Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-16
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Bonded Spirits Bill Killed In
the Senate-SOuiher Ante BeIIum
Mall Contracts - The River and
HaTbOr BIlI-The Star ROuteTriaIs

barDOr BlIl-The Star ROuIeTriala
WASHINGTON, June 15.-In the Senate,
the bill authorizing the New Orleans and
Northeastern Railroad to construct bridges
over Pearl river and Lake Ponchartraln, was
reported fsvorably.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, introduced a bill
sppropriating $4,000 and SIS, 900, respect
lively, for the improvement of the harbors OF
Fernandina on the Atlantic and Pensacola
on the Gulf coast of Florida He explained
at some length the necessity for this outlay,
and his colleague (Mr. CALI made ike
explanation.
The legislative appropriation bill was re-
ceivsd rom the House and referred to the
Appropriation Committee.
The Senate joint resolution to reappro-
pirate 1915. 900 to pay mail contractors for
service In the Southern States prior to these
States going into rebellion, again occupied
the time reserved for the calendar.
Mr. MaxeY, who championed the meas
ure, spoke az length. lie denied that the
resolution of 1877, which authorized the
payment of contractors, was rushed through
Congress, as asserted by Mr.. Couger, and
referred 10 the official record to show that
Il underwent protracted discussions in both
houses. Payment was not made, because of
the ruling Of the then Postmaster General,
that all claims of this class should be pre-
santed before any were paid. He argued
that the structures Of Mr.. Conger were
unwarTanted, as the resolution prohibited
the payment by the United States of any
contractor who had been paid by the Con-
federate States, or his pa snt beyond the
date at which mail carriage ceased In
these and o;her respects which be enume-
rated he contended that the rights of the
government were more closely guarded than
they were in prior legislation. As disprov-
ing the charge that government property IN
their possession had been turned over by
these contractors to the enemies of the
United States after the opening OF the rebel
lion, Mr.. Maxey said the POstmasters, not
the mail contractors, were custOdians of the
property, and that the demand of the Con-
federate Government fer its surrender was
addressed to the Postmasters. Claimants con-
tiuued to perform their contracts with the
United States until stopped by its order
through the Postmaster General, and that
the Court Of Claims had in a recent case
held that the claimants were entitled to sue
for the money appropriated in 1877 for their
benefit.
Tne bill went over at the expiration of the
morning hour.
Messrs. Harris, Ingalls, and German were
appointed conferees on the District water
supply bill.
Mr. Morgan submitted resolution, which
was laid over temporarily, for an investiga-
tion during the vacation by select COM
mittee into the labor strikes, their causes
and remedy, the committee to examine per-
sons under oath, etc.
The House bill relating to the bonded
period OF distilled spirits again came up as
unfinished business. The question Tt Cured
on the pending substitute OF the Senate
committee.
The burden of the debate on the whisky
bill was borne by Mr.. Window in opposition
to and Mr.. Beck as the champion of the bill,
with occasional brief remarks by other Sena-
tors
Mr.. Window made long speech, which
be concluded by saving that it had been
admitted by Mr. Bayard that the substitute
Of the Senate Committee for the House bill
would produce no permanent relief and
would only postpone the evil, therefore 1t
was equally as Objectionable as the original
measure.
Various amendments were offered and
rejected.
Mr.. Mcmillan then moved that the bill
snd amendments be postponed Indefinitely,
and the motion prevailed-yeas 80, nays 90
The following is the vote in detail:
Yeas-Messrs. Aldrich, Allison, Anthony,
Brown, Cameron of Wisconsin, Chilcott,
Coke, Conger, Davis of Illinois, Dawes,
Garland, Harrison, Hawley, Hill of Colo
rado, HOar, I1galls, Lapham, Logan, Nc
MILAN, Malone, MaxeY, Miller of New
York, Mitchell, Morgan, Morrill,, Pugb, Sails
bury, Saunders. Sawyer, Sherman, Walker
and Windom-32.
Nsys-Messrs. BsYsrd, Beck, Butler, Call,
Davis OF West Virginia, Farley, George,
German, Groome, Hampton, Harris, Jack
son, Johnston, Jonas, Miller Of California,
Pendle,on, Ransom, Vest, Voorhees, and
Williams-20.
Adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The morning hour having been dispensed
with, the House, at 11:20, went into com
mittee of the whole, Mr.. Burrows, of
Michigan, in the chair, on the river and
harbor appropriation bill.
Mr. Page, of California, Chairman OF the
Committee on Commerce, made a general
explanation Of the bill, and presented the
reasons which had induced the committee
to recommend an appropriation so far in
excess OF the appropriation OF former years.
This was the first river and harbor bill that
had contained any appropriation commen-
surate with the great work of improve
ment contemplated bv the Mississippi
River Commission. He compared the
pending bill with the law of the current
yesr to show that while the latter appro-
pria ed Sll 100000 upon an estimate of
$25, goo COO, the former appropriated only
Sl7, ,OO0, ,0O0 on an estimate Of $37 OO0. COO
The bill had received the careful considera-
tion OF tie committee, and he trustef that
it would be passed without any amendment
by the House.
Mr. Hoar, of Michigan, a member Of the
Commerce Committee, followed Mr.. Page
in favor of the bill as reported from the
committee. In the course of his speech he
gave an interesting description of the plan
Of improvement contemplated by the Mis-
u
that not only would IL aid in rendering the
river navigsble, but it would also prevent a
recurrence of the terrible flooding which
had recently wasted a large extent of
country. The government owed this work
to future generations. 1t owed 1t to the
present. There was nothing that more Sc
curely and surely cemented together great
people than community of commercial in =
terests. Nothing more completely drowned
the groans and mutterings of the past than
the clsng Of the busy hammer and the hum
OF the running machines, and, If he could, |
he would build up the waste places of the |
South, open up her vast mineral wealth, |
put smelteTiDg furnaces on her hillsides, |
set her rivers to turning spindles and run.
ming buzz saws, and erect a free school on |
each Ot her scattered plantations. In con- |
clusion, he said: "Let IL hereafter be said |
that the crowning glory of the Forty sew |
enth Congress was this: That it fully inau |
gurated plan that naaIly succeeded In !
tanning the overflowing water of the great |
Mississippi and chained 1t between its |
banks, that compelled it's rushing flood to !
obey the behests of commerce and do the I
bidding OF mankind, aud in doing this 1t re |
claimed from disease, destruction and death |
territory enough to make an empire and |
people enough to make a State, and made It !
possible for these people to live out their |
days, surrounded by all the scenes of their |
childhood. on the spot where they were |
born" Applause.
Mr. Reagan, of Texas, another member OF |
the Commerce Committee, also made an /
argument In support of the constitutionality,
the good policy and public benefits Of tht |
bill.
General debate was closed, and the first |
two paragraphs OF the bill read, when the
House adjourned.
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
In the star route trials to day the time |
was spent much Gs yesterday in the intro
duction of evidence tending 10 establish
sharp practice in connection with a small |
route in Colorado. The usual battles be-
tween counsel occupied the larger part Of
the time.
A Feud Fought out in Texas.
GALVESTON, June ia dispatch from
Llano, Texas, says: "At an early hour OF