The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-05

lzihg the Commlttee Oh fenslons TO sit uufihs
vacation.
Mr.. Ingalls, objected. sending the resolu
ton over until tomorrow"
On motion of Mr. Anthony resolution Was
adopted for the appointment Of a committee
Of two Senators to join the House Committee
to wait upon the President of the United
States, and inform him that Congress had
completed its business, and was ready to adj
iourn.
The President appointed Mr. Anthony and
Mr.. Bayard.
At 1i.45 Mr.. Anthony and Mr.. Bayard re-
ported they had performed the duty assigned
to them, and that the President had stated
that he had no further communication to
Congress. President pro tenn assuming that
the President of the United States signed the
Sundry civil appropriation bill appointed as
Senate members Of the commission provided
for in that bill to inquire into the compensa-
tion, etc., of officers and employees of both
houses aud report to the next Congress, Messrs
Platt, Cameron of Wisconsin, and Cockrell. !.
The galleries and corridors were crowded
even more densely than last evening and ow-
ing to the general buzz of expectancy which
always attends such occasions repeated APP
peals from the chair were required to secure
sufficient order on the floor to enable the Sena-
tors TO be heard.
Precisely at 12 o'clock the president pro tenn
(Mr. Edmunds) brought down his gavel and
said: "Senators-The hour has arrived at
which by the constitution and laws of the Uni
ted States the 4Tth. Congress terminates. 1t be-
comes the duty of the chair therefore to de-
clare this session adjourned without day and
III doing so he wished each one of you pleas
ant and safe journey to your homes aud every
felicity in your future lives. The Senate stands
adjourned without day. (Applause.)
HOUSE,
The House, after the transaction of some
miscellaneous business, proceeded to vote up
on the resolutions in the Cook-Cutts contested
election cases, which declare the contestant
elected to the seat. The resolution was adopt
ed and Mr.. Cook appeared and took the oath
of office.
Mr.. Calkins called up the South Carolina
contested election case of Lee vs. Richardson.
Mr.. Kelley, with the tariff conference re-
port in his hand, raised a question of consid-
erarion and the House refused to consider the
election case.
Mr. Kelley then submitted the conference
report.
Points of order were raised that the report
was not accompanied by a statement of its ef-
feet, and considerable debate ensued.
Mr.. Kelley contended the index was in the
nature of statement, but the Speaker sus-
tanned the point OF order.
Mr.. Kelley then sent up the index with
statement attached to the effect that the bill
100000.
MIR. Carlisle raised the point that this was
not spfnclen; notice.
The Speaker overruled the point of order.
Mr.. Kelley had the statement read for the
information of the House. correcting some
typographical errors in the printed BILL
The clerk then at 2.45 began to read the
report OF the conference committee.
Owing to the strain to which the voices OF
the reading clerks have been subjected dur
ing the past few days they we're from time to
time relieved by Messrs. Speer, Robinson and
Miller. The latter proved to be an exceeding
ly rapid reader and greatly expedited the COM
pletion of the long task
The reading was completed at 210.
Mr.. Kelley proposed to limit debate to two
hours, but it was arranged to take vote at 8
O'Clock.
Mr.. Kelley considered the bill an improve
ment on the present law. The total reduction
of revenue under this bill would be from $56-
100000 to $70,000.0O0.
Mr.. Carlisle argued against the report He
was ready TO vote for an average reduction of
20 per cent. on tariff duties, but this bill does
not make production of more than half that
amount.
Mr.. Haskell said the bill was infinitely su-
perior to the present law.
Mr.. Robinson of Ohio opposed the confer
ence report. as interests here presented had
been wrongfully treated.
Mr.. Hubbell of Michigan criticised the re-
port as being solely in the iron interests.
Mr.. Speer said he should go home and
preach protectionist doctrines to Georgia.
Mr.: Wilson of West Virginia hoped the
pending proposition. which would reduce tax
alton $4,000, 900, would be accepted.
Mr.. Morse advocated the report as a desira-
Bile settlement OF the question.
Mr.. Converse said if this bill passed the peo-
pie OF Ohio would keep up an agitation against
it Until the evil was remedied
Mr. Springer said he would not vote for this
bill.
Mr.. Dunnell said be should vote for the bill
under restraint, and it was not such bill as
the American people wanted He should
vote for 1t under most solemn protest.
Mr.. Smith of New York said he did not un-
underst nd the tariff question but thought
General Hancock did when he styled ii local
ISSUE He would vote for it on the principle
that half loaf was better than nothing.
Mr. Mnrch said that ne should vote against
it.
At the conclusion Of the debate the confer
ence report was agreed to, yeas l52, nays 116.
Messrs Reed, Dipgley, Lindsay and Ladd
voted for the bi and Mr.. Murch against.
The President signed the bill soon after and
it is now law.
The House then took a recess till o'clock.
The usuai'las night assemblage thropged
the corridors of the House in the evening, and
standing room even was at premium in the
galleries. A proposition made by Mr.. Bel
ford of Colorado. to have the families Of mem
hers admitted to the floor, met with objection.
There was large attendance of members,
many of whom, with favorte bills in their
hands, clamored for recognition. but the
printing Committee was accorded the floor,
and several joint resolutions were passed for
the printing of various public documents.
A committee of conference was ordered on
the deficiency appropriation bill, and M+ssrs.
Hscock, Robeson and Cox of New York were
appointed conferees
Mr.. Briggs of tNew Hampshire, from the
committee on expenditures in the war de-
psrtment, submitted a report recommending
transfer of all unadjudicated claims pending
before the Quartermaster Generals depart
ment 10 the Court of Claims.
The House then proceeded to the considera-
tion of the contested election case of Lee vs..
Richardson from the First Congressional Dis
triet OF South Carolina.
Discussion ran on for an hour and half
without any one paying attention to the
speakers, whose voices were drowned bv the
buzz of conversation in the galleries and loud
or shouts of laughter from numerous groups of
members on the floor of the House The re-
porter gallery was thrown open for the ac-
commodation of families of representatives.
The contestant Lee, slightly built muatto,
with a good voice and fluent delivery, was
accorded fifteen minutes to speak in his own
behalf. He was warmly applauded by the
Republican side.
At this point Mr.. Hiscock submitted the
conference report en- the suDdry civil apI ro-
priation bill announcing disagreement. Mr.
Hiscock stated that the Senate refused to
agree to the retention in the bill of the items
providing for the sale of Wallabout Bay prop
erty and Chelsea Hospital, repeating pre-smp-
tion laws and ratifyiDg the Sioux treaty. The
report was agreed to and further conference
ordered.
The election case was then resumed, Mr..
Richardson submitting his claim in brief
speech. Vote was then taken on the minority
resolutions as a substitute for the majority res
olutions declaring Lee entitled to the seat, and
they we're adopted, yeas 124, nays ia. There
was good deal of Indignation manifested
among Democrats at the results of this vote,
as it was the first time this session when the
resolutions of the majority OF the committee
have been voted down, and Democratic mem
bers were free in their denunciation of what
they claimed was an attempt to put $40 900 into
the pockets OF the contestant. The majority
of the committee reported resolu lion giving
the contestant leave to withdraw his papers
without prejudice, the effect of this being to
confirm Richardson's right to his seat, and the
report was signed by Messrs. Calkins, Miller,
,IoneE of TEXAS. Pau1 Raltzhoovar hyharfon