Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-15
FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March IA.

1
WASHINGTON, March IA.
| The chaplain in his morning Invocatioh,
PRAYED for those suffering from the ravages
of the floods. In
Mr.. Morrill, reported back the House bill
To repeal discriminating duties on tea and
coffee. products of the possessions OF the
Netherlands with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute making the measure gen.
eral one. Calendar.
| Mr. Harris, from the military commlttee,
| in response to the instructions TO inquire as
to the propriety of increasing the appropria-
ton, under the resolution OF FEB. "a, LOT
the relief of the sufferers by the MISSISSIPPI
overflow, reported TO the committee ne was
unable to state with even approximate exact
ness. the number of such persons, owing 10
the difficulties of communication In the
flooded regions. 900
The secretary of war thinks that $4,000
people have been driven from their homes,
and in need of temporary relief, namely
20. 900 in Illineis. 5000 in Tennessee, lo,-
900 in Mississippi 5000 in Arkansas, To-
900 in Missouri, 5000 in Kentucky, and s.
900 in Louisiana. Captain Lee suggests that
:. 200. 900 rations. in addition to the l5o,ooo
| already sent. would be needed IN Mississippi
alone. About 800 900 rations were available
az the date of the last order, for distribution
March llth. Since then POO. 900 rations have
been issued.
1t seems probable that some measure OF
relief must be extended to the sufferers for
! at least sixty days to come. The committee
add that they are not prepared to recommend
measures of relief until the destitute are
again able to maintain themselves, preferring
| to leave this to the voluntary action of the
people. but as the work of relief has not been
sufficiently organized, because of belief
that public appropriation would meet the
| case, thew are of the opinion that there Is
still pressing demand for food supplies that
cannot be met by private effort They ac-
cordingly reported joint resolution appro-
priating 500, 900 additional for the sufferers.
Taken up and passed.
After the introduction of a number of bills
Mr. Call addressed the Senate upon Chill
and Peru matters AS presented by his pending
resolution in favor of the settlement of the
controversy by the United States, and rec
ommending a Congress of the governments
of America to be held in Washington, to Sc
cure some just method of settlement of all
the questions between them. He quoted the
utterances of Turner, and eminent publicists.
To effect our policy demanded, in the Ian
guage of Webster, that We should be the ar
bitter of the disputes of South America sOver-
eighties, and protector and defender of their
neutrality.
message was received from the President
enclosing the amended estimate for the in
crease in the clerical force in the office of the
| commissioner of pensions
| The postal appropriation bill was proceed
ed with, the Holman amendment relating to
sub-contracts, giving rise to IA discussion.
Without action the Senate at 4.30 adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House met at II 80 in continuance of
Mondays session, and the Speaker announced
the unfinished business to be the considcra-
ton of the anti-polygamy bill and the pend
ing question to be on secOnding the demand
for the previous question on the third read
ing of the bill.
| Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, appealed to Mr.. Has
kell to allow an opportunity for the offering
of amendments.
Mr. Haskell, of Kansas, said it was under
stood that the opponents of the bill, those who
desired no legislation, were all DESTROYS of
lacking on some slight amendment, merely
for the purpose of hanging the bill up be-
tween the two houses. The emissaries of
the Mormon church were here to defeat the
bill.
Mr.. Cassidy, of Nevada, said that there
were number of members on the democrat
/
without amendments.
Mr.. Haskell inquired how many democrats
Mr.. Cassidy replied there was at least one
who would.
Mr. Blackburn, of Kentucky, asked Mr..
Haskell whether he was willing to refuse the
right of the majority to vote upon the amend
j ments or bill.
Mr.. Haskell replied that he did not want to
deny to the other side debate or amendment,
but he wanted to have the bill passed as it was.
Let vote first be taken upon the bill as it
came from the Senate, and if it was voted
down it could be amended.
Mr.. Blackburn said that he knew Of no
man who was not willing to vote for any bill
that looked to the suppression of polygamous
practices in every portion of the United
States. lie was sure that there was no man
on the democratic side who would offer any
| obstruction or diliatory motion to pass this
bill which MANY members believed to be bad
in several regards. They wanted an oppor-
tunty to perfect the bill before it was voted
upon.
Mr.. Haskell continued that if the majority
of House desired to amend the bill it could
vote down the previous question.
Mr.. Blackburn-There is no precedent for
such practice.
Mr.. Haskell-It is the practice of justice
and equity.
Mr.. Blackburn-You must perfect legisla-
ton before You vote upon bill. Is the gen.
tleman afraid of an amendment?
Mr.. Haskell replied by renewing his de-
mand for the previous question.
Mr.. Blackburn-You won't get the previ-
GUS question under the gag law.
For several moments there was great con-
fusion in the chamber, the voices of those
members who were trying to arrive at some
satisfactory arrangement, being drowned by
the sharp sound of the Speakers gave. and
loud cries for Regulate. order
At last, however, Mr.. Burrows, of Michi-
gan, managed to- make himself heard. He
thought that the proposition coming from the
gentlemen on the other side was perfectly