The Portland daily press., 1878-05-15
XLVth Congress-Regular Session.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON. May IA.
Mr.. Matthews gave notice that Tuesday next he
would ask the Senate to consider the Texas Pacific
railroad bill
joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury to refund to the society OF st. George of
Philadelphia 81 ,440 paid as duty the statue of
st. George imported BY that society was passed.
Senate concurred in the House amendments to the
Senate bill authorizing citizens of Colorado Nevada
and the territories to fell and timber on the
domain for mining and domestic purposes, and the
Mr.. Mitchell called up the Senate bill amendatory
of the act granting lands to aid the construction Of
railroad and telegraph line from Portland and
Astoria and McNunville in the state of Oregon In
exclamation of the bill he said it made no new grant
whatever but simply extended the time for COM
pleting the road
Bill was discussed till the expiration of thu nom.
ing hour. and was laid aside
A joint resolution adjourn Thursday afternoon
to attend the funeral OF the late Prof. Henry was
adopted.
The bill to repay the Japanese indemnity fund was
reported from the Committee ON foreign rela ions witb
amendments. The bill authorizes The President to
pay the sum over to Japan, except $4,000 to be
aid to the officers and crews Of the vessels Wyom-
ing and jamestown.
Mr.. Plumb of Kansas, from the military affairs
committee, reported favoraby bill authorizing the
Secretary of War to have headtones erected over the
graves OF soldiers who served in the regular or vol
untver army of the United States army during the
war tor the enion and who have been buret in pri-
vate cemeteries He had letter ON the Quarter
master General to the effect that there II 900
Union soldiers inferred in private cemeteries. The
bill was briefly discussed and laid aside.
MIR. Thurman presented petition of merchants of
New York Pnilalel phi 4, Boston, Baltimore. Chica
go, Cincinnati and other cities favoring the passage
of law giving permission to all persons and com
panies without preference to land telegraph cables
the shores of the United States. Referred to the
foreign relations committee.
The Senate umed consideration of the postoffice
appropriation BILL the pending question being on the
point OF order raised by Mr.. Edmunds YESTERDAY
that the amendment submitted by MIR. Maxey in
regard to the semi-monthly Brazilian s eamship SER
vice and to pay $50 mile therefor could not be re-
ceiyed by the senate, as it proposed new legislation
hafNr tho
ate
Mr.. Edmunds said the question now was whether
the Senate meant to keep appropriation bill what
the rules contem plated it should be or not IF If
meant to make an appropriation bill an omnibus for
all schemes where every senator could put his shou-
der to the wheel to push them through, let this
amendment be attached to the BILL but if the Senate
meant to say that every proposition SHOULD stand
upon its own merits this amendment must be kept
out.
Mr.. Hill of Georgia said the Senate had under con-
sheraton bill to make appropriations for the
Postoffice Department, and he did not believe it
proper to offer such an amendment as proposed to
this appropriation bill.
MIR. Blame believed an amendment might be put
on this bill regulating the rates Of postage because
that would be relevant to the general subject.
The debate was continued at some length by
argued that senators had generally divided on poti-
cal lines in voting on the points of order raised
against the measures proposing general legislation on
appropriation bills.
Mr.. Edmunds denied that this was so, and said the
Senate had more frequently voted against all such
amendments to the appropriation bills without re-
gard to party ties. The senator from Maine certain.
ly had not examined the record.
Mr. Conover said he would not submit the amend
ment which he gave notice of yesterday providing
for mail steamship service between San francisco
China, Japan and Australia.
The question was then submitted to the Senate,
"ls the amendment proposed by the senator from
Texas in order under the goth rule of the Senate
and it was decided in the negative-yeas 49, nays 81.
T Inc b,ll having been considered in the committee
ments made in the committee were concurred in and
the bill passed,
The Senate resumed the consideration of tbe hill
to repeal the specie resumption act.
MI. Coke read lengthy argument in favor of re-
peal.
OF the sewerage of the city of Washington Referred
to the committee of the District of Columbia
:, Mr.. Harris then spoke in favor of the repeal of
the specie resumption act. He also opposed a high
protective tariff as being injurious to the country
The President pro TEN. laid before the Senate
message from the President of the United State in
answer to Senate resolution of the 10Th ult en-
closing report from the Secretary of State in
regard to the terms and conditions under which the
surrender OF the Cuban insurgents was made
foreign relations.
Mr.. Morgan gave notice that tomorrow 10 would
aodress the Senate upon the resolution recently SUBJ
m1tted 5p him touching the relations between the
United States and Mexico.
Mr. voorhees, gave notice that when the bill to
repeal the specie resumption act taken up again
he would insist upon its consideration fcom day to
day until vote was reached.
The Senate went into executive session and when
the doors were re-opened adjourned.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the journal.
demands for the regular order were made on both
sides.
The Speaker announced the regular order to be
secondlBg the demand for the previous question on
Mr.. Potter's res llution.
The Republicans abstained from voting leaving
the House without quorum. One hundred and
eleven Democrats were present, and 116 being neces
sary, a call OF the House was ordered. The call
disclosing the fact that here 2f5 members pre-
sent, further proceedings under the call were dis
pensed with. The question required on the second
lug demand tor the previous question.
The Republicans again resorted to filibusteripp
tactics, and the House was left without a Quorum.
the Democrats being able to mus er only 1l3 votes
Mr. WoOd Said as factious minority seem
determined to obstruct the business move that the
House adjourn.
The motion opposed by the Republicans. but
was carried by a vote of $50 to 1O4.
Before announcing the result, the Speaker lai
before the House communication from NJ r.
White, chancellor of the Smithsonian Institute ia.
1ormlog the House of the death of Professor Joseph
Henry. and inviting the members to be present at
the funeral services next Thu sday.
On motion OF Mr.. Ciymer. the Senate resolution
for adjournment OF the TWO Houses Thursday next
at o'clock for the purpose of flowing Senators and
members to attend the funeral of the late ,Josenh
Henry was taken up and adopted.
The result of the vote was then annouueed altar
which the clerk gave notice of Democratic caucns
to take place Immediately. The announcements
caused derisive laughter on the Republican side