National Republican., 1880-03-12
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
The Democratic White Elephants in
Congress.
One Tabled for tho Prcscnt-Tsniorts to Dis
pose of Tho Other Unsuocessful-Politi-
cal Prescription in Loulsiaua-In-
Justice to the Poncas-story
OF tho Murder of the Uto
Chief Big Snake.
Congreas Yesterday.

Secretary DurCh called tho Senate to order
yesterday in tho absence Of tho Vicc-Pres-
dent, who had seut him notc stating that ho
would he absent for the day, aud appointing
Senator Elmunds to preside in bis place. Mr..
Edmunds thoroupon took tho chair.
In presenting a.petition for the reduction of
duty on paper, Senator Sharon took occasion
to refer to his protracted absence from the
Senate He said this absence was caused by
tho fact that after his election tho operations
of a friend had involved him to tho extent of
millions of dollars, and his duty 10 the large
interests depending ON him had demanded his
attention. lie regretted this, rs he would
have been glad to take part in the delibera.
tions of the Senate. Ho would be obliged for
this same reason to bo absent for tho next
three or four weeks, and asked tho indulgence
Of the Senate on that account. He said now,
rs he had often said before that lie knew his
duties and responsibilities, and that his rcsig-
nation was at the disposal oil his constituents
whenever thoy chose to call for IT.
Tho morning hour was occupied in the pre-
sentation Of petitions, introduction of bills
and reports from committees not of great gen
cral interest, aud the bill providing for the
reclamation of arid and waste lands by means
of, artesian wells was taken from the calendar
and passed.
At tho expiration of tho morning hour, Mr..
Jones, of Florida, addressed the Senate on the
Filz-John Porter bill.
AT the close of his remarks Mr.. Davis, OF
West Virginia. chairman of tho Committee on
Appropriations, endeavored to have tho bill
temporarily laid aside to consider tho Forti-
flcation bill, but to this Mr.. Logan objected.
Mr.. Davis thcn moved to lay tho bill ON the
table, which was agreed to- Mr.. Logan re-
marking that it would probably remain there
to the close OfLho session.
The Fertilization bill was thou read, and the
Senate went into pyppuliva session and snnn
thereafter adjourned.
Mr.. kollny (Pa.) rose to n personal explana-
tion Immediately after the reading of the
journal in tho House, and had read M article
from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin pur.
porting TO detail q conversation between him
self and Nathan Mckay on the sugar question
He denied the truth of the statements, and
said that for the first time in nineteen years
experience in the House lie had been corruptly
approached for tho purpose of controlling his
vote. His friendship for Mr.. Mckay who
had, as he believed, saved his life, would have
kept him silent but for this publication.
Two have been furnished by Mr.. Mckay
with a copy of )ettcr addressed to the Speaker
of the House, dcnouncing the statement that
he corruptly approached Mr.. Kelley as false
in every particular. lie asks that the letter
be read in the House.
After the call of tho committees during tho
morning hour, the House resumed the consid
| Grafton of tho political assessment bill.
Mr.. Iostetler demanded the previous ques.
tiop. There were cries of "No, no." on both
sides of the House, and on taking the vote by
division there was a good majority in the
negative. Tcllers wero demanded and ap.
pointed 1t was at once plain that the Dom.
ocrats were to bo whipped in, and the Repub.
licaus refrained from voting leaving tho
House without a quorum. Efforts 10 in
duce tho Democrats to permit debate
to continue were mnle, but call
of the House was demanded and ordered,
when the presence Of quorum was
developed and efforts for compromise
again renewed, which proving fruitless, Mr..
Aiken moved TO lay tho bill ON tho table.
All tho Democrats voted "No" except Messrs.
Aiken and FELTON,, defeating the motion.
Pending further action Mr.. Springer gave
notice that on Tuesday he would call up the
contested election case of Bradley vs. Stem.
mons, aud on Wednesday the case of Curtin
VS.. Yocum.
Mr.. Mcmahon said if Mr.. Springer proposed
to occupy the timo on Tuesday and Wcdnes-
day with these election cascs he would be
compelled to call up the special deficiency
bill (for the public printing etc.) to-day.
The House then adjourned.