The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-25
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE

WARRINGTON June "a.
In the Senate today Mr.. Frye, from the committee
on commerce, reported fayorably bill to authorize
the appointment of commission of naval archi-
tects and marine architects to examine and report
upon new designs for steamships.
Mr.. Sherman offered a resolution, which was
agreed to, providing that the hour for commencing
the daily sessions of the Senate during the remain
der of the session be IL O'Clock.
Consideration of the Mexican pension bill was
then resumed.
Mr.. Williams stigmstized the bill as it now stood
as an insult to the Mexican veterans. He had sup
posed that if brave and honest man ever existed
on the face of the earth, not afraid of man OF
devil, it the Senator from Illinois Oogan) the
nominee of the Republican party for the Vice Pres
idency of the Republic. But even that Senator had
shrunk back and had been driven from sense OF
duty.
Mr.. Morgan characterized the present object as
political one to press Democrats to the wall to at
tempt to prove that they were opposed to pension
ing Union soldiers. In the course of his remarks
Mr.. Morgan said, "Take your candidate for the
Presidency. He was valiant talker in war, but he
never went to war. He remained at home and ac-
cumulated his million dollars and his substitute
vent to war;"
The debate then closed.
After further amendments the bill was reported
to the Senate and when the chair had put the ques
ton whether the amendments should be agreed to-
MI M1Jcn6ll SAID IN answer TO an inquiry from MIR.
Hawey that an estimate had been made on the bill
by the commissioner of pensions substantially as
it now Stood as to amount of expenditures the bill
would add to the government, and the figure was
about $12,5o0,000 annually.
The bill was then passed-37 to 81.
The legislative, executive and judicial appropria-
proceeded with until 6.45 p. m when the Senate
went into executive session and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Foran of Ohio submitted the conference re-
port on the bill establishing a bureau of labor
statistics, and it was agreed to.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of
business on the Speakers table, and concurred in
the Senate amendments to number of House bills
of private character.
MIR. Cox of New York asked unanimous consent
for passage of the Senate bill granting letter
riers fifteen days leave of absence each year.
Mr.. Cosgrove of Missouri objected but Rsubse-
quently withdrew his objection and offered an
amendment providing that no leave of absence be
granted between the 18th of October and LIST of
April OF any year. The amendment was lost. The
bill was then passed
The conference report on the District of Colum-
ba appropriation bill was presented and agreed to-
CHE amount appropriated is 81 $3.50, 7439
The House then resumed consideration of the
bill repeating the presumption, timber culture and
desert land laws, and amending the homestead law,
which after various amendments was passed
Mr.. Herbert of Alabama foresaw very exciting
political campaign and feared if Congress did not at
this session pass some law to regulate the counting
of votes the country would find itself in dead
lock next year which could not be broken by
electoral commission. He was in favor of the
Senate bill and against the substitute reported by
the House committee.
Mr.. Eaton of Connecticut supported the bill re-
ported by the House committee though he express
ed belief that the Constitution vested in the
House alone the power to declare who was elected
President.
Mr.. Herbert of Alabama offered an amendment
to that section of the Senate bill which provides
that each state may determine all controversies
concerning the appointment of electors by providing
that such determination may be overruled by con-
current action of the House and Senate. Adopted.
The House bill was then adopted as substitute
for the Senate bill, ana the Senate bill as amended
blythe substitute was then passed.
The House then took recess until 8 O'Clock.
At the evening session the House passed several
bills, none however of general interest.