The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Consular Service Bill.
a soa,hing Rebuke from Mr.. Hale.
Millions for Schemes and Jobs.
NiggardIy Economy in Aid to the
Nations Commerce.
Whitthorne Gives the Democratic
Idea Of Reform.
A Rant from Cox About the Eleoto.
raj Commission.
A Congress that Seems to be With
out Business.
A Congress that Seems to be With
out Business.
SENATE.
wAsHIsdroH, March II

SENATE.
/ WASHINGTON, March II.
Mr.. Thurman, from the Judiciary
Committee, reported with amendment
the Senate bill prohibiting the members
OF Congress from becoming snreties on
certain bonds. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Thurman gave notice that he
would call II up for consideration at an
early day.
The House bill for the relief Of VIM. A
Hammond, late Surgeon General, was
taken up, and Mr.. Plumb spoke In oppo'
sition. The bill was then passed without
amendment. Yeas, 55; nays, Plumb
On motion Of Mr.. Thurman the bill re-
ported by the Judiciary Committee, in re-
gard to the Pacific Railroad sinking
fund, was taken up and he spoke al
length in favor thereof.
A resolution instruc.ing the Commit
tee on Judiciary to inquire into the ex-
pediency Of providing that all claims
against the United States exceeding one
thousand dollars in amount be presented
in the circuit courts for the districts 10
which the claims originated, was agreed
to.
A bill in aid Of the Polar Expedition
designed by James Gordon Bennett,
passed unanimously without debate.
The Vice President submitted com.
muuication frem the Secretary Of the In.
terror in answer 10 the timber troubles in
Montana.
Mr.. Matthews said the communication
was long one, and moved that II be re-
ferred 10 the Committee on Public Lands
without being read, anil be printed in the
records.
Mr.. Sargent objected to ii being print
ed in the Record, but had no objections TO
printing 1t Ia the usual document form.
He referred to the course Of the Score.
tary Of the Interior in regard TO the tim:
ber matters, and said it would stop all
industries In many western States aud
territories, He had no objection to Civ
ing to the public in the usual document
form anything the Secretary might desire
to say In defense OF his course, but he
didn't recognize the right Of a Cabinet
member to come upon the floor Of the
Senate and make speech or have print
ed in the Record a defense OF his course.
Mr.. Matthews said he desired to reply
to Mr.. Sargent and called for the reading
OF the communication as the parties
speech, that it might appear in the Re-
cord.
Alter debate upon the points Of order
Mr.. Sargent objected to the present con.
alteration OF the motion TO refer the
document and 1t was laid over until to-
morrow.
PETITION FROM Dob ISGERsoLL AND
OTHERS.
Mr.. Teller presented petition from
Robert G. Ingersoll, Of Illinois, and
others, in which they say that without
the knowledge Of your petitioners, and,
as they believe, without the knowledge OF
any great number oil citizens, certain acts
were procured to be passed BY Congress
in 1878, and since incorporated into the
revised statutes as sections / ,TS5, 3.S7Sl
3,s0S, s, $3.50 annd 2,49l, for the ostensible
purpose ofsnppressing obscene literature,
which reversed the policy and practice oil
our Government since its foundation;
that in the belief OF your petitioners the
Government Of the United States was
established under the declaration Of In
dependence and the Constitution Tor mere
general purposes Of government only
and for protection, and not ior the lint
tation Of rights, personal liberty, freedom
OF press Of the expression Of opinion, 30,
that the statutes aforesaid are 10 the
opinion OF your petitioners plain viola-
tions OF the letter and spirit Of these
fundamental principles Of our govern.
ment, and that they are capable OF and
are In fact being used for pnrposes oi
moral and religious persecution. The
petitioners pray that the statutes aiore
said may be repealed or materially mod
lied 40 ihby cannot be used 10 abridgs
the freedom Of the press or Of the con-
science.
A few names were signed to the peti.
tion, after which was the following "And
10000 others attached to the petition,
Q loo feet long with the House Committee
on Revision Laws. The petition was re
ferrsd to the Committee on Revision.
Mr.. Thurman explained the provisions
OF the bill, and said 1t was fair and just
and no man could deny that twas liberal
After providing for a sinking fund tht
Union Pacific Company could s,ill de-
clare a dividend Of ~ per cent and ,h'
Union Pacific one Of 0 4 100 per cent OF
tha nominal yalne of their stock.
Mr.. Davis, Of Illinois, member OF thu
Judiciary Committee, spoke Of the neces
atty Of making some provision for thu
payment Of the Indebtedness due frou
these Pacific railroads, and argued tha
Congress had right TO pass such a bill a
the one proposed. He quoted from lega
authorities 10 support Of the power o
Congress- to pass the bill. :,
Pending discussion, the bill was lai'
over, and the Senate, on motion Of Mr
Window, took up the West Point Appro
priation bill, bnt before proceeding viii
la consideration motion ol Mr.. Mat
thews 10 10 into executive session wa
agreed to, and Mr.. Window gave notie'
that consideration Of the West Point bill
would be resumed at the expiration o
the morning hour tomorrow.
The Senate went into executive session
and when the doors were opened I'D
journed. ,,,,,
After an explanation BY Mr.. soulhsrd
disclaiming the authorship Of the join
resolution In regard to 4 plural execu
tive head, the House went into Commit
tee Of the Whole on the Diplomatic ant
Consular Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. Hale spoke Of the great importane
OF the consular service Of the country. !
was Of vital consequence 70 commerce; !
Was the last service which any discrimi
mating nation hayipg much commerce
aud desiring to growl would discourage
| II was because the bill assaulted both dip
llomatic and consular service that he wa
now on the floor. The gentlemen Wit
Ihad charge Of the bill (Singleton) hal
spoken tho other day about the nsesssit!