Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-08
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WAsHINGroN, May
SENATE


Mr. Cockrell moved to take up the house bill to
forbid further retirement of United States Legal
tender notes, which was read the first time yester.
day, and said be moved to take it up now, that it
might be read the second time.
Agreed to-yess 80, nays %.
The bill was then read the second time.
Mr.. Morrill, moved ii be referred 10 the commit.
tee on finance.
Pending discussion on this motion the morning
hour expired.
The senate resumed consideration OF the PEN
SION appropriation bill.
MIR. Sargent, in charge of the pension bill, said
he was IN error yesterday in stating that % ,22j
names had been added ing the whole year, To-
l9l had been added up to this time.
The pending question being on inserting as a
substitute for the second section of the bill the
amendment adopted Yesterday, providing that on
the first day of January 1879. the term of Office Of
all pension agents shall expire, and thereafter
honorably discharged wounded or disabled sold
ers or widows or daughters of such soldiers shall
be appointed to said office.
Messrs. Conkling aud Edmunds spoke against
the amendment.
The amendment was rejected-yeas l6 nays SO.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike out the second
OF the bill which As agreed upon reads; THAT
fiom and after the passage of this act in of
vacancy from any cause, the Office of q pension
agent shall be filled by wounded disabled Union
soldiers or widows or daughters of Union
soldiers"
In support Of his motion. Mr.. Edmunds said
that thesrue policy WAS to leave these appoint.
ments with the President and his constitutional
advisers. That they had not rghtfully exercised
that responsibility during the past year he had
good reason to believe. In the New England
States there were seven pension agents prior 10
the consolidation. Six of them have been soldiers
and Que was civilian. 10 the consolidation of
these seven agencies into one, the civilian was re-
tanned. lie happened to be hit, and the six
soldiers were missed. The constitutional duty Of
appointing these officers rested with the President
aud he (Edmunds) was disposed to let it remain
there.
Mr.. Merrimon thought that class legislation was
beneath the dignity OF the senate. That the civ
an was selected because Concord happened to be
convenient point for Maine and Vermont.
Mr.. Blaine denied that Concord was q conveu-
lent point for the pension agency. There were
five trunk lines leading from Portland, and not
one OF them passed through Concord The sec
retaiy of the interior could not have selected a
more inaccessible point for the office.
The motion OF MIR. Edmunds to strike out the
second section was rejected-yeas 90, nays 30.
The b IL leported to the Senate with amend
ments of the committee of the whole were con-
Cured IN, read the third time and passed
Mr., Paddock of Neb submitted resolution re-
questng the President to furnish information in
IL lation to the land grant subsidy of the ST. Jo-
seph & Denver City Railroad, the number of miles
completed, and whether it had been finished to
the po'nt OF connection With the Union Pacific,
designated on the plan in the interior depart
ment, &C.
Agreed to.
Mr.. A llison called up the Indian appropriate ion
BILL and in expla nation theI eof said the committee
on appropriations had made very few amend
ments to the bill as it came from the House. The
amendments were unimportant. He moved that
i've minute rule he applied to discussions of the
ame ndments.
Agreed to.
a large number of amendments reported by the
committee on appropriations, increasing the sp-
preparation for some agencies few hundred dol
lars, and decreasing it in other cases, were agreed
TO; also an amendment authorizing the commits
sioner OF Indian affairs to employ two special In
dian agents at large, at compensation not az
ceeding $1,000 EACH per annum.
Mr.. MsXey moved TO amend the House bill so
a. to provide Tor the removal of the Nez Perces
indians OF 'Joseph's band now held as prisoners
OF war at Fort Lesvenworth, Hans, to Idaho ter
litory, as the House proposed.
Pending discussion the Senate went into execu-
tive session, and when the doors were re-opened
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The District of Columbia government bill was
taken up.
The bill was passed establishing 9 permanent
Cover nment for the District of Columbia.
The house decided by vote Of 100 yeas to los
nays to 90 into committee of the whole on the
tariff bill. 1t was very close vote aud the result
was only obtained by four democrats changing
from no to aye.
As soon the result of the vote was announced
a motion TO adjourn was made by Mr.. Conger and
deieated-yeas SO. nays l7S
The house at 80 o'clock went into committee
af the whole, with Mr.. Ssyler in the chair, on the
tariff bill.
Mr.. Banks took the floor and spoke nearly two
hours, and his speech attracted much attention
and was occasionally spplsuded.
At the conclusion of tue speech the committee
rose.
MIR. Singleton made conference report on the
bill to regulate the advertising Of mail lettings
which agreed to.
On the motion OF Mr. Acklen, the senate bill
for the distribution aud sale of the new edition OF
the revised statutes, WAS taken from the speakers
table and passed.
Mr.. Butler introduced bill to provide for
tariff commission.