The Portland daily press., 1884-06-20
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
SENATE

WASHINGTON June 10.
!, mr.. Cameron OF Wisconsin presided over
the Senate today.
The bill to equalize the rank of graduates of
the naval academy upon their assignment to
various CORPS was passed.
The bill to prevent the importation of lead
into the United States was passed.
The Mexican pension bill was then taken up.
After some preliminary discussion as to the
probable addition to the annual cost Of the
pension list by the adoption of the amend
ments proposed TO the bill, Mr.. Black said the
amount would be about S246.0 100000.
Mr.. Morgan inquired whether it was expect
ed to pay these pensions by interference with
the interest on the public debt, or by increased
tarH taxation. This, he continued, was dis
tinctvely Republican measure, having had
endorsement in advance by the Republican
convention: He was sorry, however, to see
the Republicans OF the Senate SO half-hearled
about it. II they intended to obey the man
date OF the convention why not come out bold
" and assume the responsibility for it; toss
their hats and glory in the whole thing.
Mr. Ingalls, said Mr.. Morgan's was the kind
OF speech he always expected to hear from
southern Democrats on the question of PEN
sioning Union soldiers. They were willing to
pension those Mexican soldiers who went into
the confederate army and did their best to
shoot the Union soldiers, and to overturn the
government. But on the proposition to extend
some broad, general measures of relief to the
soldiers of the late war, we are always met by
vague denunciation of extravaganza, of out
rageous assaults intended to be made on the
treasury, and of the insincerity of the Repub-
u, 1can p, party in its professions Of devotion
away hundred million dollars to educate the
iIliterate and ignorant people of the South, and
there was no talk of raid on the treasury.
The debate was continued at length, but
without action the Senate went into executive
session and later adjourned.
KHAUTaE
The House at 10 q. m. resumed consideration
OF the Pacific Railroad bill, Mr.. Thompson of
Kentucky (who had charge of the billy having
an hour to close the debate. He yielded part
OF his time to Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas, who ad-
vocated the majority bill and characterized the
minority bill as scheme that came from the
railroad companies themselves, and that would
give them so years time to invent plan how
to cheat the Government.
Mr.. Willard of New York favored the ma
Jority bill as one that would protect the Gov
eminent
Mr.. Thompson of Kentucky defended the
Dill against the criticisms made against it in
debate. The railroad companies, he said,
wanted to be let alone so that they might plum
der the people and rob the Government. AS
to the threats which had been made that the
Senate would reject the BILL or that the Presi-
dent would veto it, or that the Supreme Court
would set it aside the House should not be ef-
fected by them, but should stand by the peo-
pie. 1t the Senate was the representative of
aggregated capital and was controlled by mo-
nopolists and by railroad attorneys, and dared
to strike down the just demands of the people,
let the responsibility fall upon the Senate. He
recalled the newspaper statements that jay
Gould had paid $65, 900 to the Republican Cam
paign fund in order to have Stanley Matthews
appointed to the Supreme Court Bench, but he
declared that, nevertheless he had confidence
IN the majority of the Court. He appealed to
the House to vote for the interests of the gov
eminent and the people, and against those of
the railway kings, jobbers and lobby.
The first question was on the amendment
offered by Mr.. Thompson of Kentucky to make
the aggregate yearly contribution of the Cen
tral Pacific Company 65 instead of the 80 per
cent OF the net earnings, and that of the Kan
sas Pacific 40 per cent. The amendment was
agreed to.
The question was then taken on the minori-
ty bill and it was rejected.
Mr. Merritt OF New York moved to recon-
nit the Dill, with instructions to report by the
third Monday in December bill by which the
sinking funds of the companies shall be en-
larged by additional payments SO that the debt
due to the government may be surely paid at
maturity. The motion to recommit was reject
ed-65 to "a. The bill was then passed with
cut divisions.
Today's regular session was then begun
Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsylvania from the COM
mlttee on public buildings and grounds report
cd resolution that charges of corrupt or col
luslve action on the part of the secretary of the
treasury, or some of his subordinates in con-
nection with the selection and purchase of a
site for the federal building at Brooklyn had
not been sustained.
Mr.. Dibble of South Carolina, a member of
the committee, considered the price paid for
the site exorbitant and unreasonable.
After half hours discussion the resolution
was adopted.
Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsylvania, from the COM
mittse on labor called up the bill to prohibit
the importation and migration of foreigners
and aliens under contract to perform labor. Ut
makes 1t a crime punishable with fine and inn
prisonment for any master of ship to land
such aliens or foreigners, so under contract in
any United States port. This act is not to ap-
ply to contracts for skilled workmen, in any
new industry not at present established here
provided skilled labor for that purpose cannot
be otherwise obtained, nor to professional &C
tors. lecturers or singers.
Messrs. Forsn of Okio and Maylin of Michi-
gan, supported the bill, and Mr.. Kelley Of
advocated its spirit, but could
hardly accept it as we'll considered project of
law.
Mr.. Dingley Of Maine said, while many Of
the provisions OF the bill were crude and i'm
perfect yet he was in sympathy with its OBJ
ject so far as it was intended to prevent the i'm
portation OF laborers under contracts made in
foreign countries under for conditions and at
at foreign wages who came here not to make for
permanent homes, ssand not free to
make engagements He welcomed every lab
orer wholcame to our shores for the purpose of
taking advantage of American institutions and
American wages. After some discussion the
bill was passed without division, and the
House then adjourned.