The Portland daily press., 1881-02-08
xLvIth CONGRESs-2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Z.
On motion of Mr.. Butler the subject of al
legged census frauds in South Carolina was
taken up, and the letter of the secretary of the
interior in response to the Senate resolution for
information on the subject, read.
MI. Butler replying to language contained in
speech by Mr.. Conkling during the campaign,
said that although the evidence of the correct
ness OF the census figures was conclusive and
overwhelmning, the author of the charges had
not had the honesty to make amends for his
dlshonorable perversions of the facts
Mr.. Conkling thought Mr.. Butler had taken
long time 10 reply, but for the vaporing of
that Senator he had no concern.
Mr. Butler said the staggering insolence of
the Senator from New York has no concern
for me.
On motion of Mr.. Morgan Senators Hamlin
ana thurman were appointed tellers of the
Senate in the Electoral Count meeting.
MIR. Conkling retorted that the Senator was
q person with whom he did not choose to
here '''i
The subject was then dropped.
The remainder of the day was passed in con.
sideration of the pension bill, but without final
action the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
After personal explanations by Spier and
Hammond OF Ca, relative to remarks made
by the latter Saturday, the Speaker called the
States for bills, etc.
Several bills were introduced and referred;
one by Mr.. Robson, compelling railroads tn
carry axes and fire extinguishers on each pas.
senger car, and imposing penalty for viola
tion thereof.
Among the bills introduced was one in rela.
ton to a Trannsvaal Republic. 1t requests
the President to convey forthwith to the Brit
ish government the good wishes of the United
States in regard to her colonies and the one
that no blood be shed and that she NAV see fit
to accord to the inhabitants of the the Trans
vaai republic their independence if she finds
they had no desire to surrender the same to
her. W
The Speaker announced Messrs House of
Tennessee and Crowley of New York as tellers
on the part Of the House, to make a list of
votes declared for President and Vice President
Wednesday next.
MIR. Bowman presented long report on a
proposition for a reciprocity treaty. with
canada, and moved to suspend the rules and
pass Joint resolution for the appointment of
commission to ascertain and report basis
for such treaty.
A long contest ensued az to whether the re-
port should be read, occupying three hours.
The House finally refused to hear it read
Mr. Aiken of S. c., moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill for the creation of the
Department OF Agriculture.
Inc motion to suspend the rules was defeat
ed. Yeas 164, nays 80.
The Senate bill amending the laws relative
TO the seizure and forfeiture of vessels for
breach OF the revenue laws, was passed II
provides that no vessel used by any person or
corporation as common carriers in the transac-
ton of their business shall be subject to for
feiture by force of title "a, Revised Statutes.
unless 1t appears the owner or master of such
vessel, at the time of the alleged illegal act,
was consenting party or privy thereto.
A motion to suspend the rules and pass the
river and harbor appropriation bill was, after
brief debate, rejected, the necessary two
thirds vote being wanted.
A bill appropriating S175,0OO to search for
the Jeanette was introduced and annronr;ata-
ly referred and the House then adjourned.