Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-16
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
The Senate.
[Second SESSION.

WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Mcmillan,
from the committee on commerce. reported,
with amendments, the Senate joint resolution
introduced by Senator Cameron, of Pennsyl-
vania, providing for commission to consider
and report what legislation is needed for the
better regulation of commerce among the
States, and asked its present consideration.
Senator Davis of West Virginia, objected.
He thought either the commerce committee or
transportation committee competent to con-
slider such subjects if any inquiry was neees
sary. He would oppose the resolution if it
ever came up. The resolution was placed on
the calendar.
On motion of Senator Withers, chairman of
the committee on pensions, the pending and
all prior orders were postponed and the Senate
considered pension bills on the calendar and
favorably reported.
Senator KirkwOod from the committee on
postoffices and post roads. reported with
amendments Senate bill providing for the
TRANSFORMATION of mails between East st. Louis
and St. Louis. Placed on the calendar.
Senator Kirkwood announced that owing to
its importance, ne would call it up soon.
Senator Baldwin, from the committee on
commerce, reported favorably on Senate bill
making an appropriation for the purchase of a
site and the erection of light house and fog
signal at or near the entrance of Little Traverse
harbur, Lake Michigan. Placed on the calen-
dar.
Senator Baldwin introduced a blu to author
ize the purchase of a site to enlarge the present
government building in Detroit and for the
purchase and erection of government build
ing in said city. Referred.
Bills were passed granting pensions to a
number of persons.
Senator Maxey, FROM the committee on post
offices and post roads, reported the post route
bill Ordered printed and recommitted.
The morning hour having Expired. the Gene
va award bill was informally laid aside in the
absence of Senator Thurman, and on motion of
Senator Davis West Virginial the bill intro
duced by him to reDeal certain laws relating to
permanent and indefinite appropriations was
taken up, but at the request of several Sena-
tors was postponed for the present, Senator
Davis stating he would get it up again as soon
as possible.
The bill directing payment to George Law,
of New York, owner of the bark Grapeshot,
of SI5.S6l, recovered by the United States on
a libel of the bark, and to which he has been
declared subrogated, was taken up, discussed
and passed, 4S to 3.
The Geneva award bill was then taken up,
the question being on Senator Hoar's motion
to amend by striking out the provision for the
payment of underwriters losses.
favor of the amendment would speak. It's
adoption would defeat the principal object of
the bill.
No one rising to speak, Senator Thurman
again took the floor and expressed his indigna-
ton that the usual courtesy of the Senate
was not being observed on this occasion. That
courtesy required that the chairman of the
committee reporting bills should be entitled to
close the debate. The debate on this amend
ment was practically a debate on the whole bill.
1t was we'll understood that several Senators
intended to speak in favor of the amendment.
Why did they not speak now? Should he
(Thurman) speak now, they would yet speak
after him. He protested against this violation
of the usual practice of the Senate.
Senator Blaine asked at whom the Senator
from Ohio was directing his remarks. He
seemed to be asking for speeches against his
own side.
Senator Conkling said it was facetious in the
Senator from Maine to intimate that the Sena-
tor from Ohio was begging for debate against
the bill, but wittiuess did not hide the fact
that an amendment to radically and ultimately
change the bill had been perhaps not
without parliamentary and technical
right, thrust In the fore.
ground and vote was asked on it, when it was
well known that several sSenators wished to
speak against the bill itself. He did not look
favorabIy on such methods of forcing the Sem
ator in charge of the bill to speak before full
debate had been had for his enlightenment
and that of the Senate.
Senator Blaine then made long speech
against the bill.
Senators Thurman, Bayard and Blaine dis
cussed the subject at considerable length. Sem
ator Thurman said he would ask the Senate to
set the bill out Saturday, or Monday, If there
be no session Saturday. Pending discussion
adjourned.