The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-23
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session.
SENATE.


scented. He took the oath and seat as successor
of the late Senator Ferry of Connecticut
Mr.. Sherman presented petition OF A. M.
Clapp, Congressional printer, to the effect he
was an officer of the Senate, that great injustice
had been done him by the Committee on Print
ing IN the House, that the books of his Office
are detained from him by that committee. Re-
ferred to Committee on Privileges with instruc-
lions to inquire into the truth of the allega-
tions.
At - 20 o'clock tie Senate went into execu-
tive session.
At 1.30 the doors were reopened, but imme-
diately closed again and the Senate resumed
the consideration of articles of impeachment
against Belknap.
At 80 the Senate again went into executive
session and after short time, when the doors
were reOpened, some unimportant business was
transacted and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The leave of absence of the Speaker was
extended five days.
A message from the President, vetoing the
bill for the relief of G. B. Tyler and E. H.
Luckett, 1.-THE same that passed the Senate over
the veto) was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Speaker pro tenn presented the report of the
committee on rules with resolution diSmissins
door-keeper Ftczhugh and transferring the da,
ties of door keeper to sergeant-at-arms until
further orders. Adopted.
A resolution was adopted directing the Presi-
dent to give the House official information in
regard to the violence and danger menacing
American citizens in the Ottoman Empire,
and whether any measures have been taken for
the protection of such Americans, and request
ing him to take measures to insure such pro-
lection to all American citizens residing in the
Ottoman Empire.
The House tabled by party vote a resolu-
ton by Mr.. Page declaring that power to elect
a President had never been delegated to the
House of Representatives,
The Committee on Foreign Affairs announced
that the report on the Emma Mine investiga-
ton would be made next Thursday
The House went into com mittee of the whole
on the naval appropriation bill
The pending amendment was that offered by
Mr.. Whittehorne reducing the number and
pay of officers of the navy to conform to the
reduction already made by the House in the
$4,000; Rear Admiral, $4,000; Captains, $500;
Commanders, $4,000; Lieut.. Commanders, first
five years. $250O. subsequently. $780, First
Lieutenants first five years, $4,000 subsequent
ly, $2400; Masters, first five years, $500, SUBJ
sequently, $500: Pay Directors and Chief
Engineers, $1,000; Surgeons, Paymasters, sc,
first five years, $2500, second five years, $1,000,
third five years, $3.50, etc. The number Of
Rear Admirals will be gradually reduced below
3, Commodores below 6, Captains below 40,
low 60, Leutenants below $50, Chief Engi-
neers below 40, Passed Assistant Engineers be-
low 70, Assistant Engineers below At, Paymas.
tiers below 25. All officers of the volunteer
service of the navy to be discharged from the
service after the first of July, aud the laws
authorizing the attainment or employment by
the Secretary of the Navy of any person in the
volunteer navy are repealed.
Mr.. Blount, representing the Committee on
Appropriations, in the management of the bill,
stated that the committee made no recommen-
dation favorable or unfavOraDle as to the
amendment, but left it entirely to the House.
Mr.. Hale of Maine, member of the Appro-
priation Committee, opposed the amendment
The pay of the American navy officers was
smaller than that of the officers of any other
navy. He believed that the American people
did not wishito strike down those gallant men
to whom they owed SO mnch.
Mr.. Mills, a member of the Naval Commit
tee, moved an amendment to the amendment
allowing longevity pay of 10 per cent. addi-
ton for every five years of service to naval
officers below the rank of Commodore
Mr. Danford, also a member of the Naval
Committee, opposed Mr.. Whitthorne's amend
ment. The effect of it would be to dive out of
the navy the men who were most worthy to be
sn it and to leave the drones (if these were any
such) in it.
Mr.. Whtthorne replied to Mr.. Hale and de-
clared he had as much pride as any man in the
achievements of the gallant leaders in the last
war He disclaimed being actuated by any
sinister motive. He was legslating for the
burdened down, and he did not believe it inst
to them to have one officer to every four men
in the service.
Mr.. Randall expressed the opinion that but
for the generation entertained for the army
and navy the number of officers in both
branches would have been reduced.
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Hale, Banks, Willard and Harris of Mass,
against the amendment and Banning, Blount
and Mills in its support.
In the course of Mr.. Kasson's speech, he de-
clared the proposition struck blow at the navy
which no naval war had ever struck at it, and
that it slaughtered officers as no naval battle
ever slaughtesed them He repudiated on be-
half of his constituents the idea that the peo-
pie demanded this blow to be struck at the
navy.
MIR. Mills amendment allowing longevity
pay was agreed to.
Mr.. Hale moved to strike out of Mr.. Whit
horne's amendment the paragraph beginning
"and the pay OF all other officers on the active
list, &c. Agreed to.
Mr.. Randall moved to strike out of Whit
horne's amendment the provision requiring the
discharge Of volunteer officers of the navy.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Games moved to strike out the para.
rraph of Mr.. Whitthorne's amendment fixing
The number of officers in each grade. Reject
ed.
Mr. Whitthorne'S amendment was then
rejected, the vote by tellers being y to "a.
Mr. Danford moved to amend the paragraph |
IN the bill which fixes the number of men in
he navy at 1900, by making the number $500.
Rejected
The section in relation to the discontinuance |
IF navy yards having been reached, MIR. Mills |
made point of order that it was new legisla- |
ton and was not in the line of economy, but |
,he point of order was over ruled.
Mr.. Lewis from the Committee on Naval At |
fairs, offered the following amendment as
substitute: THAT the navy yards at Brooklyn,
iittery, Charestown and Norfolk be retained |
or general purposes, and those at Pensacola
md Mare Island be retained as naval renaez-
Tous and for temporary repairs, and the yard I
It Washington be used only for manufacturing