The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-03
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. April 2.
Mr.. Cockrel from the committee military af- |
FAIRS reported the House resolution granting the use
of artillery, tents, &C., for soldiers reunion at Mar
rietta, Ohio, in September. Calendared.
adversely upon the memorial of John M. Goadbue.
for the restoration to rank in the army Indefinite
ly postponed.
MI. Randolph introduced bill granting munitions
of war to the Washington Association of New Jersey.
Referred to the committee on military affairs:
A resolution to transfer to the state department
for safe keeping, the records of the commission
the electoral count was agreed to.
Bill for the relief of VIM. L. Hickman of Missouri
Mr. Burnside called up as special order bilto re-
move all restrictions now existing in regard to en-
lstments OF colored citizens in any arm Of the Unit
ed States service. Mr. Burnside explained that there
were but two sections in the Revised Statutes that
placed restrictions upon the enlistment of coored
men, and the military committee therefore proposed
as substitute for the bill provision repeating
these two sections He advocated the passage of the
The morning hour having expired Mr. Burnside s
bill was recommitted with an amendment by Mr..
Blaine that hereafter colored men shall have full
right to enlist in all arms of the service.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
railroad funding bill and Mr.. Morrill, spoke in sup
port of the judiciary committee BILL
Mr.. Morrill, cluded his remarks at O'Clock aud
MI. Thurman gave notice that he would offer an
amendment making the first mortgage bonds of the
one OF the class Of bonds IN which the
Mr.. Blaine asked how it would be if this amend
ment was adopted in case the bonds should be stolen
rior Department some years ago.
Mr.. Thurman said the Democrats would be in
power in 1881 and then there would be no trouble
about the bonds being stolen.
Mr.. Blaine said it was when the Democratic party
in power that the bonds were stolen. 1t was the
recollection of his tact that led him to make the in
quiry. CLaughter)
A discussion sprung up from this as to the respon-
sibiity for the sinking fund and different rates of in
terest between the different bonds held as sinking
fund and the bonds issued to the company,
MT: laine said that the managers of the road say
that il they are permitted to create their sink
ing fund they could make it pay higher
rate Of interest. 1t might be that these men could
do with safety but they might not be there 20 years
hence, and with other management the bonds might
take wings and fly away as the Indian bonds did.
Therefore it was a wise provision that the govern
ment should be the custodian Of this fund, But was
there not shade of equity in relation to this differ
ence of profit the fund that the company if per
mitted TO control it could mako? He thought this
naval pension fund and Geneva fund are held
Mr.. Blaine said that for the Is years he had been
in Congress the Pacific roads had been before Con-
gress in some form other. He had an ambition to
survive this legislation but under the prepared bill
there was no inality of settlement. Would it not be
and let them rest! So long as these subjects could
be brought before Congress Congress would be made
the tail 70 the kite Of Wan street Legislation was
constantly proposed in order to affect the stock
market 10 New York. He did not think it contrary
to the spirit of the bill to add provso that long
as ne roads comply with the provisions of the acts Of
1862 and 1864, and of this act it shall be taken as
full performance OF its obligations to the sinking
fund. Let something be done to keep this from be-
ing running sore for the next Is or 20 years.
Further remarks were made by Thurman, Sargent
and Edmunds.
The following bills were reported firm the Senate
and placed on the calendar:
By MIR. Randolph, from the military committee,
establishing the rank of senior inspector general.
BY MT. Booth, from the committee on public
lands, for the sale of timber lands in California
Oregon. and Washington territory
by MT morrill,, from the finance committee, to al
low the repayment by the Secretary of the Treasury
OF the tonnage tax when it had been exacted in con-
prevention Of the Treaty provisions
BY Mi. Maxey, from the committee on military af-
fairs, to provide for code of army regulations.
BY Mr.. Teller, from the committee on railroads.
ior a survey Of the Austin Topol ovampa Pacific
Mr.. Harris moved that the bill for the relief of the
book agent of the Methodist church south be made
two thirds voting for it.
The Senate then went into executive session, and
when the doors reopened adjourned.
HOUSE.
The bill fixing the salary of the collector of customs
at Plymouth, Mass at $3.50 per annum and collect
or at Nantucket at $240 was passed.
>, Joint resolution directing the Secretary Of the
Treasury to refund to the Society of the Sons Of St.
George at PHILADELPHIA $780, being the amount paid
Dy sad society on colossal statue of St. George and
the Dragon was passed.
Mr.. Foster of Ohio from the committee on appro-
pIlatlons, reported joint resolution authorizing
the commission having in charge the Washington
to the foundation.
House. by yeas 14s. nays 49, took up the report of
case of Doorkeeper Polk,
MIR. Harrison proceeded to explain the report of
the majority, which recommends the adoption of a
resolution s declaring the office of doorkeepr
huenced by partizanship and Mr.. Polk had as fair
and kindly investigation as any man could have
lie Harrlson) had gone into that committee with the
resolution if possible to Polk. He had voted for
hat gentleman for doorkeeper both in the House and
IN caucus but Polk had made law into himself and
musG STAND the consequences. The Democratic
party was pledged to civil service reform and would
II go peiore the country and say 1--WE will fight the
hepublicans who commit wrong, but will spread
the whitewash over our friends?S He believed not.
should the House retain in office man to whom the
law law was no restraint? In republic obedience to
the law was the only loyalty citizen could show and
when an officer rode over the law and set bad ex-
ample to the people, he should be made an example
OF hlmsef He proceeded to read from the testimony
to prove that Polk had appointed a number Of per-
sons beyond those authorized by law.
From the persistency with which he was interrupt
ca and haTassed with questions, and from the ex-
cltement OF bis manner in which he met these inter-
Tuptlons Chiefly from Messrs Luttrell of California
FIankhn, Clark and Crittenden of Missouri Eden Of
iihnols and Ellsworth of Mchigan) the delivery of
his speech was attended with great uproar copfus-
ION and merriment but Mr., Harrison was very reso-
Lutte and determined in urging his own side of the
House the propriety of expelling the doorkeeper.