Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-01
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
SEACOAST DEFENsEs UP IN THE
HOUSE.

the Country in Readiness for War
The Limit TO Internal Revenue Prose-
cutiOns Fixed at Three Years.
WASHINGTON, June 30.-In the Senate
to-day Mr.. Slater, from the Committee on
Public Lands, submitted a report to ac-
company the bill forfeiting the unearned
lands granted to the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company. The report, he said,
was not unanimous, and the minority of
the committee would hereafter submit its
views.
Mr.. Allison. from the Committee on Appro-
priations, reported the bill to continue the
public printing seven days in advance Of the
appropriation to be hereafter made. Mr.. Al
ils0n had the Clerk read a letter from the
fuDllc Printer, saying that no appropriation
Tor printing would be available after TODAY
ana unless something was done TO extend the
existing appropriation act until the passage
OF the sundry civil bills, all public printing.
including the printing Of the Congressional
record. would have to be stopped. The bill
was read the third time and passed.
Mr. Morgan from the Committee on Public
t1s9, 1919, a ~ tel IaFofsDly the bllt oeclarlng
tain states to aid lie construction Of rail-
roads Both bills were placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Morgan, from the Committee on Public
LANDS, reported adversely the bill 10 grant
public lands to the survivors of the Mountain
Meadow massacre. Mr.. Morgan said that the
committee was satisfied that if valid claim
the massacre II was not claim that should
be compensated in public lands but money.
At the request of Mr.. Garland the bill was
placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, called up
ms resolution, heretofore submitted, dis
charging the finance Committee from further
consideration of the bill for the retirement
and recoinage Of trade dollars,
Mr.. Morrill, expressed the hope that it would
not be agreed to.
On motion to agree to the resolution Mr..
morrill, called for the yeas and nays, which
resulted in q yeas TO IS nays. SO the resolu-
tlon was not agreed to.
A message from the House announced the
non-concurrence Of that body in the Senate
amendments to the general deficiency bill.
The Senate insisted on its amendments, and
ordered a committee of conference. The
Chair appointed as such committee Messrs.
Hale, Allison and COckrell.
INTERNAL REVENUE vIoLAToRs.
On motion of Mr.. Harris, the Senate took
up the House bill to iimit'tO two years the
time within which prosecutions may be insti-
tuted against persons charged with violating
the internal revenue laws.
Mr. sherman moved to amend by substi-
tuting three years for two. He thought two
years too short a time.
Mr.. Garland said that the judiciary Com
mlttee mad given the subject serious cOnsid-
Grafton, and lad concluded to recommend
two years.
Mr.. HOar said that in some districts grand
juries meet but once a year, and the limita-
tion would, therefore, be practically opposite
in such districts. AS for one year only. Mr..
Harris said that the internal revenue authOri-
ties had found few prosecutions successful
when instituted after two years, and the Sec
retary OF the Treasury and the COmmi ssiOner
of Internal Revenue had recommended the
two years limit.
Mr.. Hawley thought that the failure Of sue
cess in the prosecutions was an indication
that the Department of Justice might be i'm
proved in its methods.
Mr.. sherman's motion was not agreed to by
Mr.. Harrison thought that some provision
should be made TO protect against conceale
crime, the limit being in his opinion too short.
Mr.. HOar offered an amendment. which was
agreed to, extending the limit to the period of
the discharge of the grand jury at its next
session after complaint shall be instituted,
provided the complaint be instituted within
two years.
Mr.. sherman called attention to the fact
that two-year Limitation would apply to
offenses committed by collectors of internal
revenue handling millions of dollars year.
THE BILL AMENDED AND PASSED.
The bill, being completed as in committee of
the whole, was reported to the Senate, when
Mr.. Sherman renewed his motion to make the
limitation three years. The amendment was
now agreed to and the bill then passed.
Mr.. Cameron, OF Pennsylvania, introduced
a joint resolution authorizing and directing
lhe Secretary Of the Treasury to purchase
Gnlleu states trattC uUftdFS TO an amount
TO exceed $l0,000,009 at their face vaIue, pay
ing therefor standard silver dollars, provided
the purchase be made prior to Sept. !, 1884.
Mr.. Morrill, objected to its present consider
alton, and the joint resolution went over.
The Senate then proceeded with considera-
tion of the river and harbor bill.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, debate on the bill
was suspended while the House joint resolu-
tion was read three times and passed provid-
ing for the continuance for five days from
June 30 for the appropriations for the fiscal
year just closing, the amount to be expended
for the five days not to exceed five days pro-
portion Of the whole of last years appropria-
ton.
Mr.. Allison remarked that this resolution
was based on the expectation of adjournment
on Saturday. If that expectation should not
be realized, further extension would become
necessary.
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
Consideration of the river and harbor bill
was then resumed.
The five minutes rule was applied to the
debate. The section prescribing penalties for
filing up harbOrs by the deposit of garbage
and refuse matter, was ruled out on point of
order, raised by Mr.. Morgan, that it was new
legislation. At $3.50 O'Clock, having disposed
of the committee amendments, all Of which
were agreed to except the above noted, the
Senate adjourned, leaving other amendments
to be proposed tomorrow.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day the amendments Of the
Senate to the deficiency appropriation bill, on
motion of Mr.. Randall. were nOn-concurred
in, and Messrs. Randall, Burnes and Calkins
were appointed cOnferees.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred
Bv Mr.. Lewis, of misunderstanding the
Attorney General to institute legal proceed
granted to the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg Railroad Company.
BY Mr.. King, of Louisiana-Appropriati
say 100000 to be expended by the National
Board of Health to prevent the introduction
and spread of Asiatic cholera in the United
States.
the business of importing lazaroni and beg
gars and hiring them ont as laborers.
By Mr.. Cox. of New 1Ork-A preamble and
resolution reciting that on Feb. 25 the House
adopted resolution calling on the President
for the communications which have passed
between the United States and Russia with
respect to the treatment OF hebrews by the
latter government and that no such commu-
nications have been transmitted, and respect
fully requesting the President to comply with
the resolution.
providing that all appropriations for the ne
cessary operations Of the government under
the existing laws which shall remain unpro-
vided for after June 30, 1884, shall be con-
sinued and made available for period of five
days from and after that date, unless the reg
ular appropriation bills now pending shall
have been previously enacted. The resolution
was passed.
hAD Of Ahh INDIA y hlAlION
BILL.
Mr. Ellis, Of Louisiana. submitted the con-
ference repOrtOn the Indian Appropriation bill.
The conference committee has come
to an agreement on all the points
except one, and as agreed to the bill
approprates S5.Sl9,402, being Si3O,3l3
in excess of the amount carried by the bill as
it originally passed the House, and $l20, ,225
less than was appropriated by the Senate.
The point still remaining in dispute Is in re-
gard to the abolition of the Office of Indian In
spectOr and the detail Of five army officers to
act as Indian inspectors. The House pro-
vision to this effect was stricken out by the
Senate. The report was agreed to and Mr..
ThrockmOrton, Of Texas, the author of the
question in dispute, moved that the House re-
cede from its disagreement to the Senate
amendment, The motion was carried and
the law remains as at present. This disposes
of the bill as far as the House is concerned.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, with Mr.. BlOunt, OF Georgia, in the
chair, on the fertilization appropriation bill.
Mr.. Horr, OF Michigan, said that the bill, as
reported BY the majority Of the Committee on
Appropriations, was a departure from the
practice OF the government fOf the last seven
| or eight years. During that period money
| had been appropriated simply in a sufficient
quantity to keep the forts on hand in a state
of preservation, without doing anything in
the line Of making any new defenses. The
/ fret item in the majority bill appropriated
/ Sll,O00,000 for beginning the construction of
new forts on the deep water harbOrs Of the
country, while the second item appropriated
| 50, 100000 for beginning new forts in shallow
ports.
UsELESSNESs OF OUR OLD FORTS.
| Many of the existing forts which had
/ been built with reference to 42-pound
l shot. were to-day utterly worthless as a
/ means Of defense against guns throwing
| 2.0Oo- pound shot. Any second-class iron clad
vessel Of any seeond-class power in the world