Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-11
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
IMPROVING SAVANNAH HARBOR.
The Liquor Traffic Inquiry Bill
Passed by the SeRRte-ReduetIOu of
IaternaI Revenue TsxaIIOn-The
Tariff Commission Bill 10 Come
Up on mOnasT-Star Reuters Ball
ed-The Missing State Papers
Bryant-FOlger-Wa Position.


Mr.. Brown, Of Georgia, presented a me-
mortal from the merchants, bankers and
other prominent citizens Of Atlanta for an
adequate appropriation for the improvement
Of the harbor at Savannah. He subse-
quently introduced a bill appropriating
S35O,oOO for this purpose.
He briefly urged the commercial import
ance Of that port and its natural advantages
as an outlet for ithe products of the South
and West. He gave notice of bill apprO-
priatiDg the amount asked for this year to
continue the improvement
Mr. Morgan, from the Committee on For
eign Relations, reported a concurrent reso-
luton, requesting the President to bring to
the attention of the Government of Mica
ragua the necessity of arranging by con-
ventiOn for final settlement OF all unad-
iusted claims existing between the Govern
ment OF the United States and the Govern
ment OF Nicaragua. and the claims Of
citizens of the United States against
the Government OF Nicaragua. The resolu-
tion was adopted, after an explanation by
Mr.. MOrganp in reply to Mr.. Morrill,, that
the amount Of claims in favor OF citi-
Zens of the Uuited States ranged from
$3,O00,000 to 6,0O0,O 600, aud that the reso-
lu'iOn did not cover the counter claims of
citizens of Nicaragua.
Mr.. Vest offered a resolution, directing
The Secretary of War to use the steamers
and other vessels belonging to or now en-
plOyed by the government on the Mississip-
pi snd its tributaries In the transportation
and distribution of rations aud supplies
furnished to the sufferers by the recent
overflow, and providing for the necessary
expense thereof.
Mr.. Vest explained that there was diff
entity In Crptffnn GnnDlias n npipfe In ha
interior remote from Memphis, and points
on the Mississippi, and that small boats
were required for this purpose. Hundre DIS
OF sufferers were on the point OF starvation,
and the people OF the West and Southwest
were generously responding for their relief.
The object now was to render certain boats
under the control of the government engi-
neer corps available.
Mr.. C0ckrell had read telegram from
the Merchants Exchange OF st. Louis,
urging that the assistance Of the govern
ment be continued, in view of the dis
couraging reports received from the inun-
dated districts.
The motion passed.
MIR. Dawes reported back the fertilization
appropriation bill, without amendment.
The following bills were introduced:
By MIR. Brown-Appropriating $3.50, GOO
for the improvement of the harbor OF
Savannah.
Mr.. Jonas, Of Louisiana, offered resolu-
tiCn calling for an estimate of the
expense of permanently closing what
are known as Adams Harvey's sale
OF Murphy and Kountz canals, being
the outlets of Red river above Shreveport,
Louisiana. Adopted.
The bill for a commission on the alco-
holic liquor traffic, which again came up on
the calendar, was discussed upon the pend
ing amendments.
Mr.. Bayard said the suppression Of pure
alcoholic stimuiaGts would increase the use
Of opiates aud drugs, and that such had
been the experience Of the medical profess
sion. He moved an amendment to include
sn inquiry on this point among the others 10
be assigned to the commission. Being In
terrupted by the expiration of his five min
utes, he insisted that the Question waa too
large to be considered under the five min
utes rule, and he accordingly claimed prece-
dence for the tariff commission bill.
Mr.. Conger moved to proceed with the
liquor commission bill. Adopted-yeas 26,
nays ga party vote, except that Messrs.
MaXey and Davis, OF Illinois, voted "sye'
WITH the Republicans. Mr.. Malone also
voted ''aye." Mr.. Morrill, voted ''no' with
the Democrats.
The liquor commission bill was then pro-
ceeded with, ana the pending amendment,
offered bv MIR. Bayard, was lost by party
voJe-yeas "a, nays 25.
Messrs. Cameron, OF Wisconsin and Davis,
Of Illinois, voted with the Democrats,
The bin was then reported to the Senate
from the committee Of the whole, and Mr..
Jones, of Florida, argued against the power
Of Congress, under the Constitution, to
regulate or interfere with the liquor traffic
In the States.
Mr.. Sherman replied that the bill did not
propose any interference with license or
sale in the States, but merely.to institute an
iuQulry as TO the best mode of dealing with
the evil growing out OF the traffic. He
thought It a sufficient answer to the Obiec-
ton to say that information was needed TO
enable Congress to deal with the District of
Columbia aud Territories and to regulate
the revenues.
Mr.. Maxey corroborated and elaborated
the views expressed by Mr.. Sherman.
The number of the commission was fixed
at seven, in order that the divers sentiments
on the temperance issue might be sufficiently
represented, and the time within which the
commission shall report was fixed at
eighteen months.
After some further discussion the bill was
passed-Yeas "a; nays IA.
The following is the vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Aldrich, Allison, Blair,
Coke, Conger, Davis Of Illinois, Dawes,
Edmunds. Ferry, Frye, Garland, George,
OfOOms1 haltJ 1AIIlSODs hdWIc1s I1IlI Vi
Colorado, Hoar, Lapham, McDnl, McMil-
Ian, Malone, Maxey, Miller Of California,
Mitchell, Morrill,, Platt, Plumb, Rollins,
Sawyer, Sewel, Sherman, Teller and Walker.
N8ys-Messrs. Bayard, Beck, Hampton,
Harris, Jonas, Jones of Florida, Morgan,
Pendleton, Pugh, Ransom, Slater, Vance,
Van WYck and Vest-14.
Messrs. Kellogg, Jones of Nevada, Win
dom, and Cameron of Wisconsin, who were
l.. e. -. IA
Farley, Williams. Davis OF West Virginia,
and jackson who were against it.
Mr.. Brown was paired with Mr.. Saunders.
The bill provides for the appointment by
the President and confirmation by the Sen
ate Of a commission of seven persons, not
more than four of whom shall be of the
same political party, nor be advocates of
prohibition, to hold office for period Of
not exceeding two years, who shall investi-
gate the alcoholic liquor traffic, its relations
to revenue aud taxation, and its general
economic, criminal, moral aud scientific
aspects in connection with pauperism,
crime, social vice, public health and the
general welfare, and who shall inquire as
to the practical results of license and pro-
hibitory legislation. The commissioners
are to serve without salary and report with
in eighteen months after the passage of the
act. An appropriation of $4,000 is made
for their expenses.
A protracted struggle for precedence of
consideration for pending measures, in
which the respective merits Of the tariff
commission bill. the Japanese indemnity
fund and the Presidential count measure
were detailed at length, occupied the re-
maindeT of the day.
A charge by Mr.. Beck, that the protec-
tIonists we're seeking to delay action on the
tariff aud that journals owned by them had
made aVOWalS To this effect was met bV
counter charges, Hawley asserting that the
free traders programme was to prevent any
change In order that the crudities and oddi-
ties of the present tariff might remain
available as material for political arguments.
Finally the tariff bill was taken up and
Informally laid aside as unfinished business
for Monday.
At LIS the Senate went into executive
session, and soon after adjourned until
Monday.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, Mr.. Hiscock, of New York,
Chairman of the Appropriations Committee,
reported a Joint resolution making an ap-
preparation OF $40 1000, to be Immediately
available, to enable the Lighthouse Board
to meet extraordinary expenses consequent
on the food In the Mississippi river. Passed.
The House at 1856 went into committee
of the whole (Mr. Davis, of Illinois, in the
chair on the private calendar.
Pending the discussion of a relief bill, the
committee rose informally, and the House
passed the Senate joint resolution authoriZ-
ing the Secretary Of War to use the govern
ment vessels for transportation and distri
button OF the rations furnished by the
United States to the sufferers of the Misss-
sippi overflow. The committee then re-
sumed it's session.