The Portland daily press., 1882-02-16
XLVIIth Congress-lst Session
SENATE.

Mr.. Miner, OF California, made an adverse
report upon Senate bill to confer positive in
place of relative rank on officers OF the navy
engineer CORPS Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. jackson introduced bill, presented by
Mr.. Morgan in the last Congress, for the relief
of the book agent for the Methodist Episcopal
church South. 1t appropriates $4,000 ia
compensation for property connected with the
publishing house of said book agent in Nash
ville which was taken or destroyed by the
United States in 1864 or at any other time.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Call was referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations direct
ing the Secretary of State to open negotiations
with Spain for remitting the tax on cattle i'm
ported into Cuba from the United States.
A resolution reported by Mr. Platt, from the
Committee on Contingent Expenses, to pro-
vide messenger for each of the committees
on finance, post offices, pensions, claims, iu-
dietary and engrossed bills, was discussed, and
the district committee was included in the res
olution.
Mr. Morgan offered and advocated an amend
ment providing messenger for each Senator
who is not chairman of committee.
Mr. Van Wyck thought some of the commit
tees did not need clerks, being already pro-
vided.
After further discussion, participated in by
Messrs. Allison, Butler, Brown, Platt and Call,
the amendment OF Mr. Morgan was rejected,
and the resolution as modified on motion of
Mr.. Platt was passed. ct directs the appoint
ment to be made by the Sergeant-at-Arms
upon selections made by the committees with
certain provisions regarding pay)
The Senate then took up and Temporarily
passed over the regular order the anti-polygamy
bill, and Mr.. Call, on leave addressed the Sem
ate in support of his proposed amendment to
the pension arrears resolution declaring in
favor of pensions to survivors of Indian wars
prior to 1916.
At 2.25 o'clock the anti-polygamy bill was
taken up, and the amendment proposed by the
Committee on Judiciary was read and agreed
to upon the fifth section, which authorizes the
President to grant amnesty to classes of often
ders guilty before the passage of the act on
such conditions as he shall think proper.
The question was raised by Mr.. Hoar as to
whether the President could constitutionally
| pardon whole classes of offenders against par
| ticular law upon such conditions as he may
| prescribe. and was debated by Messrs. Ed
munds, Bayard and Garland.
The section as amended and the remaining
| committee amendments were then adopted.
The eighth section provides for the conduct of
elections, registration and canvassing of voters,
| etc., in the territory until provision for the
same is made by the legislative assembly pro-
| vided for in the bill by appointees of board
| OF five persons to be appointed by the Presi-
| dent and confirmed by the Senate, all of whom
| shall not be members of one political party,
| etc This amendment provoked objection on
| the part of Messrs. Brown and Call.
Mr.. Bayard argued the general question of
| re-establishling the subverted form of republi-
/ Cdn government III the territory IN winch q
| theocracy had arisen He maintained if Con-
| gress could provide for casting and counting of
votes in the organization of territory it could
| as legitimately do SO as mes ms of restoring
| the original form of government. 1t could
either do this or repeal the law for the creation
| of the territory.
| Mr.. Vest said the seventh section of the bill,
declaring polygamists ineligible to office or suf-
frage, proposed to take away the rights of citi-
zens of the United States for past offences
1 xpifh or into Ia
was opposed to poygamy, but in his abhor-
| renee of it he would be careful not to strike
| down the safeguard of personal liberty.
| Mr.. Garland said it was complained that the
provisions Of the bills were severe and rough,
| but he would say they were intended to be Sc
| we're and rough. and they were nevertheless
sanctioned by precedents and organic law. In
| Utah there was that which set at naught the
| mandates OF Congress, and reliable reports
| have been made to the House of Representa-
| tives that unless new form of governm emit
| was substituted for the one existing there ply
| steal force would be necessary to execute the
| laws. Let 1t go to the world, he added, that
| Congress recognizes an organization of terri
| tory founded upon the theory that one man is
| inspired by God for certain purposes and we
! may burn our statute books and give full Ii
| cense to the inspirations of Guiteaus every
| where.
Mr.. Bayard followed in reply to Mr.. Vest,
| and the discussion was continued by Messrs.
| Edmunds and Jones of Florida.
| 1t was arranged that the measure should be
| proceeded with tomorrow, and the debate
| closed at $50 Adjourned
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House letter
| from the secretary of the treasury. transmit
ting the names of "a persons who have died by
reason of wounds or injuries received or dis
ease contracted in the line of duty in the life
saving service since che organization of that
| service. Referred
The morning hour having been dispensed
with, the House resumed consideration of the
apportionment bill, and Mr.. Herbert of Ala
bama continued his speech in Opposition to any
increase in tho membership of the House.
/ Mr.. Joyce of Vermont. declared that the
bill reported by the census committee was vas
four States of fair and just proportion of rep
resentatives on this floor and in the electoral
college. The bill was blow against New En-
gland, and in the name of that section he pro-
tested against it.
Mr.. Joyce argued in favor of an amendment
offered by himself and which is still pending,
fixing the Representatives at 800, asserting 1t
did justice to every section of the country.
Other members spoke in support OF various
amendments to the bill and an arrangement
was agreed to whereby at the
conclusion of one hours debate tomorrow the
previous question shall be considered as sec
onded, and voting upon various propositions
begun. Vote will also be allowed upon the
question as to whether the old or new method
of apportionment shall he adopted.
Adjourned.