Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-12
fORTYSBVByfH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

SENAUEs
WASHINGTON, Dec IL.
Among the bills presented and referred
today were the following: A memorial from
the chamber of commerce of Astoria, Ore
gon, asking for an immediate forfeiture Of
land grant of the Oregon Central Railroad.
Mr.. Ferry introduced . bill to amend the
pension laws BY increasing the pensions Of
soldiers and sailors who lost an arm or leg
in the service.
Mr.. Rollins introduced bill to amend the
act re-establishing the court of Alabama
claims and for distribution of unappropristed
moneys of the Geneva award.
Mr.. Slater introduced q bill to forfeit lands
granted to Oregon Central Railroad Com
pany which had not been earned BY said
company, and for other purposes.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution, which
was agreed to, directing the secretary Of var
to inform the Senate whether any corpora
ton 10 constructing railroad through the
Niobrara military reserv alton without author
ity from Congress. and whether the military
authorities have assented thereto.
Mr.. Rollins called up his resolution, Of
fered Saturday, calling on the commission
ers of the District of Columbia for certain
information and it was agreed to.
Mr.. Hawley reported with amendment
officers and employees of the government
from collecting subscription assessments
from each other and for other purposes. He
gave notice that when Mr.. Pendleton's civil
service bill should come up, he would offer
this as an additional section.
| At the close of the forenoon the Senate
| took up the bankruptcy bill. The question
arose on Mr.. Browns motion to postpone the
subject indefinitely.
Mr.. Lapham said that the demand for a
new law had become so general and so ur-
gent as to force him TO the conclusion that
such a law ought now to be passed. He
favored the Lowell bill.
After debate, the Senate refused BY 81 to
&c votes to postpone the bill indefinitely, and
by a vote Of 81 to 80. adopted the Lowell bill,
introduced by Mr.. Hoar as substitute for
the one reported by Mr.. Ingalls,, from the
committee on judiciary.
| On motion of Mr.. Sherman, the bank
ruptcy bill Lowell billy was sent to the
committee on judiciary, for further consid-
! Grafton.
| Mr.. Pendleton moved to take up his civil
service bill. Carried. yeas "A, nays l6.
At Mr. Sewell's request Mr.. Pendleton
agreed to have it laid aside informally that
the Senate might take up the Fltz John
Porter bill.
Mr. Logan objected and insisted that the
civil service bill should be first disposed of.
| Mr.. Sewall asked him to consent to take
up the Porter bill tomorrow.
| Mr.. Logan objected; so the Pendleton bill
| remained before the Senate, but it was tenn
porarily laid aside to take up bill to relieve
an Arkansas railroad.
After some discussion the bill was indef-
nitelv postponed and the Senate went into
executive session.
Adjourned.
Mr.. Belmont of New York, a member OF
the committee on foreign affairs, presented
his views on the Nicaragua canal question in
concurrence with the report of the ma
jority made last July. Ordered printed.
Mr.. Townsend of Illinois, offering a reso-
luton reciting that it is alleged that certain
existing railroad lines of transportation have
entered into combinations to prevent the con-
struction of competing reads into territories
and through states. thereby establishing mo-
nopoles in transportation, and directing the
committee on commerce to report bill pro-
hibiting and Furnishing such combinations.
| Mr.. Strait Of Minnesota. objected to its
present consideration, and moved it be re.
ferred to the committee on commerce.
| Several bills were introduced and referred.
| Mr.. Holman of Indiana, offered a resolu-
ton calling on the secretary of the interior
as to whether any lands granted by Congress
to any railroad company to aid in their con-
struction, and to which said company were
not entitled to patents when the period ex-
pred within which by terms of law such
railroad was required to be completed have
been patented to such companies since the
expiration of that period. and all other in
formation in connection Herewith.
| BY Mr.. Dibrell to abolish the internal rev.
enue taxes and allow the rebate on whiskey
and tobacco; also to reduce the specie in the
treasury to $3.50 000,O 900, by requiring the
secretary of the treasury to pay out silver
dollars for current expenses of the govern
| ment.
BY Mr. Springer proposing constitutional
amendment relative to the election of Pres
dent and Vice President and members of
Congress. 1t fixes the term OF President
aud Vice President at six years and makes
the President ineligable to election for the
next succeeding term; abolishes the electoral
college and provides for direct vote for
President. Every State shall be entitled to
as many votes as it has senators and rep
resentatives in Congress, and the vote of
each State shall be cast in proportion to the
popular vote of the State for each candidate.
The terms OF members of Congress is fixed
At three years, and each session shall begin
the first Wednesday of January. In count
| ing the votes cast for President in joint con-
vention each senator and member shall have
one vote.
By Mr.. Briggs, amending the statutes in
regard to the election of United States SEN
ators. The bill has special reference to the
Legislature of New Hampshire, and its effect,
if it becomes a law, will be to impose upon
the present Legislature the duty OF selecting
a successor to Senator Rollins.
| The House then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of district business.
After passing several bills pertaining to
district affairs the speaker announced mum.
Der of committee appointments and the
House adjourned.