The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-08
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

WARRINGTON mar. &,
The committee of the Senate on military ar
fairs was discharged from consideration of the
bill to regulate the retiring army officers in-
troduced and by mistake accredited to Mr..
Williams.
Mr.. Penileton presented as q memorial, a
joint resolution of the general assembly of
Ohio, urging the passage by CONGRESS in the
interest of American labor of some such bill as
that introduced by Congressman Eaton to pro-
hibit the importation of foreigners under an
agreement to perform labor in the United
States
The Senate agreed that when it adjourn
it be until Monday.
The Senate took up and after short debate
passed bill appropriatlng 5000 600 for con-
struction of fire proof building of brick and
metal 10 Washington to be used as hall of
records
The bill to establish bureau of lobor statis-
tics being reached and being subject to the
operation of the rule limiting remarks to five
minutes, Mr.. Morrill, suggested the propriety
OF postponing its consideration and changing
Its place on the calendar 80 as to allow greater
facilities of debate, the subj ct being one that
could hardly be dealt with justly under the
limitation of debate.
Mr.. Blair hoped that no delay would occur
in consideration of the bill.
Mr.. Hoar said the su ject was one of great
Importance. While discaiming any purpose
of making any bid for votes, MIR. Hoar would
say that ii the existing rate of wages paid
WOrhiDgIDtu III tnlS country could mol Dc
maintained and increased, he for his part les
paired of maintenance of y republic for many
generations l. seemed to him impossible to
have republic founded on universal suffrage
unless the great mass OF the community could
receive as the reward of their labor a sum suf-
hcent to afford them comfort and enable them
to educate their children and develop in them
a patriotic interest IN the republic.
Mr.. Morrill, remarked that if the other sena-
tors were ready to discuss the question he
would not object.
Mr Hawley suggested that the work of coll
lecting and collating statistics of labor, agri-
culture. commerce. manufactures, ETC., should
be placed under the direction OF one very capa-
bic man who should have bright and capable
chiefs of divisions.
After further remarks BY Messrs Call AL.
drich, Blair and Garland the bill went over.
The naval appropriation bill which had
been received from the House, was referred to
the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. DolDh called up in order to make so me
remarks, the bill to provide for improvement
OF Columbia river and on conclusion of his re-
mark the bill was referred to the Committee
on Commerce.
The Senate then took up and passed the bill
nroviding that a majority of the Judges of the
United States Supreme Court shall hereafter
constitute a quorum. (The law heretofore
making six OF the nine judges quorum.) The
bill provides, also. that no jury of the Supreme
Court, whe snall have heard case at circuit
comes up on appeal
The Senate then entered upon the consider
alton OF the bill for relief of the heirs of Mau-
Grivot. (The bill provides for repayment to
the heirs of Grvot OF q sum of about 500
constituting bank deposit, seized BY order of
General Banks in New Orleans in taking pos
session of that city
Mr.. Conger strenuousy opposed the bill up
on the ground that it was the entering wedge
for large number of claims of 81 milar char
acter. The bill passed, 40 to 8.
Mr. Plumb reported favorably the House
bill, declaring forfeited the lands granted to
the Texas Pacific railway company.
Adjourned to Monday next.
HOUSE.
In the House to-day under demand for the
regular order the Speaker proceeded to the
call of committees for reports of private
character and number of bills were placed
upon the appropriate calendars.
Among the bills reported was one granting
pension to the widow of Gen. Fraecis P.
Blair.
The bill authorizing retirement of Alfred
Pleassnton with the rank of colonel, was re-
committed to the committee on military affairs.
Mr.. Browne of Indiana Immediately intro
duced bill granting Alfred Pleasanton pen-
sion of hundred dollars a mouth. Referred
to the committee on invalid pensions.
The House at 120 went into committee of
the whole.
The committee remained in session until
O'Clock when several private bill were reported
back to the House and passed, including that
increasing the pension OF Ward B. Burnett to
500 month.
The House then took recess until 80 n. m.
At the evening session the House passed 10
pension billie, among them bills granting "A
pension to the widow of Gen. Judson XII
patrick and increasing the pension of the
widow of Surgeon General Barnes to $50
month.
Adjourned.