Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-24
AT THE NATION'SCAPITAL
KELLOGG'S HONOR A FOOTBALL
IN THE HOUSE.

MI w eti6f EA pidlns his Action in the
English PeeIIe Case-Mr. Springer I'm
proves an Opportunity TO Hit the
Grant Retirement Proposition Hard
Rap.
WASHINGTON, May 23.--The Chair laid
before the Senate to-day a communica-
ton from the Secretary of the Navy trans
mitting request from Captain Ericsson
for an appropriation for his torpedo.
Mr.. Sabin, at his own request, was excused
from further service as a member of the Com
mittee on Pensions, and Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa,
was appointed to the vacancy.
The Senate resumed consideration of the bill
''To provide for protecting the interests of
the United States in respect to any incum-
Drances on property wherein they have an in
terest." The bill provides that, whenever,
IN the opinion OF the President, 1t shall be
deemed eXpedient and necessary for the gov
ernment to pay off prior mortgages or in
cumbrances on property, which 1t Is COM
PEELED to buy in.self- protection, the Secretary
Of the Treasury shall have authority, under
direction Of the President, to pay of
such prior liens or incumbrances, and
such cases, become subrogated to all rights and
securities heretofore pertaining TO the liens,
mortgage or lncumbrance, and the Attorney
General Is authorized to take proper steps in
lne courts 10 protect the interests OF the
United states IN connection with such cases.
Mr.. Beck repeated his objection Yesterday
that under the letter of the act the President
could pay of the Union Pacific Railroad mort
gage. He was not prepared to vest too vast
power in an executive officer.
Mr. Garland said the first mortgage bonds
referred to would become due in 1899, and
meanwhile the company could de-
fault in tile payment of its interest. 4
suit could be continued and the mortgage
forecosed and the government could do moth
ing 10 protect IT'S rights. The power had to
be lodged somewhere, and it was here lodged
IN those OF the highest executive officers in
the government.
that If lien in any case be upon a railroad
it should not be paid till after the judgment
Of court Of competent jurisdiction declaring
its validity.
Mr.. Morgan supported his amendment in
some remarks on the legal aspects of the ques-
tion.
Mr.. Slater said that in 1895, when the Union
and Central Pacific Railroad mortgages ma
ture. the amount of all obligations and inter-
est would be SIS, 100000, and the roads would
not be worth that much money, as they could
be built for less.
Two O'Clock arriving, the question went over.
The Utah bill was placed formally before the
Senate, but, while Mr.. HOar was again willing
to yield, as heretofore to Mr.. Blair in order 10
permit consideration Of the labor bureau bill,
Mr.. Williams urged the Senate to take up
the Mexican soldiers pension bill. An agree
ment was finally reached by which the MeXi-
can pensioners may be taken up on Monday
next, Immediately after the morning business.
Mr.. Blair yielded to Mr.. Logan, who asked
and obtained consent to take up and
dispose of the annual pensions bill, which was
then taken up and in a few minutes passed, as
reported by the Senate committee.
The labor bureau bill was then taken up.
The question pending was on the motion Of
Mr.. Blair to change the word 'bureau" into
the word department"
After some discussion Mr.. Blair withdrew
his several amendments leaving the bill as it
came from the House. Mr. Garland's substi-
tUre committing the nrOnQSpl work to the
Statistical Bureau Qf the Treasury Depart
ment was tabled by26 yeas to a nays. Mr.
Aldrich moved his substitute submitted yes
terday, which was agreed TO without debate
by 3S yeas to Is nays. The bill as amended
was then passed by 55 yeas to nays, the nays
being Messrs. Colqultt and salisbury. The
bill as passed Is as follows, being Mr.. Aldrich's
substitute for the House bill:
Be 1t enacted, ETC., That there shall
be established in the Department
of the Interior a Bureau of Labor,
which shall be under the charge of the
Commissioner of Labor, who shall he ap-
pointed by the President by and with the adj
vice and consent of the Senate. The
Commissioner of Labor shall hold
his Office for four years and until
his successor shall be appointed and
qualified, unless sooner removed, annually,
and shall receive salary of $4,000 year.
The Commissioner shall collect information
upon the subject of labor, its relations to cap
ital, the hours Of labor and the earnings OF
labOring men and women. and the means
intellectual and moral prosperity. The Sec
retary of the Interior shall appoint q chief
clerk, who shall receive a salary of $1,000 per
annum, and such other employees as may be
necessary for said bureau, provided that the
total expenses shall not exceed $4,000 per an
mum. During the necessary absence of the
Commissioner, or when the office snail become
vacant, the chief clerk shall perform the du-
ties of Commissioner. The Commissioner
shall annually make q report in writing to
the Secretary of the Interior of the information
collected Inv him and containing cuqh
mendatiOns as he may deem calculated to
promote tie efficiency of the bureau. The
Utah bill was then taken up and read after
which the senate went INTO executive ses-
sion, and when the doors were reopened ad-
journed to Monday.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Weller, Of Iowa. rising to a quest on of
personal privilege, had read a newspaper re-
port of a speech made by Mr.. Bayne, of Penn
sYlvania, in which he stated that he was in
formed that a member who had voted in favor
OF Mr.. Peelle upon the first roll call, and
thereafter. upon consultation with Mr.. Eng
lish Sr., had left the House without being
paired. He denied that he had been solicited
by Mr.. English on behalf Of his son. Ex-
Representative English had not converscd
with him yesterday on the subject Of his sons
contested election case. He Mr.. Weller did
receive the solicitations 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 pursuance of a telegram
announcing the arrival of his family in the
city. He hoped that an investigating com
mittee would so to work promptly and inquire
into the whole matter.
Mr.. Hart, of Ohio, inquired by what road
Mr.. Weller's family arrived.
Mr. Weller said that the gentlemen would
have abundant opportunity to play the part
of cross-eXaminer before the committee.
Mr. Hart-Were you solicited by any OF Mr..
Engllshs friends to go and meet your
family
Mr.. Weller, emphatically-No, sir.
The matter was then dropped and Mr.. Kel-
logg, of Louisiana, took the floor for personal
explanation.
Mr.. Kellogg sad that some three weeks ago
learning that evidence had been taken by the
Committee on Expenditures in the Depart
ment of Justice rejecting upon him he had
sent his attorney to the committee with re-
quest that the whole matter be investigated
thoroughly and completely. The commit
tee had declined to make the investga-
tiOn on the ground that it had
no authority. He then referred to the case
against him, asserting that the proceeding had
It's origin In nance on the one hand and in
selfish motives on the other. The impression
had gone forth to the country that he had
been indicted for bribery. He had been in
dicted under the statute which provides t4at
no member of Congress shall receive compen-
satiOn for services rendered before a depart
ment OF the government. The statute
IS quarter Of &C century old
He risked nothing in saying that 1t had been
violated thousand times. 1t is a war meas
ure and there never had been an action insti-
tuted under it before, but he did not urge
affirmed and he would prove that he rendered
no such service and received no compensation
for services rendered before any department
of the government He was then proceeding
to detail the circumstances attend
ing the presentation of the case
against him before the grand juries
in order to show that the prosecution against
him was instigate by malice, when Mr. Nor
rison interrupted with the point that the gen
tleman's remarks did not present a question
ton Of privilege. Thereupon Mr.. Kellogg
offered a resolution reciting that in the
investigation as to the prosecution of
the star route cases before the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Depart
ment of Justice, evidence has been given
which reflected upon his character. and di-
recting that committee to investigate the
subject of his alleged connection with the star
route service, and whether he received money
for services rendered in the matter pending
before one of the departments of the govern
ment, or whetherhe paid money to any officer
on account Of or in connection with, said SER
vice.
In speaking on the resolution, Mr.. Kellogg
referred to his recent trial, and denied that
he had pleaded the statute of limitations.
Mr.. Cobb, Of Indiana, remarked that all the
newspapers had published an opposite state
ment.
dressed itself to certain state of facts.
When one witness was sworn it was devel-
oped that the transaction began and ended in
July, 1879. The court intimated to his coun-
sci that a plea of statute Of limitation would
come in generally under the plea of general
issue. He kellogg said to his counsel that
he preferred to end the matter at once and
for all. His counsel held a consultation. and
the court held that he would in anv contin-
gency be entitled to verdict. for the statute
of limitations applied, and no jury could take
cOgnizance of the offense.
Mr.. Hammond, of GeOrgia-Was any offer
made by you to waive the statute Of limita-
tionss
Mr.. kellogg-NO, sir.