The Portland daily press., 1882-02-17
XLVIIth Congress-lst Session
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, Feb9.
The president Epro tenn submitted messages
received from the President transmitting the
annual report of the Indian Commissioners,
with letter from the Secretary OF the. lnte-
rior suggesting legislation upon points IN the
report also report from the Commissioner on
Education recommending the appropriation OF
$4,000 for educational purposes in Alaska
Mr. Morrill,, upon his request, was relieved
from service on the committees on educatlon'
labor, and census
Messrs Hawey and Saunders presented pc
titions for an early action on Lapham's joint
resolution for the improvement OF Harlem
river.
Mr. Rollins reported favorably on the House
bill in reference to the trustees OF the Lincoln
Monument Association constituting five quo
rum. Passed.
The Senate at - 40 went into executive SEES
sion and at 1.15 p. m. resumed legislative ousl-
ness, when the regular order (the aati..polyg-
amy billy was proceeded with, the question be-
ing upon the eighth section as reported from
the judiciary committee. Mr.. Morgan spoke
of the importance of mature consideration Vi
the measure in view OF the bearing OF tne
question upon our dealings hereafter with the
Indians. He considered the measure as one 10
egislate out of Office men guilty OF polygamy,
bigamy &C., and held that in his view 1T was
subject to serious constitutional objection.
The subiectswas further discussed py Messrs.
Edmunds, Butler, Jones, Sherman and Lamar.
Mr.. Edmunds said the theocracy might con-
tinue to control the governor of Utah notwith-
standing the legislature, but we were trying
the mildest measures first and this one would
have the effect if it had no other of displacing
from authority in Utah polygamists who CON
stituted majority of the Territorial assembly,
who composed entirely the council and largely
the executive officers of the Territory. Ii
there is as was believed, in the Norm on
church body of people who have no faith In
polygamy and wish to emancipate themselves
from the tyranny OF the hierarchy that now
has its foot on their necks they would now
have a chance to assert themselves. No Sena-
tor had denied that polygamy was lnimical TO
Republican government 1t was admitted we
desired to get rid of it, but when practical
measure to that end was presented prefer
ence was always indicated for some other
measure.
The remaining committee amendments and
the several sections of the bill were then
agreed to without further debate and the bill
reported to the Senate from the committee OF
the whole.
Mr. Browns amendment requiring that not
more than thirty OF the members of the board
of commissioners shall be members OF the
same political party was agreed to on party
VOTE 26 to "a, Davis of Illinois voting aye
with the Democrats and Malone absent.
Another amendment offered by Mr.. Brown
was adopted prohibiting the board from dis
franchising any one on account or his opinion
on the subject OF polygamy
Several amendments were proposed and de-
feated by decisive votes and after rearrange-
ment of its sections the bill was finally passed
by viva voce vote in which no negative re-
sponses were heard
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cox, from the committee to audit the
expenses growing out of the death and burial
of President Garfield, reported bill granting
pension of $4,000 year to Mrs. Lucretla II.
Garfield.
Mr.. Atkins, of Tennessee, said that he would
not object to the bill, but he thought that SINH
lar measures should be adopted to pension the
widow of any other President. The bill was
| passed.
Mr.. Ellis, of Louisiana, by request, intro
| duced bill to provide for the establishment of
| a fast ocean steamship mail service between
| the United States and Great Britain, and to Sc
| cure to the Government the use of vessels for
| postal, naval and other purposes. Referred.
Petitions from 5000 merchants of New York
and Baltimore were presented, asking the abe
lition OF the tax on bank deposits and stamp
tax on checks.
Bills were reported by Mr.. Harris, of Massa-
chusetts, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs, relating to color blindness in the navy
and merchant marine.
By Mr.. Burrows, from Committee on Terri
tories, for admission of Dakota into the Union
as State. Calendared.
Bills were reported and referred to the COM
mittee of the whole providing for the erecsion
of public buildings at eight different cities
Other bills were introduced and appropriately
referred, and consideration OF the apportlon-
ment bill was resumed at l.45.
Mr.. Prescott offered resolution providing
that whenever the House shall determine upon
any number of members the same shall be ap-
portioned among the States ON the same basis
of division used at the 46th Congress and now
| known as the old method.
After various other amendments had been
submitted and rejected, among others one bas-
ing the apportlonment upon the "Seaton
method" Mr.. Prescott's amendment was
agreed to without discussion.
A running debate followed, in which several
members spoke in advocacy of 294, 3l9, 325
and 326 respectively as the proper number TO
be determined upon. Amid much confusion
vote was then taken on the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas, fixing the
number at 1876, and it was agreed to-yeas 1872,
nays ao, Ths ans sstrshsed
| Alabama 8, Ark ansas 8, California 6, Colora-
do l, Connecticut A, Delaware l, Florida 2,
Georgia 10, Illinois 20, Indiana Ii, Iowa IL,
Kansas 7, Kentucky IL, Louisiana 9, Maine
Maryland 6, Massachusetts, IL, Michigan Ii,
Minnesota 5. Mississippi 7, Missouri IA, Ne
braska 8, Nevada 1, New Hampshire 2, Now
Jersey Z, New York 50, North Carolina 9,Ohio
81, Oregon 1, Pennsylvania %, Rhode Island 2,
South Carolina Z, Tennessee 10, Texas IL, Yer
mont 2, Virginia 10, West Virginia 4, Wiscon-
sin 8.
Mr.. Springer moved to reconsider the vote
by which the House had rejected the amend
ment making it lawful for the governor OF any
State. after it shall be redistricted, to order
special election for Representatives where the
! Legislature has failed to act in time.
| The motion to reconsider was the signal for a
| scene of great noise and confusion. A motion
| to table the motion to reconsider was immedi-
ately made on the Republican side, and the
| Democrats demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Springer asked that the amendment be
read, but a storm of objection came from the
Republican side, and the Speaker ruled it
could only be read by unanimous consent.
Comparative order was restored and vote
was then taken on the amendment to table the
motion to reconsider. and resulted, yeas 131,
nays 4, no quorum. The Democrats refrained
from voting
Without further action the House adjourned.
WASHINGTON.