Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-07
FORTT-SlXTH CONGRESS.
FRIDAY. May Z.

before the Senate the credentials Of Hon. JAS
A. Garfield, a Senator from the state of Ohio,
fer the term OF six years, beginning March 4,
1881. and placed on the files of the Senate.
Mr. Morgan moved that when the Senate ad-
journ to-day it be to meet on Monday next.
There was considerable opposition to the
motion.
MI. Morgan stated that his motion was made
at the instance Of the committee on counting
the electoral vote, who desired to meet tO-mor-
row. The motion was agreed to.
Bills were introduced and referred as follows:
By Mr.. Davis CIV. Va.), by request-To procure
and publish certain information relative TO the
other products in foreign countries. By Mr..
Dawes-Donating condemned cannon and ap-
purtenances to Lowell Post, No. /, G. A. R., Of
Boston.
Mr. voorhees, submitted resolution instruct
ing the committee on public lands to inquire
into the expediency, propriety and public pol
icy OF declaring all lands heretofore granted in
aid of the construction of railroads, and which
have not been earned by compliance with the
terms OF the grants, open to public entry and
settlement the same as other government lands.
and said committee shall have the right to
report by bill or otherwise. Printed and laid on
the table.
Mr.. Hoar stated that he had intended to call
up this morning the resolution submitted by
him yesterday directing the committee on the
judiciary to report bill to reimburse out OF the
Geneva award all those who lost ships by dep
relations OF confederate cruisers during the re-
DelliOn, but he would not oppose the c0nSldera-
tion OF the conference report on the Indian ap-
preparation bill, which was thereupon taken up
on motion Of Mr.. Beck.
Mr.. EdmundS opposed the adoption OF the re-
port. The House having failed to convince the
Senate that the Indian commission ought to be
abolished, it was proposed, IN order to secure
the passage of the appropriation bill at all, to
withhold the money necessary to pay the eX.
penseS of the commission. This was practically
nullifcatlon. This was hot political question,
and he urged the Senate to refrain from con-
senting to the introduction of such practice in
conferences between the houses
Mr.. Beck said the conference committee had
thought it best to remove this ground OF differ
much as the Sundry civil and other appropria-
tion bills would soon follow, in which the ap
preparation for the commission could be made
II thought best.
Mr. Morgan combatted MI. Edmunds view OF
the law The commissioners were mot, In his
opthlOn, officers OF the United States under the
statutes, and to decline to pay them was not TO
reIuSe money to carry On any part or the gov
eminent. They were Simbly advisers.
Mr. Edmunds again held that so long as law
was on the statute books, money enough TO en-
force it must be voted. Otherwise, the law
would be practically repealed without the Pres
ident being given voice in their repeal. II
this were not revolutionary, in the light OF The
constitution, he did not know what could be.
Mr. Morgan asked If the President could not
dismiss the members of the board without ask
ing the consent OF Congress.
MIR. EdmuddS thought SO.
Mr.. Morgan said that then the President
could abrogate law, but for Congress TO do it
was revolutionary, according to the Senator
from Vermont.
Mr.. Edmunds said that certainly any branch
Of the government could violate its duty. There
was no way generally to compel them to Ob-
serve their duties. But it was TO be hoped that
neither the President nor Congress would see
fit to do wrong simply because either had the
power
Mr.. Morgan thought it more revolutionary to
say law must exist until the President chose
to suspend it, than to say that Congress could
abrogate it at any time.
Mr.. Edmunds said it would probably be use
less to continue the discussion. He had tried
to fully explain bis views, and would content
himself with voting against the report.
Mr.. ingalls, was dissatisfied with the report,
but not because no money was voted for the
board. Judging from the past, the expenses Of
the board would be gladly paid by rings and
corruptionists interested in Indian supplies. He
related the facts In one case. The Kansas Man.
furnishing OF wagons. Their bid was 81, 900
lower than any other. But the board held Sc
cret sessions, invited eX parte testimony against
the quality OF the company's product, and gave
the contract to company in state Of which
one OF the board was a member. The Kansas
companys wagons were OF the highest quality.
They had been accepted by the Indian depart
Ment heretofore, and were perhaps more ex-
tensively used throughout the west than any
others: Their rejection was, in so far, stigma
upon their quality, and was used by rival COM
pan1es to the detriment OF the Kansas company.
There was thus both private and public fnjus-
tice. In view OF this and Otner cases. he reiter-
ated that favored corporations would no doubt
be glad to see that the expenses OF the board
were paid.
Mr.. Window said it was everywhere said that
there was lOOSeneSS and waste in the Indian de-
partment. Supervision was necessary, and he
saw no reason for dismissing supervisors. He
would therefore vote against the report, hoping
that another conference would secure an apprO-
friation for the support OF the board.
Mi. Allison, one OF the ccnfereeS, explained
his reason for signing the report. The House
would not have consented to the passage OF the
DILL as amended by the Senate. The Insertion
OF small prohibition was thought necessary to
facilitate the passage OF this important appro-
pl1ation bill. In fact. the prohibition amounted
10 nothing. Without specific appropriation the
expenses OF the board could not have been
paid.
Mr. Dawes would vote for the report, not be-
cause it was satisfactory to him. but because
every conference involved concessions on one or
|. both sides. He thought the Senator from Kan
saS (Nir. 1ngallS) was charging the board with
corruption on very slender grouDds-merely
that certain company failed to get contract.
The commissioners might have had reasons for
their action which would satisfy just men.
There was, at least, no evidence before the Sen
ate to the contrary.
After some further discussion. the conference
report was agreed to. without division.
MI Hoar announced that he would call up
his Geneva award resolution on Tuesday
MI Ieller presented the views of the minor
ity OF the Wallace committee on the subject of
political assessments. Printed and laid on tne
table.
Ihe morning nour having expired, the Senate
resumed consideration OF the Kellogg Spofford
resolutions
Mr.. Pryor supported the resolutions. proceed
ing to make legal argument to the effect that
the pleas OF res adjudicata and eStOppel were
not r1ghtfuIly relied on by the opponents of the
resolutions.
HOCSE.-The House met at 1880 a. m. to-
day. and proceeded to the consideration OF the
Post Office appropriation bill
Mr.. Cannon opposed the amendment adopted
by the committee OF whole yesterday, authoriz-
ing the Postmaster General to remit in favor OF
the colonies OF New Zealand and New South
Wales so much OF the cost OF the over
land transportation of Australian closed mails
as he may deem just. This amendment would
enable the Postmaster General to exercise a
discretion IN letting the mails for England pass
through the United States without any charge
against the government OF Great Britain.
The House then proceeded to vote upon the
amendments
The first amendment, on which a separate
vote was demanded, was that authorizing the
postmaster General TO use $3.50, 900 of the
SO, 40OO 600 appropriated for railway mail service.
TO obtain and secure from railways necessary
and special facilities for the postal service.
Ine amendment was adopted-yeaS, 10;
nays, 66.
The next amendment was that known as the
money" amendment, which is as follows: All
star routes snail be relet after thirty DAYS ad-
yertfsement, as now provided by law, on the lst
OF october, 1850, on which the pay for eXpedt-