The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-11
XLVIII CONGRESS.


In tne senate memorial was presented
1 from the Mexican war veterans asking that
| their names and of widows of deceased vet
| Grams be placed on the pension rolls.
The Senate then proceeded to the appoint
ment OF committees, and by suspension OF the
rules the names were read from the list hand
| ed 10 the secretary, which list was adopted
A number of petitions were presented,
| among them one by Mr.. Frye from 10000 Good
| Templars asking for a constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the manufacture and sale
| of Intoxicating liquors.
), By Mr.. Cameron OF Wisconsin, TO regulate
| elections for representatives to Congress, and
| punish violation thereof
By Mr. Morgan, to define the rights of
| United States citizens when residing in foreign
| countries.
By Mr.. Voorhees,, authorizing the construc-
| tion of building forsthe accommodation of
library for Congress, and appropriating $780,
| 600 to begin the work.
| A resolution was offered by Mr.. Butler pro-
vldlng that each Senator, except the chairman
| OF standing or select committee, be entitled
| to clerk or secretary at salary of $1,000 an
| nually.
Mr.. Voorhees, offered the following:
| Resolved, That in the judgment of the SEN
ate the public debt is not public blessing, and
any measure looking to the perpetuation of the
| present interest bearing national debt of the
| government for purposes OF national banking
| or any other account, meets with the disappro-
| hation of this body, and should be viewed with
On the expiration of the morning hour
Senator Hill of Colorado called up the resolu-
tion heretofore offered by him, calling on the
Secretary of the Interior for copies of all pa
pers on file relating to the transfer of the land
grant of the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg Railroad to the New Orleans Paci-
fic Railroad.
During the debate Mr. ingalls, of Kansas
said he had heard it noised about that this sss-
sion was to be characterized by onslaughts on
the Secretary of the Interior, on the land office
and other departments of the government and
that the Secretary Of the Interior invites
most searching scrutiny of all his acts.
Mr.. HILL while disclaiming any attacks and
asking only information, said he had heard
that the session was more likely to be charac-
terized by onslaughts by railroad companies to
secure legislation in their favor, and prevent
legislation in the interests of the people against
the railroads.
The resolution was agreed to, and at 210 the
Senate adjourned
HOUSE.
In the House number of bills were intro
duced, including also one appfopriating six
million for improvement of the Mississippi
river. Also granting pensions to survivors of
the Mexican war; for organization of the Ter
rltory OF Alaska and providing for civil govern
ment therefor; also to establish a bureau of
commerce and navigation; also granting
copyright to journalistic articles; also to en-
courage shipbuilding; to fix and establish the
maximum rates of fares on the Union Pacific
and Central Pacific railroads with view to
settling the serious troubles that have been at
tended with murder and other crimes existing
between the Central Pacific Railroad Conn
pany and settlers on the Moquelamos grant in
California. (The Secretary of the Interior has
requested the Attorney General to bring suit
in the United States court to set aside the
patent in order to determine the question of
title)
By Mr.. Payson OF Illinois to establish a court
OF appeals; also proposing constitutional
amendment to permit the President to veto
Items In general appropriation bills; also de-
clarlne. forfeited the land grants to various
railroads in the Southwest and West involving
in the aggregate nearly 80, 900, 600 acres.
By Mr.. Townshend of Illinois, to abolish
postage on second class mailable matter and re-
duce postage on transient newspapers; also
authorizing the President during a recess of
Congress to prohibit importation of articles in
furious to public health from countries which
on the same ground prohibit any American
goods.
By Mr.. Finnerty of Illinois. for the construc-
tion OF four gunboats and three additional
cruisers for the navy.
By Mr.. Lowery of Indiana, resolution re-
questing the President to communicate to the
House any correspondence between this
government and Great Britain in reference to
the trial of Patrick ODonnell, citizen of the
United States, for the alleged murder of in
former Carey
By Mr.. Lamb of Indiana, to pension pri-
soners of war confined in confederate prisons
during the war.
By Mr.. McCord of Iowa, providing that in |
case of the removal, death, resignation or in
ability of both the President and Vice Presi- |
dent, the Secretary of State shall be acting |
president until q special election be had.
BY Mr.. Peters of Kansas, granting pension
to soldiers of the rebellion when 55 years of |
age.
BY Mr.. White af Kentucky, proposing con- |
stitutienal amendment granting the right of |
suffrage to women
The call was interrupted to allow Mr.. |
Hewitt of New York to offer the following:
Resolved That the House bring to the noti ce of |
the President the case of Patrick O'DonnelI claim
ing to be citizen of the United States and now un-
der sentence of death in Great Britain In the hope
that the President may secure such reasonable de-
lay In his execution vii enable the President to
ascertain whether said O'Donne is citizen of the
United States, and if whether he was tried and |
convicted in accordance with the provisions of the
municipal law of Great Britain and the require |
ment of international law.
The following were introduced and referred; |
BY Mr.. Dingley of Maine, to remove certain |
burdens from the American merchant ma~iDe:.j
navigation; also to encourage American ship |
building.
By Mr.. Blanchard of louisiana to provide |
that Congress meet Immediately after the /
election of members to q new Congress and to |
provide for two long sessions of each Congress. |
By Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts repeating |
provisions OF an act for coinage of standard sill |
yer dollars
By Mr.. Whiting of Massachusetts, 30 repeal |
all taxes on circulation of national banking as
sociations.
At 4.35 the House adjourned. The call will |
be completed tomorrow