Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-11
FORTY.SIXTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, March II.

SENATE.-The Senate was called to order by
Secretary Burch who stated that the Vtce-Presi-
dent had sent him note saying that he would
be absent to-day, and appointing Senator Ed
munds to preside in his place. MI. Edmunds
thereupon took the chair.
The presiding officer laid before the Senate the
annual report OF the regents Of the Smithsonian
Institution for 1879. Referred.
Mr.. Sharon presented petition of newspaper
proprietors OF Nevada, for reduction OF duty on
In presenting the petition Mr.. Sharon said
that he thought the tariff might now advan-
tageously be removed from many articles. 1t
was said there Is a war between capital and
labor. That could not be, in any just sense, for
capital cannot be at war with that which it
most needs. But capital and labor united are
at war with production for the purpose OF
pinching the masses. Tariffs interests are al
ways represented here; the people are not
They are long suffering, patient and enduring
and never moving until reused by some great
wrong. Mr.. Sharon then said that there had
been comment upon his long absence from his
seat In the Senate. This absence was caused
OF friend had involved him to the extent OF
millions of dollaas, and his duty to the large
interests depending on him had demanded his
attention. He regretted this, as he would have
been glad to take part in the deliberations of
the Senate. He would be obliged for this same
reason to be absent for the next three or four
on that account. He said now as he had often
said before, that he knew his duties and respon-
sibilitieS, and that his resignation was at the
dlsp OF his constituents whenever they
chose to call foHit.
Mr.. Baldwin presented petition of large num-
ber OF citizens of Chicago and the northwest for
the construction of bridge over the Detroit
river.
Mr. Blaine presented joint resolution of the
Maine legislature asking legislation for reduc-
tion OF pilot fees. Referred.
MIR. Gordon, from the committee on commerce,
reported adversely Senate bill amending The
enrolling and licensing act OF 1893. Indefinitely
postponed.
Nj Davis (W. va) introduced bill empower
ing the proper officers of the Treasury to credit
officers of the United States with the amounts
OF unavailable funds standing to their debit on
the Treasury books, and to transfer the amount
to the debit OF persons OF states Indebted for the
same. Referred
Mr. Dawes submitted a resolution calling on
the Secretary OF the interior for information
concerning the alleged killing by soldiers of Big
Snake, the Ponca chief. Adopted.
Mr.. Cockreu submitted resolution calling on
the Secretary or the Interior for copies or all
patents Tor land issued to individuals or rail-
road corporations in the Indian territory, and
full account of the proceedings OF the depart
ment In relation to such subject Adopted.
Mr. Wallace introduced joint resolution pro-
yiding for the enforcement of the eight-hour
law. Referred.
dar.
The bill for the relief of Calvin Bronson was
laid aside. The bill for the reclamation of arid
and waste lands was passed. lit authorizes the
Secretary Of the Interior to contract for the
sinking of two artesian wells on the plains east
of the Rocky mountains the said wells to be
sunk at such places as the secretary may desig-
nate and whenever the site Of either such wells
shall be designated the secretary is required to
declare reservation Of four square miles with
thereof the and the tn land SO reserved shall eIe not be
subject to sale or disposal under any laws of the
United States until such reservation has been
released. $2o, ,o0o are appropriated to carry the
The morning hour having expired, the Senate
resumed consideration OF the bill for the relief
of Fitz John Porter, Mr.. Jones (Fla.) having the
floor.
Mr.. Allison announced that Immediately after
Mr. Jones remarks he would ask for the consid-
GRAFTON Of the fortiieation appropriation BILL to
Mr.. Blaine.-1n what position will that leave
the Fitz John Porter bill?
The Presiding omcer {NIr. Anthony Ut would
have no place, but would be subject to be called
MI. Davis w. va.) hoped the floor would be
given to appropriation bills after speech Of the
Senator from Florida.
Mr.. Burnside said he desired to have an op-
portunity to speak on the Porter bill.
Mr.. Logan said he would object to the Porter
bin being set aside.
Mr.. Allison said his intention was merely to
ask that the Porter bill be Informally laid aside.
Mr.. Baine.--That takes unanimous consent.
Mr.: Conkling-And the SENATOR from Illinois
(Mr. Logan) gives notice that he will object.
Mr.. Thurman.-If the debate on this Fitz
John Porter bill is to extend for month, as 1t
threatens to do, / shall feel 1t my duty at a
much earlier period than q month from now to
antagoniZe it with the Geneva award bill.
MI. Logan.| wish to say in response to that
that those who have spoken on this side are not
responsible for the F1tz John Porter case being
before the Senate.
MI. Randolph.-Let me say that while am
very glad that the Fitz John Porter bill is be-
fore the Senate, it is here as all Senators know,
States. 81 as ac''0n 0' 'hs PRESIDENT OF the united
Mr.. Logsn.-I will say, in response to that,
that the President OF the United States has
himself introduced the bill, and by his action
the matter is before the Senate.
Mr.. kandolph.-I submit it is very properly
before the Senate.
MIR. Thurman.-But 1t cannot be allowed to
take precedence over business even more i'm
portant much longer, unless the Senate sees ut
to vote down my proposition.
Mr.. Logan.-1t viii be very easy matter to
vote on the bill and settle it before the Geneva
award bill comes up. l am ready to vote on it
The Presiding onlcer-This whole discussion
is out OF order. The Senator from Florida has
the floor.
H0USE-Mr. Kelley rose to a question Of
privilege, and sent to the Clerks desk and had
read an article from the Evening Bulletin of the
10th instant detailing an alleged conversation
between Nat MacKay and himself on the SUBJ
1ect OF the sugar bill. He wanted to state to
the House that for the first time in nineteen
years he had been corruptly approached for the
purpose OF controlling his vote In the committee
OF ways and means and in the House. men,
Der OF the audacfOuS lobby had told him that he
was acting in disregard to the sentiments of his
people, to which he had replied that though so
years had passed over his head he was still able
to take care OF himself
The Speaker then proceeded to call commit
tees for reports when the following bills were
reported and placed on the House calendar: To
punish certain crimes relating to the coins of
the United States, To provide for the exchange
OF trade dollars for legal-tender dollars and TO
stop the further coinage Of trade dollars.
The following petitions were presented and
referred: By Mr.. MOrtOn-PetitiOn of Law Har-
r1son Co., Lewis Bros & Co. and forty other
mercantile firms Of New York praying for the
passage of national bankrupt law. By Mr..
Harmer-Petttion OF wholesale and retail drug
g1sts for the repeal of the stamp tax law.
AT the conclusion Of the morning hour the
House resumed the consideration OF the s.politi-
cal assessment bill.
THE HOUSE WITHOUT QUORUM.
Mr. Hostetler demanded the previous ques-
uon, and on the question Of seconding the de-
mand the republicans refrained from voting,
thus leaving the House without quorum.
THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS of internal
revenue storekeepers have been made: H. v.
Slack, third district of Massachusetts; n. NJ.
bowman, seventh Kentucky, and B. Board and
w. T. Wheeler, firth Kentucky. A. A. Finley
has been appointed storekeeper and guager for
the nth Kentucky district.