The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-23
XLVII CONGRESS--2d Sess ion
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. %
Immediately after the reading of the Journal
the Senate on motion of Mr.. Kellogg went into
executive session.
The executive session was very brief When
the doors were re-opened Mr.. Morrill, presented
the remonst an 70 of certain American authors
against the Iedaction Of the tariff ON books be-
low 20 per Cent.
Mr.. Call offered resolution which was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign affairs re-
qnestng the President 10 institute negotiation
with the government Of Spain for the restitu-
tion OF money unlawfully taken from Capt.
James Mccoy and others, shippers of cattle
from Key West to Cuba.
Resolution for appointment of a speca COM
mittee TO examineand report upon the methods
of improving navigation of the Mississippi
river below Cairo was adopted.
MT. MCPHERSON OF New Jersey moved to
amend the proviso by substituting 40 per cent
for % per cent.
Mr.. Ingalls, of Kansas moved to make the
limit 20 per cent. This amendment was
adopted and provision so amended was agreed
to.
Mr.. Hale called up the naval appropriation
bill and the Senate proceeded to consider. The
Senate provision that no part of the money ap-
propriated for general care, increase and pro-
lection Of the navy in the line of construction
and repairs, ETC., shall be applied to repairs of
any wooden ship when the estimated cost of
such repairs shall exceed 25 per cent of esti-
mated cost of new ship OF the same size and
like material gave rise to DEBATE.
When the paragraph appropriating 81 1000-
600 for completion OF iron clads was reached
Mr.. McPherson argued that no appropriation
should be made, but that even if the money
were appropriated for others the Puritan
especially ought to be excepted from the ap-
preparation.
After considerable discussion Mr.. McPher-
sons amendment designed to exclude the
Puritan was rejected.
The amendment of committee making ap-
rso tin%,f for Obi
the double turreted iron clads in accordance
with the recommendations of the naval ad-
visory board" was then agreed TO.
Mr.. Hale proposed resolution applying to
five minute rule to all debates upon the ap-
preparation bills, but it was ruled out of order.
Other aBendments of the committee to the bill
were agreed to.
Mr. Rollins of New Hampshire offered as an
additional section his amendment providing
for the appointment of board TO scrutinize
the active list of the navy and select certain
number of each rank to be retained the others
to be treated as supernumeraries.
Point of order was raised that this was new
legislation and pending decision the Senate at
7.15 adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE.
Mr. Haskell offered resolution providing
that during the remainder of the session it
shall be in order any day after the morning
hour to move to suspend the rules and take
from inc Op6akerb 3 LaDl6 any revenue or gen.
eral appropriation bill and ask for a confer
ence with the Senate thereon, such motion to
be dt cided by majority vote. Referredsto the
committee on rules
The army and fortifcation appropriation
bills, with Senate amendments, were received
from the Senate and referred to the committee
on appropriations.
Mr.. Regan submitted the conference report
on the Indian appropriation bill
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, submitted con-
ference report on the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill, and it was agreed to. The
bill as it passed appropriates 81, ,296,575.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the sundry civil bill. The pending
amendment was that offered by Mr. Black
burn, reducing to 1922 600 the appropriation
for the geological survey. Lost.
Mr.. Pond of Wisconsin offered an amend
repeating the presumption laws.
Mr.. Washburne of Minnesota advocated the
amendment, which was adopted.
The House at 4.30 adjourned.