The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-26
CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

VAoh1N01ON3 dpAh
The chair laid before the Senate to-day message
from the House rejecting the Senate amendments
TO the naval appropriation bill with the exception
Of the amendment providing for the armament of
snch cruisers as are already in the course of con-
struetion.
Mr.. Hale, in moving that the Senate insist upon
its amendments and appoint committee of con-
ference, said that the House had rejected the
amendments providing for the additional cruisers,
for completion of lron-cad monitors and for fitting
up the navy yards, in order that they may be
enabled to compete with naval builders, reviving
the gun foundry board and providing for additional
guns and armament for the navy generally. Mr..
Hale's motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on the library,
reported favorably and the Senate read three times
and passed joint resolution authorizing the Chan
cellor of the Smithsonian Institution to appoint
acting secretary for the institution, to act in the
absence of Professor Baird.
MIR. Sherman reported faVOrably from the same
committee resolution providing for the deposit in
Ihe Smithsonian Institution of silk flag presented
to the Senate by Mr.. Joseph Newman of California.
lt was the first American flag made of American
silk. The resolution was agreed to.
Proceeding to the calendar the Senate took up the
bill reported by Mr.. Plumb from the committee on
agriculture and forestry to enlarge the powers and
duties of the Department of Agriculture. The bill
enaIges that department to an executive depart
ment OF the government under the supervision of
the Secretary of Agriculture who is to receive the
same salary as the secretaries of other executive
departments
Mr.. Kenna offered substitute, but as Mr. Bayard
thought the subject too important be disposed of
OF properly debated without careful examination of
the measures presented 1t went over for the
Mr.; Blair reported fayorably the House bill to
establish and maintain bureau of labor statistics
also the Dill introduced by himself to provide for
study of the effects of Intoxicating narcotic and
poisonous substances life health and welfare
among the people OF the Territories and District of
Mr.. wilson then addressed the Senate on his joint
resolution recently submitted ami several bills
already introduced relating to interstate commerce.
Mr. Wilson reviewed the history of railroad
growth in the United States and said that for many
of the complications resulting from that growth the
national and State governments were largely
sponsible. They little thought how free servant
may intime become master, and so they refrained
from hampering and restraining railroads. The
demand of the people in all parts of the country
was that railroad should be put under control,
and that experience had shown it to BIO necessary.
Railroads had even denied the right of Congress
to regulate them The fact that the railroad inter-
est had become so strong as to make this denial
squarely was the strongest symptom that could be
presented of the necessity for regulation. Mr. Will
son characterized monstrous and intolerable the
discrimination made by railroad companies, not
only against places, but against different people
doing business in the same place. The joint resolu-
ton, on motion of Mr.. Wilson, referred to the
committee on railroads.
The pleuro-pneumonia bill was then taken up,
and was argued against by Mr. Jones of Florida,
who saw in it several constitutional objections.
Mr.. Williams supported the BILL
A message was received from the House announc-
ing non-concurrence in the Senate amendments to
the post-office appropriation BILL
On motion of Mr.. Plumb, the Senate insisted on
its amendment and the chair appointed confer
ence committee.
Another message was also received announcing
that the House had agreed to the report of the
ference committee on the differences in relation to
the special deficiency appropriation bill, which on
motion of Mr.. Allison the Senate also agreed to.
The chair announced the committee of confer
ence on the naval appropriation bill, and the Senate
adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
Tha House today at 1905 went into committee
of the whole on the private calendar.
Up to $40 the time of the committee was con-
sumed in the consideration of the bill for the relief
of Myra Clark Gaines At that hour the committee
arose to enable Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania to
submit the conference report on the deficiency
BILL This report was agreed to and the committee
of the whole resumed its session. After further
discussion the Gaines bill was laid aside with
favorable recommendation. ct authorized the is
sue of patents for so much of the 3S, 457 acres
claimed by Mrs. Gaines as have not been disposed
be paid at the rate of slips per acre for such as
have been disposed Of After acting favorably OH
several other bills the committee rose.
The unfinished business the bill relieving GER
tain soldiers of the late from the charge Of de-
sertion
Mr. Steele of Indiana moved to refer the bill to
the committee on military affairs. Pending a vote
the House took recess until z. 80 O'Clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The House, at its evening session, pa ssed fifteen
pension bills and then adjourned until tomorrow.