Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-03-03
FORTYSgVByTa CDxGsBSs.


Mr.. Morrill, obtained the unanimous con-
seut for printing the conference report on the
internal revenue and tariff bill. preparatory
TO presenting it in the Senate.
Mr. Blair, from the committee on educa-
tion. reported without recommendation bill
TO provide for the preparation of the centen-
NAL record of the government of the United
States.
The committee on pensions reported, and
asked the immediate consideration of the bill
making the law Of 1873 applicable TO bounty
land cases, and pension cases in which ar
rears of pensions shall be claimed, and pro-
viding that the fee of $40 allowed by Law
shall not be paid to any agent or attorney in
any case until the claim be allowed.
Mr.. Hoar objected to the present consider
alton Of the bill.
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee on CON
ference on the postoffice appropriation bill,
| reported disagreement upon two provisions
in the bill. the appropriation for the fast
| mail service, and legislation in relation to
| the Pacific railroad.
The conference report was agreed to.
Mr. Plumb moved that the Senate further
| insist, and ask for new committee of con-
| ference; agreed to.
The President appointed Messrs. Plumb,
Allison and Beck as conferees.
The bill for the construction of bridge
across the Thames at New London, was
passed.
| Mr.. Van Wyck presented the credentials
| of Chas. F. Manderson, elected senator from
Nebraska, and the President presented the
credentials of his successor as senator from
| Illinois.
The river and harbor bill was referred to
the committee on commerce.
MIR. Edmunds gave notice that when 1t
| Isbn ho frnm he IN
would oppose its consideration.
| Mr. Hoar thought that due regard for pub
| lie sentiment would require that every item
in the bill making appropriations for river
and harbOr improvements, should receive
careful consideration, and he did not believe
| it could have that the present session.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the pension bills, and passed the bill re-
ported this morning, making the law of 1873.
relating to claim agents and attorneys in
pension cases, bounty and land cases.
The pension bills having been disposed of,
the act to exclude public lands in Alabama
| from the operation OF laws relating to MINER
| al lands was taken up.
Mr.. Morgan explained the bill.
At 2. 80 the Senate went into executive ses-
sion.
The doars were re-opened at 5.45.
| Messrs. Hale and Beck were appointed
conferees on the sundry civil appropriation
bill.
The conference report on the army appro-
priatiOn bill was agreed to.
In speaking of the pending business bill,
excluding public lands in Alabama from ,he
operations OF laws relating to mineral lands,
| Mr.. Van Voorhees, criticized the large COM
pensation allowed to special attorneys en-
gagged in the star route cases and the depart
ment of justice in allowing such large
amounts.
During the cOlloquy which ensued be-
tween Messrs. Van Wyck and Cameryn. the
latter seemed greatly excited and indignant
at the arrangement Of the department Of JUS
tice. He stood on the opposite side of the
aisle from Mr.. Van Wy:k. and gesticulated
vehemently.
The presiding officer (Harris) insisted that
he should not interrupt Mr.. Van Wyck with
out first addressing the chair and obtaining
permission to do so, but Mr. Van Wyck ex-
pressed his Willingness to be interrupted.
Mr.. Logan said the proceedings of the SEN
ator from Nebraska was so remarkable, 50
unprecedented, thrt he would ask the senator
| whether the papers which he was referring
to were the original papers from the Attor-
ney Generals office.
MIR. Van Wyck said that they were copies
of vouchers, which had been called for by the
Senate resolution.
"Did the papers come into possession of
the Senator?' asked Mr.. Logan.
"Into the possession of the Senate" re-
piled Mr.. Van Wyck.
Mr.. Logan-Do the Senators intend to re-
fer them to the committee?
Mr.. Van Wyck-I intend to do so.
Mr.. Logan-But the Senator takes the op-
portunity of making a general attack on the
Attorney-Generafs department without any
report or anything whatever except to get
this harangue before the country.
In continuing, Mr. Logan said the course
of the Senator from Nebraska was so un-
dgnified and so wide a departure from the
usual method Of proceeding in the Senate
that without desiring to enter into the merits
of the case, he felt justified in saying that if
such q speech was made by any man out
doors while the trial of these men charged
the country would understand that the speak
er was an attorney for the defendants.
Mr.. Van Wyck said he had felt it his duty
to ascertain whether the charges made against
the department of justice were true, and
when the treasury department had sent
vouchers bearing the attorney generals sign
manual, Brewster" showing that $3.50 a
day was paid to one of these attorneys there
was no need to wait for the report of any
committee, and he felt 1t his duty to make
this ''harangue" Gas the senator called it)
and get the facts before the people. The
senator from Illinois had said that if man
''out doors" made such a speech he would be
regarded as an attorney for the defendants
Is it possible, said Mr.. Van Wyck, that that
is the way the gentleman, or the attorney
general, would seek to meet these charges
If what have read it true, and 1t is true,
surely it demands some other answer than
that. l do not want to see the treasury
plundered, as plunder it is, whether by con-
spirators in the star routes or in any other
way. In no country where justice was de-
Gently administered it would be possible to
have an ordinary criminal prosecutor pro-
tracted As this star route has been, not once
but twice. The country 10 being robbed
What has been saved through the energy Of
former postmaster general is being spent
now BY a combination of lawyers getting
$3.50 day. l want this extravagance to
stop. I move that these papers be printed
and referred to the judiciary committee.
The motion was agreed to.
The Senate then Cor the half dozen that
were pres;nt) took . recess for an hour.
At SIS the Senate re-assembled
Mr.. Allison presented the conference re-
port on the legislation appropriation bill,
| which was agreed to.