Morning journal and courier., 1884-12-19
18th COngress---Second Session
WASHINGTON. Dee IS.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.
 SENATE.-Mr. Hoar presented to the Sen ate petition from ex-Senator Spencer, of Alabama, asking to be reimbursed his expen- ses in defending his seat in 1870; referred.
 MT. West introduced a resolution calling upon the Secretary of the Navy to stop the survey of the Nicaragua canal as illegal until authorized by Congress; went over on an ob- iection.
 Mr Van Wyek introduced resolution to increase pensions for survivors and relatives of the "three months men; referred.
 A bill appropricting $50, 900 for the erec- ton of a statue in Washington to the memory of General Lafayette and his compatriots was passed.
 At o'clock the Senate, on motion of MT. Merrill, went into executive session on the nomination of the Hon Hugh McCulloch to be Secretary of the Treasury. He was con- frmed by vote of 50 to 1, the negative vote being cast by MT. Riddleberger of Virginia.
 The Senate in executive session, besides confirming large number of nominations, indulged in a spirited debate respecting the publication in the public press of the Span ish and Nicaraguan treaties which are now pending. The point was made that the mat ter demanded an investigation and was fol lowed by a motion to that effect which proposed that special committee be appointed for the purpose. Some senators were of the opinion that the matter SnOOlQ De r6IoTTcO CO Gne Committee on Privileges and Elections, while others took the ground that as the Commit tee on Foreign Relations was the real custo- dian of the treaties until formally laid be- fore the Senate nat committee should conduct the investigation. Neither com mittee was disposed to assume the responsibility, and members of each commit tee favored the appointment of a special committee Finally during the debate Q prominent Democratic senator declared that in his opinion the Nicaragua treaty came out through the Department of State and not through the Senate. This gentle man reflected upon the present administration in manner which brought a sharp retort from the other side. A partisan debate was about to begin when motion to print the treaty in the Congressional Record was put and close ly followed by another that the whole matter be laid upon the table. The latter motion prevailed and the secret executive session terminated.
 The doors were then reopened after an hour and fifty minutes and the considera- tion of legislative business was resumed. Mr. Cullom called up his bill to regulate interstate commerce. The bill proposed differed from the Reagan bill under discus sion in. the House by providing for five com missioners instead of three with term of five years instead of six. The provision prohibiting railroad companies from all lowing rebates to any person or company was absent from the Senate bill and in many other respects it's provision differs widely. An amendment offered by MT. Slater sub- stantially embodied the Reagan bill. MT. Cullom read prepared speech three quarters of an hour long in favor of the bill, after which MT. Wilson, of Iowa, offered amend ments to the bill authorizing the commission to visit the various States and take testimony to be presented to Congress at it's meeting in December next together with a bill to be framed by the commissioners to prevent the watering of railroad stocks, etc.
 At o'clock the Senate adjourned.