The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-03
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE

WASHINGTON, July 2.
Mr.. Hale presented the conference report on the
naval appropriation bill. 1t reports that the con-
ferences of the two Houses as unable to agree and
recommends further conference.
The Senate decided to insist on its amendments
and order another conference, and the chair re-
appointed Messrs. Hale, Logan and Beck as con-
terees. The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion. After ten minutes the Senate resumed legis-
lative business.
Mr.. Van Wyck reported favorably the Joint
resolution pronlDltng the Secretary of the Interior
from certifying or patenting any lands to railroad
corporations until Congress shall have acted upon
any bill or report from the committee favorng for.
FIXTURE Of such lands.
Mr.. Garland from the committee on Judiciary
rep 1rted with amendments the House bill relating
to taxation of Pacific railroad lands
Inc resolution was agreed to calling on the
Secretary OF the Interior for information relating
to the conu1tlon of the Northern Cheyenne Indians
on the tongue and Rosebud rivers who are alleged
to be without rations and committing depredations
Inc senate then proceeded to consider the sundry
civil bill.
Pending consideration of the bill, "a message was
received from the House announcing that that body
had non-concurred in the Senate amendments to
the river and harbor bill. The Senate insisted on
its amendments and ordered committee of confer
ence.
Mr.. Sherman offered resolution which lies over
until tomorrow. that the Senate meet at the usual
hour, Friday. July 4th, and after reading of the
journal and before other business is done the
tary of the Senate shall read the Declaration of
American Independence aud Washington's farewell
address.
Consideration of the sundry civil bill was then
proceeded with, and after much debate the amend
ment proposed by the Senate committee to strike
out tne clause providing compensation by salaries
instead OF fees for United Stases marshals was
agreed to.
Messrs. Jones and Gibson epergetically opposed
the committees proposed amendment TO reduce
from $500, 600 to $3.50 900, the amount appropri-
ated to enable the government to participate in the
New Orleans exposition and Mr.. Gibson moved to
Ia
The motion was not agreed to, and the appropria-
ton was made S250,00O.
At 7.45, all the amendments having been con-
sdered and disposed Of the bill was passed and the
Senate adjourned,
HOUSE.
The House agreed to motion to substitute the
minority fertilization bill for the bill reported by
the majority of the committee on appropriations.
The bill as amended by adoption of the substitute
was then passed. ct appropriates $685., Ooo)
The Senate amendments to the river and harbor
appropriation bill were considered.
The bill for construction of the breakwater at the
northern end of Cape Cod ship canal was referred
to the committee on the whole
Mr. ONeil of Missouri, from the committee on
labor reported the bill providing that in the employ
ment of labor public workst shall be given to res
idents and citizens of the United States House cal
endar.
Mr.. Forney of Alabama. submitted the confer
1t was agreed to.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York asked unanimous
consent for the adoption of a preamble and reso-
luton ree1tlng that as numerous fraudulent tran
saetions have recently been disclosed In several of
the executive departments of the government a
committee OF IL members of the House be ap-
pointed to enquire into errors, abuses and
frauds in the administration and execution of all
laws affecting public service with view to ascer-
tain what changes and reformation can be made so
as to promote the integrity economy and efficiency
therein. The committee shall also have power to
inquire into the methods of procedure and ex-
penses incurred on behalf of the United st ates BY
any joint commission authorized by treaty or 9th
erWse to decide on claims of citizens of the United
States and of other governments, and for the pur-
pose of enabling the said committee to undertake
fully the workings of the various departments of
the government The investigation of the said
said committee may deem necessary for guild
ance or information or for the protection of public
interests. The committee Is authorized to employ
stenographers and experts, to visit by sub-commit-
mittees such places as it may see fit, to send for
persons and papers, to hold sessions in public or
private and 10 report the result of its investigation
az an early day as possible. The entire expense OF
the committee shall not exceed SIC, 900 before
completion,
On the reading of the resolution Mr.. Hiscock of
New York objected to its consideration.
The confer ence report on the bill granting the
right of way through Indian Territory to the
Southern Kansas Railroad Company was presented
and agreed to.
The Mexican pension bill was then taken up and
the House cOncurred in the Senate amendment
striking out the clause granting pensions to surviY-
ing officers and enlisted men who served sixty
days in the Mexican war or who actually served in
the army and navy in that war and inserting in lieu
therof provision granting pension to those who
actually served fourteen days in Mexico or on the
coasts or frontier thereof or en- route thereto.
Pending further action the speaker laid before
the House the Presidents veto of the Fitz John
bill.
President Arthur, in his message to the House
his disapproval Of the Fitz John Por-
ter bill, reviews the action of the rt martial
which conuicted Porter asserting that its Judgment
was final and conclusive the President, in this
cites the recent decision of the United
states supreme Court and concludes therefr ON
that when lawfully constituted court ma rtial has
duly declared its findings and its sentence nd the
same has been duly approved neither the President
nor Congress has any power to set them aside The
present BILL he holds, seeks in effect the pr ctcal
of the findings and sentence of COM
petent court martial. The provisions of the bill
now under consideration, the President continues
are aVowedly based on the assumption that the
findings of the court martial have been discovered to
be erroneous. But it will be borne in mind tn at
the Investigation which is claimed to have resulted
in the discovery was made many years after the
event which the findings related and under circum-
stances that made it impossible to reproduce the ev
pence on which they were based, 1t seems to me
that the proposed legislation would establish dam
gerous precedent calculated to imperil in small
measure the binding force and effect of the judg-
ments of the various tribunals established under
our constitution and laws. have already in the
exercise of pardoniDg power with which the
President is vested remitted the continuing pen
atty that made it impossible for Ftz John Porter to
hold an office of trust profit under the Govern
ment OF the United States, but l am unwilling to
give my sanction to any legislation, which shall
annul and set at naught the solemn and
deliberate conclusions of the tribunal by which he
was convicted and OF the President by whom its
findings were examined and approved.
The reading OF the veto was received with APP
plause on the Republican side of the House and
with Kisses on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Slocum moved that the bill be passed not
the objections of the President.
The bill was then passed,-yeas 1853 NAYS IA
four more than the necessary tWO-thirds