The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-23
XLVII CONGRESS--2d Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.
AS soon as the journal was read the Senate,
/ on motion of Mr. Cameron of Pennsylvania,
went into executive session.
At 1220 the doors were re-opened and Mr..
sherman moved to proceed to the considera-
tion of the bonded whiskey bill.
Mr.. Hale hoped Mr.. Sherman would not in
slst upon this motion when the Senate was al.
most ready to dispose Of the civil service re-
form bill.
Messrs Bayard and Ransom urged the con-
sderation of the. resolution declaring the sense
CT the Senate in favor of allowing a rebate on
stocks of tobacco on hand in case of the repeal
or reduction of the tax.
Mr.. Sherman temporarily withdrew his mo-
tion and Mr.. Bayard called up the tobacco res
olution.
Mr.. Morrill, offered his amendment modify
ing the resolution so as to promise a rebate on
~ IN case OF failure to give ample notice of
the time when the act to reduce the tax shall
take effect He said the tobacco trade was
suffering from an imaginary evil as there was
no prospect of repeal of the tax or of its re-
duction below IL cents a pound.
Messrs. BaYard and Beck opposed Mr., Nor
rill's amendment
Mr.. Morgan said the resolution was wrong
IN principle. The government could not re-
1und taxes paid every time it became necessa-
~ to change the revenue tariff laws.
Mr.. Morrill's amendment was agreed to-.
ayes 2S, nays 16. The resolution as amended
was then adopted
The Senate took up the bonded whiskev
bill. Mr.. Morrill, offered an amendment pro-
viding that spirits produced on and after jan
uary l, 1884, shall be withdrawn in one wear
from the time they are entered or deposited in
dlstillery warehouses. Rejected, ayes, 81, noes
AT o'clock the civil service Lbill came up as
unfinished business.
Mr.. Sherman gave notice that as soon as this
bill was out of the way he would move to pro.
c6ed with the WhiskeV hill
On motion of Mr.. Plumb the salaries of the
commissioners were reduced from $4,000 10
$250O
MIR. Logan gave notice that later he would
move to make it $4,000.
Mr.. Malone addressed the Senate in a pre-
pared speech. He thought the direct account.
ability of public officers to the people the SAT-
est guarantee for the proper discharge
of their duties and believed the honorable con-
dition OF the political parties would ever serve
to stimulate TO such a performance of duties
and afford means of correcting abuses if
these existed. Executive heads were RESPONSE
bic and reform could not be affected by inter-
posing an irresponsible agency like this COM
mission between them and their responsibility
turning from the BILL Mr.. Malone proceed
ed to reply to certain references made by
Messrs. Beck and Bayard to himself in con-
nectlon with federal patronage in Virginia. A
circular letter issued by him as chairman of
the Readjuster. State Committee had been
only " responded. Of the other government
officials in that State, about 270 in number, the
letter had been sent to 46 and only Sc respond
ed. In the departments at Washington, ex-
elusive OF the bureau of engraving and print
ing and the War Department, there were $40
employees charged to Virginia. The circular
had been sent to so of these, responses received
from 49, and no authority over any of these
employees had been consulted about the circular
or informed to whom it had been sent in any
case or what response had been receiv ed. He
then read from the Record some remarks
made by Mr.. Bayard in the debate on Mr..
Becks resolution for an investigation in
which he spoke of "the statements published
last fall" that decapitations of unfortunate of
fce-holders from Virginia were so general that
blanks were kept to be filled out with the
names OF the victims removed because they
refused to prostitute their places for political
ends. Mr. Malone characterized this state
ment as from beginning to end and in all
parts untrue and without the slightest founda-
tion in fact. He challenged searching ex-
animation of this matter.
Mr.. Voorhees,, ON behalf of the Senators op-
posed to the bill, proposed an agreement that
1t should be taken up tomorrow after morn
ing business and voted upon finally at
O'Clock.
Mr.. Pendleton was willing. to agree to this
II unanimous consent could be Obtained, but
MIR. Edmunds objected, preferring to sit the
bill out tonight.
At $50 the Senate adjourned till tomorrow
HOUSE.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the Committee on Ways and Means, acting un-
der Instructions of that committee, moved
that when the House adjourn tomorrow it be
to meet Wednesday next.
After an attempt to secure quorum the mo-
ton Withdrawn
Mr.. Rice, of Missouri. from the Committee
on Pensions, reported bill granting pensions
to certain soldiers and sailors of the Mexican
and certain Indian wars Referred to commit
tee of the whole.
Mr.. Kelley again made motion for adjourn
ment from tomorrow until Wednesday, which
was agreed to--yeas 104, nays 81.
The House then went into committee on the
army appropriation bills. After consideration
of various amendments the point of no quorum
was raised and the committee rose and report
ed the absentees to the House.
The Speaker announced the appointment of
Mr.. Hill on the Committee on Foreign Affairs
and Mr.. Mclean on Committee on Pensions
There were twenty-eight leaves of absence
granted, making total of 13l members ab-
sent on leave, and then the House adjourned,
the common understanding being that no busi-
ness will be transacted TO morrow.