The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-03
XLVII C0NGRESS--2d Session
SENATE.

provide for the preparation Of the centennial
States.
The committee on pensions reported and
asked immediate consideration of a bill max
ing the law OF 1878 applicable to bounty land
cases and pension cases in which arrears of
pensions shall be claimed, and providing that
tne Iee showed by law shall not be paid to any
sgent or attorney in any case until the claim
shall be allowed.
Mr.. Hoar objected to the present considera-
ton of the bill
Mr.. Morrill, obtained unanimous consent for
tne printing of the conference report on the
internal revenue and tariff bill, preparatory to
presenting 1t in the Senate.
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee on confer
ence on me post Office appropriation bill, re-
ported uisagreement upon two provisions in
tne ehi-tne appropriation for fast mail SER
vice ana the legislation relating TO the Pacific
raliroads. The conference report was agreed
Mr.. Plumb moved that the Senate further
insist and ask for new committee Of confer
ence. Agreed to.
The President appointed Messrs. Plumb, AL
is9n r,l ana Beck as the Senate conferees.
The bills for the construction of a bridga
across the Thames at New London. Conn. was
passed.
Mr.: VanWyck presented the credentials of
Charies =. Manderson elected Senator from
Nebraska and the President presented the Gre
nois.
The river and harbor bill was referred to
the committee on commerce.
Mr.. Edmunds gave notice that when it
should be- reported from the committee he
would oppose its consideration
Mr.. Hoar thought that due regard for public
sentiment would require that every item in
the bill making appropriations for river and
narbor improvements should receive careful
consideration, and he did not believe it could.
have that the present session.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
OF pension bills aud passed the bill reported
this morning making the law of 1878 relating
to claim agents and attorneys in pension cases
applicable TO bounty land cases, etc.
Mr.. Anthony offered resolution providing
that at noon tomorrow the Senate proceed to
elect successor to Mr.. Davis
Pension bills favorably reported having been
disposed OF, the act to exclude public lands in
Alabama from the operation of laws relating
to mineral lands was taken up. MIR. Morgan
explained the till.
At go the Senate went into executive ses
sion
Doors were reopened at 40.
Messrs. Hale and Beck were appointed con.
ferees on the sundry civil bill.
ConfefeDce report on the army appropriation
bill was agreed to.
In speaking of pending business hill ex
cluding lands in Alabama from operation Of
laws relating to mineral lands, Mr.. Van Wyck
criticised the large compensation allowed
special attorneys engaged in the Star route
cases and Department of Justice in allowing
such large amounts. During a colloouy
which ensued between Messrs VanWyck and
cameron, the latter seemed greatly excited
and indignant at the arraignment of the De-
partment of Justice. He stood IN the opuo-
site side OF the aisle from Mr. VanWyck and
gestlcnl ated vehemently., The presiding Off
Ger (Mr. Harris) insisted he should not inter.
rupt Mr.. VanWyck without first addressing
the chair and obtaining permission to do So
but Mr.. VanWyck expressed his Willingness
to be interrupted
Mr.. Logan sad that the proceeding of the
Senator from Nebraska was so remarkable, SO
unprecedented, that he would ask the Senator
whether the papers which he was referring to
we're original papers fiom the Attorney GEN
erals office.
Mr.. VanWyck said that they were copies of
vouchers which had been called for bv the
Senate resolution.
Did the papers come into possession OF the
SenatOr1 asked Mr.. Logan.
Into possession of the Senate" replied Mr..
VanWyck
Mr. Logan-Did the Senator intend to refer
them to the committee?
Mr.. Van Wyck-I intend to do so
Mr. Logan-But the Senator takes the op-
poltunlty OF making a general attack on the
Attorney Generals Department without any
reference TO any report or anything whatever
try. Continuing, Mr.. Logan said. the course
OF the Senator from Nebraska was undgnified
and SO wide departure from the usual meth
Cd OF proceeding in the Senate that without
desiring TO enter into the merits of the case he
felt justified in saying that If such speech
were made by any man outdoors while the
trial OF these men charged with robbipg the
government was going on the country would
understand that the speaker was an attorney
for the defendants.
i
ascertain whether the charges made against
the Department Oh Justice were true, and
when the Treasury Department had sent
vouchers bearing the Attorney Generals own
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 com
mittee. and he felt it his duty to make this
'harangae" Gas the senator called it) and get
the fact6 before the people. The Senator from
Illinois had said that if a man ''out doors,
made such speech be would be regarded as
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 is true and it is true surely, it demands
some other answer than that. 1 do not want
to see the Treasury Department plundered, as
plundered 1t is, whether by conspirators in Star
routes or IN any other way. In no country
where instice was decently administered would
1t be possible to have an ordinary criminal
protracted as this Star route trial
has been, not once bat twice. The country is
being ROBBED. What has been saved through
the energy of former Postmaster General is
being spent now by combination of lawyers
getting $50 day. l want this extravaganza
to stop. | move that there papers be printed
and referred to the Judiciary Committee. The
motion was agreed to.
ThesSenate then (or the half dozen who were
present) took a recess for an hour, till 8.15.
AT S.15 the Senate reassembled.
Mr.. Allison presented the conference report
on the legislative appropriation bill, which
was agreed to.
Mr.. Hale presented the conference report on
the naval appropriation bill, which he said
was substantially the bill as passed by the
Senate and it was agreed to-
Mr.. MOrrill presented and explained the
conference report on the internal revenue and
tariff bill. Mr.. Morrill, SAID: GAS the time is
very short for consideration of this bill do
not deem it proper for me to occupy any longer
the time of the Senate. Every member will
find the report of the committee upon his desk
and can see for himself exactly what has been
done"
Mr.. Brown-Has the committee made any
estimate as to the entire amount of reduction
OF revenue that will result from the passage OF
the bill?
Mr. Morrill-Since the conclusion of the
conference there has been no time to make
any accurate estimate, but a rough estimate
has beea made that IL will be about S75, ,000,-
00c. or course on some articles where the
duties have been reduced, as upon wooden
goods, there will very likely be an increase of
importation which may swell the revenue to
some extent, but il there shall be no greater
importation than last year the reduction of
revenue will probably exceed $75, 100000 The
present question is on the adoption of the re-
port.
Mr.. Beck called Tor the yeas and nays and
made speech in opposition to the conference
committees report. He dwelt partcu arIy
upon the committee's action in raising the duiy
on iron ore from so cents to rs cents when both
houses had fixed the rate at 80 cents, and there
was no difference on the subject between
them.
Mr.. Beck also criticized severely the con-
duct OF The conference IA raising the duty on
steel railway bars SIT when the house bill
fixed the rate at $15 and the senate at 15 6S cts.
He stated warmly that this was a violation of
the sworn duties of the onferees
AT this point Mr.. Hale reported the def
ciency bill and 1t was ordered printed.
Mr. Maxey inquired Whether Mr. Peck in
his experience had ever known a case where
conference committee had exceeded the rate
agreed upon by both houses.
Mr.. Beck-I never did and l don't suppose
that any other Senator ever heard OF it, but
there never was bill like this before, con-
ceived in sin and brought forth in inIquity.
Passing over hastily and with brief notice
some OF the changes proposed, he passed on TO
the item of 'steel not Otherwise provided for''
He recalled the action of the Senate in fixing
the rate at 40 per cent. and the unsuccessful
efforts of Mr.. Sherman to have the rate irl