Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-20
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Awards of the Mexican COmmis-
siOn-The Eads ship Canal Across
the Isthmus-A Discussion on PO.
Iitical Disabilities in the Senate
The Funding Bill Discussed and
Passed In the House.

relative to the awards of the Mexican Com
mission. EX Postmaster General Cresswell
appeared for the La Abra Silver Mining
Company, and Judge Worden represented
the claim of Benjamin Well.
The Interoceanic Canal Committee OF the
House held a meeting this morning and
heard the conclusion of the statement by
S. L. Phelps, representing the Nicaragua
Canal Company.
private session was afterwards held
for the purpose Of discussing the PROPOSE
tiOn to grant charter for the EAds ship
railway across the isthmus. Another meet
lug will be held tomorrow, when the same
subject will be discussed.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, the bill reported favorably
from the Judiciary Committee bv
Mr.. Garland to relieve Richard Fatherly,
of Arkansas, from his political disabilities,
gave rise to discussion upon criticisms by
Messrs. Hoar and Edmunds that Fatherly's
petition did not set forth any offense bring
ing him within the scope of the consttu-
tional prohibition, but merely set forth that
he had resigned the Office of Military Store
keeper ct the opening OF the rebellion.
Mr.. Edmudds characterized such repre-
sentatIon as trifing with Congress.
Mr.. Garland, replying to the structure
of Mr.. Edmunds, who he said seemed to be
the censor Of the Senate, explained that the
storrkeeper stores were seized while in the
hands Of Fatherly at the arsenal at Little
Rock, and that under the political bonds
put upon the country under the hell-broth
OF reconstruction, he had not been allowed
to vote. The petitioner supposed the cause
of this was this sole political disability, and
he therefore sought this relief.
Mr.. EdmuBds disclaimed having said any
thing to offend the sensibllities OF the Sena-
tor from Arkansas (Mr. Garland), and did
not suppose the Senator was responsible for
the peculiarities OF the petition.
On the third reading OF the bill, Mr.. Ed
munds demanded the yeas and nays,
which resulted 10 vote of 81 to 16 On
the final passage of the bill he repeated his
dPmand, when the bill was defeated-30 to
16. not two thirds 10 the affirmative.
Mr. Withers introduced bill to authorize
the Secretary Of War to grant the use of
certain land at Fortress Monroe, Va, for
hotel purposes.
On motion the bill of Mr.. Williams, to
prevent the introduction and dissemination
OF the epizootic or communicable diseases
of domestic animals in the United States,
was taken up for the purpose OF allowing
him to address the Senate Ia explanation of
It's provisions.
marks, Mr.. Johnston submitted a resolution
creating select committee OF Eve on pleuro-
pneumonia and other contagious and In
fectious diseases of cattle and other domes-
tic animals, which was agreed to without
objection.
Messrs. Johnston, Williams, Rollins,
Kirkwood and Coke were constituted a
committee, to which were referred the bill
OF Williams snd similar one introduced
by Mr.. Kirkwood.
Mr.. Edmunds called up the Senate bill
reported from the Committee on Private
Land Claims at the last session of Congress
to provide for ascertalning and settling pri-
vate land claims in the States and Terrific
ries acquired from Mexico, except Califor-
MIA
After debate, participated IN by Messrs.
Teller, Plumb, Thurman, Blair and Ed
munds, the bill was passed, finally. 1t re-
Quires the presentation of private land
claims under Mexican grants, ETC., to the
United States courts for adjudication In
practically the same manner heretofore pro-
vided for in the Mexican Land Claims Com
mission in California.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, after short personal expla-
nation by Mr. Price, of lows, the funding bill
came up as unfinished business for further
consideration. The bill, as adopted In com
mistee of the whole, authorizes the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury to issue $4OO, ,OOO, 900 of
bonds, redeemable after five years,
and payable tea years from
date of issue, bearing interest
at the rate OF 3 per cent. per annum; and
also per cent. certificates, to the amount
of $500, ,000, 900, In denominations of $40,
$50 and $50, either registered or coupons,
rredeemable after one year ana payable
in ten from data Of taana
Before any Of these bonds or
certificates are signed It shall
be the duty OF the Secretary of the Trea-
sury to pay on bonds accruing during 1881
all the standard silver dollars and all the
gold over and above $50 ,0O0, 900, now held
in the Treasury for redemption purposes.
TIE interest upon the per cent. bonds to
be refunded shall cease at the expira-
tion of thirty days after notice by the
Secretary Of the Treasury. The expense Of
issuing and disposing of the bonds and GER
tifcates at par Is limited to one fourth of
one per cent. From aud after May lst the
3 per cent. bonds shall be the only ones re-
ceivable for the security of national bank
circulation. No bond on which interest has
ceased shall be continued on deposit as Sc
eurity for circulation.
Mr.. Gillette, of Ohio, rose to a point of
order, and argued that inasmuch as Mr..
NeWberry, of Michigan, had openly stated
that he had gone to the national bank, OF
which he was a director, to inquire how
he should vote, he hal no right to vote on
this question. He did not make the point
OF order out of any Ill will to the gentle
man, but as a matter OF duy. II there had
been anything developed by the recent de-
bate 1t had been the fact that this bill was so
closely allied to the national bank system
that it might with propriety bs called a
national bank bill.
Mr. Newberry said that he was very glad
that the point of order had been raised.
The point involved nearly every member,
not only on this vote, but on every vote.
Under the rule OF the House, IL construed
as the gentleman from Ohio construed 1t,
no member who used tobacco in any form
could vote on proposition to take the tax
of tobacco. He held that no rule Of the
House could deprive any member Of his
vote. The fOunCation Of the right to vote
lay with mans own conscience and with
no rule.
Mr. Weaver, Of Ohio, said that he would
broaden the point of order SO as to Include
every member who was a national bank
stockholder.
Mr.. Haskell, of Kansas, suggested that all
the Greenbsck members should also be in
eluded In the point Of order, because they
were directly interested ia keeping up the
agitation In regard to national banks.
After some further argument the Speaker
overruled the point Of order on the ground
that to deprive q member Of his right to
vote was an act beyond both his authority
and that OF the House.
The question then REQUIRED on agreeing TO
the amendments reported by the committee
of the whole to the funding bill. The first
amendment on which separate vote was
demanded was that fixing the rate Of inter
est on bonds at 3 per cent, instead OF 81.
Agreed to-yeas 149, NAYS 104. The amend
ment making the bonds 5 10 bonds was
adopted without division, as were also the
amendments fixing the interest on the GER
tificates at per cent. and making them
1.10 certificates.
A separate vote was taken on the amend
ment providing that before any bonds or
certificates authorized by this act are issued
the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay on
bonds accruing during the year 1881 all
silver dollars and all gold over S5O,OO0,OOO
now In the Treasury for redemption pur-
poses The yeas and nays were ordered
and the amendment was rejected yeas Ill,
nays 140-and it was stricken from the bill.
The next amendment on whicha separate
vote was demanded was that OF expenses,
of preparing, issuing, advertising aud dis
posing of the bonds aud certificates, which
Shall not exceed one fourth of one per
cent. It was agreed to-yeas l5l, nays
101.
The next vote was taken upon Carlisle's
substitute TO the fifth section, which pro-
yides that after the 1st Of May, 1881, the
ehaII ma the nnlv honda