The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-24
xLvIth CoNGREss-Ist Session.
SENATE.

1
| WASHINGTON, March %.
A bill Incorporating national education as
| ISOLATION was taken up and discussed.
| Mr.. Hoar introduced bill to prevent fra I'D
| ulent claims against the United States and to
discourage speculation therein. Referred.
Pending debate the morning hour expired
| and the Geneva award bill was taken up.
Mr.. Garland addressed the Senate. He
| quoted legal authority to show that the insur-
| ers became owners of property insured after
| il had been abandoned by persons insured and
are subrogated to all the rights of the original
| owners, including the right to sue for indem-
nifty for loss of property, &c.
| Mr.. Dawes spoke against the bill He held
| that the award was from the British to the
| American government not for specific private
| indemnity but for national satisfaction. It
| should be distributed according to equity.
| Those who lost by reason OF acts for which the
| award was made should be paid first beft re
bonuses were given to those who really lost
effect for the paymentlof certain premiums to
run the risk OF the very disaster which hap
pened to any such vessel, and they must there
fore be regarded as having insured themselves
against the consequences. To pay further
compensation would in this instance be paying
them twice over. What perverson of lam
guage of the award that would be. AS no
claimant has legal right to any,part of the
fund insurance companies cannot be subrogat-
ed to anyone's rights. He would support
Dul luu6uullylIlS buCS6 WHO dCbu1lly suffered.
Mr.. Herman obtained the floor, but the SEN
ate went into executive session and when the
doors re-opened adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Conger called attention to the fact that
a bill introduced by Mr.. Townsend amending
a section of the revised statutes, had been re-
ferred in violation of the rule to the committee
on revision of the laws. He spoke of the am
biguity of the title of the bill which was to
amend title 80 of the Revised Statutes.
Mr.. Reed of Maine would not say that the
bill had been Struggled into the House because
that would be unparliamentary, but it had
been practically brought in without the knowl-
Mr.. Townsend-H the gentleman had
used such term, parliamentary or unparlia-
mentary. 1 should have denounced it as
falsehood.
Mr. Reed-And 1 should have replied that
that would not make the slightest difference to
me or any other member of the House.
Mr.. Townsend-It might not make differ
ence to the gentleman to be told that it was
false, but men Of honor would know the mean
ing of that word and it would make differ
ence to them. Applause on the Democratic
side.)
A motion by Mr.. Garfield to refer the bill
to the Ways and Means Committee was tabled.
Mr.. Townsend moved to reconsider, and
then attempted to withdraw the motion which
was not permitted.
Mr.. Townsend appealed, but on motion of
Mr.. Garfield the appeal was tabled.
Question required on motion to reconsider
the vote by which Mr.. Garfeld's original mo-
ton to refer the bill to the Ways and Means
Committee was laid on the table, and the
House voted to reconsider.
The motion to again lay it on the table was
lost.
Debate then occurred, in the course of which
Mr.. Garfield asserted that Mr.. Townsend had
deceived the House by placing meaningless
title on his bill and having it referred to the
Committee on Revision of the Laws in face of
the rule which requires reference of all bills
relating to revenue to the Ways and Means
Committee.
Mr.. Townsend explained his motives for
having the bill referred to the Revision Com
mittee and finally said: I want the gentleman
to understand he cannot under cover Of moon
shine get rid of his responsibility. want him
to understand that I am his peer here cloud
laughter on the Republican side), and here
ates that deceived the House he is guilty of
wilful, deliberate falsehood applause on the
Democratic side and laughter on the Republi-
can side.) do not expect other gentlemen
who profess the same sentiments as himself to
answer in any other way than by derision, but
l desire him to understand that / stand on my
responsibility as representative to say to him
that do brand his charge as wilfully and de-
iberately false great excitement)
Mr.. Garield-After that indecent exposure
of his person and of his mind 1 have nothing
whatever to say to the gentleman Qaughter.)
The House finally adjourned without arriv-
ing at any decision.