National Republican., 1880-05-05
Congress Yesterday,

The Senate yesterday after the presentation of q
number of petitions and memorials and the recop-
ton and placing on the calendar of number of
bills reported from the Military Committee, con-
sumed the remainder of the morning hour in the
consideration of the bill for the relief of Ben IIo-
ladny but reached no conclusion upon 1t.
Mr. Vest addressed the Senate at length on the
spohord- Kellogg case, which came up as the regu-
lar order and at the conclusion of his remarks the
resolution was temporarily laid aside and on mo-
tion of MIR. Hamin the bill authorizing the Pres.
ident TO make the necessary arrangements TO carry
States and Nicaragua, for the purpose of settling
the conflicting claims of the citizens of tho two
governments, was considered
After some debate, at the suggestion of Mr.. Ell.
munds the Senate went into executive session, aud
after some time spent in executive session the
doors were opened and the bill was passed. The
Senate then adjourned.
According TO the arrangement in the House made
on Monday Mr.. Orth took the floor for personal
explanation in regard to his connection with the
claims against Venezuela aud the Congressional
Investigation thereon in the Forty-iourth Congress.
He said that for the first timo In nearly twelve
years he asked the attention of the House to q
matter personal 10 himself The explanation he
was about to make was due 10 his friends and cs-
pccialy to his constituents who had favored him
with uuwavering confidence nnd support This
explanation had been deferred in the hope now
reality, that he could make il IN this hall, where
the chief matters causing 1t had their origin. Four
years ago while he had been at the court ofNienna,
The Republican party, without solicitation on his
part had rendered him the nOmlnntlOn OF Governor
of Indiana. He had accepted the nomination re.
turned home entered upon the canvass and soon
thereafter tcnderod his declinetion, 0nc he now
proposed TO state the reasons which had in
duCcd him TO do so. He then briefly alluded to
tho origin of the claims against Venezuela
stating that his Congressional connection there
with consisted in cOncurrlng in the report OF the
Foreign Affairs Committee In 1870 upon that sub
jcct His connection as attorney had ended with
The distribution of the award. Aer the action of
three Secretaries of state Seward Wnshburne and
FiSh), and the unanimous report of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, which had been adopted by the
House, he had reason to believe, he had believed
and he did still believe that the claims were HON
est valid and subslstng. lie then referred 10 the
Investigation of the Forty fourth Congress-an in
yestigutOn made without II shadow of authority
from the House or the committee, The only basis
on which the conlmittoc-or rather one of its mem
bcrs (Spriugcrl-hRd proceeded to act in matters
which concerned the rights Of American citizens
to the amount of millions of dollars, had
been a memorial from an octogenarnn named
Seth Grcggs. Not a single claimant had been
notified 10 attend the sessions of the COM
mlttec. The most despotic government on earth
would have sconed thus to have treated one OF It's
subjects. No action would have been lQken upon
this memorial had not Indiana been regarded Ns
pivotal State in the election and had he not been
candidate for Governor. lie criticised the action
Of the committee (or rather that OF Mr. sprlnge in
protrOcting the Investigation for seyentythree days
and In stopping Il suddenly at the same time that
he had resigned the nomination. There had been
no need CT its proceeding further. lie criticised
severely tho conduc! Of Mr. Springer in making
two reports, one q which had been made to the
MIR. Springer stated that the discrepancies be-
tween the reports had occurred at the request OF
Mr. Orth's friends and asked and obtained consent
| to reply to Mr. Orth at some future time.
| The Speaker laid before the House the veto mes
sage Of the President which had been received
while Mr.. Orth had been speaking, II was read by
the clerk, ordered printed and referred TO the Com
mittee on Appropriations, and the bill left tempo
| rnrily on the Speakers table.
The House then resumed the consideration Of the
bill to amend the revenue laws, which came over
| from Saturdays session as unfinished business
Several pending amendments were disposed and
| the bill passed.
Mr. Reagan, from the Committee on Commerce,
| reported tile River and llarbor appropriation bill,
which was ordered printed and referred TO the
| Committee Of the Whole.
The Postoflice appropriation bill was taken up
aud considered in Committee Of the Whole by Sec
| tons An amendment apprOpriating $1,000 for the
| purchase Of u cancGling stamp was agreed to. A
| proposed amendment increasing the amount for
| railway mail service from sgGO00O0 10 SlOOOO000
| was rejected. ON another amendment increRs-
| ing the amount to S9,sC0oOl the committee found
| itself without a quorum voting whereupon the
committee rose aud tho House adjourned,