The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-19
FoRTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS-.


WAsHINGToN, April Is.
In the Senate Thursday the consideration of the
bankruptcy bill was resumed. Mr.. Hoar and other
legislators anxious to have the bill disposed of
and were willing to sit late to accomplish that end;
but it becoming manifest that considerable discus
sion would arise some of the proposed amend
ments, the Senate adjourned.
;. Among the amendments agreed to was one giving
debts due to laboring men and domestic servants
priority oye- debts due to the State or United
States.
he would tomorrow move to take up the post-ofice
appropriation bill, whether the bankruptcy bill
should be then disposed of or not.
The Senate passed resolution calling on the
Secretary of War to transmit to the Senate the
ofhciai report of Lieut.. Schwatka of his military
reconnaissance In Alaska in 1888.
The Senate, Immediately the disposal of the
morning business, laid aside the calendar and took
up the post-ofice appropriation bill, in favor of
Most of the items increased were items for which
there already were appropriations, the law of
which could not be changed without general legis-
aton. The consideration of the bill was proceeded
with by sections. On reaching the section relating
| to compensation of railroad company for trans
portaton of mails, some debate arose. The bill as
itcame from the House required the Postmaster
General to make a reduction Of per cent in the
compensation heretofore paid to all railroads for
carrying mails and that railroads that receive land
grants should be required to carry mails at the rate
of 30 per cent. less than that paid to other rail-
Mr.. Plumb explained that the committee on ap-
propriations had not felt justified in retaining these
provisions far concerned the per cent reduc-
| ton. Members OF the committee after some exam
inaton were not entirely satisfied that the amount
paid to railroads was greater than it should be-
and that provision had been struck from the bill.
After further debate the amendment was agreed
to, striking out the House provisions which would
reduce the compensation Of railroads by hve (5l per
eent.,sand would reduce the compensation of land
grant roads to 30 per cent. Of the amount paid to
other roads.
other amendments proposed by the committee
we're agreed to in their order, the only departure
being In the adoption of amendment proposed By
Mr.. Plumb, adding $25, 900 to the appropriation
for river mail service. The bill was then agreed to
| as whole.
The Chair laid before the Senate the bankruptcy
bill, but without entering on its further coDsidera
ton the Senate went into executive session. AT
O'Clock the doors were reopened, and according to
previous appointment a message from the House of
late me@ber " that body from Ala
bama, was taken np and remarks in memOriam of
deceased were delivered by Messrs. Morgan Gibson
Jones of Florida, and Pugh, at the conclusion of
which, at p. M, the Senate adjourned to Monday
next.
The House devoted most of Thursdays session to
the pension appropriation bill. During the debate
Mr. Randall said that the United States was legis
lated to death. 1t had more legislation than was
required and more than the people demanded; and
| legislation. The only amendment adopted was one
increasing from SIS to $40 per 100 vouchers the
allowance to pen sion agents for vouchers prepared
| and paid by them in excess of $4,000 per annum.
| Agreed to.
| The bill limiting to two years the time within
which prosecutions maybe instituted against persons
| charged with violating internal revenue laws was
taken up for consideration, and Mr. White of Ken
lucky took advantage of the brief debate on the
bill to criticize the Springer committee in stopping
the investigation Of charges against Governor Muir
ray of Utah.
| Mr.. Miller of Pennsylvania called the gentleman
to order for not addressing himself to the bill under
| consideration, but the House decided that Mr.
White might be permitted to proceed in order. Mr.
White continued to talk in the same strain, when
Mr.. Miller again called him to order.
The Speaker thought the remarks of the gentle
man were not relevant to the bill.
Mr.. White said that the difference between the
Speaker and himself was that while he had been
desvoring to defend the rights of the poorer people
in his State the Speaker had been endeavoring to
get his bill through Congress for the biggest whis
key monopolies in the State of Kentucky.
The chair desired that no notice should be taken
of these words.
| Mr.. White then proceeded in order, and at the
conclusion of his speech the bill was passed.
A resolution was adopted setting apart Saturday
April 26th for the consideration of the bill to
move certain burdens on the American merchant
marine and to encourage the American foreign
carrying trade.'
At As the House went into committee of the
whole.
| i The unfinished business coming over from last
Friday was the bill to relieve certain soldiers of the
bate it was laid aside with favorable recommends
| ton. The committee of the whole at 5
o'clock and the House took recess until 730.
EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session the House passed % pen
sion bills and adjourned.