The Portland daily press., 1884-03-05
FoRTY-EEGHTH CONGRESS.


WASHINGTON, March 4.
Mr.. Cockrell from the military committee
reported adversely and indefinitely postponed
all bills providing for distribution Of condemn
ed cannon.
Mr., Logan reported iavorably the bill to re-
lieve the members and judge advocate Of the
Fiiz John Porter court martial OF secrecy i'm
posed by their oath as to the vote OF court.
Among the memorials presented was ono by
Mr.. Ingalls, from the Grand Army Post Of
Kansas demonstrating against the passage OF
the bill reinststing Fitz John Porter. Mr..
Ingalls, remarked that the resolutions voiced
the opinion OF nine-tenths OF the surviving
soldiers of the war.
The following bills were reported favorably
and paced on the calendar:
By Mr. Merrill, bill to provide for issue OF
duplicate checks by government officers in
cases OF losses OF originals
BY MIR. Sherman, granting copyright to
newspapers.
BY Mr.. Bayard, 10 establish court OF ap-
peals and provide for chstges in the constitu-
tion OF circuit courts of the United States
when sitting in bsno
Mr. Morrill, called up the bill providing for
issue by government officials of duplicate
checks In cases wherein the original may have
bean lost, and the bill was passed.
The Senate then passed the bill reported py
ar. Garland 70 punish counterfeitine within
the United States of notes, bonds or other
securities OF foreign governments.
tary academy appropriation bill, and after
some minor amendment and an amendment
providing that hereafter any cadet dismissed
for hssing should not be eligible to reappoint-
ment the bill passed.
The senate then took up the bill to provide
for exercise of Jurisdiction conferred upon the
United States in places out of Its territory and
dominion.
After the bill had been read the Senate went
tato executive session and later adjourned
HOUSE.
A number Of bills were reported among
them, one authorizing q retired list for pri-
Yates and non-commissioued officers of the ar-
my who have served for thirty years or more:
also was reported the bill authorizing confer
Ing OF brevet commissions to commissioned ef-
ncers for distinguished serYica In campaigns
against the Iudiaps
AIR. Boutelle of Maiue, from the committee
on naval affairs, reported the bill 10 relieve
certain appointed and enlisted men of the na.
" and marine corps from the charge Of dsseF-
eien.
Mr.. Hewitt Of New York, from the commit
ese on ways and means, reported the bill to
prevent sdulterstion Of teas.
The House then vent into committee on the
naval appropriation bill.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Calkins of
Indiana, to strike out that portion OF the bill
providing that none OF the vacancies In the
vsrious grades In the line and stat corps of
such grades shall be reduced to the number
fixed by Law, was lost, 78 to SO.
The question then REQUIRED upon the amend
nent offered by Mr.. Curtin, to exempt from
the operations OF the clause all the officers of
the navy who served in the late war
Mr.. Calkins offered an amendment, the sub
stance OF which is that after the frsE of July,
1884, the staff corps of the navy on the active
list shall be reduced by reducing the number
OF The medical directory from l5 to 4, the num-
Der OF medical inspectors from Is to 5, OF pay
directors from l3 to B. and of pay inspectors
from l3 to 8, and placing the officers thus re-
moved from the active list on the retired liss,
With the rank they shall hold at the time OF
retirement. agreed TO,
MI. mcMillsn offered an amendment to pro-
woe thai the number OF captains in the lins OF
this navy shall be reduced TO 80, and the pum.
ber OF commanders to 90, and no more promo
ticn5 shall be made to these grades until
their number Ia reduced below the number pre-.
vided for In the amendment.
Ar. KSsson opposed the amendment. He
did not think 1t any use for man TO stand up
and oppuse the policy OF the majority touch
Ing the navy of the United States. II the ma
1ority had conceived deliberate plan to render
the navy OF the United States still less effect
I've, and make the United States the lau Ching
stock OF the world, they should 90 ahead with
this line of policy and remove the men who
have been trained to take care of the navy.
Inere we're grave questions pending bet geen
this government and foreign nations The
United States IS in controversy with foreign
power with respect to the interterenca of
American citizens IN the internal affairs Of
that power. Oar commercial treaties are yi6-
lated by half the countries of the world TO-DAY.
And gentlemen are opposed to giving the gov.
ernmeDt power 10 strike as we'll 80 speak.
There is NOT" he said, "a country In Eurone
that does not know We have not power 70 en-.
force treaty. They know that we can dc
nothing, and a man that attempts to use vigor
ous words to foreign countries withou. power
10 back up bis words with force, is simply IL
The attitude of helpless bully.
After debate, the COMMITTEES rose and tht
House adjourned.