Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-21
PORTYBIGRTR CONGRESS.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WAsHrsGroN, Dec. 20.
In the Senate this morning Mr.. Cullom
introduced bill TO establish board of rail-
road commissioners and to regulate inter
State commerce. After the morning BUSH
ness the Senate received q message from the
House concurring in the Senate amendment
to the House concurrent resolution Of yes
Iterdsy, fixing the dates Of the holiday recess.
| Bills were also introduced authorizing the
payment of prize money to the officers OF the
Faragut feet for the destruction Of the
enemy's shipping in 1862.
By Mr.. Dolph, TO amend the statutes re-
Hating to extending the limits of ports Of en-
try.
By Mr.. Blair, to provide for the erection
of public building at Manchester, N. H.
By Mr. Brown, to authorize the distilla-
ton of fruit without tax BY the federal gov
erhment, leaving the question Of such taxa
tion to the State.
By Mr.. Mcpherson, to authorize distribu-
ton of prize money to the survivors OF the
Monitor who took part in the engagement
with the rebel iron clad Merrimac, March,
| 1862.
Mr.. Van Wyck's resolution calling on the
| secretary of the interior for information re-
garding the lands granted to railroads, was
called up.
| Mr.. Ingalls, had no objection to the resolu-
ton proper but objected to the preamble as
tending to commit the Senate to an interpre-
tation of the decision of the supreme court.
| Mr.. Van wyck insisted that his preamble
was correct. In the course of the debate he
said that millions of acres Of public domain
had been given to railroads before the su-
preme court decision, which they would not
| be entitled to under the decision, and al
though for time the general land ONCE fol-
lowed the decision, it had finally followed
the opinion Of Attorney General Devans and
Justice Harlan. The discussion closed bv
the insertion in the preamble of the words,
1T is alleged so as not to commit the Senate
to any special Interpretation of the supreme
court decision" and as so amended Mr.. Van
| Wvck's resolution was agreed to.
After an executive session the Senate re-
sumed the consideration of the new rules.
The matter was finally postponed till after
the holiday recess.
| The chair laid before the Senate a commun-
| ication from the secretary of the interior
transmitting copies of the paper called for
relating to the attempted transfer by the
Texas and Pacific Railroad Co. of land
grant to the Southern Pacific of Arizona,
New MEXICO and California. The secretary
concludes his communication with q state
ment that no action has been taken by the
department on the subject.
The Senate concurred liz the joint resolu-
ton of the House relating to celebrating the
centenary surrender by Washington of his
| commission as commander-in-chief of the
patriot forces. Adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
A long discussion sprang up in the House
this morning over the resolution offered by
Mr.. Geddes of Ohio, to grant a months extra
pay to discharged employees of the House. 1t
being advocated by Messrs. Geddes and
Keifer of Ohio and opposed by Mr.. Reagan
of Texas on the ground that the House
had no right to be charitable with other peo-
pies money, and by Mr.. Cobb of Indiana on
the ground that it would include in its pro-
visions persons who had been put on the rolls
at the close of the last session. The resOlu-
ton was committed to the committee on &C.
counts.
Mr.. Blackburn of Kentucky, from the COM
mittee on rules, reported resolutiod that
hereafter the committee on post offices and
post roads shall consist of Is members and
committees on banking and currency, foreign
affairs, military affairs, territories, public
buildings and District of Columbia, Of Is
members each. 1t is stated this fully met
the views and wishes of the Speaker and
the resolution was adopted.
| Mr.. Blackburn then called up the report
submitted yesterday for the appointment of
| a committee on rivers and harbOrs, to con-
| sist of Is members.
| Mr.. Horr of Michigan spoke in opposition
to the resolution, which, in his judgment,
would simply degrade what had always been
one of the prominent committees of the
House since its organization, and bring it
upon a level with the most unimportant com.
/ mil 10 know thot tho IN
commerce was a hard working committee,
but why had it been singled out for division?
Why had not the overworked committee on
ways and means been divided into two COM
mittees-one on ways and one on means?
| There could be given to one committee all
bills which tended to build up home industry,
and to the other all tending to bear it down.
Thereby, both wings of the democratic party
could have committee. Laughter.
The committee on foreign affairs might be
divided, and to new committee could be re-
ferred the whole Irish question. This would
relieve the speaker of trouble, which &C.
cording to the press, he experienced in ap-
pointing head to that committee.
Mr.. Robinson of New York said what be
complained of, was not that Congress did not
pay attention to its Irish citizens. but had
shamefully neglected American citizens.
| Mr.. Horr replied that he had no doubt that
it was so and that it was owing to the fact
that the committee on foreign affairs had no
time to devote to the consideration of the
great question.
| Mr.. Regain of Texas thought that the
labors of the committee on commerce, even
when divided would be ample to occupy the
time of its members.
Mr.. Blackburn expressed astonishment at
hearing that the committee on commerce
would have nothing to do except consider
questions of interstate commerce. Had 20
years Of republican rule swept foreign COM
merce from the seas? The shipping question
! bad rot been taken from the committee on
commerce. Ship building and ship owning
interests had been put into the hands of q
special committee.
Mr.. Hobblitzel of Maryland from the CON-
mittee having the matter in charge, reported
joint resolution requesting the President
to issue proclamation recommending the
people by such public observances as they
deem proper on the oath to commemorate the
surrender by Washington of his commission ~
commander-in-chief of the army. The presi-
dent is also requested to order . national sa-
lutte from the various forts throughout the
81. -.