The Portland daily press., 1877-12-15
XLVth C0ngress--Regular Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA.
municaton from the Secretary OF the Interior call
ing attention to the law in regard to the comp
daily received as to the nadequacy Of such compen
sation. He suggests the law be so amended to al
low the department to pay the same rate for adver-
tlslng as papers receive from private individuals
Referred to committee on civil service and retrench
ment.
Joint resolution relating to reservoirs to promote
navigation Of the Mississippi river was passed
Mr. Hoar presented petition OF the merchants OF
Boston in favor Of an appropriation of portion of
the Geneva award to reimburse those who paid war
premiums. Referred to committee on Judiciary.
At the expiration Of the morning hour the Senate
resumed consideration of the silver resolution.
Mr.. Hereford spoke in favor thereof
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hereford's remarks the
Senate went into executive session.
The doors were re-Opened at 405 o'clock D. NJ. and
the Vice President announced committee to in
qure into the practcabiity of promoting intercourse
and authorized under resolution of Mr.. Con king
recently adopted. Messrs Conkling, Hamlin Howe,
MI. Sargent from conference committee on def
cheney bill submitted report. and in explanation
thereof and said reductions had been made by the
committee in the amount provided for in the Senate
amendments as follows: In appropriation for fuel,
light and water for public buildings, 0OO in that
e raWsa ess 81 tes easny
tionsl postal Congress- $4,000; Columbian Institute
The Senate amendments appropriating 1000 for
publication OF the official records OF the rebelli0n
81 400 for legislative expenses Of Washington terri
tory; $16,0S4 for the payment Of claims Of Oregon
and Washington volunteers and in suppressng Indi-
an hostites in 1855 and 1885, were stricken out en-
tirely.
The Senate amendments appropriating $I3,559; for
compensation and expenses OF various custom house
and mint investigating committees was returned.
Total amount appropriated by BILL as agreed upon, is
| $2,645, s7387.
Mr.. Davis of W. va inquired what was done with
the amendment in regard to Senators and Repres
tatives in Congress being permitted to send and
| ceive through mails free diplomatic documents.
Mr.. Sargent replied it had been retained and that
the privilege was also extended to the Vice Presi
| dent.
| to and the bill passed.
speak on Mr. Matthews resolution to pay bonds in
silver said that on account OF the lateness Of the
hour he would not address the Senate today but
would do so after the holiday recess.
| On motion of Mr.. Edmunds by unanimous consent
it was ordered that the Vice. President declare the
Senate adjourned tomorrow Immediately alter the
reading of the journal and that business be
acted.
MI Sargent said the French exposition bill. the
deficiency bill and prob ably one or two other bills
would be passed by bJth Houses and be ready for
signature tomorrow. The order just made should
not prevent the Vice President from signing those
bills, and on bis motion the announce ment of the
signing OF any bill was excepted from the above
order.
Mr.. Ferry of Michigan moved to take ND the bill
establishing post routes in the several states
Mr.. Matthews inquired what would become of his
resolution in the post route bill was taken up
The Vice President replied tat it ouli not lose
| its place as unfinished business. -''0
On motion of Mr.. Bayard it was ordered that
the Senator from South Carolina should not be pre-
vented from submitting resolution of inquiry to-
morrow account of the order of the. Senate Just
adopted not to transact any business.
BILL 0'--'-'> '''0 f'''
The bill was then read and the amendments agreed
On motion of Mcmillan it was ordered that the
testimony taken in he investigation of the charges
against Senator Grover of Oregon be printed.
Mitchell introduced In thnrz
the Southern Pacific Railroad Company to extend
its railroad and telegraph lines eastery from its
the Rio Grande at or near Ell Paso and to aid the
building OF the same. Referred to the committee
Jones of Florida submitted a joint resolution by
request to authorize treaty with the republic Of
Mexico to secure protec ton to the capital and labor
OF the citizens of the United States, which may be
invested and employed in opening railway commu-
nicaton in che northern states of said republic Re
ferred to the special committee Mexican affairs.
The special committee on Mexican affairs was au-
clerk.
The bill which the House had passed relative to
the burial of the officers and others of the United
States navy who had persisted by the wreck Of the
Anthony reported favorably on the resol ution to
print $50 extra copies Of the last edition OF the BIZ
enniai register tor the use OF the Senate Agreed
Ferry submitted resolution authorizing the spec
its report printed. Agreed to.
Senate at AS adjourned.
HOUSE.
bill was introduced and referred by Mr.. Quinn
to fix the pay of letter carriers.
Mr. Singleton presented the report of the confer
committee on the deficiency APPROPRIATION bill.
He explained that the difference between the two
Houses was $171 900 and the committee the part
of the House had yielded $l02O00 to the demands Of
the Senate committee.
Mr.. Eden said the House yielded almost every
thing to the demands of the Senate and the commit
tee had yielded the balance and he therefore NOV
ed to lay the report on the table,
Cvao rIad tha otJov,n ,knS III
debate followed.
Finally discussion closed and the report of the con-
ference committee was agreed to without yeas or
nays. Bill now goes to the President TOR his sigma
ture.
The Paris exposition bill was taken up and the
Senate amendments c0nCurred in.
At O'Clock there was a movement on the Repub-
lican side of the House for adjournment and an
opposition to it on the Democratic side growing out
of desire to have reported and acted on today a
resolution looking to general investigation of the
departments: The yeas and nays were called on a
motion to adjourn and it was voted down by strict
party division.
The business on the Speakers table having been
resumed and disposed Of Mr.. Wood chairman of the
committee on ways and MEANS sent to the Clerks
desk resolution on which he moved the previous
question.
Butler of Massachusetts, Hale Of Maine and other
Republican members Immediately rose to make
points of order that the committee on WAYS. and
The Speaker decided that under the rule the COM
mittee on ways and means could report at any time
for commitment.
WOOu lDslSteu on having MS resolution read
and after some parliamentary disputation the
Speaker directed it read. 1t instructs the several
committees having In charge matters relating In
dian AFFAIRS naval affairs. military affairs, post
offices, public lands, &c to inquire into any errors
abuse frauds in the administration of the laws at
tecting such branches Of public vice, with power
to send for persons and papers during the recess,
Mr.. Hale of Maine suggested that the clause for
sending for persons and papers be omitted and then
there would be no objection to the resolution.
Mr.; Wood.To omit that part Of the resolution
coming three or four weeks were concerned.
it would act as an entire waste of the whole pur-
pose.
Mr.. Hale said that there was no objection to the
committees going on under ordinaryp0wers but
he did object to giving them the extraordinary pow
proposed. If committees of the House start
out with propositions to nose around and harass the
administration, it might as well be understood at
MIR Yeates-what is the other side of the House
afraid of?
result of your investigation may be to elect Repub-
can President in 1885, just your investigation in
the last Congress resulted in eleeting Democratic
President in 1876
Mr. Hale--I do not object to the most thorough
and sweeping investigations by these committees
with their ordinary powers but the experience ofthe
last Congress to the effect OF giving these extra
powers to committees the things they did and which
they sought to do beyond what should have been
done, fought me lesson SO will never consent to
giving such extraordinary powers to committees.
My opposition to it is not for the purpose of stopping
fair open, square Investigations, not u the least
gentleman afraid of these investigations desire and
the country desires to have them.
After long discussion of the points Of order the
question down first to ldr. Congers motion to
60 into committee of the on the private calendar.
Holding that motion in reserve as strong backing
for dilatory motions the Republicans at $40 COM
menced filibustering tactics with motion by Mr..
Page for adjournment, on which the yeas and nays
were ordered.
Then motion by Hale to reconsider vote ordering
yeas and nays then motion by Butler to lay motion
to reconsider on the table.
1t this latter motion that the first vote was
taken by yeas and nays.
The Republicans nnder the lead of Butler declined
voting so as to show the absence OF quorum when
under the rne nothing is In order but call of the
House and a motion to adjourn.
After several votes were taken by yeas and nays
the House at 7.20 adjourned.
MINOR TELEGRAMs.
President Hayes will not speak at the New
England dinner
The Senate yesterday confirmed George W.
Kimball postmaster at Rockland, Me.
G. Wiley Wells of Mississippi, was yesterday
nominated as Consul at Bong Kong.
The Guaranty Fire Insurance Company will
close up its business in January.
District Attorney Phelps of New York, has
failed.
Ex-Presdent Grant arrived at Seroa, yester-