Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-02-03
F0RrYSEyEyTH CONGRESS.
second se9s1On.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb =.

| Mr.. Hoar presented petition OF President
| Elliot and other professors of Harvard. ask
| ing that no one but professional astrono-
mer of experience shall be hereafter eligible
| for the position of the Superintendent OF the
| United States Naval Observatory and that
the new observatory be planned and built un-
| der the direction of scientific men; referred
| to the committee on naval affairs.
Mr.. Pendleton introduced bill to amend
| the National Bank act.
| The tariff bill was then taken up.
| Mr.. Bayard inquired whether the chairman
| of the committee expected the session TO con-
| tinue into the evening,
| Mr. Morrill, replied that he would ask the
| Senate to sit until late in the evening, with
the hope of finishing the bill this week.
| [Derisive laughter.
| The Presiient-Until what hour:
Mr. Morrill, do not name any hour.
| The paragraph embracing potato, corn.
| rice and starch, reserved yesterday, was
| taken up.
| Mr. Hale moved to make the duty on po-
| tato or corn starch two cents per pound.
| Mr. 8ayard opposed this, another instance
of seeking to protect a local industry without
| regard to the interests of the community gen
| orally and said that the tariff working on
such plan would become a mere scramble
for the spoils OF legislation.
Mr.. Hale denied that this was the case of
local industry seeking undue protection.
| For the last ten years the starch manutact-
urers had been barely able TO hold their own
| against Canadian and German competition,
| and if the duty were reduced as proposed in
| the pending bill to once cent per pound they
| would be driven out of existence. This
would leave the control of our markets to
| Canadians and Germans who would not be
| 70 ra1tx tb.lr t,.a
to the consumer.
Mr. Hales amendment making the duty on
potato and corn starch two cents per pound,
was agreed to; the rate on rice and other
starches was left at two and one-half cents
per pound, as in the bill.
| The Senate passed to the consideration of
| the cotton and cotton goods schedule.
After some debat Mr.. Coke said he would
vote for free wool If New England would
| agree to reduce the duty on manufactured
wooden goods to 30 per cent.
Mr.. Frye said be believed New England
manufacturers would accept the offer with
| pleasure.
At 6.35 a vote was taken on Mr.. Harris
amendment to make the duty cotton yarn
etc, so per cent ad valorem, which resulted
| in no quorum voting.
MIR. Edmunds moved to direct the sergeant
| senators, and pending this motion Mr.. Vance
moved to adjourn; lost.
Mr.. Edmunds insisted on his motion to di-
| rect the sergeant alarms to request the at
| tendance of absent senators; agreed to.
Mr.. Anthony of Rhode Island, had read a
letter from the architect of the capitol, stat
| ing that the government printing office build
ing was in dangerous condition from over
| crowding the upper stories and with heavy
machinery, and introduced a joint resolution
directing the public printer to render the
building entirely safe and appropriating
| $4,000 for this purpose, and to pay for the
storage of the property elsewhere. Passed.
| Mr.. Morgan addressed the Senate on the
pending amendment. In the course of his
remarks he went into consideration of the
labor and commented upon the failure of the
committee on education and labor to take
action on the resolution offered by him the
last session for the investigation of the con-
dltion of labor in the country.
| Mr.. Blair, chairman of that committee,
stated that the question was now being in
vestgated.
On the Harris amendment the vote stood
ayes Is, nays "a No quorum. After roll
call the vote was again announced with the
same result.
Another roll call disclosed the presence OF
i6 Senators, more than a quorum. A vot,
was then taken again on the Harris amend
ment. No quorum. Another roll cal
showed that Al Senators were present. Al
the conclusion of the roll call Mr.. Morri
moved to adjourned.
Mr.. Edmunds demanded a division. The
motion WIS carried by a vote of 20 to 6, ant
at 10. 10 the Senate adjourned.