The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-17
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Senate.

CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Senate.
A minority report from the committee on
civil service and retronohment WAS presented
relative to alleged violations of civil service
rules in the Providence custom house, and it
was ordered to be printed. The minority say
that the investigation disclosed nothing TO
sustain the charges brought in the memorial,
which alleged that the laws providing for ap-
pointment OF ex-soldiers to office nave been
violated in the removals and appointments in
that department Of the public service.
Mr.. Morgan submitted resolutions, which
were adopted, expressive OF the regret OF the
Senate st the death of his late colleague, Sem
ator Houston, and e~ulogies were delivered by
Messrs. Hamlin, Davis, OF Illinois, and Thur
o.
The bill to authorize the refunding to post
masters OF funds or valuable letters lost or
stolen was reported and placed On the cslen-
dar.
A petition has been presented in the Senate
from owners OF steamboats, plying on the Mis-
sissippi river, reciling that they suffer great
Inconvenience and pccuniary loss by thede.
sertion OF crews or parts OF crews. Passen-
gers, mails and cotton shipments are thus dis
astrously delayed. Tho prosperity OF a large
part OF Inc Southwestern people depends on
the regularity OF this commerce. The only
penalty now laid on such desertion is tor
lecture OF wages, and ever this cannot always
be enforced. Legislation to remedy this evil,
compelling men to abide by their contncts, is
prayed for.
The bill admitting free OF duty clothing and
other charitable contributions from abroad for
The rcliet OF colored emigrants from Kansas
was passed.
A message from the President was received
inviting the attention of Congress to the sub
ject of the unsettled claims OF Spanish inhab-
itants OF East Florida, the settlement OF which
WIS provided for by the treaty OF 1919 between
the United States and Spain. The tribunal es.
tablished under this treaty by act OF Congress
in 1888 allowed five per cent. interest on such
claims as they acted tavorabIy on, but the then
secretary OF tho treasury declined to pay this
part OF the awards made. Claims for such in
ierest nave often been made since, but the
secretaries of the treasury nave not overruled
the decision OF their predecessor.
Mr.. Randolph spoke in support OF his pro.
posed substitute for the committee bill tor the
relief oil Fitz John Porter. The substitute
authorizes the President to nominate Mr..
Porter as a colonel OF infantry, his commission
70 date from January, 1863, and to retire him
according to law.
Resolutions OF the legislature OF New York
were presented asking appropriations tor the
better fertilization OF New York barber.
Mr.. Allison, from the committee on appro.
priations, reported iavorably the House bill
making appropriation for deficiency Tor the
support OF certain Indian tribes.
The following resolution. submitted by Mr..
IIoar, was adopted: "Resoired, That the
committee on judiciary be instructed to inquire
and report whether any American citizens
have been arrested or imprisoned for tho OK.
ercise oftheir constitutional right to petition
this body concerning a matter OF grand public
interest, namely, the title to d seat in this body
Of n Senator from the State Of which they are
citizens, with power to send for persons and
papers md administer oaths." This is sup
posed to refer to the action of the Louisiana
legislature in regard to the kellogg case.
Mr.. Logan spoke against Mr.. Randolph's
amendment to the bill tor the relief OF Fiz
John Porter.
The Senate passed the House bill to amend
section 1920 of the revised statutes in re-
lation to allowing a drawback on firearlns
scales, balances, s%hovels, spades, axes, hatch
els, hammers, plows, cultivators, moving
machines, reapers and cans manufactured
rartly or material grown in the United States
and exported.
Mr.. Jones introduced O bill for the relief OF
Mrs. Betty Taylor and Mrs. Knox Wood,
daughter and granddaughter OF Zachary
Taylor.
Mr.. Warner introduced a joint resolution
reaf1rming the Monroe doctrine as follows:
"WHERRAs, In his seventh annual message
10 Congress, President Monroe asserted that
we owe it TO candor and 10 the amicablc re.
lations existing between the United States
and these (the European) powers, to declare
that we shall consider any attempt ON their
part to extend their system to any part OF
this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and salety;' and WHEREAS, The doctrine
thus announced has been accepted by tho
American people, and has become q cardinal
principle OF our national policy; and WHERE
AS, 1t is now proposed to construct, unde:
guarantees OF foreign governments, q canal
across the T~st!rnus OF Darien; therefore, DO
Il 'Resolued, ETC.. That the doctrine an
nounced TO the world more than halt a CEN
fury ago Ivy President Monroe, and known ~
the Monroe doctrine, be, and the same is
hereby reasserled. And in accord Herewith,
in behalf of the people OF the United States,
we affirm that the control OF any interoceanic
Cuhhl uSloso ClC 4olAiu1iAo VI NnhAoA1 "hihS
open to US and all nations equally, must, in
the interests OF ourselves and the world. be
kept under the special protection OF the
United States. Resolved, That the United
States, sensible OF the importance 10 the tinde
OF the world OF opening Il water passng"-wsy
between the two oceans, will cordially pro-
mote, by such means as may be deemed
proper AMI jldicious, such an undertaking."
The Joint resolution was referred to the inter-
oceanic canal committee.
The " star " mnil route deficiency bill was
discussed, amended by reducing the amount
placed at the disposition OF the postmaster
general and passed, all the amendments pro-
posed by the advocates OF star-route service
extension being rejected
Among new bills introduced are the follow.
ing: 10 limit the maximum rnto OF duty on
carpotings to fifty per cent. ad valorom; TO
repeal all acts granting lands in the Indian
Territory to railroads.; to extend for ten
years the time Tor the completion of the
Texas and Pacific rnilroad; for the survey and
disposal OF The public lands; abolishing all
:nrif duties on printing type, trace-chains
and agricultural implements; also, to enable
all persons raising tobacco to soil the same
without, license; to regulate commerce be-
tween the States; to place wood and straw
pulp and the chemicals used in the manutac.
ture OF paper on The free list, and to reduce
the duty on printing paper used in the publ
cation of newspapers and magazines; pre-
scribing six yenrs from the time tho action
approved as the time within which claims in
favor OF or against tho government shall be
prosecuted; and to abolish the tax on brandy
made of apples, penchesand other fruits; also,
TO return the cotton tux collected under acts
of Congress, which have since been declared
ILLEGAL and YOil; 10 rporranize the militia OF