Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-15
FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS,
Sen ates

| MONDAY. FeDruarY 6.-Ihe bill directing the
purchase by the secretary of the treasury for
public use of the Freedmen's Bank property
and real estate and parcels of ground adjacent
thereto belonging to the Freedmens Saving
and Trust Company, was passed. Williams,
to whom the floor was specially assigned, then
proceeded tie make speech on the tariff, the
MOrr1ll Tariff Commission Bill being taken up
for this purpose. He avowed his opposition to
the measure and favored tariff revision by a
joint committee of the two houses. Fair and
liberal trade, not free trade, was the panacea;
and for this, representatives of the people
would contend in their struggle with monopoly.
-. The senate then resumed consideration of
Ingalls, resolution, declaring the pension ar
rears law ought not to be repealed. Ingalls,
spoke thereon repelling the assertion of pen
sion fraud, and stating that senators were not
aware of the proportion which the casualty list
reached during the war. After an executive
session the senete adjourned.
TUESDAY, February 7.-Garland introduced a
| bill to grant to the Mississippi, Albuquerque
and Inter Ocean Railway Company the right of
way through Indian Territory . Coke spoke on
the tariff question favoring revision by Joint
committee. Adjourned.
| WEDNESDAY, February 8.-Blair introduced a
joint resolution proposing an amendment to
the constitution prohibiting the manufacture,
sale, importation and expectation of alcoholic
! liquors and other poisonous beverages from and
| after the year 1900. . The senate resumed con-
| sideration of the resolution declaring the pen
sion arrears law ought not to be repealed, and
Blair IN its favor made an argument to illus
trate the correctness of the principle upon
which arrears are based. Some discussion fol-
lowed, participated in by Vest, Hoar, Allison,
ingalls, and Butler, upon the propriety of MAX
ing the declaration in regard to pensioning
soldiers of the Mexican war more specific, in
| view of the existing provisions of law. Ingalls,
| finally assented to a suggestion by Butler, to
fO lilo To
adding that he did so with the understanding
! that vote would then be taken upon it. =. The
| remainder OF the day was occupied in the pas
sage of senate bills not objected to After an
executive session the senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, February 9.-Pendleton presented
petition of leading men of Pittsburg asking
| for system of competitive examination to be
followed IN making appointments to subordinate
offices. and that no removals be made on partisan
| grounds. :. Bills were introduced for bridge
across the Missouri River at Omaha, and pro-
viding for the organization of the district of
southern Alaska. The resolution declaring
the pension arrears law ought to be repealed
| was taken up. Call submitted an amendment
providing pensions for needy and disabled sur
vivors of Indian wars prior to 1916, including
| the Blackhawk, Creek and Seminole wars. The
discussion was interrupted by the arrival of the
| hour fixed for eulogies upon the late represent
alive Michael P. O'Connor, of South Carolina,
! and when these were delivered the senate ad
| journed.
FRIDAY, February 10.-The pension arrears
| resolution was again taken up, and Maxey re-
sumed his remarks in support of the amend
ment declaring in favor of the enlargement of
| the Mexican pension list. Beck said the
principle had been announced that arrearages
of pensions should be given to pensioners of
all our wars irrespective of their circumstances,
and that if this was carried out it would bank
rupt the country. He would vote for properly
| guarded legislation to pension the needy and
deserving of our veterans, but not those of
them who did not need aid. The resolution
was laid aside and Frye made speech on the
tariff He announced himself protectionist
from principle, and started out with declara-
ton that owing to the familiar aspect of the
subject and the well-settled conviction of his
hearers upon it, he could not hope to enlighten
the senate either as to the benefits of protec-
ton or the danger of free trade and its twin
sister, " tariff for revenue only" When Frye
had concluded his speech there was an execu-
tive session, and the senate adjourned till Mon
day.
MONDAY, February 6.-Bills introduced: To
authorize the withdrawal from warehouses
without tax of alcohol and other spirits to be
used In the manufacture or manipulation of
tobacco; to abolish custom house fees and for
the consolidation Of custom collection districts;
for the appointment of an inter-oceanic COM
mission to determine the best plan and route
for communication between the Atlantic and
Pacific: to increase the duty on iron ore; pay
the cost of carrying the mails in the southern
states prior to the 31st of May, 1881; to create
a sinking fund for the Sioux City and Pacific
Railroad. Burrows (Mich.) moved to sus-
pend the rules and pass bill defining the
qualifications of territorial delegates in the
house of representatives. 1t provides that no
person guilty of bigamy or polygamy shall be
eligible to seat in congress as delegate from
any territory. The house was in a very mat
tentive mood, and when the speaker put the
question there were few responses. He, how
ever, declared the motion carried and the bill
passed. A burst of laughter only then ap-
prised many members of the measure which
was adopted. Joice (Vt.) moved to suspend
the rules and pass the bill for the appointment
of commission on the subject of the alcoholic
liquor traffic. Bragg (Wis.) demanded Sec
ond. The motion was seconded--72 to 60. A
vote was then taken upon the adoption of the
motion, which was lost--yeas 112, nays 98-not
the necessary two-thirds in the affirmative.
This was strict party vote except that Beltz-
hoover, Culberson, Jones (Ark.) Ladd, Simon
ton and Vance, voted with the republicans in
the affirmative; and Davis Gn.), Young and
Guenther CWis.), with the democrats in the
negative. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, February 7.-On motion of Harris
the senate bill for the delivery of $50 pieces OF
condemned bronze cannon to the secretary of
the army of the Cumberland for a Garfield
statue in Washington, was considered. The
committee amendment substituting provision
for the payment by the secretary of war to the
society of $500 out of the proceeds of con-
demned ordnance. was agreed to, and the bill
as amended passed. The appointment bill
was then considered. Amendments we're
offered fixing the number of representatives at
325, 365, 319, 324 and 800. Horn opposed the
bill as an outrage on common sense. Pending
discussion the house adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, February 8.-Kasson, from the
committee on ways and means, reported the
tariff commission bill. Referred to committee
of the whole. He stated he would ask it's con-
sideration as early as the business of the house
permitted, probably within one week. Randall
gave NOTICE he would at the proper time offer |
an amendment providing that the commission i
shall consist of two senator's three representa-
tives and four experts. -. Consideration of the
appOrtionment bill was then resumed, Mills sub |
mitting an amendment fixing the number of
representatives at 307. Payne (Pa. }, member
of the committee on census. defined the bill re-
ported by the committee, while Colerick Qnd. }, |
also member of the census committee, offered |