National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-09

resolution went over till to-day and will DO
printed
Mr. voorhees, called up and had read the COM
munication submitted some days ago, from the
postmaster general relating TO the delay IN tno
REIMBURSEMENT Of postmasters' salaries, unuer tno
act of March 3, 1888, and offered resolution CALI
ing on the attorney general TO inform tine senate
as to the seof delay in advising the postmaster
Mr. voC % Ss sR% sGaPGfh St the delay Affected
thousands Of people aud was great wrong TO
Mr.. Sherman objected to the immediate consid-
Grafton OF the resolution and IL went over I'LL TO-
day.
MIR. Hale called up the conference report on the
The chair (Mr. Edmunds stated that in his
opinion tho bill was not before the senate IL being
IN parliamentary sense sun III tne possession Oh
Mr.. Hale said the emergency calling for the
passage of the bill into law was most urgent
one, and he wished TO have IL placed before the
senate as soon as possible ana have vote upon
the question whether the senate would recede
Mr. ingalls, stated that II tho gentleman from
Maine MIR. Halel would agree to report bill fix
ing the limit of expenditure at 100000 and re-
tanning the clause limiting the service TO yolun-
teers, Ii could DO passed by the senate In fifteen
minutes. Much had been said about the urg-
ency of this matter, and the necessity, owing to
the emergency, of giving an unlimited discretion
to the secretary of the navy and the President
with regard to everything about 1t. IL was. how
ever well known that thc ships GOULD not In, Sny
had seen In the public prints day or two since
q statement that q British bark had already been
purchased for this work by the secretary OF the
navy. If the secretary of the navy, in advance OF
decisive action by congress and after the declerai
tion ofthe senate that the bill should be amended,
had taken the responsibility of purchasing Brit
ish bark, and as was also reported, rendered the
responsibility of commanding the fleet to some
body, then Indeed, an emergency hadsin Mr.. In
gallsopinion, arisen which required serious con-
sideration.
Mr.. Hale stated that tho secretaries of war and
navy, acting together, but entirely on their per-
necessity for action had assumed to secure one OF
the vessels needed for the expedition. congress
was under obligation TO take that responsibility
on itself, If II did not see 1t. -
Mr.. Ingalls, said he had observed that the secre-
tary of the navy had seen fit TO address COM
munnicaton to a conference committee on the
part of tho house of representatives, directing
them not 10 agree TO the amendment proposed by
the senate, because 1t would imperil the enter
prise. He thought the secretary exceeded the
functions of his office when he assumed to dictate
to either house of congress what action 1t should
take on any subject before It,
Mr.. Hale remarked that tho secretary of the
navy had sent no such message. He had had 100
large an experience of public life TO have thought
Of doing such q thing. What he had done was to
send dispatch to member of the house similar
to one sent to Mr.. Hale himself saying that the
passage Of the senate amendment-the language
Of which the secretary did not know-might
cause embarrassment. There had been no attempt
to influence the action Of tho conference commit
tee.
Mr.. Ingalls, replied that he had read in the Con-
gresstondL Record that the chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations OF the house had SUD-
mitted O communication from the secretary or
the navy. bearing on the subject as reason why
the house should not agree to the senate amend
montS
Mr. Hale inquired II that was not proper and re.
marked that II was a very different statement
from that made a moment ago.
Mr. ingalls, insisted that 1t was no part OF the
legitimate functions of the secretary of the navy
to do such thing while the matter was in the
shape indicated. 1t was throwing the weight OF
his influence against the action Of the senate; II
| was AN impairment intrusion on his part-an In
! vasion of the domain oflegislaton.
Mr.. Hale observed that both committees OF con.
gress had asked the secretary of the navy and
the secretary of war 10 come before them aud give
| their views on the subject.
Mr.. ingalls, said that that was right.
Mr.. Hale reiterated that not the slightest desire
had been manifested by either the secretary OF
the navy or the secretary of war to exercise any
| influence in the matter.
After further debate 1t was agreed on the sug-
gestion OF the chair to send message TO tho house,
representing the difficulty of action by the senate
while the bill is in the parliamentary keeping oil
the house. The matter was then dropped.
The senate then took up the unfinished business,
being the Mexican land grant titles bill.
| Mr.. Bowen took the floor, and spoke at length
! on the amendment heretofore offered by him.
| Many other amendments were also offered. most
of which were rejected
The debate was participated In by by Messrs.
| Bayard, Conger, Plumb Van Wyck, Bowen, Dolph
Sherman, and Coke. At5:30p m. the debate closed
and the bill was passed.
| Mr.. Hawley then moved that the senate go into
| executive session. but this was voted down, and
lat $40 p. M the senate adjoprneduntilM Monday
| next.