Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-28
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
A BRIEF BREAK In THE MONO
TONY.
The United States and the Isthmus
An Effort TO Call a Halt on De
Lesseps-AnOther Futile Caucus
The Republicans WeakeRiBg-Re.
ductiOns In the Pay of Gaugers and
StOrekeepers.


SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, April o. r. Morgan
asked leave to offer concurrent resolution
declaring that the interests of the people of
the United States of America and the well
fare and security of the government are so
involved in the subject of the construction
OF ship canals or other ways for the trans
portation Of sea going vessels across the
isthmus connecting North and South
America, that the Government
OF the United States, with the
fra1 kness which is due to all other peoples
and governments, hereby asserts that 1t will
insist. that Its consent is a necessary condi-
tion precedent to the execution of such q
project, and also as to the rules and regula-
uons under which other nations shall par
ticipate in the use of such canals or other
ways, either in peace or in war.
Mr.. Dawes objected to the resolution, not
tained in it as on account of the fact that it
needed the concurrence OF the House of
Representatives
Mr.. Morgan argued that the resolution
was in proper form. He merely wished to
have 1t referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and that committee, il it
saw fit, might modify it by making it sim
luton was of any Importance
to require immediate attention because
parties were already engaged in the con-
struction of a trans-continental ship canal
it was time this question was considered.
The people of France and England, and of
other nations, would be deceived by the
non-action of this government to let the
world know its position on this subject.
Mr.. Hoar thought it might be well to
modify the resolution q q bxr
colleague.
Mr.. Morgan expressed a Willingness to
adopt the suggestion. He had drawn up
the resolution in its present shape in order
that should there be q called session of
Congress 1t might receive immediate atten-
ton.
Mr.. Blair thought the resolution should
remain in its original form. He believed
there ought to be an extra session. He did
not claim to represent any other Senator
on this question, nor did he claim that the
administration or any member of the ad-
ministration concurred with him In re-
spect to it. Ii there was any
Monroe doctrine it was time to assert It,
What foreign nation was bound to take
notice Of any action of the United States
Congress with regard to the constIuc.
present time? A foreign corporation was
to day digging through the isthmus, and
vested right was being acquired.
Mr.. Dawes said he had very decided
views upon the question of an extra ses-
sion, but would not ST ate them now.
MIR. Morgan having modified his res olu.
tion so as to make 1t Senate resolution, 1t
was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
The Vice President then laid before the
Senate the unfinished business, being the
resolution fCr ba a1opffnu of off nF bo
Senate.
After two or three Intellectual roll calls
Mr.. Harris moved that the Senate go into
executive session, stating that there were
three hundred nominations on the table
awaiting action.
Mr.. Dawes inquired where the Senator
got his information, inasmuch as the Presi-
dents messages were still sealed.
While Mr.. Dawes was speaking a message
was received from the President, and Mr..
Harris taking the manifold copy of the NOM
nations which accompanied each message,
laid it upon Mr.. Dawes desk with the re
mark that he got his information in that
way.
Mr.. Dawes said he could not place much
reliance In this tissue paper, though gen.
tlemen on the other side might do so. The
motion to go into executive session was
lost-yeas %, nays 90 Several dilatory
tion OF Mr.. Dawes, at AS the Senate ad-
journed.
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
The Republican Senators in caucus
this morning commenced an inter-
change of views concerning the dead
lock situation, and the suggested ad-
visibility OF providing for the transaction
of some portion of the accumulated execu-
tive business at an early day, but had not
completed their conference when the hour
for the meeting of the Senate arrived. 1t
was therefore agreed to hold another
caucus after the Senate shall have adjourned
this afternoon.
The caucus met again In the afternoon,
but adjourned without taking any definite
action. 1t is understood, however, that the
balance of opinion was in favor OF proceed
ing at an early day to the consideration of
executive business.
The discussion in the Republican Senate
rial caucus to day developed an entire
unanimity of opinion that no action ought
to be taken In regard to the
dead lock, which would tend to weaken
or seem to withdraw the moral support thus
far given by the Republicans of the Senate
to the Independent movement in the South,
or which would place the Republicans In
the attitude of retreating from the position
taken by them. The prevalent opiuion was,
however, that to raise the deadlock sufi-
ciently to admit of immediate action upon
matters of especial Importance, such as
nominations to fill existing vacancies
and various pending treaties, would
not weaken the Republicans iu their
contest for constitutional principles and
political advantages, but would, in fact,
strengthen them thereafter to resume and
indefinitely continue the struggle to final
issue. 1t is understood that a committee
was finally appointed to take the subject
into consideration and report at future
meeting.
sToREKEEPERs' AND GAUGERs' PAY RE
DUCED.
Commissioner Raum, OF the Internal Rev.
enue Bureau, to-day issued instructions, re-
ducing the compensation Of storekeepers
and gaugers assigned to small distilleries,
where the daily capacity does not exceed
twenty bushels, to 50 per day instead of 81
as at present. The change In the rate of
pay takes place May lst.
POsTMAsTERS NOMINATED.
The President sent the following nomi-
nations to the Senate to-day: Postmasters-
Justus Spofford at Huntington, West Vir-
ginia; VIM. Jesse Grant, at Terrell, Texas.