The Portland daily press., 1874-05-06

| oil persons full and equal enjoyment of the
common schools and public institutions of
learning or benevolence. supported in whole or
part by general taxation.
Ihe Senate went into executive session and
subsequently adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Dunnell of Minnesota, from the Com
| mittee on Public Lands, reported bill proyid-
| ing That In the adjustment of AL railroad land
| grants II any of the lands granted be found in
| the possession of an agricultural settler whose
| entry or fling has been allowed under the pre-
| empton homestead laws subsequent to the
| time when the right of a railroad company was
| declared to have attached to such lands the
company shall be entitled to select an equal
| quantity of other lands in lieu thereof from any
| OF the public lands within the limits of the
grant to which the company shall receive a title
to tot, the same as though originally granted, The
| Dill was passed without discussion.
MIR. Foster of Ohio offered resolution in
Stfnctlng the joint Committee on Affairs of the
| Distrlct Columbia to inquire whether any offers
| or employees OF the United States or of the Dis
.ricC UoVernment have been employed in any
conspiracy to defeat or hinder investigation, and
| particularly to inquire into the circumstances
| connected with the late robbery of the safe in
the office OF the United States District Attor-
| ney Adopted
| On motion of Mr. E. r. Hoar of Mass. the
| Dill defining the rights and duties of citizens
| abroad was recommitted to the Foreign Com
mittee.
Mr.. Poland of Vt, from the Judiciary Com
mlttee, reported bill in relation to courts and
| Judicial officers in Utah.
The bill having been read Mr.. Crounse of
| Neb. made point of order that the bill invov-
| ing payments from the Treasury should first
De be, considered in Committee of the Whole.
w hile the point of order was being discussed
| Mr. Poland withdrew the bill
Inc House went into Committee of the Whole
on the centennial bill, appropriating $4,000 OOO
Mr. Kelley OF Penn opened the debate, speak
ing OF tbs celebration as matter to which the
honor OF the nation was committed by both the
legislative and executive departments Of the
government
Mr.. Kelley of Penn, spoke of $4,000, 200 asa
small appropriation and felt justified in SO
| speaking of it by the remarks of the gentleman
| from Maine (Hale) who had admouished the
House that $10,00O,00O would be claimed. The
sum was small when tested by what Pennsyl-
| vania and her people had done, 1t was small
| when compared with what France had supplied
! to either of the international exhibitions; of
| England to either of hers and it was infinitely
| small compared with the expenditure of the
| Austrian government IL support of the Vienna
| exhibition, yet it would be sufficient for the
| purpose. He ventured the prediction that the
| result would prove that Congress lad never
| made more productive investment than this
three million dollars. Its influence would be
felt in every State and congressional district in
| the country 1t would stimulate commerce,
improve and increase manufactures and give
new impulse to the agricultural interests of the
country.
He was followed by Mr.. Hale of Maine, in
opposition. The latter quoted Senator Cam
eron's remarks, pledging his word that the peo-
pie of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia would
give $3,00O,O0O if necessary to make the exhibit
ton creditable not only to Pennsylvania but to
the whole United States and declaring in re-
sponse to a question why an act of Congress
was needed, that they only asked an act Of Con-
gress to give the enterprise character.
Mr. Myers of Penn-Dd not the people of
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania give their mil
lions?
Mr. Hale-Does the gentleman mean to take
one-half of the promise and violate the other
half? The promise was not only that Pennsyl-
vania would give her millions but that Congress
would not be asked for anything and that all
that was wanted was character. Then Penu-
sylvania needed character more than money.
Now she storms the doors of Congress in forget
fulness of the pledges which involve character
in the highest degree. Is there any faith to be
given to human promises given legislativey or
is the action taken by American Congress OF
the avowals of men distinguished for public SER
vice to be taken as nothing? Are we to expect
these very men to rise in their seats in two
short years and repudate all their solemn
words and pledges? If that is to be so, then it
may well be SAID that the era of vrtuous legis-
lation has ceased and that corruption has ciept
in and honor has fallen. do not believe Con-
gress will today by any act SO 90 back on its
record as to condone the offense of the gentle
men who have now taken the back track Mr.
Hale went on to show that the effort to interest
the people in the celebration was a dead and
a blasted failure. Aside from the cateries of
men interested in the exhibition, aside from the
advertisements and puffs in the newspapers,
aside from what sentiment could be worked up
in Philadelphia and vicinity the whole thing
had fallen fiat.
Mr. Kelley-While / admit very freely that
the subscriptions have not been what | hoped
they would be- the papers show there has been
a subscription of 1929 shares OF stock by citi
zens of the different States.
Mr.. Hale-How much of that is from Penn
sylvania?
Mr. Kelley-To the patriotism of Pennsyl-
vania, be it said, that very large percentage
of the subscription is from Pennsylvania. She
and her people are determined that if they can
prevent it the nation shall not be dishonored.
Mr.. Hae-I do not know of anything which
will so smirch the national houor as for Con-
gress to go back on its committals know of
nothing that is fatal to public man as to
make pledges and promises (which turn to
ashes on his lips"
Mr.. Hale went on to allude to the preference
given by the House to the centennial bill. There
were meritorious railroad p propositions which
could not get consideration but were allowed to
languish and de- but this centennial exhibit
ton which Senator Sherman called the "Phila-
delphia show" had its place and its assign
ment. A few weeks ago the Mississippi river
overlooked its banks and inundated whole
region of country, bringing woe and desolaton
on a hundred thousand of people, and Congress
had given them the bagatelle of $4,000 in ra-
tions and clothing, but there was money in
plenty for the centennial exhibition.
Mr.. Butler of Tenn, remarked that 100000
was all that had been asked and it was suffi
Gent.
Mf. Hale-And that is the voice of the
Southern gentleman who wants only 100000
for the South and 100000 for the centennial.
Mr.. Garfield, Tin whisper HE lives in the
mountains of Tennessee where the waters can
not reach him.
Mr. Hale warned the House that this would
not be the last that would be asked. The bars
would be let down by the passage of this bill
and Congress would be held responsible for all
liability that would be contracted. He prophe-
sled that would be the and asked would
the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Haw-
ley) or the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Kelley dare to promise that only $3,O00,000
would be called fol- The Vienna exposition
had cost the Austrian government So, $50, 600
and it was claimed that the income had
amounted to $2,000,0O0. If in the midst of
Europe with its 250000,000 of people the re-
ceipts were only S2,0OO,OO0, the receipts of the
Philadelphia exhibition would not be 81, 100000
He believed the deficit would not be less than
$1O,0 900. Congress would be asked to pay
the deficit, and at last, worn out and tired, like
Merlin of the opportunities of Vivian, Congress
would give way and vote the money IN order to
have peace. The bonds would be about Con-
gress and there would be nothing for it, but
weary and worn, to pay and thank 1.-THE Lord
that at last there was an end to it all.
Mr. Packard of Louisiana followed with a
speech in advocacy of the bill which he said
commended itself to his judgment, feelings
and patriotism. He argued that the govern
ment was committed to the exhibition as a
national enterprise.
Mr.. Tremaine of New York advocated the
bill declaring that while he laid it down a
rule governing his actions as member of the
House to support all measures of reform and
economy, still he would maintain at all cost the
name and dignity of the United States, COM
pared wife which all mere pecuniary considera-
tons sunk into insgnfcance He made cita-
lions from the acts of Congress and more the
diplomarc correspondence to prove that the
government sanction had been bestowed upon
the enterprise.
Mr. E. r. Hoar asked Mr.. Tremane where
he proposed to get this money consistently
with the pledges of the United States, with the
public debt increased $1,000, 900 within the last
year and with no provision for the sinking
fund. Did he think it becoming ir anybody to
borrow money to celebrate his birthday
Mr.. Tremaine replied that if he were mem
Der of the Finance Committee he would find
ways and means enough to pay $3, OO0,O 900. The
nation which had raised during the war "a, 000,-
600 day from its own resources would have no
trouble in finding out where the S3,OO0,000
I a.~.,11