The Portland daily press., 1882-02-24
XLVIIth Congress-lst Ses sion

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XLVIIth Congress-lst Ses sion
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb %.
Mr.. Allison from the appropriation commit
tee reported with amendments the immediate
deficiency bill and gave notice that he would
call up the same at 130 tomorrow
Mr.. Harris presented a memorial and report
of the Memphis cotton exchange upon the
danger to the river front of Memphis from en-
croachments of the Mississippi.
Mr.. George introduced a joint resolution
authorizing the Secretary of War to issue
rations for the relief of laboring classes in the
district loverAowed by the Mississippi river
which was read, as also telegram from Gov.
Lowry of Mississippi urging immediate
PLANTATION of the magnitude of floods stated
that the submerged territory comprised the
best cotton and agricultural lands of the
South
Mr.. Allison suggested in view of the de-
sirableness of prompt action reference of the
subject to the military committee and it was so
ordered.
The Senate bill to amend section 2133,
Revised Statutes, relating to Indian traders
was passed. 1t prohibits any person other than
Indians from trading on any Indian reserva-
ton without license, but specially excepts
traders with the five civilized tribes in Indian
territory.
The unfinished business, the Grant retire
ment bill, was taken up and Mr.. Bayard moved
to amend by substituting therefor provision
to pay every president of the United States
who shall have served or may hereafter serve
in saip office and who shall have retired from
the same sum annually during his life equal
to oue-fourth part of the annual presidential
salary hut this not to he maid in case of a
second presidential term.
Mr.. Brown opposed the amendment and
favored the bill. He would accord to the man
to whom the immortal Lee surrendered his
sword all the honor he could accord to any
military hero and thought former confederates
on the Democratic side were making mistake
in failing to show magnanimity toward Grant
The subject was further argued by Messrs
Call, Jones and Jonas when Mr. Bayard's
amendment was rejected. The amendment
by Mr.. Sherman prevailed without discussion,
making the proposed retirement additional to
the number authorized by law.
A bill then passed, yeas 30, nays IL, Messrs,
Call, Davis of Illinois, Davis of West Virginia,
Jones of Florida and Ransom voted aye with
the Republicans Otherwise the vote was
party one.
The bill authorizes the President in recogni-
ton of the eminent public service OF U. 5.
Grant, late general of the army, to nominate
and by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate to oppoint him to the army with rank
and grade to be placed on the retired list with
pay accordingly.
Mr.. Logan reported back from the military
committee the joint resolution introduced ear
lier in the day by Mr.. George, to provide relief
on account of the overflow of the Mississippi,
with an amendment In the nature of a substi-
tute, and asked the immediate consideration
of the same The joint resolution was at once
takeu up and the substitute recommended by
the committee adopted and the same passed
without debate. 1t appropriated $100, 600 to be
used by the Secretary Of War in the purchase
and distribution OF subsistence stores for the
relief of destitute persons in the district over
flowed by the Mississippi and its tributaries,
and authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with
the authorities of the several States, of which
the district is part, in making distribution
of the same. Adjourned.
HOUSE
Mr.. Chalmers, of Mississippi sent to the
clerks deska and had read telegram from
Whitman county stating that the Mississippi
had overfowed at that point and thousand
colored persons were starving and asking for
assistance. He then introduced and asked for
immediate consideration a joint resolution
authorizing the President to issue temporarily
supplies of food and disused army clothing suf-
ficient to prevent the starvation and suffering
of the destitute persons living on or near tn
lower Mississippi river who have been rendered
SO by reason of the present overflow.
Mr.. Marsh, of Illinois. saw no reason why
assistance should be confined to persons living
on the lower Mississippi, and on suggestion of
Mr.. Kasson, of Iowa, the resolution was re-
ferred to sthe committee on military affairs
with leave to report at any time.
Mr.. Page, Of CALIFORNIA, chairman OF the
committee on commerce, reported back reso-
luton originally offered by Mr. Cox, of New
York, reclting that the lost steamer Bahama
was unseaworthy, etc., and directing the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to communicate to the
House any information in regard to such ves-
sells with view to 30 amend the law as to rem
edy 80 gross disregard of life and property.
Adopted.
The House at 1910 went into committee of
the whole on the post Office appropriation bill.
The clause under consideration was that rel
ative to star route transportation. An amend
ment Offered by Mr. Holman) was pending
providing that whenever any contractor shall
sublet his contract for transportation of mail
on any route for a less sum than he contracted
to perform the service the Postmaster General
may declare the original contract at an end
and enter into a contract with the sub-con-
tractor without advertising to perform the SER
vice on the terms at which he has agreed with
the original contractor to perform the same.
To this Mr.. Atkins offered an amendment
providing that the sub-contractor shall enter
into good and sufficient bond and that the orig
inal contractor shall not be released from his
contract until bond has been made by the
sub-contractor.
After various substitutes and amendments
modified his amendment by incorporating it
in that offered by Mr.. Atkins and the amend
ment was agreed to, SO to SO.
Mr.. Atkins offered an amendment providing
that when contract is declared void on ac-
count of having been sub-let the contractor
shall not be entitled to one months extra pay
as now provided by law. Adopted.
The amendments proposing increased appro-
priations for the payment OF postal clerks and
route agents were lost, and pending further ac-
ton the committee rose.
Mr. Harmer, of Pennsylvania, presented
memorial of the American Baptist Home Mis-
sionary Society against poygamy.
On motion the Senate joint resolution appro--
priating 100000 to enable the Secretary OF
War to issue rations for the relief of destitute
persons in the districts overfowed by the Mis-
sissippi river was taken from the table and
passed.
House took recess until 7.30 .. m. The
evening session to be for the consideration of
the district code bill.
There was but small attendance of MEM
bers. The reading of the bill establishing
district code was allowed to proceed. A clause
providing that commercial agents shall pay
tax of 5000 excited considerable opposition
Motion to strike out the clause was agreed to,
% to 13, but as no quorum voted the paragraph
passed over for the present. Mr. Joyce moved
to strike out all clauses providing for the IL
censing of liquor dealers and insert provision
to prohibit the manufacture and sale OF intoxl-'
eating liquors in the district. As it was prob
able that long debate would spring up over
this amendment its consideration was passed
over for the present.
After concluding the consideration of 85
pages of the bill the House, at 10 o'clock, ad-
journed.
MARINE NEWS