Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-22
hem with contempt, however ridiculous

| hi' DinBicJ HAS inlrouuceu the lOllOW-
ing bills Of public nature -
"To provide for commission to investi
gate the liquor traffic" This bill was
favorably reported by the House commit
tee and placed on the calender. On a
motion to suspend the rules and pass it,
the vote stood 10 to S7-not the nee
essary two-thirds. The bill was not
reached in regular order, when a major
ity vote only is necessary.
"To reduce the duty on sugar and mo-
lasses."
"To subject the sale Of imported Ii
quors to the operation of the same State
laws that control the sale of domestic Ii
quors." Not as yet acted upon by the
committee on ways and means.
"To extend to sailing vessels in I'M
loading cargo the same privileges that
are granted to steamships Passed the
House, and has been favorably reported
in the Senate.
ITO remit consular fees and reduce
the hospital and tonnage taxes" Not
acted upon BY committee on Commerce g.
$40 reduce fees charged vessels" Re-
ported favorably by committee on Com.
merce, and on Calendar.
"To provide for the issue Of gold Ger.
ti6cates." Favorably reported and in
corporated into bank extension bill, and
has become law.
ITO limit the coinage Of the standard
silver dollar of 4l24 grains to the de.
mands of business" Favorably report
ed from committee on House calendar.
"To remit duties on wire rope when US
ed in equipping vessels for the foreign
carrying trade.
ITO remit duties on ship. building,
materials used in the construction Of ves-
sells to be employed in the foreign carry
ing trade" Both the above bills are be-
fore the ways and means committee, who
decline TO act until the tariff commission
report.
ITO provide for joint committee to
inquire into the condition and wants of
American shipbuilding and ship, owning
interests" and report next December
This was favorably reported by the COM
mittee on commerce, and passed both
Houses in the last days of the session.
"To adjust the duty on hay so as to
restore the 20 per cent duty which ex-
listed from 1868 till the decision of the
court a short time ago." This bill was
favorably reported by the ways and
means ommittee and by vote Of six
Republic ans to Democrats but as it
required two-thirds vote to take it up,
it could not be passed in the closing days
Of the session"
THE RECORD.
AS it is right that the people should
know how their representatives have dis
charged the duties they are paid to at
tend to, have spent considerable time
in locking up the roll.calls in the Con-
gressional Record, which furnish the on
ly means of ascertaining the attendance
of members. Of course these roll-calls
do not show exactly what portion of the
time member attended, but they give
very good idea Of how much he has been
in his seat. Sometimes the roll will be
called when a member is Eating his lunch
at the House restaurant, or when he is
in a committee room or in the lobby talk
ing with constituent. | suppose some
allowance should be made for questions
upon which he has not been able to make
up his mind. In justice to Mr.. Murch
| will say that his health was bad at the
first of the session but it is also true
that there were few roll-calls at that
time. Let it be recorded, also, that he
alone of the Maine delegation answered
to one roll call, not long ago. The fig
ures give ought to settle the dispute be-
tween the Rockland Opinion and my
frie nd, the Washington correspondent of
the Free Press, who asserted that Mr..
Murch had been absent good deal.
Mr.. Reed was absent three or four days
in May, and while he was gone the
House had eighteen roll-calls.
give the record of the four members
who are candidates for re. election
There have been 26S roll-calls in all.
Mr.. Reed has been absent from 40.
Mr.. Dingley has been absent from Is.
Mr.. Ladd has been absent from l47.
Mr.. Murch has been absent from 1873.
1t will be seen that Murch has been
absent from over two-thirds of the roll
calls, and Mr.. Ladd from nearly three
fifths. SMILEY.
E.-1..kb.