The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-16
XLVIIth Congress-1st Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, May 10.
| The House Geneva award bill was tabled
temporarily.
| Favorable reports from the committee on
public buildings were made authorizing the
| sale of land formerly occupied for post office
| in New York city; also the House Dill Tor
| public building at Louisville, Ky.
| The Senate took up the calendar under the
| Anthony rule for bills not objected, ana a
number of bills were passed, including several
| pension bills.
land bill it was then taken up but laid over
informally.
The House bill for the removal of the re-
mains Of the late minister Fitzpatrick from
Chilli to New Jersey was passed.
Mr.. Beck spoke in favor OF giving the House
bonded distilled spirits bill precedence OF con-
sideration hereafter, and Mr. Morrill, followed
In opposition to the BILL
Adjourned.
General bills we're introduced, including the
following: BY Mr.. Robinson of New York
resolution requesting the President to commu'
nicate to the House whether certain papers
and correspondence regarding American clti-
zens in British prisons, communicated to the
British Parliament or published IN LONDON
have been received at the State Departments
and whether this House may expect the addi-
tlonal correspondence called for by Its resolu-
tion of the 25th ult. whether any persons
claiming to be American citizens still remain
in British prisons without an allegation OF
crime or prospect of speedy trial, &c. By Mr..
Bliss of New York authorizing the sale OF the
Brooklyn navy yard.
A resolution was adopted directing the Sec
retary Of War to inquire into the propriety OF
purchasing the dwelling in Washington III
which President Lincoln died.
Mr.. Strait of Minnesota moved to suspend
the rules and pass the bill revising the laws
relating to the militia force OF the United
States.
Mr.. Bayne of Pennsylvania in supporting
the bill said that if Congress intends to en-
courage and foster the volunteer militia forces
Of the different states it must adopt such
measure as the present which made an appro-
priation Of million dollars to sustain and sup
port those volunteer organizations.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois opposed the bill.
Mr.. Speer of Georgia regarded the bill as
presenting the most dangerous and insidlous
proposition which had been brought into the
House.
The bill was further opposed by Messrs
Singleton of Illinois, Armfeid of North Caro-
lima and Regan of Texas, and then motion to
suspend the rules was lost-yeas 81, nays 1888.
The Speaker announced the appointment Of
Messrs Camp of New York, Davis of Illinois
and Blackburn of Kentucky as visitors to
West Point, and Messrs. Thomas Of Illinois,
Darrall Of Louisiana and Harris OF New Jer-
sey as visitors to Annapolis.
Mr.. Caswell of Wisconsin moved to suspend
the rules and pass the bill providing that no
action tor damages for infringement of patents
shall be sustained for the use of any patented
article or device when it shall appear on TRIAL
that defendant purchased such article for
valuable consideration in open market. The
bill was strongly opposed by Messrs. Robinson
of Massachusetts and Reed OF Maine and as
strongly defended by Messrs. Caswell of Wis
consin, Mills of Texas and Burrows of Michi-
gan.
After remarks by Mr.. Burrows the rules
were suspended and the bill passed-yeas 155,
nays 49,
Several motions to suspend the rules and pass
bills were lost.
The Speaker laid before the House mes
sage from the President transmitting COM
munication frsm the commissioner of pensions
calling attention to the fact that deficiency
appropriation of $16,0O0000 to meet the June
available as early as the 25th inst if practica-
ble Referred.