Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-14

WASHINGTON, March 13.-Iu the Senate,
Mr.. jackson presented petition from col
ored citizens of Tennessee asking for relief
from suffering, caused by the drought of
1851. Referred.
a number Of reports were made from
committees and bills were introduced and
referred, among which was the following
By Mr.. Jackson-To provide for settle
ment of accounts with the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad Company.
Mr.. Plumb, from the Committee on Ap-
preparations, reported the post office apprO-
priatton bill, and gave notice that he would
call 1t up to morrow.
A bill was introduced by Mr. Hoar for the
ascertsinment of French spoliation claims.
Mr.. Garland, from the Judiciary Commit
tee. reported The bill amending the statutes
relating to quorum of the Supreme Court
of the United States. 1t provides that q
mai 0rity of the Court shall constitute a
quorum instead of six Justices as at present,
and prohibits any Justice from sitting on a
case or an appeal on which he has acted in
the Circuit Court. Placed on the calendar
Mr.. Davis, of Illinois, from the Committee
on the judiciary, reported with amend
meuts bill TO establish Court of Appeals,
The Senate then, ST 1:30 D. m, proceeded
to the consideration of the tariff commission
bill, and Mr.. Slater, of Oregon, took the
floor. At the conclusion of Mr. Slater's re-
marks the bill was laid aside, Informally,
and the resolution fsvoring a call for CON
vention of American nations was taken up.
After spending three hours in executive
session, the Senate, at 5:55 adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
II
appointment of Messrs. Camp, White, Sher-
win, Stone. Hepburn, Springer, Vance, Mul-
brow aud Shackeliord, as the select com
mittee on woman suffrage.
The Speaker presented a memorial of the
Legislature OF Utah, complaining of the
baseless and monstrous exaggerations uu-
der which the people OF Utah are placed In
| jeopardy, etc, and asking Congress to sus-
pend action until commission shall inves-
tigate the affairs of that Territory Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Butterworth, from the Appropria-
tiOns Committee, reported the army appro-
| pratiOn bill. 1t provides for an aggregate
appropriation of $27, ,431, ,69S based upon
| estimates which aggregated $29 237. 1856 67,
and is an increase Of $744, ,S9S over the ap
preparation of last year The principal
items Of the bill are SO, ,247 1893 for the pay
! Ofthe army on the basis OF not exceeding 25,-
| 600 enlisted men ard 500 enlisted men for the
| Signal Corps, S4, ,164 ,0C0 for transportation,
! $500 coo for supplies for the Quartermas-
ter's Depar: ment, 81 300 600 for subsistence
supplies, 81 400 goo for the purchase and
m mlnUfacture of clothing and camp and gar
risOn equipage. The bill contains clause
providing for the compulsory retirement of
officers at sixty two years OF age, and a fur
theT provision referring TO what are known
as the Fourth of July claims TO the Court of
Claims. Referred to the committee Of the
whole.
Under the call of States the following
bills were introduced:
By Mr.. Dunn, of ArkausaszTo provide
supplies for the sufferers by the overflow of
the Mississippi. Also, for the repair of
levees.
By Mr.. Robertson, of Louisiana-For the
proJec ion Of life and property endangered
by the foods In the Mississippi river
By Mr.. Hooker, OF Mississippi-Appro-
priating $500, 600 for the relief OF the suffer
ers by the owe flow Of the Mississippi river
A resolution o. the Cincinnati Chamber of
Commerce, asking for th- relief of the suf-
ferers by the Mississippi overt Nv, was read
and referred.
Mr.. Hiscock, of New York, stated that the
Committee on Appropriations had the sub
ject under consideration and was in COM
munication with the Secretary of War, who
said be had sufficient supplies on hand to
last until March 2Oth, or, probably, the 1st
Of April.
The House went to the Speakers table
and reached the Senate bill to punish po-
lygamy, on which, on the Sth instant, the
point of order had been made by Mr.. Con
verse, OF Ohio, that it must receive its first
consideration IN committee of the whole, as
1t provided for an appropriation. After a
long and heated discussion the Speaker, in
an elaborate decision, overruled the point
of order on the ground that the bill did not
require an appropriation of money from the
United States Treasury, inasmuch as the
officers provided for became part of the
electoral system of Utah Territory, and con
sequently their salaries would be payable
out of the Territorial Treasury.
After considerable filibustering by the
Democrats on account of Mr.. Haskell's in-
sisting on taking a vote on the bill without
allowing debate on the amendments, the
House took q recess until 11:30 2. m. to-
morrow, when the bill will retain the posi-
ton which It has at present.
THE BEGGING JUDGEsHIP.
The following letters were made public
to-day:
No go NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK, March
3, 1882 -MT. President: Absence prevented
the prompt acknowledgment of your two
esteemed letters, which were found here
awaiting my return from Utica. The high
and unexpected honor you proffer by Sc
lecting me as an Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court OF the United States is
greatly valued. 1t will ever be a matter of
pride and satisfaction that you and the Sen
ate deemed me fit for so grave aud exalted
trust, but for reasons which you would not
fail to appreciate l am constrained to de-
cline. Although urgent demands on my
time Just nOw prevent me accepting your
cordial invitation to pass a few days in
Washington, let me hold this as pleasure
deferred but not lost.
| have the honor TO be sincerely your
obedient servant,
Roscoe CoNKLING.
HIS EDcellency the President.
SENATE CHAMBER, WASHINGTON, March g.
1882 -Mr President: I have received
through the Secretary of State your very
fiattering offer of the appointment OF Asso-
ciate Judge of the Supreme Court. l thank
you sincerely for this highly valued proof of
your good opinion. But feel. for reasons
l have expressed to Mr.. Frelir ghuysen, that
l ought not to occupy It. 1 shall cherish
this mark OF your kindness and good opin-
ion, though, and did not require this proof
of it, as one of the most pleasant of my
life. l am, sir, most faithfully yours,
GEORGE F. EDMUNDs.
The President.
A