The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-06
XLVIIth Congress list Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, July B.
Mr. Frye presented the memorial of the
board of trade of Maine asking for a commits
sion to consider the mercantive marine and 1ts
necessities. He thought the necessity for such
a commission was beyond question, but he was
unable to indicate the appropriate reference OF
the memorial as no committee of Congress had
special jurisdiction of or took the slightest in
tereSt in the commercial marine.
The chair suggested reference to the COM
merce committee but the paper finally went to
the committee on finance. The amendment
was adopted.
public bulldiny at Dallas, Texas, and granting
condemned cannon to several grand army
posts were passed.
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin moved to dis
pense with the calendar for the purpose of
taking up the bill for the relief of Ben. Holli-
day.
The Senate agreed to consider the bill.
Motions to postpone them were supported by
opponents of the bill, headed by Messrs.
Cookrell, Plumb and Butler.
The bill finally went over until tomorrow.
The bankruptcy bill then came up, but on
motion of Mr.. ingalls, who dwelt upon the.
lateness of the session and pressure of public
business the bill and amendments were made
special order for the first Wednesday in De-
cember.
The Senate bill to create the Territory of
Pembina was taken up. An amendment was
offered by Mr.. Hale prohibiting certain laws
OF the Dakota legislature, in relation to the
alleged reputation of Yankton county bonds,
from being made applicable to the proposed
uew territory A discussion followed in
which Mr.. Hale denounced the action of the
Dakota legislature.
Mr.. Vest said he would never vote to admit
territory whose people were stained with re-
pudlation. Obnoxious laws should first be re-
pealed.
Without concluding Mr.. Vest yielded for an
executive session.
Mr.. Mcmillan reported with amendments
the river and harbor bill and gave notice that
he would move its consideration at the close
of the morning business tomorrow. The bill
and amendments were ordered printed.
Adjourned
HOUSE.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for public
building at Shreveport, La, passed.
Mr.. Aldrich ST Illinois introduced bill to
repeal the act of 1875 adding 25 per cent. to
the duty on sugar and molasses Referred.
The House at II o'clock went into commit
tee of the whole. Mr.. Page of California in the
chair, on the naval appropriation bill, the
pending question being an amendment by Mr..
Reed to the paragraph for bureau of con-
struction and repair. (The amendment is to
strike out the proyiso which limits to $780,
900; the amount to be applied to repairs of
wooden ships. Also to make the clause read
SO that the expenses of such repairs shall not
exceed 80 per cent of the estimated cost of to
$1,500,000.
Mr.. Harris of Massachusetts argued against
the amendment. Messrs. Talbot of Missouri
and Robson of New Jersey also argued
against the amendment.
Mr.. Belmont of New York expressed his
non-concurrence with q former statement of
Mr.. Robson that the presence of an ironclad
at Callao would have prevented the dsmem-
bermemnt of Peru. With the diplomatic poll
cy of the State department a hundred IRON
clads would not have had their effect; that
th ia UniicV had o0nfrivad n fhQ short 0f
six months not only to gamble away the infiu-
ence of the United States in South America
but actually to open the way to direct Euro
pean interference by giving color of necessi.
ty to that interference. In tnis connection he
reviewed briefly the action of Secretary
Evarts and of Secretary Blaine, commenting
unfavorably on the lat er and expressing de-
sire for verdict of the House of such stew
ardship.
After some further discussion Mr.. Harris
offered an amendment providing that any poss
ton of tho appropriation of $4,000 not re-
, qGtrst ior me purposes specified MSYt Ytrhi sing
passa plasa " soWsTd Nv TaS Sconstruetie'-
The amendment offered by Mr.. Atkins re-
ducing the appropriation to $1.5OO,0 600 was re-
jected and that offered by Mr.. Harris adopted.
The paragraph relating TO bureau OF steam
engineering was then taken up. ct appropri.
ates $2,20O,O0O, not more than 100000 Of
which is to be applied to mere repairs OF ma
chinery of wooden ships. 1t directs the appli-
cation of 81 900 900 of the amount to an IRON
clad monitor.
Mr. Hewitt moved to strike out the last pro-
viso, which after some debate was reje cted.
He then moved an amendment requiring work
on monitors to be given out by contract to the
lowest bidders. This, together with similar
amendment by Mr.. Holman was also rejected.
The amendment of Mr.. Harris (in reference to
completion of monitors) was adopted.
Mr. Robson moved as an additional section
to the bill provision that officers Of the navy
may be required to perform such duties at
navy yards and stations as are now performed
by civil employees; and no officer of the navy
shall be employed on shore duty except where
the Secretary of the Navy shall deter mine
such employment is required by public inter
ests and shall so state in the order of employ
ment, and all other officers not at sea shall be
put on leave of absence or waiting orders or on
furiough as the Secretary of the Navy may di-
rect. After discussion the amendment was
adopted.
Mr. Reed offered an amendment providing
that naval constructors and assistant naval
constructors may be appointed from civil life.
Adopted.
The committee then rose and reported the
bill and amendments. The previous question
was seconded and then without disposing OF
any of the amendments the House adjourned.