Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-17

WASHINGTON, February 16.-In the Sen
ate, the President pro tenn. submitted mes
sages received from the President of the
United States transmitting the annual report
OF the Indian Commissions, with a letter
from the Secretary of the Interior suggest
ing legislation upon points in the report.
Also letter from the Commissioner of Edu-
cation recommending the appropriation of
S50,0O0 for educational purposes in Alaska.
Mr.. Hampton reported favorsbly the
joint resolution directing copies Of the Off
cisl letter books of the Executive Depart
ment Of the State Of North Carolina to be
furnished to said State.
After an explanation by Mr.. Edmunds
that a short executive session at this time
would be more desirable than at the close of
the session, in view of the arrangement for
a final disposition of the polvgamy bill to-
day, the Senate At 12:45 went into executive
session. and at l is resumed legislative bust
ness, when the regular order, the anti
pOlygamy bill, was proceeded with,
the question being upon the
eighth section as reported from the
judiciary Committee. The section vacates
all registration and election officers of the
Territory, and devOlves their duties (until
provision therefor is made by the Legislative
Assembly to be created as provided by the
bilD on board Of five persons, to be nOmi-
mated by the President and confirmed by the
Senate, eli Of whom shall not he members
of one political party. It further DEGREES
that the canvass and return of votes st elec-
tiOns for members OF the Legislative Assem-
bly, shall be made to this board, which is TO
canvass such returns and issue certificates
of election to those persons who, being
ok for oil haf1 10
been lawfully elected, and that the Assembly,
after its organization, shall have power to
decide upon the election and qualifica ions
of rs members and fill the offices made
vacant by the bill.
The seventh section disfrancbises and
makes ineligible to Office in anv Territory
or other place under the exclusive iurisdic-
tiOn Of the United States, any polygamists,
hgamists or person cOhabiting with more
than one woman.
An interesting debate followed, in the
course Of which Messrs. Brown and Nor
gau, aud others spoke against the returning
board feature of the bill, which gave the
commissioners power TO disfrsnchise all
pOlygamists, which term they might con-
strue to cover all MOrmoDs, iDasmuch as
polvgamy is a tenet of the Mormon faith
The remaining committee amendment
and the several sections Of the bill were
then agreed to without further debate, and
the bin reported to the Senate as from the
committee OF the whole.
Mr. Brown then renewed his amendment,
requiring that not more than three of the
members of the Board of Commissioners
shall be members OF the same political
vote-yeaa 26, nays "a. Mr..
Davis, of Illinois, voted aye with the Demo
Gratis and Mr.. Malone was absent. Another
amendment offered by Mr.. Brown to the
| last section of the bill was adopted pro
| hibiting the board from DISTINGUISHING any
one on account of bis opinion on the subj ct
of bigsmy or polygamy. Several amend
ments were proposed and defeated by de-
cisive votes, and after a Encouragement of
its sections the bill was finally passed by a
viva vOce vote, I'm which no negative re-
! spOnses were heard.
Mr.. Ingalls, then asked that the pensions
arrears resolution be taken up and laid over
as unfinished business. So ordered. The
Senate adjourned at 7:05 D. m.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, Mr.. Cox, of New York,
from the committee to audit the expenses
growing out of the death and burial of the
late President James A Garfield, reported
bill granting pension Of $1,000 year to
Mrs. Lueretia r Garfield.
Mr.. Atkins, of Tenne. see, said he would
not object to the bill. but be thought that a
similar measure should be adop'ed to pen
sion the widow of any other President. The
| bill was passed.
Mr.. Ellis, of Louisiana, by request intro
duced a bill to provide for the establishment
of faster steamship mail service between
the 0ited States and Great Britain, and to
secure to the government the use of vessels
for postal, naval and other purposes. Re-
ferred.
Nr. Flower, of New York, presented the
petition of 2 400 merchants and other citi-
zens of New York city, for the abolition of
the tax on bank deposits and the stamp tax
on checks.
Mr.. Cox presented similar petition, bear
ing 900 signatures, and Mr.. McLane, of
Maryland, 4 similar petition from l 600 citi-
ZenS OF B.ltimore- They were all referred
to the Committee of Ways aud Means.
Under the call of committees the follow
ing bills were r ported:
By Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, from the
Committee on TerrtOries-FOr the admis-
sion of Dakota into the Union as State
Placed on the House calendar.
Bills were reported from the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds and re-
ferred to the committee Of the whole, pro
viding for the erection of public buildings
at Shreveport, La, Macon, Ca, and San
Antonio, Texas.
By Mr. Dunnell, from the Committee of
Wavs ard Mesns-FiXing the term Of office
OF Collectors of Interral Revenue at four
years. Placed Oh the House calendar.
By Mr.. HOrr, of Michigan adversely,
from the Committee on Civil Service Re
fOrm-TO reduce the salaries Of heads OF
departments and members of Congress.
Mr. Butterworth. Of Ohio, asked that the
report of the committee be read.
Mr. Randall objected. A little fun coca
siOnally was not Objectionable, but he was
averse to the House being turned into an
amusement body.
Mr. Warner, Of Tennessee, asked that the
DILL and the report be referred to the com
mittee of the whole. So ordered.
Consideration Of the apportionment bill
was resumed at 1:45
Mr.. Prescott offered a resolution, provid-
ing that whenever the House shall deter
mine upon any number of members, the
same shall be apportioned among the States
on the same basis of division used at the
Forty sixth Congress, and now known as
the old method.
Mr. Bayne moved to amend 50 as to pro-
vide that the appOrtionment shall he based
upon the Sea7ou method, and Mr.. Con-
verse to amend the amendment, so as to
adopt the plan previously presented, and
favored by him.
Mr. Hooker, of Mississippi, submitted an
amendment to the bill, selecting 326 as the
total number OF Representatives.
At three O'Clock the previous question
was seconded, and a vote was taken on the
amendment offered by Mr.. Converse to the
resolution submitted by Mr.. Prescott, aud it
was rejected. A vote was then taken on
Mr.. Bayne's amendment, but 1t only re-
ceived nine affirmative votes, while 14S
members were recorded as being opposed
TO the adoption of the Seaton method of
app0rtiOnment.
Mr.. Bayne endeavOred to obtain the yeas
and nays, but was not successful.
Mr.. PrescOtt's resolution, basiDg repre-
sentstion upon the old system of apportion-
ment, was then agreed to without division.
The last hour of debate was opened with
a short speech by Mr.. Horr, OF Michigan,
who advocated the bill of 525 followed by
Mr. TYLER. OF Vermont, who spoke in favor
of fixing the number at 294.
Mr.. Springer state that he would vote for
3l9, though he preferred the present num-
Der, 1913 The number, 3l9, had been deter
mined upon as one of mathematical and
political equity by the last Congress, and
he, therefore, supported 1t.
Mr.. Cox favored 3l9. holding that it
would be more fair than 1926, which gave
additional Representatives to Iowa, Wis
cOnsin and Kansas, surely Republican
States, and to South Carolina and Texas
certainly Democratic, and to New York,
which was likely to be Republican unless
the Democrats behaved themselves better.
Mr. Prescott closed the debate, aud, in
the course of his remarks, reflected some
what upon his colleague (Mr. Cox for his
change of base from the position he took in
the committee room. The excuse given
for such a change was that the New York
Legislature might fail o redistrict the State.
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