The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-26
xLVIIIth CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, February %, 1884
SENATE

SENATE.
Mr.. Ransom offered q JOINT resolution to
appropriate 100000 for the relief OF the
sufferers by the recent great wind-storm
in the southern States. He said over five
hundred people were killed and many
thousands wounded, and the suffering re-
| sulting from the storm was awful.
Mr.. Brown supported the resolution in
fitting words. He thought it case clearly
calling for the interposition Of Congress.
Mr.. Pugh also supported it. He thought
! that whatever claim was good for the re-
lief Of the sufferers by the western floods
was good for the sufferer by this wind
| storm.
Mr.. Harris said while he would be per-
sOnally ready to aid TO the utmost extent
of bis power in contributing to the relief Of
the distress caused by the hurricane. he
would not vote dollar out OF the Treasury
for any such purpose, rs he believed he
had no constitutional power TO do so. Il
part Of Tennessee had suffered by reason
Of the storm, but he had no intimation Of a
call for the aid OF the National Govern
ment.
Mr.. Morgan said he had. not been IN
| formed of any request OF the people of
Alabama for Government aid in this mat
ter, and he would reserve his Judgment
upon il until he should hear of some such
request. He thought the new line OF poll
CIV a dangerous one, and sympathiZed with
| the opinions OF the Senator from Tennes-
see (Mr. Harris) with regard to it. We
should probably hear later of the loss Of
ships at sea by the same storm, and might
| be asked to extend our benevolence 80 as
to take such losses also into account. Mr..
Morgan was not now prepared TO say vine
Their the matter under consideration came
properly within the constitutional limit.
Mr.. Brown inquired If there was any
distinction between this case and the case
of the sufferers by the western floods.
Mr.. Morgan said he did not wish now to
discuss the matter. TWAS enough for him
for the present to say that he had not seen
any wish OF the people of Alabama eX-
pressed through their press or otherwise
| for the 1estowal Of public charity on them.
Mr.. Garland thought there was no doubt
| Of the constitutionality OF the measure.
He would take an opportunity when the
resolution should be reported back from
the committee to give his reasons for sup.
porting it on constitutional grounds.
Mr.. voorhees, thought an immediate sup
Div OF food, clothing, and shelter, in the
case of a great public calamity such as the
recent floods in the West. seemed indis-
pensable i'm the cause OF humanity. The
question of how far such policy could
safely 60 was, he said, undoubtedly an i'm
portant one; but if the unfortunates were
TO be left to private charity merely, they
should be made acquainted with that tact.
He thought they should not be left entirely
to private charity.
Mr. Ransom had not, he said. received
any intimatiOn from his State that he
should ask for helping hand OF the Gov
eminent. lie was not glad to say he did
not wait for any such intimation. The
case was so urgent and so plain that he had
no doubt OF his duty in the matter.
The resolution was referred TO the Com
mittee on Appropriations.
The Senate then resumed the consldera-
ton OF the currency bill, and Mr.. George
addressed the Senate in opposition to the
bill as reported from the Committee on
Finance.
AT 3:45 L. NJ. a vote was reached, and the
senate-yeas, 43; nays, 12-passed the cur
rency hin as reported from the Committee
on Finance. with the addition OF Mr.. Nor
ribs amendment extending the provisions
OF the act to banks which had been organ
ICED for the purpose OF issuing notes pay
atle in gold.
The bill TO provide for the construction
OF new steel cruisers was taken up In or
der that it may come up as unfinished bust
ness tomorrow.
Executive session.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. Ellis, OF Louisiana, rising to ques'
ton OF privilege, sent TO the Clerks desk
and had read from the New York Sun oil
Saturday extracts from document said 10
De I'm possession OF the Post-0fiice Depart.
ment, stating that George II. Brott gave o
fee OF several hundred dollars TO e. John
Ellis for services In securing star-rotits
contract ON the Donaldsvllie route.
Dir. Ellis entered solemn and unequlyo'