The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-18
XLVII CONGRESS- I'd Session
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II

WASHINGTON, Jan. IT,
Mr.. Edmnnds introduced a bill to provide
for the appointment of commissioner to in
vestigate railroad transportation.
Mr.. Cooke introduced joint resolution au-
thoriziDg the secretary of the treasury to use
the 900 appropriated in August last for the
construction of steam launces for use in the
harbor of Galveston and Mobile to purchase
such launches already built. Referred to the
committee on commerce.
Mr.. Davis OF West Virginia. presented the
sl~s..sssr up appropriation bill which was agreed
to.
The post Office appropriation bill was taken
up.
Mr.. Plumb rose to explain the bill.
Mr.. Davis of West Virginia, called his at
tention to an item Of $185, 900 'for necessary
and special facilities on trunk lines of railway
and asked an explanation of the use of the
word "trunk" which seemed designed to confer
thebeneft of the appropriation upon certain
roads to the exclusion of others.
Mr.. Plumb said he could accept any amend
ment which would not defeat the object of the
appropriation, which was simply to keep up
the existing services.
Mr.. Plumb had read o letter from the super
intendent of the railway mail service, ex-
planning the fast service and stating how the
appropriation was expended. The letter rec
ommends that il similar appropriation be
made at this session, it should be for continual
tion of the existing servics for the fiscal
year.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Plumb's explana-
ton the bill was considered and the amend
ment striking out the House provision relating
to compensation TO be paid to the Pacific rail-
roads for mail service was agreed to.
Paragraph appropriating SlS5,000 ''for nee
eSsary and special facilities on trunk lines"
was debated until the expiration of the morn
ing hour, when MI. Morrill, called for the tar
iff bill which was laid before the Senate.
Mr.. Plumb moved to postpone it in order to
proceed with the post Office appropriation bill.
Mr.. Sherman opposed the motion.
Upon vote the motion to postpone the tar
if bill was lost.
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Considerable debate ensued upon the amend
ment by Mr.. Beck to reduce the rate on China
Porcelain, Parian and Bisque ware from 60 to
80 per cent 1t was finally lost.
Without completing its work.upon the bill
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Belford of California presented me-
mortal of Hinton r. Helper for the establish
ment of railroad connection with Central and
South America. Referred.
Charles 7. Doxey, as representative from
the>9th Indiana district, to succeed the late G.
S. Orth, took the oath of office.
Mr.. Rice of Massachusetts called up the Joint
resolution for new mixed commission in ac-
cordanee with the treaty of April %, 1866, with
the United States of Venezuela.
Pending discussion J. Il. Cain appeared
at the bar of the House and took the oath of
office as delegate from Utah.
Mr.. Rice resumed his argument and appeal
ed to the House to pass the joint resolution.
Mr.. Cox also spoke in favor of its passage,
and Mr.. Wilson opposed it.
The joint resolution then passed and the
House adjourned.