Worcester Daily Press

FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, May 4.
Senate.
Mr. Washburn of Massachusetts presented a memorial of colored citizens of Virginia in favor of the civil rights bill of the late Senator Sumner. The memorial, he said, had been received by Mr. Sumner a day or two before his death. A portion of the memorial was read by request of Mr. Washburn, and then laid on the table.
Mr. Pratt of Indiana, from the committee on pensions, reported various amendments to the bill amendatory of the act to amend, revise and consolidate the laws. It increases the pensions to those who have lost an arm at or above the elbow from $18 to $24 per month. He also stated that tomorrow or next day he would report without amendment the House bill amendatory of the act granting pensions to soldiers of 1812. He would then ask the indulgence of the Senate to explain the provisions of the bill.
Mr. Chandler of Michigan, from the committee on commerce, reported a bill granting an American register to steamer Suffolk and changing her name to Professor Morse.
Mr. Pease of Mississippi arose and read a number of telegrams received by him and by Republicans in the House from Mississippi, stating that the greatest distress prevails in a large part of that State by reason of the overflow in the Mississippi river; that thousands of people of the State are in a condition of starvation, and beseeching Congress to afford relief. He submitted a motion requesting the House to return the resolution passed last week appropriating $90,000 for the relief of the sufferers. He said he had seen the Secretary of War, and that officer informed him that the amount already appropriated would be necessary for the relief of the people of Louisiana. He wished to amend the resolution so as to include a provision for the relief of Mississippi. Agreed to.
Mr. Stewart introduced a bill to provide for the reassumption by Congress of the legislative powers delegated to the District of Columbia.
The House joint resolution appropriating $90,000 for the relief of sufferers by the overflow of the Mississippi was returned. The vote on passing the bill was reconsidered, and Mr. Pease then offered an amendment increasing the amount to $250,000, and the bill and amendment were then referred to the committee on appropriations.
The supplementary civil rights bill was then proceeded with. Mr. Norwood of Georgia opposed it on constitutional grounds.
Mr. Boutwell offered an amendment providing that it will apply to benevolent and educational institutions authorized by law, and endorsed, or to be endorsed, by the United States or the States.
Mr. Fenton asked that the pending bill be laid aside informally, that he might make a motion to discharge the committee on commerce from further consideration of the bill to regulate the customs service, and the disposition of fines, penalties and forfeitures.
Mr. Edmunds—I object.
Mr. Fenton—Very well: I will then address my remarks to the bill now before the Senate on civil rights. He then addressed the Senate on the defects in the customs service, and urged the necessity of reform and the abolition of the enormous gratuities paid to custom officers and informers, and the Senate soon after adjourned.

House of Representatives.
Under the usual Monday's call of States for bills and resolutions, for reference, numerous ones were introduced and referred.
The morning hour having expired, the House resumed consideration of the bill offered by Mr. Stewart to establish an assay office at Helena, Montana. Passed.
Mr. Foster of Ohio, from the committee on ways and means, submitted a report in the case of moieties and the Sanborn contracts, which was ordered printed and recommitted, with leave to report at any time.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa, from the committee on ways and means, reported back the Senate bill in relation to imported fruit, and it was passed.
On motion of Mr. Ward of Illinois, the judiciary committee was authorized to report back the bankrupt act for consideration in the House at any time.
On motion of Mr. Maynard, the order was made to consider in the House on Friday next, after the morning hour, a bill for the relief of the State of Tennessee, and a bill for collection of moneys due the United States by certain Southern railroads.
Mr. Lamar of Mississippi offered a preamble and resolution instructing the Southern claims commission to send to Congress all cases disposed of prior to April 1, 1874. Adopted.
On motion of Mr. McKee of Mississippi an order was made to consider the bill for the admission of New Mexico as a State on the 21st of May.
Mr. Tyner of Indiana moved to suspend the rules so as to make it in order to offer an amendment to the post office appropriation bill so to change the existing law as to limit the establishment hereafter of the free delivery system to cities having not less than 20,000 inhabitants within their corporate limits. So ordered.
Mr. Southard of Ohio moved to suspend the rules and pass a preamble and resolution reciting that of the $350,000,000 of national bank circulation there was an excess in the Eastern and Middle States and a deficit in the Southern, Southwestern and Western States, and resolving that justice demands a fair and equitable apportionment of national bank currency among States not having their proper portion, and directing the committee on banking and currency to report at an early day that measures should be adopted to secure a just apportionment. Adopted.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill which he introduced April 29th to amend an act entitled "an act to provide for the redemption of 3 per cent. temporary loan certificates, and for the increase of national bank notes," approved July 12, 1870.
Pending consideration the House adjourned.