The Portland daily press., 1873-12-19
Washington News and Gossip.

Ihe special OF the Advertiser says of the
House: From the time the debate began it was
evident that several members were attempting
to add so many obnoxious amendments to the
bill that it would finally lead to passing SUBJ
stitute for the bill, 4his happened about six
o'clock. and at seven substitute by Mr.. Hurl-
but OF Illinois, in substance as stated above,
was finally adopted on yea and nav vote. At
ter Mr.. Hale rose to close debate Mr. Dawes at
tempted to stem the tide and prevent the house
from voting five hundred dollars more than it's
own committee had reported the pay under the
old law to be, but the house was too near the
proposition that suited the majority best, and
nothing could be done to prevent it. Soon after
Mr. Dawes had spoken General Butler got the
floor and delivered what all agree was the
worst speech, though one of the most effective,
he was ever known to make. 1t was keen and
cutting, but also coarse and brutal and utterly
out Of place. He abused and blackguarded bet
ter men than himself on both Sides and launch
ed all his thunder bolts which he used against
the press in his Massachusetts defeat over
again in condensed form at the reporters gal
lery, and, while acting on the floor the part of
a bully, gave notice that he was in favor of
having the press understand now and hence
forth that it should malign Congress no longer.
There is much dissatisfaction among members
at the final shaping of the matter, and they
hope that the senate will rectify some things
regarded as mistake by the house; but the bill
was purposely put In such shape by few,
that a large number could not get chance to
the bill which passed 46f fear Something worse
might be pressed upon them.
The Boston Journal special notes the ap
pearance of the hero of Fort Fisher as follows:
Here Gen. Butler appeared as he did at the
last Congress. the assumed leader of a move
ment for an increase. He speedily secured a
following in the almost entire Democratic
membership and among many Republicans,
some of whom desired the proposed compromise
and some of whom were dismayed.
Mr.. Holman's proposition was another trick
OF demagoue, aud was as manifestly uncon-
stitutional as it was impracticable.
The House had become excited as this vote
was reached, and continued in constant state
OF great agitation until the close. 1t was in
vain that measures were declared uncOnstitu-
tional; the House dlsregarded the Constitution,
The bill was loaded down with hostile
amendments, until it was evident that it was
lost. Eugene Hale felt this when he arose to
demand his closing hour. The House hooted
him and tried to force an immediate vote, but
he firmly maintained his rights, and the
speeches of Eugene Hale and Dawes which
followed were ringing speeches for repeal.
The special of the Globe thus sketches the
last hour in the House:
Mr.. Hale of Maine, Chairman of the com
mittee, was awarded the floor, to close. Mr.
Randall said that as the committee had been
defeated, he had no right to the floor The
Speaker. however, sustained his colleague by
ruling that he had right until the House voted
OF impatience by large majority. Mr.. Hale,
however, had evidently determined to make
one more effort to recover lost ground, and.
for about i've minutes, poured out in a fiery
manner torrent OF words on his side of the
case.
He then gave way to Mr.. Dawes, having
quite politely offered fifteen minutes to Mr..
Butler The latter ironically declined evil
IDENTIFY aiming to fasten the Odlum on Mr.. Hale
of using time when the House wanted to vote.
A few minutes after, it was evident that the
General regretted his haste Mr. Dawes made
an attack on the substitute, visibly weakening
1t, and making the advocates fear for their
painting. Mr. Garfield was given five MIN
utes, much to Mr.. Dawes's surprise. He used
IT In advocating the passage Of the substitute
he wanted reduction, would take it as it
came, by instaIlments. After several bits of
exciting by-play, Mr.. Dawes apparently losing
ms temper at some interruption, General Haw-
ley OF Connecticut wanted to offer an amend
ment putting salaries at $500. The Speaker
iDtimated that this could be done by voting
down the substitute, and recommitting with in
structlons to report Immediately. In spite of
the evident impatience, several new men.
among them one Burroughs, had to read their
nothlngs.
Mr. Hale got his retort on Butler by refusing
him the floor. Mr. Kasson tried to calm the
troubled waters but at last the Hale bill was
defeated, and Mr.. Hurlbuts's motion to put the
substitute on its passage carried. He gave way
to Mr.. Butler AT once members left their
seats and grouped all around him, as a dark
mass The Essex statesman is the stormy Pc
trel OF debate, and is seldom seen on his feet
except when one impends. The speech he
made was certainly Butlersh in the extreme
He was bitterly and wildly personal, as when
he spoke of members present who had thrice to
bis on ,e gone laden with back pay. When he
referred to members becoming sick, by mar
riage among other ways, aiming, as was evil
dent, at Mr.. Dawes and Mr.. Hale, and when
he rehearsed his old attack on the press, turn
Ing TO the reporters gallery and speaking of
a,rty sneets, and OF the press as forty-horse
lacKass-mud power, There was something al
most sublime In the audacity with which he
defended the retroactive salary votes and an
pealed to the poor members to stand by their
rights to a just compensation. Mr.. Dawes ap-
peared to heartily enjoy the attacks GA himself.
as he laid back and laughed in his chair.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
1t is said that the enemies of the bankrupt
act cannot muster force enough in the Senate
for the absolute repeal of the act and that they
could not muster strength enough to pass the
House repeal bill without this reference. The
Judiciary Committee will be divided and pre-
sent two reports, one in favor of reconstruction
and reform OF the act the other advocating I'M
conditional repeal. The vote on the adoDtion
the modifiers will carry the Senate, although
the repeaers are working very hard They say
that unless the act is Internationally repealed
number of large houses will be thrown into
bankruptcy, and much distress among the oper-
atives employed by them must ensue.
LITTLE BILL.
Secretary Fish has asked Congress for an ap-
preparation of S1,029S19, to pay the awards
made to British claimants by the Joint Com
mission, which has been in session here and at
New York.
WHAT THE EIGHT HOUR LAW COSTS.
Secretary Robson estimates that ii will re-
qaire upward of $115,0OO to settle the accounts
OIL laborers, workmcn and mechanics who were
1ase t'a IN the Navy Yards between Jnne 25,
prss;d sne gate Of the eight hour law. and the
9t proclamation of May 10, 1869, de
SiaI,ns rnas 'ne provisions of that law should
cent to the charge for each days work. '' pei
THE v1RGNIus.
The Virginius having been surrendered to