Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-18
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
(Second SESSION.
The Senate.

The Senate.
Washington, March 1.-THE bill removing
the political disabilities of Roger A. Pryor was
passed.
GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD.
Senator Hampton, from the committee on
military affairs, reported bill to complete the
survey of the Gettysburg battlefield and pro-
vide for the compilation and preservation of
data, showing the various positions and move
ments of the troops ut that battle, illustrated
by diagrams. Placed on tho calendar.
Mr.. Burnside introduced bill to provide q
permanent construction fund for the navy and
other purposes. Referred.
STAR SERVICE DEFICIENCY.
Pending the debate on private bills the MORN
ing hour expired, and the Senate resumed con-
sideration of the star route deficiency bill, the
pending question being on the committee
amendment prohibiting the increase of trips
on star routes during the remainder of the ifs
cal year.
Senators Blaine, Plumb and Call opposed the
amendment and Davis w. Va. Beck and Sauls-
bury advocated it. The amendment was reject
ed, yeas %, nays 30.
The amendment prohibiting expedition of
the service to q rate of pay exceeding 50 per
cent. of the the original contract price was
agreed on.
Senator Davis, W. Va, submitted for the
committee on appropriations an additional
section to the bill appropriating $4,000 for
the public printing, including the cost of
printing the Congressional Record, it being q
part of the deficiency for the current fiscal
year. Senator Davis stated that bill was
pending in the House apprOpriating $50, 900 to
cover the whole printing deficiency, but
might not get through as soon rs this bill. and
immediate appropriation should be made,
for the necessary printing.
Senator White favored the amendment, say
ing that unless an immediate appropriation
were made the entire business of the printing
office would be stopped after this week. The
amendment was agreed to.
The question then REQUIRED on the following
amendment proposed by the committee to
superseae the preamble: Nothing in this act
contained shall be deemed or construed as rati-
ication of any unlawful act or the omission of
any officers Of the United States, or affect any
proceedings thereon"
Senator Ingalls, asked ut whom this preamble
VI amendment was aimed.
Senator Beck said he himself thought the
postmaster general should be condemned, but
in fact it was legal reservation of opinion.
Senator Kirkwood moved to amend the
amendment by inserting after the word 'rati-
striking out the word "unlawful."
Senator Davis said he would accept the
amendment.
Senator Blaiue-why put the clause in. then,
if il 10 TO mean nothing nj sall-neither con-
dennis nor approves.
Senator Davis-We think the bill will be
cleaner, and may be some hands will be clean
er with it in.
Senator salisbury opposed Senator Kirk
wood amendment. 1t asserted that the Senate
did not condemn the departments action, and
therefore by implication approved it.
Senator Blaine thought the Senate would
III lie itself ridiculous by such An amendment
Us proposed by tho committee.
Senator Beck thought it was only necessary
that the Senate reserve its opinion pending in
vestigatiOn by the House.
When the vote was taken on KirkwOod's
amendment Eaton called for the yeas and nays,
saying if such a foolish clause as this were in
serted it should be by recorded vote. The
was rejected. yeas rs, nays "a.
The question then REQUIRED On the commit
tees amendment.
rs buncombe. The bill could not be con-
strued as a ratification of anything. He was
anxious to have the bill pass, but wo uld
vote against it if this clause were inserted. He
would not implicitly traduce an officer who he
believed acted wisely and for the greatest
good of the greatest number.
Senator Edmunds favored the amendment.
The appropriations committee has stated that
it believed tho department had violated tho
law. he did not intend to express any opinion
on that question, but he did not intend to vote
for an appropriation which was practically a
conformation of an loffense, If one bad been
committed, and thus invite it to offend again.
Ho wanted Congress to rcscind its judg-
ment.
Senator Conkling moved to amend tho con-
stitutional amendment so as to read: Nothing
strued to affect the validity or legality of the
acts or missions of any officer of the United
States, or to affect any proceeding therefor"
He said it was better in legal sense than that
of the committee and it made no offensive
imputations.
Senator Beck said the committee had no OBJ
lection to the amendment. Senator Conkling
said it was agreed to and the committee's
amendment, as thus amended, agreed to.
Senator Davis, West Virgins, for the com.
mittce, asked leave to withdraw the preamble.
The bill was then read a third time and passed
without discussion. The bill, as passed by
the Senate, is as follows:
THE BILL AS PASSED.
Be ii enacted etc, That the sum of 81, 100, 900,
or so much thereof as may be necessary, is
hereby appropriated to meet the expenses Of
inland transportation on star routes for the re-
mainder of the current fiscal year, and during
the remainder of the current fiscal year NO fur
Their expeditiug of the service on any postal
star route shall be made.
Sec. 2. That the further sum of 500, 600 is
appropriated, as aforesaid, to enable the post
master general to plan new service author
lied by law, provided that the postmaster gen.
eral shall not hereafter have the power to expe-
dite the service under any contract either now
existing or hereafter given, TO a rate of pay ex-
ceeding so per cent. upon the contract as origi.
pally let.
Sec. 8. That the sum Of $4,000 is appropri-
ated, as aforesaid, for the public printing. in
Guiding the cost of printing the Congressional
Record, it being part of the deficiency for the
current fiscal year.
Sec. 4. Nothing in this act contained shall
be deemed or construed to affect the validity or
legality of the acts Or omissions of any officer
of the United States, or to affect any proceed
ings therefor.
Senator Garland moved the Senate take up
the House bill for the establishment of titles in
the Hot Springs and for other purposes. Agreed
to.
Senator Thurman said if debate on the Hot
Springs but threatened to take up much time
he would insist on his previous notice and call
up the Geneva award bill. After an executive
session adjourned.
The House.
WASHINGTON, March l7.-Mr. Taylor offered