The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-04-25
XLVIIth Congress-1st Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, April "a.
A memorial was presented and referred az
| follows: BY Mr.. Aldrich, from the Providence,
r. L., board of trade, and by Mr.. Lapham,
from the jobbers and manufacturers of Roch-
ester, N. Y, in favor of the Lowell bankrupt
cy bill; by Mr.. Lapham, a resolution of the
Union League of New York approving the
veto of the Chinese bill.
Several Indian bills were passed and the
Mississippi river improvement bill taken up
but it went over without action.
Mr.. Morgan introduced bill for the encour-
agement of a closer commercial relationship
between the United States and South Ameri-
can countries. Ut proposes the holding of o
convention in Washington during the present
year with view to the construction of a
through line of railroad along the eastern
slope of the great mountain chain from Gen.
trail America to Chill, and the establishment
Of other facilities of communication.
Adjourned.
Mr.. Robinson offered resolution discharg-
ing the committee on foreign relations from
the subject of Imprisonment Of American citi-
zens abroad and declaring the same be brought
before the House for immediate consideration.
After some discussion the matter went over
till tomorrow
Mr.. Page from the committee on commerce
reported a bill appropriating $4,000 to be inn
mediately available for removal of obstruc-
tions from He'll Gate, N. Y. Passed.
A number of bill and resolutions were intro
duced and referred, among them the follow
ing: By Mr.. Cox resolution as to the Amer
lean peace congress and its extension for pur-
poses of trade; by Mr.. Dezendorf appropriate
ing 100000 for the erection of presidential
mansion in Washington; by Mr.. Robinson for
the final adjournment of Congress the I'D OF
May. By Mr.. Anderson to reduce the
rate of postage on letter matter to two cents;
by Mr. Burch a resolution calling on the attor-I
ney general for information as to the enforce
ment or n-enforcement of the eight hour law
in the various departments of the govern
ment.
Mr. Humphrey from the committee on judi
ciary reported a bill to establish uniform
system of bankruptcy. Ordered printed and
recommitted.
A bill increasing by 100 the members of the
police of the District of Columbia gave rise to
some discussion upon the provision authorizing
the commissioner of the district in the appoint
ment of policemen to give preference to men
honorably discharged from the volunteer force
of the army, and an animated controversy
took place between Messrs. Cox and Robson in
which the former severely criticized Mr.. Robe
son for attempting again to wave the bloody
shirt in the face of Congress.
Mr.. Robson moved to strike out the provis-
ion of the bill which repealssthe statute requiE-
ing that no person shall be appointed who has
not served in the army or navy. agreed to-
Considerable debate was occasoned by mo-
tion by Mr.. McLane, to recommit the bill and
his assertion that under the law in force as to
the district police more democrats were like
ly to be appointed than republicans. During
the discussion Messrs. McLane and Robson
became engaged in warm controversy and
the debate took political turn, Messrs. Miller
and Randall also participating. After an hour
and half of confusion the bill was passed;
III to 66. Several other district bills were then
passed.
On motion of Mr.. Cox bill was passed pro-
viding that foreign vessels sailing from port
of the United States shall be subject to the
same inspection as vessels of the United States.
Adjourned.