The Portland daily press., 1882-01-18
XLVII tn Congress list Session
SENATE.
OGN a LIZ
WASHINGTON, Jan. IT.

Mr.. Vast from the committee on public
buildings reported with amendment Dill
making an appropriation for the purchase OF
ground and erection thereon in Washington OF
a hall of records.
Bills were introduced to provide for COM
mission on the alcoholic liquor traffic: by Mr.
Vance to enable the several states to collect an
educational fund from taxes on distilled spirits
and fermented liquors; by Mr.. Garland au-
thorizing and directing the purchase by the
Secretary OF the Treasury, for public use, the
Freedman's Bank property on Pennsylvania
avenue, Washington; by Mr.. Davis OF Illinois,
to permit Ward Hunt, Associate Justice OF the
Supreme Court of the United States, to retire
By Mr.. Blair, granting pension to Lucretia
R. Garfield.
During the morning hour Mr.. Beck resum-
ed his remarks upon Mr.. Ingalls, resolution de-
claring the pension arrears law ought not to be
repealed. He sroke at considerable length in
support of his allegations that the legislation
of 1879 was instgated and passed through Con-
gress by pension claim agents, and read quo
tation from the Pension Commissioners report
to show that frauds were almost a necessary
consequence of the arrearage legislation.
Mr.. ingalls, deferred formal reply to Mr..
Beck's remarks for the present and the Sher-
man funding bill was resumed.
Mr.. Plumb argued that the redemption fund
for the United States notes should be dimin-
ished. He advocated the redemption of b per
cents out of the surplus revenue over and above
one hundred million dollars, and this total
not to be reduced except in the redemption OF
| United States notes.
| Mr.. Teller opposed the bill not because he
| thought the bonds could not be sold, but be-
| cause be was distinct ined to continue the ever
| lasting tinkering of finance.
| Mr.. Saunders favored the bill and opposed
| any amendment of its essential features.
Mr.. Pendleton supported Mr.. Vests amend
| ment.
Ahe Senate without closing the debate adj
| journed until tomorrow.
HOUSE.
| Mr.. Armfeld of North Carolina offered q
resolution for the appointment of committee
| of five to inquire into and report concerning
| alleged abuses practiced by officers of the in
ternal revenue or other persons in the 9th col
lection district of North Carolina.
Leave was granted to the committee on
ways and means to sit during sessions OF the
House.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine offered a resolution
instructing the committee on commerce to in
quire as to what change of law can be made SO
as to offer relief to the merchant marine en-
gagged in the foreign carrying trade and what
measures can be adopted to promote our ship
building and other commercial interests Re-
ferred
| Mr.. Belmont of New York offered resolu-
| ton requesting the President to communicate
| to the House the correspondence between this
| government and its agents since the LIST of
April, 1879, relating to efforts of this govern
ment to bring about peace between Chill, Pc
ru and Bolivia and such other correspondence
| on that subject as may be in possession OF the
Department of State. Referred nj
Mr.. Valentine of Nebraska introduced q
| bill providing that appointments of Indian
agents shall be in force until their successors are
| appointed. Referred. 4sa
The speaker then proceeded to call commit
| tees for reports. Mr.. Grape of Massachusetts,
of the committee Cd banking and currency, re-
| ported back resolution directing the Secre-
| tay Of the Treasury to inform the House what
| number of national banks have been organ
| ganized from July 1, 1881, to Jan. 1, 1882,
| their capital and other information; also call
| ing for similar information as to banks whose
| corporate existence expires between JAM 1,
| 1882, and Jan. 1, 1884. Adopted.
| Mr.. Harris of Massachusetts,, of the COM
| mittee on naval affairs, reported resolution
| directing the Secretary of the Navy to trans
ence relative to Chiniqui coaling stations and
| the appropriation for the purchase thereof
| and requesting him to withhold all payment
| for such stations until such information has
| ben laid before the House and action had by
| Congress. Adopted.
| Mr.. Harris also reported a resolution calling
on the Secretary OF the Navy for report of the
| minority of the commission organized to con-
slider the condition of the navy, also for spe-
| cifc information as to the present condition of
| the navy. Mr.. Themes moved to amend the
resolution so as to strike out request for the
| report Of the minority of the commission"
| After some discussion the amendment was
lost and the original resolution adopted. Laid
| on the table.
| The call OF the committees having been con-
| cluded Mr.. Robson called up the report of
| the committee on rules increasing the member
| ship of various committees of the House. He
| stated that thirteen committees whose mem
belship it was proposed to increase had before
| them now nearly 80 per cent. of the whole bus
| mess of the House As Mr.. Robson conclud-
| ed his brief remarks he demanded the prev ious
| question. Much confusion ensued and the
motion was finally withdrawn.
Mr.. Hutchins opposed the report of the COM
mittee ON rules Had any of the COMMITTEES
which were referred to asked for increased
membership? He had not heard of it, Did
| any one complain of the way in which the
committees had been organized? Every one
| seemed satisfied with them. He hoped meas
ures could be devised that in the future not
one man but the House itself might form its
| committees The speaker had too much pow
| er and he, not the House, controlled legisa-
| ton The committees should be appointed by
the House aud the speaker should be the pre-
| siding officer but not the dictator and arbiter
| of legislation of the whole American people.
Mr.. Kasson also opposed the report of
| the committee on rules. He was OPP
| posed to increasing the membership of the
| committees. His experience had taught him
more business was done by small committees
| than by large ones. He advocated a measure
| by which the House be charged with the duty
| of appointing committees; it would be no dis
| respect to the speaker. He had done his duty,
always embarrassing, imposed on him by the
| rules Such a measure would relieve him
| from that embarrassment. That embarrass-
! ment and that inducement to bribery by an Of
| fer of places in the election of speaker should
| be done away with once and forever. Zap
plause.)
Mr. Orth then offered as substitute for the
| committees report his amendment for an cleo
| ton at the beginning of each Congress of a
| commission charged with the duty of assigning
the membership of committees.
| Mr.. Robson raised point of order against
| Mr.. Orth's substitute but withheld it for the
present.
| Mr. Reed (Maine), member OF the commit
tee on rules, said he would vigorously protest
against Mr. Orth's proposition If he thought
there was any danger of its being adopted by
this or any other House. Think of the COM
mittees of the House going to commission!
Think of the log rolling there would be to
have a commission elected in order to favor
particular measures. He did not believe any
material interest of TIE country was liable to be
destroyed or injured by any committee APP
pointed by the speaker. Every action of every
committee had ito under the scrutiny of the
House. Personal grievances existed in every
legislative body. If the speaker had performed
his duty faithfully, and he believed he had,
even then he could not escape falling into
some errors. But the House was ready to
stand by what he (the speaker) had done) He
Reed did not concur entirely with his COM
mittee in regard to an increase of committee
membership, neither did he believe the COM
mittees should be appointed with reference to
geographical divisions. He beloved the bust
ness of individuals, and not where they slept,
ought to be counted in determining on what
committees they should serve.
Mr.. Kelley regarded the report of the COM
mittees on rules as a grievnus mistake. He
commended more work was performed by small
committees than by large ones and asserted it
would be better to abolish the committee on
ways and means entirely than increase its
membership to fifteen. He therefore moved to
lay the report upon the table. Lost.
Pending further action the House adjourned.