Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-28
SENATE pRooEEnrNas

WASHINGTON, February 26.-In the SEN
ate bill was introduced by Mr.. Vance for
the purchase by the Secretary of War Of the
private papers Of the late Confederate
Generals Bragg and Polk, RELAXING to the
war OF the rebellion, and appropriating
$4,000 for the same. Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
By Mr.. Lamar-Grsnting the right Of way
to the New Orleans and Northeastern Rail-
road Company through the public lands
along their route from New Orleans to
Meridian, Miss. Referred to the Committee
on Railroads.
Mr.. Butler offered resolution, which was
agreed to without debate, instructing the
Judiciary Committee to inquire and report
by what authority and under whose ap-
the duties Of United States Marshal for
South Carolina.
Mr.. Grover, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported favorably the Senate bill
to grant public land in Alabama In aid of
the Warrior snd Tennessee River Railroad,
and for ether purposes. Placed on the
calendar
After debate the Senate, on motion of
Mr.. Harris, adopted an order of business,
to take effect immediately, setting apart the
time from the conclusion of the morning
business to 1:30 p. M, and also evening ses-
sions, for the consideration of House bills
faVorablY reported, which are to be taken
up in their order on the calendar. Several
bills were considered.
Mr.. Morgan, by direction of the Commit
tee on Rules, reported for reference to the
Committee on Appropriations the follow
ing amendment to the sundry civil bill: To
enable the Secretary Of the Senate to pay
Francis E. Shober, Chief Clerk of the SEN
ate, for preparing (under resolution of the
Senate of June 16, 1872 new edition Of
the manual, 81 900. Referred.
Upon the expiration Of the time allotted
for the calendar, Mr.. Burnside briefly ad-
dressed the Senate upon the resolution re-
ported from the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, and now on the Vice Presidents
table, declaring that the United States VIII
insist that its consent is q necessary condi-
tion precedent to the construction of ship
canal or other means OF transportation
across the isthmus.
Mr.. Eaton said that unless some other
Senator desired to discuss it he would ask
that the resolution be taken from the table
and passed.
Mr.. Hoar called attention to the absence
Of Mr.. Window, who, he understood, had
given notice of his desire to speak on the
subject, and also suggested that In one
particular expression the resolution might
require modification. The subject was here
dropped.
The Senate took up, on motion of Mr.. Ran
som, the river and harbor bill, and the
amendments which the Senate committee
acted on, when the bill was read. When
| the items for North Carolina rivers were
reached, Mr.. Thurman called attention to
! the increase in the appropriation for Cape
| Fear river, from 500, 900 to $40, 900. He
| said he did not intend to suggest anything
| like log rolling, but as he felt some
/ interest in Ohio improvement, which
/ was not provided for, he would now express
| the hope that the liberal spirit of the Chair
man of the Commerce Committee (Mr. Ran
| SOM in taking care Of his own State would
| induce that Senator to look across the Allie
! gheni4s in kindly manner.
! Mr.. Ransom replied that as North Caro-
/ lima had probably more water surface than
| any other s ate, and had a harbor OF refuge
at Wilmington for all wrecked and disabled
| vessels of the eastern coast, the appropria-
| tions for that State were neither large nor
| disproportionate, but were far below the
estimates.
Mr.. Vance thought the general policy of
/ improving small streams q desirable one in
! fostering competition with railroads by con-
| venient channels of commerce, and thus
/ cheapening transportation to the seaboard.
| Mr.. Morgan denounced as odious log
i rolling the system by which particular States
! have been benefited In the river and harbor
| bill without regard to any benefit to the
commerce of the country.
! Mr.. Thurman mentioned a number OF
small streams in North Carolina aud Vir-
ginia provided for at from 81 900 to IS 600,
the names of which, he said, could not
be found In the geography in the schools
and libraries. The items for French Broad,
| he said, had been inserted in every river
| har nhioat of
| of it was to improve a stream In North
Carolina SO that catfish could navigate it,
and as long as there were any catfish there
he supposed the appropriations would be
| kept up.
Mr.. Morgan moved an increase of $40, 900
for the harbor OF Mobile. Tabled. Yeas
33-nays 10.
Mr.. Brown moved a number of amend
ments for improvements in Georgia. Re-
/ jected.
Mr.. Groome moved an amendment, which
was adopted without objection, directing
| the Secretary of War to cause to be made,
by some officer of the United States En-
| gineer Corps an examination and surveys
of lines for a ship canal across the peninsula
between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays,
| especially of the Sassafras and Choptank
| routes and the approaches thereto, with
the view to ascertaining the most feasible
route for a canal Of the depth of fully
twenty six feet at mean low tide, aad Of
| one hundred feet width at the bottom
throughout its entire length, and to esti-
mate the cost of constructing canal Of
such depth and the approaches thereto.
The session was protracted TO a late hour
! I'm order to dispose of the bill, its opponents,
though small in number, presenting an un-
broken front on every vote, notwithstand-
ing that sll the amendments offered by them
were invariably laid on the table, on motion
T. aA rNF 4hn NJ
| Ransom.
Mr.. Thurman, rising to renew his protest
against the measure, provoked laugh by
! in0uiring of the Chair whether Mr.. Ransom
would be in order in moving to lay him
! (Thurman) on the table.
| He then said that for one he repudiated
| the new doctrine that Democrats must favor
what was called liberal policy In appro-
| priations, and charged that the bill was
! supported from personal and interested
| motives as a means of securing the re-elec-
! tion of members of the Senate and House.
Mr.. Vest advocated the bill because Of
| its liberal appropriation for the improve
ment of the Mississippi.
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, spoke of the
monopoly of power and influence welded
| by a few railway magnates and of their
capacity to subject the public to their ex
| actions in freight transportation. He thought
/ a system of internal water ways would
! secure some relief from these exactions.
/ The bill was passed and the Senate, about
III p. m, adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The House at 11:35 went into committee
of the whole, Mr.. Harris, of Virginia. in the
| chair, on the sundry civil appropriation bill,
all debate on the pending amendment APP
propriating 500, 900 for the establishment
| of naval coaling stations on the Isthmus of
Panama, being limited to twenty minutes.
The amendment was adopted by vote Of
| 50 to 65, and Mr.. Blount gave notice that he
would call for the yeas and nays in the
| House.
On motion of Mr.. WhitthOrne, of Tennes-
ssee. an amendment was adopted appro-
/ prfating So, 600 to enable the Secretary of
| the Navy to protect and preserve cemeteries
1 IN foreign countries used for the most part
| for the burial of citizens of this govern
ment. tha
An amendment, offered by Mr.. Manning,
of Mississippi, appropriating SIC, 900 for In
Vestigation into the habits OF the cotton
worm, was after debate ruled out on point
/ Of order.
An amendment increasing the approprl-
alton for surveying public lands from $780,
000to $500, 900 was adopted.
| Mr.. Horr, of Michigan, offered an amend
ment for the payment TO William II. Geary,
~.