New-York tribune., 1878-03-28
yLVth CONGRESS---IId SESSION

rHs SENATE PASSES THE AMENDED DIPLOMATIC
BILL-IHE RAILROADS SINKING FUND DISCUSSED
A rrE VOTE INT p HOUSE on THE MAssACHU-
szTTs CONTESTED ELECuoS CASE.
SENATE. WASHINGTON. March 27. 1879.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. HOAR (Rep.. Mass)
presented memorial signed ny the Governor. ieuten-
anftovernor an the members o. the Executive Council
and the Secretary OF staso Of the Comm0nwoalth OF
Massachusetts, expires the opinion that the efficiency
af the Life5aving service win be greater IL 1t be left
under OF the Revenue Marine Bureau Treas
1ry Department
Other pei itions Of similar character were presented
by Mr. FERRY lIep, Michl, Mr. MATTHEWS rep.
Ohiol, NJ CONKLING O}ep., Y. y and others all OF
which were laid Oh the table the bill no" being nefore
Sir. WISDOM GRep. Minn). from the commit,se on
Appropriations, reported sunsyitnte ;ar tae noase r
tain grounds south OF the Capitol ia washington H. -
Several bin were introduced and referred, among
Br Mr. kERNAN tDem.. n Yl,Graptiing pensions 10
Indians who were service 0f the United states in
the VAR OF 1919 scOais guides or war10fa Referred
nv Mr MAxEY Dem. Tcxasl.-Estahlisling edu-
oationa fund and toaPpy portion 81 m proceeds or
the more complete endowment and support ~ national
colleges for the advancement OF scientific and industrial
BY Mr. CoNKlTNG C1ep, y. YJ-Approrrating
100000 for the Improvement 0i Harlem River, be-
tween Rlndalrs Island aud the Hudson River Re
terred g the Committee on Commerce
The VICE-PRfs IDENT under the order OF the Senate
,ypointed Mr.. EusuS tDem, Lal. Mr. saunders thep-
Gcbl aud Mr. Conover Rep. tlaJ. the committee on
the part the senate to the remains O the Hon.
John Leonard late Representative in Congress from
The state Of louisiana upon their arrival ~ NeW-Nork
and 10 accompany them 10 tae place OF n'ermen1 at
ei;izcns ~ NcwTofk engaged IN painting romonstra
nr against the removal Of duties ON certain articles a
fecng industry also The petition Of business men
All Mr CoaElng said he Thought they demonstrated
AGAINST IT. revival With abundant reason.
The VICE PRESIDENT aid before the Senate a com
runIcauou from Professor 5. +. Baird. United states
Fish Commissioner, inclosug his report for ls76 and
ls77 Ordered that 1t be printed and lad the table.
Nj ANTHONY Re p, T. H. submitted resolution 70
print 5000 extra copies Of the report Referred to the
Nr "MERRiM0S dem, y c. submitted resolution
directiAf ne scretarJ oi war 10 c2MnHeaJs 10 ne
Ina Railroad; bow long The G0veInD ems had Possession
eros receipts from freight ana iare over Ihe i0ad from
May !, 1865, TO October 26. 1863 Agreed to.
THE PAY OF RAY AND N'NuIIAN.
Nj. noAR rep. Mass.), from the Committee on Puy-
reee. and Elections called no the resolution reported
sy hin a few days ago 20 pay John Ray and William l.
Mcmillan the sum OF 1000 each Cnstead Of compensa
ton aud meage they having contested the seat in tho
Senate for The unexpred term Of william 2. Kellogg,
eRGing March 3. 1873.
Nr Ioar said IN explanation Of the resolution that
two rival bodies IN louisiana each claiming 10 ne The
Legislature elected senators IN 1873 namely, Mr. Rag
and Mr. Mcmillan According TO me nnbr9ken usage OF
the scuate the contestants saOald be paid The prac
ss % as Ssns ad naD %es ps Of Of Saof whch G iR
case would amount 10 S2.7UO fog each hut the comGt
actual expenses and disbursements IN The contest and
was unanimously aSreed TO slye them II oooe each.
~ - ,,-ot~h eonsidered the case lie well rcneul-
bered this Louisiana contest and after the credentials OF
Mcmillan we're presented he 80 placed himself IN the
hands OF gentleman holding theR seetas senator from
L0aisiana Mr. West. taat senator felt authorized
withdraw the credentials 10 make way for Mr. Pinch
MT HoAR said mat was IN another contest and net
Mr BRYkRD said az The time Mr.. NeMiIlan's
credentials withdrawn, the idea prevailed that
,.fc nan ssS9 Sf b ba5 setiied me 1naf,er e5nrs
themselves and the one withdrawing had received the
compensation TO which he might be entitled to reim-
tursc Inn for exreuses Of contest. etc MT Pinch
tack had received $4,000 GOO FOR contest
egpse the committee now bui regretted their dis
efenon bad led t1fm 70 award any compousauon
Mr COfKREIL Dom. Mo- inquired II the committee
hat the clau or compensation etc. n the other
tests fsr flaf state, 5ef0re It.
Mr. Ho1R replied they had already been settled by
Mr. SALISBURY Dem. Dell. a member Of the Com
pittee Privileges and Eections. sad he favored the
award Of $1,000 each OF these claimants IN view of
all toe preeedens % the senate In contested eases
Mr. COCKRELL Dem. Mo- said he thought IN these
times OK Civl service reform II would be exceedingly
opporune % stop tnese bad precedents by which %
many senators we're bound.
Mr 1ApLLiGH tke2 y: n chairman OF the Com
attending the contest and said the contestants
rendered Important service 10 the committee M assisting
90 deride the Louisiana controversy. The comnltSe
believed night 10 allow them $1,000 each in view Of AL
Nj COSKLiNG CRrp., n " said n had long seemed
10 AIN that the usag-s o. each House Oh Congress IN
paying compensation and mileage tegdrGless OF the
merits u contestants. was an sbuse he had en-
10 the sasp. He understood the senator from Missouri
iMr CoCkrclD 20 say he would not vote for cOmpensa
ssa IN IN me sesste He Sa6ttc to his friend that that
was hardly right Where two per-ons contestng for
iI IN ne % Ss se aid Ss " sy ae sp private Ss S
SIR Conkng doubted whether case had ever occurred
winch clearly fell within that principle than the
Mr. THURMAN Dem, ohol said that as the Senate
had aready allowed Pinchback, OF the contestants
from Louisiana eoupt nIstion Re d,d pot see how 1t
The resolution was then agreed toy Yeas, % nays T.
rHE DIET or THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The Senate then resumed consideration Of the Pacific
Railroads. sinking Fand Bill
MF. HILL Deas Cal spoke in substance as follows;
The parative merits OF the two bills before the
wish 10 understood anything may say against
the bill Of the Judiciary Committee shah not be taken
coismitee on Railroads shan conaue my remarks 10
the constitutional question az to the power OF
~ the Judiciary Committee. The bill reported
~ the Railroad Committee proposes to es'a6-
companies. While that Of the judiciary Committee pro-
poses establish sinking fund at the will Of the cred
only unauthorized by the Constitution. but w1l
be actually subvrrsye OF the great purposes FOR which
executive or lniieal-esn, under any pretenee what
change, add TO- alter ahe nd OF rsseind contract
cxrcpt upon the allegation and proof " fraud III It's
Tbe b Of the Judiciary Committee proposes to change
the rights and Liabilities OF the parties TO his contract
and Without any allegation Of fraud default IL Is
broad assertion that COngress by It's power alone can
chan ~ a contract u the power 10 alter and amend
claimed by the Dll exists at all IL Is clearly aJudci ana
The Government creditor can have no more rights
than other creditors When the Government loans
money enters EO trade with its citizens IL does So
not sovereign, but civil corporation, and
subject 20 al the laws governing such corporations.
lative power % enforce protect right as
civil corporation creditor is guilty OF the pos
s5le usarpaIiOn. Legislation may authorize contracts