Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-09
F0RfYRICnfH CONGRESS.
First Session.
xKNAT&.

SENATE.
WAsHIsGroH. Feb. 8.
The chair laid before the Senate com
munication from the secretary Of the interior
transmitting . copy of the report OF the com
missioner of the general land ONCE relating
TO the grant of lands made by the United
States TO the Florida railroad
Mr. Frye reported the new shipping bill -
agreed upon BY the committee on commerce,
entitled ga bill to remove certain burdens
from American merchant marine, and TO en-
courage foreign carrying trade" Mr.. Frye,
promising that he was obliged to leave Wash
ineton for Mississippi shortly. said he would
ask to make an oral explanation IN lieu OF .
written report. He then explained briefly
the provisions Of the bill.
Mr.. Vest. on behalf of the minority Of the
committee from which the bill was reported.
said that although they acQuiesed In the bill
reported, they did not believe the bill touched
the main difficulty which has stricken down
our commerce The provisions of the bill
we're rood enough ss far - they vent, but
they uere insectivorous ~ compared with
the deadly blight which had struck down our
merchant marine. Other countries permit
citizens to buy ships where they could buy
cheap; it reserved for the United States to 60
back to the barbarism, TO the restrictions Of
the days Of Oliver Cromwell, and cay to the
people that they should not buy ships in the
cheapest market; this. and the tarih system
Of the United States were the fundamental
cause for the decline Of American shipping
Mr.. Vest expressed his willingness to vote
for the provision of the bill.
Mr. Vest submitted an amendment pro-
e., foe .h;,~ nd fpouo otovisl
The bill a. reported Was placed on the cal
endar.
Bills were introduced and appropriately
referred as follows:
By Mr.. Morrill,, relating to the improve
ment Of coinage.
By Mr.. Hill, providing for the resdjust
ment of compensation for the transportation
of the mails on railroad routes.
By Mr.. Blair, prohibiting the employment
Of convicts or persons restrained Of liberty
upon public works or property Of the United
States.
By Mr. Logan, creating . commission to
inquire into and report upon the material, in
dustrial and intellectual progress made by
the colored people of the United States since
1865, and making appropriation for the same.
Mr.. Voorhees, called up and had read q
communication submitted some days ago
from the postmaster general, relating to the
delay in the adjustment of postmssters' sal
aries. under the act of March 3, 1888. and
offered . resolution calling on the attorney
general to inform the Senate a. to the cause
Of the delay.
Mr.. VOORHEES, said the delay affected thou
sands Of people and was . great wrong to
them.
Mr.. Sherman objected to the immediate
90 Ell ~ -
over.
Mr.. Hale called up the conference report
on the Greeley relief expedition.
The chair (Mr. Edmunds) stated that in
his opinion the bill was not before the Sen.
ate, it being, in . preliminary sense, still in
the possession of the House of Representa-.
tives.
Mr.. Hale said the calling for the passage
of the bill into law was most urgent, and
he wished to have it placed before the Sen
ate a. soon A. possible and have vote on il
whether the Senate would recede from its
amendment.
Mr.. Ingalls, had seen in public prints q
statement that . British bark had alreadv
been purchased for this work BY the secre-
tary Of the navy.
Mr., Hale stated that the secretaries of war
and navy were not acting together, but entirely
on personal responsibility, recognizing the
necessity for the action, had assumed to Sc
cure one of the vessels needed for the expe-
dition. Congress was under ne obligation
to take that responsibility on itself if it did
not see fit.
Mr.. Ingalls, said he had observed that the
secretary Of the navy had seen ft to address
q communication to the conference commit
tee on the part Of the House. directing them
not to agree to the amendment proposed by
the Senate, because it would imperil the en-
terprise. He thought the secretary of the
navy had exceeded the functions of his office
Congress what action it should take on any
subject before it
Mr.. Hale remarked that the secretary of
the navy had sent no such message. What
he had done was to send . despatch to q
member of House (similar to the one sent by
Hale himself) saying that the passage of the
Senate amendment, the language of which
the secretary did not know. might cause en-
barrassment. There had been no attempt to
influence the action of the conference com.
mittee.
Mr.. Ingalls, insisted that il was no part OF
the functions Of the secretary of the navy to
do such \ thing while the matter vas in the
shape indicated. 1t was throwing the weight
of his influence against the action of the Sen.
ate; it was-an impertinant intrusion on his
part-an invasion Of the domain of legisla-
ton.
Mr.. Hale observed that both committees of
Congress had asked the secretary of the navy
and secretary of war to Come before them
and give their views on the subject,
After further debate it was .greed, on sue-
gestion Of the chair. to send message to the
House representing the difficulty Of action,
while the bill is in the parliamentary keep
ing Of the House. The matter was then
dropped.
The Senate then took up the Mexican
grant titles bill.
Mr. Bowen spoke on the amendment here
tofore offered by him. Many other amend.
ments were offered, most of which we're re-
jected. At $50 P. NJ. the debate closed and
the bill was passed.
Mr.. Hawley then moved that the Senate
90 into executive session, but was voted
down, and the Senate adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Belmont Of New York, offered q reso.
luton directing the committee on Judiciary
to inquire and report whether Congress has
power to regulate commerce between the
United States and foreiga nations, BY i'm.