value in Mr. CONGER. Has :my request been made in the n ual form ask currency is $19,762,000. The judgments rendered by this commission ing for ihe removal of politicn.l disabilities t to the 9th of December, 1875, amounted to $5,836,805.66; the claims Mr. HUNTON. I have a petition in writing, which, if called for, I that remain undecided amotmt to $3,400,000; together, $9,236,805.66; will have reacl. balance in Treasury, $10,426,194.34. As the gentleman from Connecti Mr. CONGER. I only wish to know ihere is such n. petition in cut [Mr. STARKWEATHER] has well said, all this work will go for writing. nothing unless we extend the time. '!'here are many claimants who The bill was ordered to be engrossed and rea,d a third time; and cannot be here in time, and who cannot file their claims, without this being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and passed; extension of time. I hope there will be no objection to the passage two-thirds voting therefor. · of this bill. 216 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DEOEMBER 14, Mr. STARKWEATHER. I call for the previous question. Mr. HOLl\IA.:.."\1". I suppose the object of this is to have the papers 'l'he previous qnestion was seconded and the main question or refeiTed to the proper committee. If so, it is not necessary to ask dered; and under the operation thereof the bill was orderetl to be read action from the House. a third time; n,nd it wa.s accordingly read the third time, and passed. Mr. COX. The object is to send them to t,he Senate; that is all. Mr. STARKWEATHER moved to reconsider the vote by which the Mr. HOLMAN. This ic; a matter which has been pending in the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be House for some time. The rule requires that when papers are with laid on the table. dmwn copies be left. The latter motion was agreed to. The SPEAKER. The request is for leave to withdraw the papers under the rules. TAX ON CHECKS. There being no further objection, the request was granted. Mr. RANDALL. I ask leave to present a petition for the repeal of CIIARLES A.. BLAKE. the two-cent check-stamp ta.x, from 30,219 persons, resident in thi!ty three States and five Territories. I do not ask for its printing. [Laugh The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Iowa [Mr. McCRARY] asks ter.] I ask tha.t it may be referred to the Committee on Wa.ys and leave to withdraw from the files of the House papers in the case of Mea.ns. Charles A. Blake, late chaplain United States Army. The notice says There wa.s no objection, and it was so ordered. that there ha.s been no adverse report thereon. Thero was no objection. EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF LAFAYETTE. A...~'E C. LIVINGSTO~ . Mr. HOAR. I ask that the petition of B. H. Kinney, regarding the The SPEAKER. The gentleman from New York, Mr. SCHUMAKER, equestrian statue of Lafayette, be printed in the CoNGRESSIONAL REc asks that Mrs. _Anne C. Liringston be permitted to withdraw her ORD. It is very short; and, as this is an interesting historical matter, petition from the Committee on War Claims. I hope there will be no objection. Mr. CONGER. Wherever there has been an adverse report in any There was no objection. of these cases~ I should object to the withdrawal. The petition is as follows: The SPEAKER. Is there objection to this request being granted on · Memorial of B. H. Kinney. condition that there has been no adverse report Y To the Se-nate and House of Representatives of the United States : There was no objection. Your memorialist, a citizen of the United States, believes that a largo majoxity of tbe inhabitants of this conn try desire to have a suit.'\ble national monument SOUTH PASS OF l\1ISSISSIPPI RIVER. erected in honor of tbe timelv and valuable services rendered bv General Lafayette The SPEAKER, by unanimous consent, laid before the Honse a and other French officers, soldiers, and marines to these United St-ates in their strug gles for liberty druing the war of the Revolution with. Gren.t Britain for Independ- letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, incompliance with the ence. · fourth section of the river and harbor act of March 5, 187!'l, a report • Therefore he respectfully requests that your honorable bodies appropriate the of the recent inspection of the work doue on the South Pass of the sum of $LOO,OOO, to be paid to him in annual installments, as the work progresses, Missi sippi River; which was referred to the Committee on Com to enable him to construct such a monument, consisting of an equestrian st3.tue, of heroic size, of Ln.fayette, surmounting a. massive pedestal, embellished with statues merce, and ordered t.o be print-ed. of other distingui bed French officers and soldiers, and bas-relief panels r epresent TRA...~ S FER OF ~DIA...~ FUNDS. in .~ important scenes in which they took part, all to bo of bronze met-al, upon a ba..'3e of granite. The SPEAKER also, by unanimous consent, l:.tid befo,re the House lle would further represent that this is a renewal of a. memorial addressed by a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, recommending the trans himself to the Thirty-sixth Congress on the same subject, an ~entleman from Kentucky, Mr. DuRHAl\11 who by reason of sickness a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a list of sus m his f:tmily hns been necessarily absent from the House since the pended entries on the public lands for the year ending June 30,1875; day of its organization, and may be absent some ten days longer. which was referred to the Committee on t he Public Lands, and ordered He a.sks that the leave of a.bsence may be made retroactive to the to be printed. · extent indica.ted. WITIIDRAWAL OF PAPERS. There was no objection, and it was so ordered. On motion of Mr. PHILIPS, of Missouri, by un.l.nimous consent, The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Alabama [Mr. CALDWELL] lea.ve was gra.nted for the withdrawal from tho files of the House of the asks leave of absence for his colleague, :Mr. HAYS, who baa been called papers in the case of Joseph W . McClurg. home on account of sickness in his family. " There was no objection. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. 1\IATILDA BAR~""ETT. On motion of Mr. 'VALLACE, of South Carolina, leaye of absence The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Viro-iuia, Mr. HUl'.'TON, a.sks was granted to Mr .MACKEY, of Sonth Carolina., for ten days. permission for nfrs. Matilda Barnett to withdraw from tho files of COLIDIBJA LYING -~ ASYLIDI. the Honse papers filed by her relative to the r evolutionary claim of The SPEAKER. Under the law for t.he organization of the Colom James Barnett. bia Hospital for Women antl Lying-in Asylum, it is the duty of the Mr. CONGER. Has there been any adverse report f Chair to appoint two trustees or directors. The Chair announces the Mr. HUNTON. I think not. re-appointment of thefollowinggentlemen,who have been trustees for The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request being granted f the past two years: Hon. SA.-uuEL J . RA.c"'IDALL of Pennsylvania, Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. Let it be with the understanding that Ron. JAMEs A. GARFIELD of Ohio. · there h as been no ad verse _report. REGENTS OF THE Sl\l!THBOXIAN IN TITUTION. The SPEAKER. With that understanding the request is granted. The SPEAKER. The law organizing t he Smithsonian InRtitution TREADWELL S. AYRES. makes it the duty of the Speaker of the House to appoint three The SPEAKER. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Cox] asks Reo-ents for that institution. The Chair aunonnces the following leave to withdraw, uuclertbe ntles, from t.he files of the Honse papers appointments: Ilon. HIESTER CLYl\IER of Pennsylvania, Hon. BENJA ill the ca-se of Treadwell S. Ayres, of Memphis, Tennessee. l\rL~ H . HILL of Georgia., Ron. GEORGE W. MCCRARY of Iowa. 1875. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 217 · JULIA A. SCHUTT. on tho 4th of Fcbrn~ry, 1861, by the Ottoe and Missouria Indians in the l\Ir. LAPHAM, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. No. Territory of ~ebraska, to the Committee on Indian Affairs. · 197) granting a pension to Julin. A... Schutt, widow of :Martin Schutt, Al~o, the petition of John Chapman, of Jefferson County, \'vest a deceased solclier; which was rea-d a first and ecoml time, referred. Virginia., for compen ation for tho destruction of his mill by an or to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. der from tho F ederal officer commanding that department in Sep t ember, 1864, to the Committee on \Var Claims. ROBERT TANSILL. Also, the petition of Edmund I. Lee and Henrietta, his wife, of l\fr. DOUGLAS, by unanimous consent, introdnced a bill (H. R. No. J c1i'crson County, West Virginia, for compensation for the destruc 19 ) to relieve the disabilities of Robert Tansill, of Prince William tion of their dwelling-house aml out-buildings in July, 186-!, by order County, Virginia; whj.ch was read a first and second time. of fajor-Gencral Hnnter, to the Committee on ·war Qlairns. Mr. CONGER. I would sug(}'est that the bill should be amended by · By Mr. FORT: The pet ition of !{an dolph Grimes and others, for the insertion of the word "political" before "<1isa bilitics." He may tlw repeal of tlle 1aw increasing the rates of postage on thil'(l-class be under disabilities from which the House doe not desire to relieve matter, to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. this ma.n. Also, memorial of the Illinois State Medical Society, praying that Mr. DOUGLAS. I supposed that thut would be inferred, but I will tho Medical Corps of the .Army be placed on equal footing with other accept the amendment. staff corps of the Army and with the medical corps of the Navy, to The amendment was accordingly made ; and the bill, as amended, the Committee on filitary Affairs. received its several readings and was passed, two-thirds voting in By l\Ir. GARFIELD: The petition of 0. T. Letcher, postmaster at favor thereof. Bryan, Ohio, to be re-imbursed for stamps destroyed by fire, to the THOMAS W. TANSILL. Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. · Mr. DOUGLAS, by unanimous consent, submitted the following Also, the petition of Almon F. Mills, of Ohio, for a pension, to the resolut~on; which was read, considered, and agreed to: Committee on [nvalid Pensions. Resolved, That the petition of Thomas W. Tansill for settlement of his acconnts, By Mr. GOODIN: The petition of Benjamin P. McDonald, fo1· re and the accompanying papers, be withdmwn from the files of the Clerk's office and lief, to the Committee on ·war Claims. referred to the Committee on Claims. A.lBo, papers relating to the clnim of Mrs. 0. F . Short, for relief, to Mr. RANDALL. I now insiSt on my motion that the House adjourn. the Committee on War Claims. The motion was agreed to; and thereupon (at three o'clock and ten By l\Ir. HOAR : Memorial of B. H. Kinney, of Worcester, 1\fassn, minutes) the House adjonrned. chusotts, relative to a memorial statue of Lafayette, to the Com mittee on Public BuilcUngs and Grounds. By 1\fr. HUNTER: '£he petition of R. L. Law, to be restored to his PETITIO~S, ETC. former position in the Navy, to the Committee on Naval Affairs. The follow in~ memorials, petitions, and other papers were presented By 1\fr. KASSON: Memorin,l ·of D. E. Cooper, of Winterset, Iowa, at the Clerk's aesk, under the rule :mel referred as stated: for relief, to t.he Committee on Claims. By Mr. AINSWORTH: The petition of H. G. Rogers, for pay as Also, the petition of L. F. Smith ·mel others, of 1\Indison County, char~6 draffaires to Swe Mr. HITCHCOCK presented the petition of J. F. Beale, M. G. Emery, and other citizens of the District of Columbia, praying the passage of a. bill authorizing the boanl of audit of the District to receive and adjust claims for damages sustained by property by rea son of the change of the grade of Pennsylvania avenue at the time that avenue was paved under the provisions of the act of Congress ap· proved July 8, 1870; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbin-. Mr. INGALLS presented the petition of Joseph C. Irwin and Will iam Phillips, praying payment for eighty cavalry horses furnished the quartermaster at Fort Leavenworth, in 1871 and 1872; which was referred to the Committee on Claims. He also presented the petition of Emanuel Slifer, on behalf of James Eli Butts and Malinua Frances Butts, minor heirs of Joseph Butts, deceased, late a private in the Seventh Regiment of Maryland Vol unteers, pmying that an act may be passed granting a pension to the heirs of Jo eph Butts; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. WINDO~I presented the petition of G. W. Spaulding and 210 other citizens of Ontagamie County, Wisconsin, praying an appro priation sufficient to complete the Fox River improvement, and also to construct an ample canal along the bank of the Wisconsin River from Porta.ge City, Wisconsin, to the Mississippi River, in aecordance with the third plan recommended by Major-General Warren, of the United States Engineer Corps; which was refened to · the Select Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard. Mr. EDMUNDS presented t.he petition of the Congregational church of Alburgh, Vermont, signed by the pastor nnd other officers and by a large number of members, asking for the appointment of a commis sion of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which was IN SENATE. referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont, presented the petition of the Order of 'VVEDNESDAY, December 15, 1875. Sons of Temperance of the State of Vermont., signed by the officers, Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. BYRON SUNDERLA.t.'iD, D. D. asking for the appointment of a. commission of inquiry concerning the The J ourna.l of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved. n,lcoholic liquor traffic; which was referred to the Committee on Fi na.nce. PETITIONS A.t.'iD MEl\IORIALS. Mr. THURMAN presented the petition of Florence J. O'Sullivan, The PRESIDENT pro tempore presented the petition of the Na,tional late captain Company D, Sixty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer In Temperance Society, signed by the president and secretary, asking fantry, praying to be granted a pension from the 26th day of June, for the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning tho alco 1 65, to the 8th day of December, 1873; which was referred to the holic liquor traffic; which was refened to the Committee ou Finance. Committee on Pensions. Mr. CONKLING presented the petition of the Central Baptist 1\Ir. MORRILl,, of Maine, presented the petition .of the Methodist church of Brooklyn, New York, signed by the past.or and officers, church of Allston, Massachusetts, signed by the pastor and officers, asking for the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning asking for the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which was refened to the Committee on the alcoholic liquor traffic; which was referred to the Committee 011 }-,inance. Finance. Mr. HAMLIN presented the petition of the Methodist Episcopal Mr. STEVENSON presented the petition of Bland Ballard, John W. church ef Highlandville, .Massachusetts, signed by the officers, asking Barr, and others, of Louisville, Kentucky, praying an appropriation for the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alco for the purpose of purchasing and provitlin~ a suitable building for holic liquor traffic; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. the uses and necessities of the circuit ana district courts of the 1\Ir. DAWES presented the petition of the .Methodist Episcopal United States holden at Louisville; which was refeued to the Com church of Russell, :Massachusetts, signed by the pastor and officers; mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds. the petition of the First Methodist church and congregation of Chel Mr. WRIGHT. John E. Woodward, of Kentucky, had at the last sea, Massachusetts, signed by the pastor and officers; and the petition session of Congress a claim for certain tobacco seized by Brigadier of the :Methodist Episcopal church of Turner's Falls, Massachusetts, General E. A. Paine, a milit:try officer of tho United States, during signed by the pastor and officers, asking for the appointment of a the war of the rebellion. This claim was referred to the Commit commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which tee on the Judiciary and reported upon adversely by them. I now were referred to the Committee on Finance. present some additional papers in the case, which, it is claimed, help 1\fr. WRIGHT presented the petition of the Woman's Temperance out the point on which the case was ruled before. I move that the League of Bloomington, lllinois, signed by the officers, asking for the papers on file in the office of the Secretary be taken from the files and appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic referred to the Committee 011 the Judiciary, with the petition which liquor traffic; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. I now present. Mr. BOUTWELL presented the petition of the Methodist Episcopal The motion was agreed to. church of South Wilbraham, .Massachusetts, signed by the pastor and officers, asking for the appointment of a. commission of inquiry PAPERS WITHDRAWN .AlloTJ> REFERRED. concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic; which was referred to the On motion of Mr. CRAGIN, it was Committee on Finance. Ordered. That the petition and papers of William Wheeler Hubbell be taken Mr. KERNAN presented the petition of the Grand Lodge session from the files nnd referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. of Good Templars of the State of New York, signet! by the officers; On motion ·of Mr. W ALL.A.CE, it was the petition of the New York State Temperance Society, si~ned by Ordered, That the petition and papers of John Montgomery and Thomas E. the president and secretary; and the petition of Martin ~:Smythe, Williams be taken from the :files and referred to the Committee on Claims. F. H. Carpenter, and other citizens of Rensselaer County, New York, On motion of Mr. CLAYTON, it wa.S asking for the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning Ordend, That the petition and papers of Willi.'\m G. Ford, administrator of the the alcoholic liquor traffic; which were referred to the Committee estate of John S. Rohi.nson, deceased, be taken from the files and referred to the on Finance. Committee on Claims. .Mr. CAMERON, of Wisconsin, presente(l the petition of T. W. On motion of :Mr. CONOVER, it was Brown and sundry other citizens of Outagamie County, \Visconsin, praying for the completion of the Fox River improvement and the :fil~:d:~f;;;.a~ te,etR:~~:rci~?ne~a:!1~:f;zhompson be taken. from the construction of a canal along the bank of the Wisconsin River from On motion of Mr. COOPER, it was Portage City, 'Wisconsin, to the Mississippi River; which was re Ordered, That the petition and papers of M. S. Stewart, administrator, &c., be ferred to the Committee on Commerce. taken from the files and refeiTed to the Committee on Claims. Mr. CLAYTON presented the petition of John N. Curtis, praying On motion of Mr. COOPER, it was the passage of an act authorizing and directing the southern-claims Ordrred, That the petition and papers in the case of the Catholic church prop commissioners to reopen and reconsider his claim (No. 5776) for prop erty at Chattanooga, Tennessee, be taken from the files and referrell to tbe Com· erty taken and apprQpriated by the Union Army; which was referred mittee on Claims. to the Committee on Claims. On motion of :Mr. MORRILL, of Maine, it was Mr. JOHNSTON presented the petition of the Grand Division of Ordered, That the petition and papers of Oliver Moses nn1l others, owners of. tho the Sons of Temperance of Virginia, signed by the officers, asking for 'ibJ&i~~.hn Carver, be taken from the files and referred to the Commit too on Naval tho appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic li'luor traffic; which was referred to the Committee ou Finance. Mr. Vi HIGHT. Seeing a great many applications this morning for