The Portland daily press., 1882-07-04
XLVIIth Congress-1s Session.
SENATE.

Inc cnalr submitted petition from tne
president and secretary of the Independent
Congress to raise the per capita tax on imml-
grants from 30 centsito $100 per head. Re-
ferred to the committee on commerce.
On motion of Mr.. Dawes the Secretary of
the Interior was directed to communicate a
detailed account of the Indian civilization
fund, and original and present amount.
Under suspension of the rules bills were
passed: To correct an error in the revised stat
utes relating to duties on knit goods; to ratify
an agreement made with the Crow Indians for
sale OF q portion of their reservation for use OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad; to erect public
buildings in Southern cities.
The Senate amendment to the House bill to
pay mileage Il cents) and per diem (S25O) to
witnesses in the star route cases from beyond
the Mississippi river was agreed to.
Mr.. Hiscock, from the appropriations COM
mittee, reported substitute for the sundry
civil appropriations bill and gave notice he
would ask te have it taken up as soon as the
naval appropriation bill was disposed Of. Ad-
journed until Wednesday,
Mr.. Gorman called up the Senate bill to en-
courage and promote telegraphic communica-
tion between America and Europe. 1t consti
tutes Robert Garrett, VIM. Il. Burns, VIM. +.
Tryick of Maryland and their associates COM
pany to lay an ocean cable from any point on
the American side to some point on the Euro
pean coast. The bill was passed.
was proceeded with and committee amend
ments agreed to as read.
The Senate committee reported an amend
ment constituting the first and second comp
trollers OF the treasury and the treasurer of the
United States board of audit to hear and de-
termine all questions arising out of claims and
proposed allowances growing out OF the illness
and burial of the late President Garfield pro-
viding method of auditing them, appropri-
ating $4,000 for payment of awards and linn
iting the amount to be certified and paid for
medical services to $52500. 1t is further pro-
vided that all claims shall be considered and
allowances made before January 1, 1883, and
that the aggregate of awards shall not exceed
the amount appropriated.
Mr.. Vest raised several points Of order
against the amendment, but the Senate, by a
strictly patty vote--20 to l9- held it could be
entertained under tie rule.
Mr.. Vest then opposed the proposition with
much earnestness He said it was we'll known
that the late President, If n 1t butchered, was
unquestionaby the victim of malpractice in
his last illness, and the fees charged by the
physicians were exorbitant, and would not be
allowed in any court in al ordinary case. He
referred to newspaper charges made during the
Presidents illness; that while the public bull
letins were giving favorable reports the Presi-
lent's physicians were telegraphing informa-
tion exactly opposite, in cipher, to Wall street
brokers, and thought an investigation, even
now, should be made into .he charge.
Mr.. Hale said he was unable to appreciate
the force of Mr.. Vests criticism upon the med
ical treatment of the late President as fail
ure. He would not follow that senator's exam
pie in setting up his own Judgment against
that OF experienced medical practitioners He
believed the earnest, laborious and patient la
bors Of the physicians were known to the
county, and the fact universally admitted
that the Presidents wound was necessarily IA
tai. He deprecated the introduction of the
squabbles of disaffected physicians and said
the amendment originated with the appropria-
tions committee, without a suggestion or inti-
nation from any quarter, and afforded the
means OF removing the matter from the de-
Dates Of Congress for settlement by compe-
tent tribunal
Some discussion followed as to the grounds
upon which the Senate committees had based
its reduction from tho aggregate reported In
the Huse and Mr.. Hale explained the COM
mittee had adopted the House basis as their
own bat substituted a lower scale. In reply to
Mr.. Garland he added that the proposition
was Intended to be quietus upon the whole
matter and if his language was not sufficiently
guarded to that end he would accept any mod
ifcatiba which would better express its mean
ing.
Mr.. Garland said he would waive the point
that the army surgeons we're obliged to attend
the President as their commander-in-chief
without pay and that no law warranted their
payment for medical attendance in this case.
of the charges, but she would pay every man
who contributed to ameliorate the suffering or
proloDg the life of the lamentediG Garfield all he
was 6atitled to.
MI. .Hawley said the discussion would be sn
indesribably painful one to the country. The
surgeons in charge of the dying President had
received the prayerful sympathy of their pro-
feSSol and good people and were entitled in
common charity to kind and courteous treat
ment here. There was no justification for re-
Election upon their personal character or mo-
tives.
Mr.. Hawley added the matter would not be
a credtable one to an American Congress if it
should be made the subject of party strife or
personal abuse
Mr.. Hoar advocated the amenement as
shielding the family and executors of the dead
President from litigation
Messrs. Sherman and Plumb made similar
appeals.
Mr.. Allison said he felt it his duty as chair
man of the committee on appropriations to
have entered upon the official records the gen.
erous response made to the committee by
President Roberts of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, declaring it not only the duty
but apleasure for the company to do what it
could in increasing the comfort and aid in res
toring the health of the late President and dis
claiming any intention TO ask compensation of
the government for courtesies extended on
that account.
After further remarks the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Cockrell, reducing the appropria-
tion from $85, 900 to $57 800 and aGount for
medical services from $52,500 to $35, 200 was
agreed to, yeas %, nays %, and the section
prevailed as amended and the bill passed.
After placing the bankruptcy bill on orders
as unfinished business the Senate adjourned
until Wednesday.
Under call of States bill was introduced
and referred, by Mr.. Berry of California, to
abolish the State of Nevada and to attach it to
the State of California.
Mr.. Robinson of New York introduced res
olution of enquiry. 1t recites the constitution
al provisions which prohibit any Senator or
Representative being questioned for any re-
marks spoken in debate, states that on the 25th
of January, 1882, Lionel Sackville West, min
isterrof the British monarchy in this CITY, vi
ed upon Secretary Frelinghuysen and question
cd the remarks delivered in the House the day
before by Mr.. Robinson and expressed his dis
approval of the resolution of the committee on
foreign affairs, and closes with the following
resolution:
Resolved-That the Secretary of State be directed
to inform this House, without reference to its in
compatibility with the public interest whether said
British minister suggested any punishment for
those who had spoken in that debate of January
without his leave; whether he suggested the ap-
pointment of British censor to revise before pub
lication speeches delivered in the House and SEN
ate; whether he suggested the person best fitted to
administer soothing syrup to the British lion when
disturbed by the eagles wing; whether he suggest
ed the official recognition of the New York Tribune
founded by Horace Greedy, member of the Irish di-
rectory of 1848, the British organ in the United
States in manifest injustice to the equal claims of
the Times; and whether said British minister sug-
geeted that as we had saluted the British flag at
Yorktown he thought that we had permanently
pulled down own, together with as full report
as possible of the Conversation which passed be-
tween said minister and the secretary of State on
the 25th Of January, 1882.
A resolution was introduced by Mr.. Mills of
Texas (by request) confirming the call for q
peace congress in Washington November 22
1882, and appropriating $1,000 to defray the
expenses.
On motion of Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, sever
al amendments to the legislative appropriation