The Portland daily press., 1884-05-24
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

The chair laid before the Senate a communica-
ton from the Secretary of the Navy transmitting
request from Captain Ericsson for an appropriation
for his torpedo boat.
MIR. Harrison, from the committee on territories,
reported in relation to the Legislature of the Terri
tory of Dakota.
The House bill to provide for the muster and pay
of certain officers and enlisted men of volunteer
forces was, on motion of Mr. Harrison, read third
time and passed. 1t amends the joint resolution u
the same subject of July IL, so that in all cas-
arising under it officers shall be considered as tie
commissioners to their respective grades from date
when their commissions respectively were issued,
as if mustered at those dates providing they were
then actually In performance of duties. All claims
under this provision must by the bill filed within
three years from the passage of the act.
Inc senate then resumed consideration OF the
Dill which provides that whenever in the opinion of
the President it shall be deemed expedient and
necessary Tor the government to pay off prior mort
cages or membranes property which it is cem-
PEELED to buy in self-protection the Seeretaryof
the treasury shall have authority, under the diec
ton OF the President, to pay off such prior liens or
M. Beck repeated his objection made yesterday,
thar under the letter of the act the President could
pay on the Union Pacific railroad mortgages, and
he was not prepared to vest SO vast power in an
executive officer.
Mr.: Morgan moved an amendment requiring that
if lien in any be upon railroad it should not
be paid until after the Judgment of a court of COM
petent jurisdiction declaring its validity
. After debate the hour of two arriving, the ques-
ton went over.
The annual pension appropriation bill was then
taken up, and in few minutes passed as reported
by the Senate committee.
The labor bureau bill was then taken nm The
question pending was on the motion of Mr.. Blair to
change the word bureau into the word depart
ment."
With respect to Mr.. Allison's suggestion of nm
consitutionality in the provision authorizing the
cn,eI OF me bureau to appoint chief clerk, Mr.
cameron OF wisconsin said the appointment would
be in the President and would be exercised by him.
as had been done when the chief examiner of the
clvil service commission had been appointed Mr.
Cameron was therefore of the opinion that the bil
If passed as it came from the House. would be
satisfactory.
Mr.. Aldrich moved the substitute submitted ves
terday. which was agreed to without debate.
On motion of Mr.. Blair, the bill as amended was
then passed-yeas 55, nays 2-the nays being
Messrs. Colquitt and Salisbury.
The bill as passed is follows (being Mr. AL
dr1ch's substitute for the House billy:
There shall be established in the Department of
the Interior bureau of labor, which shall be under
the charge of commissioner of labor, who shall be
appointed by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate. The commissioner shall
hold his Office for four years unless sooner removed
and Shall receive salary of three thousand dollars
year; The commissioner shall collect information
hours OF labor and earnings of laboring men and
women. and means of promoting their
material r social intellectual and moral pros,
appoint a chief clerk at salary of
$4,000 per annum and such other employees as
may De for said bureau proyed that
mum. The commissioner shall annually make a re-
port TO the Secretary of the Interior of the inform
atlon gathered and collated by him and make such
recommendations as he may deem calculated to
promote the efficiency of the bureau.
The Utah bill was then read, after which the Sem
ate Went into executive session and later adjourned
to Monday.
HOUSE.
In the House Mr.. Weller of Iowa. rising to a oues-
ton of personal privilege read the newspaper re-
port of the speech made by Mr.. Bayne of Pennsyl.
Vania in which he stated that he was informed that
a member who had voted in favor of MIR. Peelle
upon the first roll call and thereafter upon consul
tation with Mr.. English had left the House without
being paired. Mr.. Weller denied that he had been
solicited by Mr.. English on behalf of his son. Ex-
Representative English had not conversed with him
yesterday on the subject of his sons contested
election case. He, Weller, did receive the socita-
tions of members on the Republican side to vote
for Mr.. Peelle. One member had told him that he
would cover himself with glory. His absence from
the House had been in response to telegram an
nouncing the arrival of his family in the CITY, He
hoped that an investigating committee would go to
work promptly and enquire into the whole matter
ler's family arrived
Mr.. Weller said that the gentleman would have
abundant opportunity to play the part of a cross
examiner before the committee.
Mr.. Hart said, "Were you solicited by any of
Englsh's friends to go and meet your family?'
Mr.. Weller replied, "No, SIR"
The matter was then dropped
MT. Kellogg of Louisiana then took the floor for
a personal explanation.
He offered resolution reciting that in the inves-
ugatlon OF the Star route cases. evidence had been
taken rejecting on his character and instructing
committee to investigate his alleged connection
with the star route service. He entered into a
long, personal explanation, which gave rise to
long debate.
The House then went into committee on the pri-
yate calendar. The bill providing for tho retire.
ment of Col. Henry j. Hunt as major general gave
rise to good deal of discussion. In opposing the
measure, Mr. Springer of Illinois took occasion to
speak in strong condemnation of the bill to retire
General Grant and to give him q pension of SlO.-
12b simply because he had been unfortunate in
Wall street. 1t was said that General Grant had
not been aware of the dealings of his partners but
the fact remained that he had associated himself
with spectators who involved in the most dis
reputable practices which had ever been heard of
in this country.
The bill was finally laid aside with favorable rec
ommendation.
Several other private measures were considered
and the committee rose. The House then took a
recess until O'Clock, the evening session to be for
the consideration of pension bills.
EVENING SESSION..
The House at its evening session passed 46 men,
sion bills, including one granting q pension of $50
month to the widow of General Ord,