The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-05
XLvTH CONGREs S-SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb 4.
Credentials of Donald Cameron as Senator from
Pennsylvania for six years from March 4th read and
placed on file.
MIR. Hamlin said he was present at the executive
session yesterday and voted upon the nomination of
Mr.. Merritt He had appointment and left the
Senate without thinking there was to be vote upon
another nomination, and it not until he reached
his lodgings and saw light in the capitol that it
occurred to him that another vote was to be taken
He returned to the capitol, but did not reach the
Senate prior to adjournment There were presidents
for such request and he now asked that he be al
lowed to vote against the confirmation of Mr. Burt
Senate ordered vote of Mr. Hamlp to be recorded as
requested.
Mr.. Maxey, from committee on post-offces. report
ed the amendment proposed by committee to post-
office appropriation bill to establish steamship line
between New York and Rio via Norfolk and another
line between New Orleans and RIO, via Galveston.
allowing subsidy $75O,OO0 per annum to each line
Referred to appropriation committee.
Mr.. Cameron, from election committee submitted
majority report signed by Republican members OF
the committee declaring David N. Corbin elected
Senator from South Carolina and entitled to seat.
Mr.. Hill from same committee, submitted minor
ity report signed by Democratic members, who favor
nj. 81 butier the present occupant Of the seat Both
ACpo1lc plaCeQ on the calendar.
Mr.. Matthews. from the committee on foreign rela
lions. reported back number of petitions in regard
to claims of citizens of the United States against
Nicaragua, together with resolution for the appoint
meut of a committee Of five Senators to sit durino
recess and inquire into the claims of citizens of the
United States against Nicaragua for indemnity. etc
Put upon the calendar
MIR. Morrill,, from the finance committee renorted
with amendment the House bill to authorize the ssue
of certificates Of deposit to aid in reundipg the pub
lie debt. Put upon the calendar.
Mr.. Edmunds gave notice that he would call nm
the joint resolution proposing an amendment to the
constil ution prohibiting payment of the claims of
dsloyal persons etc.
Mr.. WINDOW gave notice that on Friday he would
call up the resolution in regard to migration of COL
ored people.
Mr. Coke spoke at length in favor of constructing
railroads in Texas to the Rio Grande after which the
Senate resumed the resolution of MI. Edmunds.
Mr.. Bayaid spoke, declaring that the first one to
throw doubt upon the validity of the amendment
was the Senator from Vermont.
HOUSE.
The House went into the committee of the whale
on the army appropriation BILL An amendment re-
ducing the army to 15,o01 men was defeated bv a
large majority.
Quite stormy debate arose on the army appro-
priation bill on the amendment of Mr. Cox of New
York to reduce the army to II 500 men, in the course
OF which Mills of Texas charged the Democrats with
the responsibility of Clusters DEATH because of their
miserable economy.
House rejected the amendment reducing the army
to $4,000 men, and also reducing it 10 10000 men, &C
ayes, 1iS nays.
Several amendments were offered, reducing the
army to 10000 men and less. A long and spirited
discussion occurred between prominent members on
both sides The Democrats also had a little side
show, which was characterized by the Republicans as
family fight. Several spicy speeches were made
referring to the Custer massacre and unsurpassed
Rio Grande invasions as reasons for increasing the
army; also the Baltimore and Pittsburg riots which
the militia were unable to control.
Thiockmorton OF Texas opposed the reduction
The people of his and bordering states have been and
are still suffering because of this miserable economy
which has cost his people, millions of money and
millions of lives.
Mr. Kiefer asserted that if it had not been for the
few troops ga hered in Washington by President
Grant two years ago, the decision Of the electoral
commission would have been overturned by violence
and revolution, and a man put into the Presidency
who was not elected by the people He was in favor
of larger army than $500.
Mr.. Cox of New York said there was not a member
on the floor who did not understand very well that
out for certain and but for the sending ont
of orders for troops and artillery to come to WASH
ington the electoral commission would never have
been created. Timid citizens, money lords and
bond-holders, (men constutionaly afraid of revolu
ton and who would rather submit to fraud and
wrong than to violence and revolution, } when that
menace came from the chief executive, and when all
arrangements had been made, Gas they are being
made now tor $780, had been frightened and that
fright had been the provocative cause of the electoral
commission. This menace had made some members
OF the House succomb to power that was merely
ply steal, not moral That was part of the history
OF the country The bill appropriated some $2e OOp
600 for 25OO0 soldiers The same average had existed
for the last ten years What good had it ever done?
Had it settled the Indian question? No. Had it
given protection on the Rio Grande? No. 1t had
only eaten out the substance of the people.
The amendments to reduce the army were finally
rejected.
The majority report from the House naval commit
ZEE charges that under Robeson's administration the
navy department was greatly mismanaged and calls
the attention of the President to the tact and leaves
further procedure to his discretion.