Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-03
FURTY-EIGHrH C0xGREsS.
First session.


Mr. Hale presented a conference report on
the naval appropriation bill. II reports the
conferees of both Houses as unable 10 agree
and recommends further conference.
The Senate decided TO insist on its amend
ments and order saother conference.
The chair resppointed Messrs. Hale, Beck
and Logan as conferees.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion.
After ten minutes the Senate resumed leg
islative business.
Mr.. Van Wyck reported favorably joint
resolution prohibiting the secretary Of the
interior from certifying or patenting any lands
TO railroad corporations until Congress shall
have acted upon any bill or report from the
committee favoring the forfeiture OF such
lands.
Mr.. Garland, from the committee on jadic-
iary, reported with amendments the House
bill relating to the taxation of Pacific Rail-
road lands.
A resolution was agreed TO calling on the
secretary ei the interior for information rela-
tive TO the condition Of the Northern Ceey-
enne Indians on the Tongue and Rosebud
rivers, who are alleged to be without rations
and committing depredations.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
sundry civil bill.
message Was received from the House an
nouncing that that body had non-concurred
in the Senate amendments to the river and
harb0r bill E&
The Senate insisted on the amendments
aud ordered a committee of conference.
Mr.. Sherman offered q resolution which
lies over until tomorrow, that the Senate
meet at the usual hour on Friday, the 4th of
July, and after the reading OF the journal and
before other business is done, the secretary
OF the Senate shall read the declaration of the
American Independence and Wsshiugton's
farewell address.
The consideration of the sundry civil bill
was then proceeded with. and after much
debate the amendment proposed by the Senate
committee to strike out the clause providing
compensation by salary instead of fees for
U. 5. marshals, was agreed to.
Messrs. Jones and Gibson energetcally
opposed the committees proposed amendment
to reduce from $500, 200 TO $3.50, 900 the
amount appropriated TO enable the govern
ment to participate in the New Orleans ex-
position, and Mr.. ellison moved to restore
the amount to $500, 900.
The motion was not agreed 10 and the
amount was made $780,
At T.45, all amendments having been con-
sidered and disposed of the bill was passed
and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House agreed to the motion to substi-
tute by the minority report on the fortifca-
ton bill for n bill reported by the majority
of the committee on appropriations.
The bill was amended by the adoption Of a
substitute was then passed.
Mr. O'Neil of Missouri. from the commit
tee on labor, reported bill providing that In
the employment Of labor on public works,
preference shall be given to residents and
citizens Of the United States; placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Forney Of Alabama submitted con-
ference report on the army appropriation bill
IL was agreed to.
The Senate amendments to the river and
harbor appropriation bill we're con-concurred
In.
water at the northern end of the Cape Cod
ship canal was referred to q committee Of the
whole.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York asked unanimous
consent for the adoption Of a preamble and
resolution reciting that as numerous fraudu-
lent transactions have recently been disclosed
in several Of the executive departme nts of the
government, a committee of 10 members of
the House shall be appointed to inquire into
the errors, abuses or frauds in the administra-
ton and execution Of existing laws affecting
public service with a view to ascertain what
changes and reformation can be made so as to
promote the integrity, economy, and efficiency
therein. This committee shall also have
power to inquire into the methods Of proceed
ure and the expenses incurred on behalf of
the United States, by any joint commission
authorized by treaty or otherwise, to decide
IL al. Af ia Is al. sszl
and of other governments, and for the pur-
pose of enabling said committee TO understand
fully the workings of the various departments
of the government. The Investigations Of
the committee may cover such periods in the
past as said committee msy deem necessary
for guidance or information or for the pro-
lection of public interests. The committee is
authorized to employ stenographers and
experts to visit by subcommittee such places
as it may see ft, to send for persons and
papers, to hold sessions 10 public or private,
and to report the results of the investigations
at an early day as practicable. The entire
expenses ofthe commission shall not exceed
s20. 600 before completion.
After the reading of the resolution Mr..
Hiscock of New York objected to its consid-
Grafton.
Pending further action the speaker laid
Defofc tHt loutc kut IEeet1tut NttO Oh l0e
Fits John Porter bill.
The reading of the veto was received with
applause on the republican side of the House
and with Kisses on the democratic side.
President Arthur, in his messrge TO the House
announcing his disapproval Of the Porter
bill, reviews the action Of the court martial
which convicted Porter. asserting that its
judgment was final and conclusive. The
President in this connection cites the recent
decision Of the U. s. supreme court, and
concludes therefrom that when lawfully
constituted, the court martial has duly de-
clared its findings and lie sentence, and the
same has beer duly approved. Neither the
President nor Congress has any power 20 set
them asiae. The presen. bill. he holds, seeks
in effect the practical annulmeat of the find-
ings of the sentence of . competent court
martial. The provisions Of the bill now nm.
der consideration, the President continues,
are avowedly based on the assumption that
the findings Of the court martial have been
discovered TO be erroneous, but it will be
borne in mind that the Investigations which
10 claimed 20 have resulted in this discovery
vas made many years after the event which
the findings related and under the cireum-
stances that made IL impossible to reproduce
the evidence on which they we're based
Il seems 70 me that the proposed legislation
would create dangerous precedent calculated
70 imperial in no small measufe the binding
force and affect of Judgments Of the various