The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL SlFTlNGS.
THE ORDNANCE BUREAU RING
TO BE ''SIFTED TO THE VERY
BOTTOM,'' is WHAT SEN
ATOR MORGAN ASKED
YESTERDAY.
A Huge Ring Under the Ammuni-
tion Chip, Which AIabama's
Statesman Wants to Hold
Up to the Light of
Day.
Other and Interesting Congress
sional Proceedings, and
More Discussion on
Sherman's Three Per
Cent. Bond
Bill.
The Independent Movement in
GeOrgia-Campaign Opened
by FELTON, Last Night.
Law Making Law Brcakers-TNvo
Pugalistic state Sena-
tors Arrested al
Charleston.


tors Arrested zn
Charleston.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The pres
| ident submitted q communication
from the commissioner of internal
revenue, in reference to a resolution
| of December Ii in relation to farms
or plantations in South Carolina,
under act of 1862, for the collection
of direct taxes in insurrectionary
districts.
On motion of Mr.. Window reso
luton was adopted, requesting the
president to communicate the cor
respondence between ex-depart-
ment and diplomatic agents of the
United States, relating to the pro-
posed congress of the nations of the
world, or any of them in 1892.
Mr.. Vance asked consideration
of his resolution calling for infor-
nation concerning the misconduct
or irregularities of the internal reve-
nue. officials in the sixth revenue
district of North Carolina.
Mr.. Hoar objected, as he regarded
the resolution as q reflection upon
the treasury department..
The motion was not pressed.
The senate then took up Mr.. Nor
gan's pending resolution, calling for
an authentic statement of all tests
made by the mixed committee, in
reference to the heavy ordnance be-
ing built by the United States. And
also for the printing of the testi-
mOny taken i'll the last congress on
the subject of heavy ordnance and
prOjectiles, as to the tests to which
they have been subjected.
Mr.. Hawley suggested that the
amount OF printing required by the
resolution, If it was to cover all un-
printed matter of the ordnance bu-
reau, as he supposed it would, would
be illimitable.
A discussion followed in which
Mr.. Morgan explained that his mo-
ton was to have published matters
which the ordnance bureau has sup
pressed. He had been informed
that that bureau was in the hands
Of'a ring interested in certain inven-
tions, and that its chief officers held
patents upon inventions which the
ring had caused to be patented. He
asked now the whole matter
should be sifted to the bottom,
and the opportunity be given the
American inventors to compete
with those most favored.
Mr.. Hawley said the charge of
tie senator from Alabama was
based upon the representations of
the dissatisfied inventors who had
not received the rewards they eX-
pected. He suggested as way of
direct and less expensive means of
obtaining the object of the resolu-
ton, the selection of committee of
the senate to go over what he called
"mass of rubbish" and ascertain
what proportion ought to be
printed. lie believed the ordnance
bureau, like every government de-
pArtment, was conducted by honor
able men.
A discussion followed, occupy
ing the time beyond the morning
hour, and was participated i'll by
Messrs. Allison and Hoar, the latter
observing that the estimated cost of
printing would he 100000. Mr..
Morgan reiterated his charges, and
Mr.. Allison explained that congress
provided ut its last session for an
efficient test of the ordnance Or
dered by the government by an ill.,
dependent board. The resolution
was finally laid aside, informally
and without action.
AT 1:20 p. m. the three per cent.
bond bill was taken up, when Mr.
Morgan advocated, as an additional
section, an original amendment, as
follows: That an agreement made
with the holders of bonds of the
United States since the adjournment
of forty-sixth congress, by which
the rate of interest on such bonds is
reduced to 1-2 per cent. per an
mum, is hereby fully related and con-
firmed according to the terms and
intent of said agreement.
Upon the suggestion of Mr.. In
gals, the amendment was modified
by the mention of and express
recognition OF the argument as valid
and binding upon the government.
The amendment was the adopted
without dissenting vote, as also the
provision offered by Mr.. Davis, of
West Virginia, declaring that moth
ing in the act should be so construed
as to authorize an increase of the
public debt The bill was then re-
ported to the senate from the COM
mittee of the whole, and the ques-
ton being upon agreeing to the
amendments SIS whole, Mr.. Sher-
man asked for separate vote upon
Mr.. Plumb's amendment, applying
the surplus revenues of over $l0,-
100000 to the redemption of the
public debt. He said that If this
proposition was not stricken out, he,
and others who had agreed with
him, would be compelled TO vote
against the bill. He urged upon
the senate to appreciate the
! importance of maintaining suffi-
cient reserve in the treasury as here
tofore in order that sudden emer-
gencles might be provided against,
and urged that in the proposed re-
duction as now made it would open
the door to further attempts in the
same direction.
Mr.. Bayard took the floor but
Welded for the motion for an execu-
tive session, Pending the action on
the motion the house concurrent
resolution fixing the twenty-seventh
of February as the day for the Gar
field memorial services was concur
red in. Adjourned.
In the senate, before the fund
ing bill discussion, Mr.. Nor
rilI reported, from the finance
committee, bill proposing
an amendment to the re-
vised statutes so as to authorize
collectors, naval officers, surveyors
and inspectors who may have cause
to suspect concealment of mer-
chandise, in particular stores or
dwellings, to search for and seize
the same.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, offered a
resolution setting apart Monday, he
twenty-seventh day February 1882.
for memorial services ON the late
President james A. Garfield
, Adopted.
Mr.. Hill, of New York, introduced
a bill reducing the postage on let.
tiers and sealed packages to two
cents per half ounce or under; foul