The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-21
GO N @ r & S s.
A GALA DAY IN BOTH HOUSES.
The ST. Domingo Question in
the Senate.
MoRT0N's RESOLUTION ADOPTED
STIRRING Debate ON All
Butler and His Pet Amnesty
in the House.
STIRRING AND STARTLING DISCUSSION.
Fitch, of Nevada, as The Old Man
Eloquent.
Buffers Bill to be Voted Upon
To-Day.
FORTY-FlRST CONGRESS-.
-~~~~~~~-~~~->v>~>~~~~>~~
Third Session.
STIRRING AND STARTLING DISCUSSION.
Fitch, of Nevada, as The Old Man
Eloquent.
Buffers Bill to be Voted Upon
To-Day.
FORTY-FlRsT CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Third Session.



THE NEW FIVE PER CENT BONDS.
Mr. SHERMAN, rep.l or OHIO, reported bill, In
accordance with a recommendation OF the Secretary
Of the Treasury, 10 authorize the issue OF an addi
uona $500 100000 OF the five per cent bonds autho
rizea by the Funding law OF last session. lie asked
the present consideration OF the Bit bGt Mr.. Trum
bull objecting the bill went over. He also reported
Mr.. Coles Cola Note bin, with a recommendation
that the same be negatived.
MINOR MATTERS.
Bills were introduced as follows
BY Mr. HAMLIs. trep) OF Me-Dedning the juris-
diction OF police courts OF the District OF Columbia
and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee
the District OF Columbia.
BY Mr.. NYE, Hep.) OF Nev.-In relation to the
enlistment OF boys in the naval service Referred to
the Committee on Naval Anairs.
by Mr. KELLOGG, rep1 OF La.-To relinIU;Sh the
title OF The United States to certain lands occupied
by the city OF Baton Rouge Referred 10 the Com
Inlttee on PaDllC Lands.
Mr.. SHERMAN. from the Finance Committee, re-
ported till amending the Tax ana Tariff law Of
July IA, 1870 SO as 10 restore the former rates OF
duty on imported brandy and opium, with an ad-
Mr.. PRATT. rep.j 81 Nd, from the Committee on
Pensions, reported adversely the Hcuse Dt, supple
meliary to the several acs relating TO pensions,
which bill provided fer the payment OF pensions
withheld from March 3. 1865, 10 JGae d, 1885, from
persons who held positions II civil service.
Mr.. PRATT offered resolution. which was agreed
OF Indiana hela at any tune by the Interior Depart
ment as trustee for certain Indian t:iDes
TIE ST. DohI&9o QUESTION.
Mr.. MORTON, Gep.l OF Ind. moved that the Senate
proceed TO conslder his resolution ior the appoint.
ment OF a COMMISSION 10 proceed 70 St. Domingo
MIR. SUMNER Qepl OF Mass. SAID his own resolu-
ton on the subject was emitted 10 precedence be.
cause OF priority IN tine Of It's introduction and its
preliminary character OF subject matter
MIR. SnhkMAS desired before lnftner debate took
place on the Dominican matter 10 take up the House
bil 10 correct an ainbigu IN cassiucaton oi sugar
duties. He remarked mat without Inc proposed
fixed by law upon "saw" O. mUscovado sugar.
Mr.. TAuaBUIL Terl Of H., sad lie nad been
shown l. ter received ~ MIR. vickers from
sponslbie Ba timore sugar urn, stating Their opinion
that the bili would increase he duties. He desired
all Iartes Interested 10 have an opportunity TO be
heard before the bli was passed.
Mr. SHER2iAS repled tnat all parnes in interest
had been heard ana moved 10 take mp the bill.
Under the NJ Ing oil the NlGe President the motion
decidel TO Toe premature, when tie pending
question, upon MI. blolton's mouon was further
debated.
The resolutions Of Mcssrs. Sumner ana Morton
were seyeraly read.
MI. EDMtNDs Fcp.i Of ", said he could see ne
objection TO either ~ the rl5uluiions. He had been
opposed 10 The annexation oi ST. Domingo, and was
free 10 say his opinions bad not changed; but lie
would not object ID any means OF obtaining neces
sary Information. lie hopet Tie authors OF the reso
iutous would mutually agree not 10 object 10 the
Mr.. HOWARD crep.l OF Mich, preferred the rcsclu-
ten OF Mir. Morton as more Comprehensive than
that OF Mr.. sumner. He would ask the Senator from
Massachusetts what information ne expected to OBJ
tan rom the executive departments not already
last session relative OF Imprisonment OF
one Hatcn, anu covering ST. Domingo anairs
Mr.. suMNTR replied That che Inquiry referred TO
that committee was sifspy as TO the alleged mis-
conduct sf an American officer General Babcoc&
and that they steod four ior e4cusng and three Tor
cOndemning that officer. He understood his TREAD
to argue now that that inquiry was 10 be subst
tute for any investigation into the negotiation Of the
treaty FOR the annexation 81 ST. Domingo or the
purchase Of the Bay OF SANTANA.
Mr.. HOWARD protested against the false position
documents or Information he required IN addition to
the report referred to-
Mr. suNsER proceeded to enumerate various ad.
dltiona items OF information for which his resou-
ton called HIS remarks interrupted by the
expiration OF the morning hour when tue calendar
came up as the regular order OF business. motion
to postpone the calendar in order TO proceed with
the st. Domingo question finally carried after
deDate--ycas 80 nays %.
The question recurring on Mr.. Morton's motion
to take up his resolution concerning 81. Domingo
MI Sumner was awarded the neor. but gave way,
temporarily, 10 motion by Mr.. Sherman To resume
we consiaeat9n ., tle e., house n regulating me
baed as TO whether might involve an Increase of
duties.
motion by Mr. yICBERs. dem) OF Maryland, to
refer the bill 10 The Finance Committee lost,
when Mr.. Vickers demanded the regular order OF
business, which mad been suspended only By unani-
nous consent The effect OF this TO bring the
Dominican question again before the Senate.
very few II any OF he points OF his resolution
covered ty the special report OF last session referred
TO by MI Howard. He ntmated that there was
constitutional Inhibition against aug treaty making
power On NE part OF the Dominican authorities
treaty with France which included Dominica as
part Of hayti, fOrbiddng such thing.
The Senate then voted upon Mr. Morton's motion.
MIR. ScHuRZ demanded the yeas and nays. Tie
motion was agreed 10 by the following vote--"
YFAs-Messrs Abbott, Ames, Foreman, Brownlov gnek
ingham Carpen Chandler Cole. Conkng, Corbet, Ed
Munds flanagan, Gilbert, HarnliD, Harlan Howard Howe
iy Se wSrn Ei3 @S Shsr%rn stewart
OF MD, Harris McCreery, Morrill, OF w. Patterson, Robert
Vfckers-i7. '1'
The resolution was then read
Mr. BUCKINGHAM moved 10 refer II to Committee
on Foreign Relations.
MI MORTON brleny advocated the resolution re-
marking that he could not any objection to II,
ana That an affirmative vote would not commit any
MFR. ScHURz trep.l OF Mo-, supposed the intention
was 70 appoint a Scientific Commission to go over
me island OF 81. Domingo aud Investigate every
thing there-the water, the earth the air, and the
mental and moral condition OF the population. He
argued that, II a serious matter, the investigation
would take rom three 10 1--WE years while, II iii
tended as sham and huu!bug IL Unght no, 10 bs
undertaken at all. He favored the reference TO the
committee a. a means OF Indicating with precision
the subjects entitled 20 inv estlgat on.
Mr. MORTON replied 1t was not proposed TO MAKE
geological survey. lie thought tile Information In
dlcated as desirable might be readily procurabe
within sixty days or less Whatever the effect OF lie
report OF the commission, whether favorable or
against annexation. the Information thereby
secured would be legitimate. II was provided that
no compensation should be pad to the comms-
sioners, so there would oe no inddcemenJ FOR them
on that account 10 spin ont the time. lie pre-
sumed Ine commission would be composed Of mem
bers OF Congress
Mr.. ScBrRz, TO substanate his estimate OF the
length OF time necessary Tor such an investigation
reviewed each OF the Topics OF INQUIRY specided IN
the resolution He said that entious report
from actual observation upon .'the political state
and condition soi Dominica would require from
three to 1--WE years; that personal inquiry into 1.-The
desire OF the people become annexed To the United
States, would require three months at least in
"a n la