American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-05-14
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

MAY 2.-Mr. Farley called attention to
the large number of nominations awaiting
action, and moved an executive session. He
said petitions were daily coming from Califor-
mia asking for the consideration of the Chi
nese treaty, and other important matters.
A debate ensued between Mcssrs Dawes and
siderable attention. senator Beck said the
Republicans had not dared to go into execu-
on important nominations. The usual motion
to go into executive session was defeated
MAY 3.-Mr. Davis, of West Virginia, took
the floor with speech upon the debt ques-
ton between the Virginias, promising his re-
marks with an expression of regret that the
speech made by the Senators from Virginia
and Ohio (Mahone and Sherman( should have
compelled him to discuss in this chamber
what he considered to be purely a local mat
ter. The debt question in Virginia had never
been made a political one, and he regretted
statements rejecting upon the action of the
Democrats of that State on the question. Mr..
Davis gave history of the debt complication,
and said the Virginias and their people will
pay their debts, and the sooner the better.
He hoped the two States would soon come to-
gether and settle the question.
MAY 4.-The Senate opened with the
formal announcement from Mr.. Dawes that
the fight should go steadily on rs before. He
arraigned the Democratic party obstruc-
tionists, who had paralyzed the efforts of the
majority of the Senate to complete its organ
ization. He declared the Democratic minority
revolutionary, but at the close OF his remarks
publicans to neglect their duty elsewhere
while they were resisting the minority Rec
ogniZing the necessity of this, lie would move
to drop the fight for time and attend to 9TH
er pressing business. This created consider
able amusement on the floor and in the
galleries, even Republican Senator'S
framing from a smile ut the why the question
was finally put There was some little spar.
ing between Peudiefon, Dawes Hnsf Seek, atsi
the motion for an executive session was car
ried unanimously. The executive session
was very dull indeed, being mostly devoted to
the reference OF NOMINATIONS and the Chi.
nese treaties. The following were confirmed
by unanimous consent: Robert Hit. Illinois,
Assistant Secretary of State; Hiram Price,
Iowa, Commissioner of Indian Affairs: Alfred
NJ. Jones. United States Marshal, Northern
sin. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court OF
Dakota Joseph o. Jones, Postmaster, Terre
Haute, Indiana.
MAY 5.-The Senate transacted Il remark
ably large amount of business in executive
session, clearing the calendar of treaties and
taking final action on eighty four nominations
IN about four and a half hours. The first mat
ter disposed of was the Chinese Immigration
treaty, which ratified without amend
ment by practically unanimous vote. The
Chinese commercial treaty. after brief discus
sion, also ratified without amendment
Proceeding with the calendar of treaties, the
Senate next ratified in quick succession the
extradition treaty with the United States of
Colombia; Consular convention with Italy
modifying and defining the judicial powers
of certain consulates; the convention with
Morocco respecting the taxation prerogatives
0l me Japop nrescrfbng recinroca e datieys
for the Japanese and United States Govern
ments in case of shipwrecks upon their re-
spective coasts.
MAY 6.-Mr. Dawes made an attempt to
speak on the resolution for the election OF
Senate officers, but the Democratic Senators
resumed the tactics of alternating motions to
go into executive session and to adjourn
until Mr. Dawes gave up the fight for the day.
and, upon his motion, the senate went into
executive session.