Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-09
LEGISLATIVE SURPRISES.
GEN. GRANT DECLINES TO AC-
CEPT A PENSION.

zen. GRANT DECLINES To AC-
CEPT A PENSION.
Senator Mitchell Consequently with
draws His BiiI-Mr. MouItOn Wants
the New Orleans Exposition to Put Up
Collateral for Its LOan-Inter- State
Commerce Under Discussion.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-When the Chair
laid before the Senate the naval appro-
prlation bill recently passed by the House
Representatives, Mr.. Hale explained that
1t was mere renewal for the coming half
year Of lump appropriation made at the
last session, based on the appropriation
Of last year. He thought that the Senate
should take up and refer to a new con-
ference committee the regular appropria-
ton bill which was the subject of con-
ference at the close of the last session.
especially as that bill contained an i'm
pOrtant provision relating to the new
ships.
Mr.. Mitchell read a letter from Gen. Grant
relating to the bill recently introduced to give
him pension. Gen. Grant expressed the
hope that the bill would be withdrawn. as
under no circumstances could he accept a
pension. even If the bill passed both houses
and received the approval of the President
Mr. Mitchell stated that he had introduced
the bill because he was Chairman of the Com
mittee on Pensions and the President had
recommended pension for Gen. Grant. He
Dir. MitchelD had always felt that Gen
Grant ought to be placed Vi here he was when
70 accent the Presidency, he laid down the
great Othce he lad won in the war. In defer
enee to Gen. Grants wishes Mr.. Mitchell
Withdrew the pension bill.
THE UNEARNED LAND GRANTS.
\ message being received from the House Of
representatives. announcing the nOn- concur
renee Of that body in the Senate amendments
To the bill forfeiting the Unearned lands
granted to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad,
the Senate, on motion Of Mr.. Morgan, insisted
ON its amendments and ordered the disagree
ing votes Of the two houses. The Chair ap-
pointed as such committee Messrs. Morgan,
Blair and Plumb.
Among the bills introduced and appropri-
atey referred were the following:
By Mr.. Blalr-FOr an appropriation of $780,
goo to promote the COlOred Peoples Worlds
Exposition, to be held at Chicago in Septem-
Der, 1885.
Considerable debate arose on the hill for the
relief of Richard Hawley 4 Sons. of Detroit,
to refund $47,32O for duties alleged to have
been Illegally eXacted of them by the Treasury
Department on malt imported from Canada
IN 1870. Messrs. Palmer and COnger, and
Cameron, of Wisconsin, advocated the bill,
Messrs. Allison, Aldrich COckrell, Hoar.
sherman and Morrill, opposing l. The
principal points made by the opponents of
the measure were: First, that the require
ments of the law were not complied with
regarding written and timely protest at the
time OF paying the duties, and, secondly, that
the passage of this bill would lead to an
assault upon the Treasury by multitudes of
similar cases dating back to indefinite periods.
The bill was defeated by a vote of 10 yeas to
% nays.
Mr.. eOnger gave notice of a motion to re-
consider. The Senate then went into eXecu-
tive session, and ten minutes later the doors
were opened and the Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
A.
tee on Appropriations, reported the military
academy appropriation bill, and it was re-
lerred To the committee of the whole. Mr.
keifer gave notice that he would call itup for
consideration tomorrow.
The speaker lald before the House q letter
from the Postmaster General, asking for an
appropriation OF 100000 for the railroad
postal car service for the remainder of the
current fiscal year. 1t was referred.
Under the call of States the following bills
etc, were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Townsend, of Illinois-PrOposing
constitutional amendment providing that
treaties shall be made by and with the con-
sent of the House Of Representatives as well
as the Senate.
BY Mr.. Moulton, of IllinOs-To amend the
act making the loan to aid in the celebration
OF the Worlds Industrial and Cotton Centen-
NAL Exposition. 1t directs the Secretary Of
the Treasury to demand from the President
and Treasurer of the Worlds Industrial and
Cotton Centennial Exposition a bond with
good and solvent security of double the amount
lOf the return OF the loan maNC by the United
states, and in case such bond is not forthcOm-
ing before the opening of the Exposition he is
directed TO take possession of the entrances to
The Exposition Grounds and appoint bonded
atlicers of customs for the purpose of collect
ing the entrance money paid for admission to
1e apnlIed as sinking fund for the liquida-
tiOn of said loan.
By Mr.. .Buckner.O of Missouri-TO suspend the
coinage Of the standard silver dollar.
By Mr.. Coz, of New YOrk-A preamble and
joint resolution appropriating 100000 FOR the
completion OF the pedestal Of the BarthOldi
statue in New y ork harbOr.
CURRENCY CONTRACTION.
BY Warner, of Ohio-To prevent contrac-
ton of the currency. 1t provides that when
ever the volume of the national bank currency
falls below S303 3iS. .9Sl by the surrender and
cancellation of national bank notes the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury is authorized and di-
rected to issue United States notes in denOmi-
nations as near as may be of the bank notes
surrendered and cancelled, redeemabe in
coin in the same manner as United States
notes are now redeemable, in a sufficient
amount TO maintain the volume of paper cur
reucY, including national bank notes, green
backs and notes authorized by this act, TO a
total of S651. coo 600.
BY Mr.. O'Ferrall, of Nirginia-A resolution
calling for information from the Secretary of
the Treasury relative to the purchase of a site
for public building at HarrisOnburg, Va,
By Mr.. Libby, of Nirginia-FOr the relief of
sufferers from the loss of the TallapOOsa.
BY Mr.. Ellis, Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
S25. 600 for the erection of a monument to the
officers and men who perished in the Greedy
expedition.
John BrattOn, elected to succeed the late
Representative EyIns, of South Carolina, from
the Fourth Congressional district, appeared
and took the oath of office.
The House then resumed consideration of
the inte State commerce bill.
DRIFT OF THE DEBATE.
The debate was continued by Messrs Find
Law of Maryland. O'Neill of Pennsylvania,
Rock veil of Massachusetts, Warner of Ohio,
and Rice OF Massachusetts. Mr.. Warner
maintained that the time had come when the
general government should assume the regu-
alton of inter State traffic on railroads. I'm
reasonable preference to certain shippers and
uni Just discrimination against others was the
most crying evil perpetrated by the railroad
companies and steps should be taken to eradi-
ate that evil.
Mr.. Rice SAID that the question presented
by the bill under consideration was Of an i'm
pOrtance and delicacy which cOnld not be
Overrated. The railroad system was the
barometer by which the condition of all the
business of the country could be fOretOld.
The average freight rate on the Eastern roads
was now less than l cent per ton per mile, and
little more than 2 cents per passenger per
in the correctness of its judgment before il
interfercd radically with the details of
management which had afforded such results
- these. \ good deal was said about cen
trallzatiOn. He doubted whether there was
ever a bill before Congress making longer
stride towards Capitalization than did the
Reagan substitute. The passage of that sub
stirute by Congress would be an action as
despotic as any taken by the Gar of Russia
TO terrOriZe h people. Evils might exist IN
the matter of discrimination, but an unquall-
fled prohibition of that discrimination was
not wise. All the evils complained of would
be Obviated by the appointment of a commits
sion. as provided by the committee bill.
ppndiuur furtheT discussion the matter went