The Portland daily press., 1880-04-17
xLvIth CONGRESSES Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, April is.
Thursday number of pension bills were
passed, and the discussion of the Geneva award
bill was resumed, the question being on the
adoption of Mr.. Hoar's amendment striking
out the provision for the payment of under
writers losses. Mr.. Blaine spoke in support
of the amendment and Senators Thurman and
Bayard spoke in defence of the bill as reported.
No action was reached
The Senate on meeting to-day voted that
when adjournment was made it should be to
Monday.
A bill to abrogate the power of executive
officers OF the United States in allowing in
demnity, locations or scrip for confirmed I'M
satisfied private land claims, and to vest that
power in courts was indefinitely postponed.
A bill granting pension to Jesse F. Phares,
scout, was taken up.
Pending debate the morning hour expire d
and the Senate resumed the Geneva award
bill.
Mr.. Kirkwood gave notice of an amendment
to make section read:
That judgments under this act shall be paid
out of money paid to the United States pur-
suant to the treaty of Washington, not ex-
pended in payment of claims heretofore
allowed, etc.
Mr.. Jones of Florida spoke against the bill.
Mr.. Carpenter argued that the award was
paid for and on account of individual claims
marks Mr.. Carpenter said that if the state
ments of Mr.. Blaine were true-that the
amount awardedwas arrived at by a sort Of
splitting the difference or chalking on a barn
door-the arbitrator ought to be impeached if
they were impeachable. The charge was too
grave to be made fippantry; but the best
opinion that could be formed, he thought,
from their statement would be that they al
lowed per cent interest, and the difference
between and per cent would reduce the
surplus probably to 100000, showing with
what wonderful accuracy those arbitrator had
made their calculations and scanned the exact
truth and justice of claims presented. Mr..
Carpenter also read from a speech of Mr..
Pierce of Boston in the House in 1876, as fol
lows:
Geneva that the claims OF underwriters formed
the basis of the award paid this government by
Great Britain, and that the records of the
court clearly show that fact.''
Without completing his remarks Mr.. Car
penter called for an executive session. after
which the Senate adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE.
In the House of Representatives Thursday
the bills providing a construction fund for the
navy and providing for the equipment of an
expedition to the North pole introduced at the
evening session on Wednesday, were passed.
The Indian appropriation bill was taken up
and amendments changing somewhat the
were agreed to in committee of the whole.
The House held an evening session to con-
slider bills reported from the naval committee,
and several bills were passed.
An amendment by Mr.. Hooker to strike
ont the $4,000 appropriation for expenses of
the Indian Commissioners and to repeal the
statutes providing for an appointment of
commission was adopted.
The following additional amendments were
also adopted: Providing that before purchase
of supplies for the Indians are made, at least
six weeks notice shall be given; prohibiting
officers or agents of the army or Indian bureau
giving permission to any Indian on the reser'
walton to go into Texas.
Mr. Hooker submitted an amendment trans
ferring the Indian bureau from the Interior to
the War department.
Messrs. Haskell and Conger rose to point
OF order against the amendment. Pending
discussion the committee rose.
The joint resolution appointing managers of
National Homes for disabled volunteers, was
referred to the committee of the whole.
A bill relative to machinists in the navy was
passed.
Next Tuesday evening was set apart for
consideration of pension bills on the private
calendar, and the House adjourned.