The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-01-19
XLVII tn Congress-1st Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IS.
4 communication was received from the Sec
rotary of the Treasury in response to the Senate
resolution as to the present rates of duties i'm
posed by France, Germany and Mexico upon
American manufactures.
Numerous petitions for commission to in
vestigate the liquor traffic were presented
Mr.. Davis of Illinois, from the Committee
on Judiciary, reported back favorably bill to
permit Ward Hunt, an Associate Justice OF
the Supreme Court of the United States, to re-
tire. He gave notice that he would ask its
consideration tomorrow
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a reso-
luton for the examination by that committee
of new system of naval defence invented by
Capt J. Ericsson and reported thereon. Adopt
ed
Mr.. Anthony, from the same committee, re-
ported favorably bill authorizing the compil-
alton and printing of the naval history of the
war.
Mr. Blair offered resolution instructing the
Committee on Public Lands to inquire into the
administration of the land laws and system,
their operations and the practical dispositions
of the lands, and any abuses and hardshlps
which may exist in their administration and
report the facts and their recommendation.
Adopted.
The remainder of the morning hour was oc-
cupied by Mr.. Brown in remarks upon the
IL
declaring the inexpediency of contracting the
currency by the withdrawal of silver certih-
Gates or the discontinuance of further restric-
ton of silver coinage.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Browns remarks
his resolution went over without action, and
man funding bill.
Mr.. Morgan spoke briefly in opposition when
the bill was formally laid aside until to-mor-
row.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Ferry relative
to compensation OF letter carriers; BY Mr.
Davis (by request) in relation to the distribu-
ton of the Venezuela awards, authorizing the
Court OF Claims to examine awards made by
the mixed commission and determine their
value according to merit.
transmitting for the consideration of Congress
matters relating to Indian affairs. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Several resolutions were introduced and re-
ferred
The House then resumed the consideration
of the report of the committee on rules pro-
pority an increase in the membership of GER
tain committees, the pending question being
on Mr.. Orths substitute for the appointment
of board to select committees.
Mr. Robson made the point of order that
the substitute was not germane to the original
proposition because the substitute applied to
the next house and not to this.
The discussion after having proceeded about
an hour was interrupted by question of order
raised by Mr. Bedford that by rule IA no mem
Der is permitted to speak more than once on
the same question until every member choosing
to speak shall have spoken. He said the gem
tlemen from New Jersey and Kansas (Robeson
and Haskell) had spoken half dozen times
on the subject.
The point of order against the substitute was
sustained by the House and the substitute was
consequently ruled out of order.
Mr. King offered an amendment relating to
the committee on improvement OF the Missls-
sippi river providing that it shall have the
same privileges in reporting appropriations for
improvement of that river as were accorded to
the appropriation committee in reporting the
general appropriation bills and this proposition
provoked long discussion.
Mr.. Horn thought the proposition would be
fraught with danger. The next thing would
be to appoint committee on improvement of
the Atlantic coast. The House would go on
Forthcoming out work until the commerce of the
country would he destroyed. He was opposed
to the action of the committee on rules. He
criticised Mr.. Orth's proposition. That gem
tleman had been here thirteen years and never
discovered the tyranny of the one-man power
until week ago. Was there anything in that
tyranny that man could not seq until he got
a black eye? Naughter.) Let the House show
the country that the speaker had made no mis-
take and not waste its time in debating who
should sit at this or that committee table.
The matter then went over for the day.
Mr. Morse introduced bill for the sale of
the United States court house in Boston. Re-
ferred.
Adjourned