Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-02
FORTY-EIGHvH CONGRESS-.
First session.
SENATE.


establishment of a branch soldiers home west
Of the Mississippi. II was at once amended
by substituting the Senate bill for the same
purpose, already passed. and as so amended
was read third time and passed.
The Senate also passed the bill amending
the I'D article of war. IL provides that
any general officer commanding an army,
territorial division or q department may ap.
point general court martial. but whenever
any such commander is the accaser or prose-
cutor of any officer under his command.
a court shall be appointed by the President
The resolution directing an investigation
into the condition of the New York banks,
was. on motion of Mr.. Morrill,. referred to
the committee on finance.
The House bill granting pension Of $50
month to the widow OF Jas. b. Stesdman
was read the third time and passed.
The joint resolution introduced BY Mr..
Cameron Of Pennsylvania directing the Sec
retary of the treasury TO redeem $4,000, 600
worth of trade dollars at face value was laid
before the Senate.
Messrs Mitchell and Mcpherson briefly
urged the redemption Of the trade dollar as
being demanded by every obligation of honor
and duty. Mr. Mcpherson, however, was
not opposed to limiting the redemption to
$4,000, 900. He thought every trade dollar
ought 10 be redeemed.
It was referred to the committee on
finance.
On motion OF Mr.. Ransom 1000 was sd-
ded for the improvement of the ST. Johns
river, Deleware.
Mr.. George renewed his efforts to increase
the appropriation for continuing the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river, and
moved that the amount be increased from
81, ,250, 900 TO 50, ,250, 900.
Mr.. Mcpherson criticised the work of the
committee in preparing or amending the
bill. In looking through il he said that he
observed fer the State Of Michigan loan of
S744, 900. Michigan was an interior State,
having few rivers. He did not know whether
any mere rivers or harbors could be found in
il than were found in the bill. Michigan,
however, was represented in the committee
on commerce, while New Jersey was not.
New Jersey, however, had more harbors than
Michigan and more water courses leading to
the ocean and there was need in New Jersey
for the appropriation of four dollars for
every one appropriated for Michigan. He
said without intending offense to anyone that
if ever there was such thing as swindle in
the country it was the river and harbor bills
of the last five or six years He would not
ehara cterize this one as being worse than the
others, but could not credit them with being
any better.
Mr. Conger defended the appropriations
for Michigan, and insisted that they were
based on the soundest policy.
Mr.. Hoar addressed the Senate. Nothing.
he said. stood in the way of our contesting
with Great Britain the supremacy of the sea
taking the rightful place. and that the leading
place in the markets Of the world without
want of discreet and liberal exercise Of the
powers vested in Congress. We
had, however, been afraid to use
our power because of public outcry.
Congress had not dared to deal in the spirit
of true wisdom or economy with the questions
of restoring our carrying trade or Of creating
a navy for this question nf our internal i'm.
provement. Not only could we not attack
any other nation. but we could not even
defend ourselves if attacked. We could not
have supported the policy Of our last secretary
of state in regard to the American continent.
II was doubtful if we had naval force that
could have prevented Chill from laying San
Francisco under contribution IL Chilli had
resented our interference.
Mr.. Hoar said he would not favor our policy
of the expenditure of public moneys that did
not command the ascent of the people; but
the American people were entitled to have
their great business interests dealt with by
statesmen who are not constantly bleaching
and cringing who were not afraid of their
public and public and personal character, and
who could not stand against the senseless
imputation Of dishonesty. He did not COM
plain that we did not initiate other nations,
but demanded that we should discuss and
vote on the questions merits. He would
insert in the river and harbor bill no item of
public usefulness of which could not be made
plain to all persons who scrutinized it, but il
the American Congress was to be driven from
duty there would be fear Of q suspicion Of
integrity. 1t would go far to sustain the
impression that such imputation was not un-
merited.
Mr.. Hoar characterized the policy Of inter-
nal improvements as the policy of Massachu-
sets, originated and pursued by its people
The bill was passed.
The Senate then went into executive ses.
sion and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Randall of PENNSYLVANIA submitted the
report of the conference committee on the
naval appropriation bill, announcing an ina
bility to agree, the chief items of disagree
ment being the appropriations for new cruis.
ers and for a continuation of ~ork on the
double turreted monitors.
Mr.. Randall said deliberately that nothing
but an instruction from the House would in.
duce the House conferees to yield on these
two points because they had not that conf
dence in the manner of construction of these
cruisers that warranted further expenditure
of the public money in order TO duplicate
them. There was not thrown around these
propositions that safeguard in the expendi-
ture of money which present circumstances
known to the country warranted, and which
should be thrown around the department
which was now the subject of investigation.
A spirited debate followed, with Messrs.
Randall and Cox on one side and Reed and
Calkins on the other.
Mr.. Calkins charged that the reasons as
signed by the democrats for refusing TO build
q new navy were not their real reasons; iha.
pride and temper were the real causes of their
opposition The party had forgotten its ira
ditions and had became simply party Of
criticism.
Mr.. Reed asked Mr.. Randall why he did
not cure his objections to the clauses in the
bill by amending them.
Mr.. Randall said he was perfectly willing
that the country should judge Of the sincerity
Of his objections.
The conference report was agreed 70.
The House further insisted on its disagree
ment and Messrs. Randall, Holman and Calk.
ins were appointed conferees on the part Of
the House.