Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-10
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
SENATOR BROWN AVERTS A
DEADLOCK
a Party QuestIOn-COllSc ctOr Clarke
on Nettles-The Pensions Grab
The AppOTIIOnment Bill Under
FIre-Ihe O'COnnOr EuIcgIes.

WASHINGTON, February 9-In the Senate,
bill was introduced by Mr.. Coke for the
erection OF public building at Browns
vile, Texas.
By Mr.. Grover-Providing for the organi-
zation of the district of Southeastern
Alaska and establishing civil government
therefor.
Mr.. Harris moved to Law aside the regular
order che calendar) 20 take up his resolution
appointing Neal S Brown, Jr, of Tennes-
see, 10 perform the duties Of Chief Clerk of
the Senate, while the present Chief Clerk
performs the duties of Secretary.
Mr.. Mcmillan demanded the yeas and
nays, when the motion to take up the reso-
! luton was defeated on party vote by
tie-yeas %, nays 25. The President pro
tenn, Davis, voted ave With the D amocrats,
and Mr.. Brown voted no with the Republi-
Republicans.
The Senate then proceeded to consider
bills on the calendar under the new Anthony
rule, which sets apart the interval between
the close OF the usual morning business and
l:3O O'Clock each day for legislation reports
| from the committees to which there is no
| objection.
The only bills considered were several of
| private interest.
The unfinished business, being the resolu-
tion declaring that the pension arrears law
ought not to be repealed, was then taken
! up.
Mr.. Plumb referred to the arguments
upon which the law was indicated, it's
abstract justice, and the unfairness of its
repeal to those who had filed claims He
| thought the position assumed by Senators
| Vest and Butler one that did them honor as
they had been regarded as representing a
large class peculiarly hostile to our war
| pensions.
Mr.. Call submitted an amendment TO the
| resolution, favOring pensions for the needy
and disabled survivors Of the Indian wars
| prior to lS45, including the Black Hawk,
Creek and Seminole wars.
Mr.. Brown said that as many Union SOL
| dters had already received the benefit of the
law, and as 1t would be unjust to deny to
others equally meritorious like considera-
| ton, it was now too late to question the wis
| dom of the law. The South for various rea-
soDs needed not to agtste the question, but
the unanimity Of sentiment on the subject
| was welcomed by him as a most gratifying
! evidence OF the harmony and fraternity pre-
vailing between once hostile sections.
| Mr. Maxey expressed his dissent from the
] doctrine that because a few of the survi-
| vOrs OF old wars were not in dependent cir
| cums'snces their less fortunate brethren
should for that reason be deprived of gov
| ernment aid. Mr.. MaxeY was interrupted
| by the arrival OF the morning hour g
! o'clock) fixed for eulogies upon the late
! Representative Michael P. O'Conuor, of
| South Carolina.
The pension arrears resolution was accord
| ingly laid aside as unfinished business, and
/ eEcOmiums upon the character and services
| OF the deceased member were pronounced
| by Messrs. Butler, Bayard, Jones of Florida.
| and Hampton. After the adoption of apprc-
pirate resolutions the Senate, as an addi-
tional testimonial Of respect, at $40 D. m.
adjourned.
| HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
| The House. after the introduction of a
number of bills, resumed consideration of
\ the sppOrtiOnment bill.
Mr.. Cobb, OF Indiana, from the Commit
! tee on Public Lands, reported back the
resolution calling on the Secretary of the
] Interior for information as to the names of
| all the railroads to which the government
! has granted lands, the amount of land
| granted to each, etc. Adopted.
| The House then resumed consideration of
| the spportionment bill.
Mr.. Davidson, of Florida attacked the
Seaton method Of appnrtionment, contend
| ing that under it New York, with popula-
ton nineteen times as large as that of
! Florida, was given thirty-four times as many
| Representatives.
| Mr.. Dibble, of South Carolina, criticised
]
| cor ceived TO be great error in the system
employed by the committee in discovering
| the ratio of representation. The committee
bad failed to take into consideration that
| the population of Nevada and Delaware fell
below the modulus fixed upon, fact which
would have great effect upon the fractional
representation Of the various States.
! Mr.. McCoid, of Iowa, a member of the
| Committee on the Census, supported its bill,
| which was originally introduced by him.
He argued that the new method of appOr-
| tiOnment proposed was more in accordance
with the Constitution than the old ystem,
and pointed out the unfairness OF the OPP
/ ponents OF the bill in comparing any States
| wi'hOut taking into account the perplexing
! proposition which crept into the questions
when other States were considered. Gen
/ t!emen might say that there were wrongs
/ aud inequalities in the bill, but he declared
that in any other bill these wrongs and ine-
| qualities would be more outrageous than
any that could be found in the pending
/ one. Mr.. McCOid proceeded to point out
/ the anomalies which would arise under the
| old system, ,instancing the Alabama paradox,
| aud showing that similar state of facts
would occur in the case of Georgia, which
would gain one member at 306 and lose him
at 307, and in the case of Maine, which
would gain one st 339 and lose him at $40.
| be made q computation and discovered that
a population OF less than one million and
aggregated 10, $780, OC0 or one-fifth Of the
population of the United States. They
were granted under the bill sixty four R'p-
reseDtatiVes or exactly One-ffth OF the total
number. 1t could not be said therefore that
the bill initiated against the smaller States.
| Mr.. Cox, Of New York, said that he had
offered an amendment, fixing the number
of Representatives at 307 ,ibssed upon the
| Seaton method, but upon consideration he
| had come to the conclusion that he could
not fOriify his own number 307 or any other
number under that system. 1t would do
gross injustice at any number and he would
az the proper time move TO recommit the
bill and amendments, with instructions to
report back a bill basing representation
upon the old method. The new method
plugged up the little end and left the big
end open. l. prevented any district falling
more than s COO below the modulus and
that feature was what fascinated him. Bat
he had discovered that that was its only
virtue.
After several other gentlemen had spoken
the matter went over.
On motion OF Mr.. Valentine, Of Nebraska,
the Senate's amendment was concurred in
to the House bill appropriatiDg s. 600 for
packing and transporting and arranging
certain agricultural and mineral specimens
exhibited at the Atlanta Exposition and
presented to the United States to be placed
In the National Museum. Adjourned.
SENATOR BROWNS VOTE.
A vote cast against the Democrats in the
Senate to-day on the resolution to elect Neil
s. Brown Chief Clerk OF that body, is con-
strued by some into an indication that Sens-
tor Brown, of Georgia, was entering upon
the Independent role. The fact is that
Senator Brown voted as he did in order to
avoid the precipitation of a deadlock, which
would have been inaugurated by the Repub-
licans had he voted with the Democrats.
The matter was not settled byto-day's vote,
but will come up again, when Senator
Browns position will be clearly shown.
ANDY CLARKE MUST GO.
Collector Andrew Clarke arrived in this
city tonight and will tomorrow make an
effort to save his scalp. The edict that he
must go is, however, too well fixed to ad-
init Of his msking any change In it.
A strong effort is being made for the re-
moval of Collector Andrew Clarke, of At
lanta, Georgia. The President has, how
ever, promised Collector Clarke fair hear
ing before any change is made.