Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-02-09
PORflsSRVRKfn CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WAoHIX01OS- CeO. o.
A response vas received from the secretary
of war. on the subject of the examination
and tests Of heavy ordnance.
Mr.. Hoar presented . protest from the
national woman suffrage association of Mass
achusetfs, against any Law disfranchisinR the
women of Utah, unless the men OF that Ter
ritory also are disfrsnchised.
Messrs. Mills. of New York, and Dawes,
presented petitions for . constitutional
amendment to prohibit any abridgement OF
suffrage on account Of sex.
Mr.. Vance reported adversely from the
committee, the Senate bill prohibiting the
ministers of denomination having already
six representatives in the active list, from
being appointed As chaplains in the navy and
providing for additional chaplains. Iade6-
nitely postponed.
Mr.. Blair introduced q joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the constitution
prohibiting the manufacture. sale. importa-
ton and expectation of alcoholic liquors. and
other poisonous beverages from, and after the
year 1900.
After an informal discussion by Messrs.
Morgan and Allison, upon the sufficiency OF
the response made by the secretary of war to
Morgan's resolution calling for . full report
of the mixed board on ordnance. ETC., the
response referred to was read. 1t states, upon
the authority OF the president Of the board,
that it is impracticable to make full report
at this time. but that the board expects to
make such report before the end of the
present fiscal year. Debate followed.
Mr.. Morgan criticised the response as in
the nature of an evasion OF the inquiry and
as snubbing the Senate.
MIR. Hawley had read the explanatory let
ter on the subject from the chief of the ord
nance, and the matter was then passed over
without further notice.
Mr.. Call offered resolutions, which were
laid over, to enable him to speak on them
hereafter, directing the secretary of state to
institute negotiations for a reciprocity treaty
with the states of Central and South Ameri-
ca also declaring that the good faith of the
United States requires the execution of the
obligations imposed by the treaty with Spain
in l6l9 for the cession of Florida, by the
payment with interest Of the claims for losses
and damages adjudicated by the United
States tribunals.
The Senate, at ]. 80, resumed the consider
alton OF the resolution declaring the pension
arrears law ought not to be repealed, and Mr..
Blair, in its favor, made an argument to il
lustrate the correctness Of the principle upon
which the arrears are based.
ne urged the sacreuness OF the pension IN
debtedness. and hoped. instead Of indulging
in Wholesale charges and nncalled for criti-
cisms, the Senators would treat the resolu-
ton as finally with reference to the con-
tinuance in the repeal OF the law. He would
admit that in some particulars it was defec-
tive, but believed that Congress at its present
session would remedy its defects. After a
discussion by several members the resolution
was laid over till tomorrow
The remainder of the day was occupied in
the passage Of Senate bills, not objected to-
Among these was bill appropriating $780,
ia for the filling up. draining and placing
in good sanitary conditions the grounds south
of the capitol.