The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-12
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.


|
transmitting, in COM pliance with recer
resolution of the Senate, statement showia
| the number of soldiers of the late war " b
| served ore year, how many two years an
how many three years, and the amount {
money required to equalize the bountIes
those who served In the said war.
MIR. PeDdleton presented the credentials {
Henry B. Paine.
Petitions were presented and appropriated
referred from the late commissioned voiuntee
oincers OF the UAion army, complaining OF dii
crlmination against them for difference bs
tween the amount of their pensions and TN
pay OF officers on the retired list.
Me. Milisr Ut i foraiA, from the comm
tee on naval aft airs, reported favoraOiy Lh'
Dill for the relief of the survivors OF the Jean
| nette
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on Judiciary
reported favoraby the bill to fix the salaries o.
judges of the District Courts of the United
States.
Mr.. Frye offered resolution, which wa
agreed to, calling ON the Secretary OF Stat'
Tor such Information as is in his possession re-
lating TO the French spoliaton claims.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution, which
was agreed to, directing the committee on
post offices to ascertain where any OF the own
ers or officers OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Telegraph Company made or received any pro-
posals or entered into any agreement to consoli-
date with the Western Union
The chair laid before the Senate resolution
offered some days ago by Mr.. Riddlsberger.
providing for committee of inquiry TO exzm
inc into the question OF discharge and appoint
ment to subordinate officers in both Houses of
Congress.
Mr. Sherman sent to the desk teleeraphic
dispatch from Richard Smith of Cincinnati,
saying that Congress should make au immedi-
ate appropriation OF $500 900 10 relieve suffer-
ers by foods ia the towns between Pitsshurg
and Cairo, and adding that Cincinnati Deeds
uf nj oil holF
less 1t was referred 10 the committee on APP
preparations.
The debate on Mr. Riddlebergers resolution
WAS then resumed. Mr.. Vest maintained that
while he was in favor of civil service he was
obliged to say that in the hands OF the Repub-
lican party the civil service act was delu-
sion and snare.
Mr. Ingalls, expressed the belief that without
any further examination than there hS d been
this discussion in the Senate was impractible.
de therefore moved ITS reference to the COM
mitee on the several branches of the civil
service.
To show the attitude OF the Democratic par
~ toward civil service reform, MIR. Conger
read q resolution offered in the Senate in 1879
by Mr. Wallace, then an Utited States Seua-
tor. requiring that the several officers in the
departments of secretary of the Senate and
serReant-at-arms should be appointed aud re-
moved by those respectively, the object of the
resolution being, Mr.. Conger said, to take
away the power OF removal from the then Dre-
siding officer, who was Republican, in order
to give II TO the officers named who were Demo-
2rats De also read an amendment offered by the
Senator from Vermont (Mr. Edmunds) TO that
resolution. opposing the removal of proper and
emcient officers. The amendment, Mr. Con-
ger stated. Was voted down aud the original
resolution agreed to without dissenting vote
from the Democrats, and in accordauce with
mat resolution the secretary of Lhe Senate re-
moved twenty Republican clerks and lett only
four Republican clerks remaining
Two O'Clock having arrived the matter went
over and the senate took nptbe bill IT ported by
Mr.. Palt, from he committee oD patents,
amending section 1887 of the revised statutes
securing to American inventors full Term
,f seventeen years in cases where foreign pa
tents expire before that term.
A message being received from the House of
representatives announcing continued disa-
sreement OF that body to the Senats amend
nent OF the Greey relief bill, Mr.. Hale moved
hat the Senate rece ie from the amendment.
After debate it was voted, 20 to %, to recede
rom the amendment.
The Senate then went into executive session.
md on the doors being reopened a message was
eceived from the House of Representatives
the passage OF the joint resolution
skiing the Secretary of War to issue rations
or the relief of destitute persons in the Ohio
iooded district aud tributaries and
making an appropriation OF 100000 to the
eliet of the sufferers by such overflow.
The joint resolution was read three times and
'assed.
Adjourned.
Under the call of States bills. etc., we're in
and referred as fol ows:
BY Mr.. Oates of Alabama, to limit the num-
OF OF cadets to the naval academy; also restor-
ng to the pension rolls the names of those |
ropped therefrom on account of disloyaty.
BY Mr.. Townshend of Illinois iproposip>--ss (
bolition OF tho electoral college.
By Mr.. Lowering of Mass achusetts, for the |
reciion of post Office bnitiiug in Lynn, |
4 ass, to cogt not more Than 100000.
By Mr.. Young of Tennessee, resolutions di- |
eciing the Secretary of State to make inquiry |
n regard to the murder OF ID Il. Cooper, |
Michael O'Bren and Gerrge 81. Steiff in Mex. |
co, and TO ascertain whether or not it is proper
O ask any redress therefor at the hands of the |
Mexican government.
By Mr.. Poland of Vermont, relating to |
of voters in Utah and Idaho. Ut |
provides that before regis ration voter shall
,e required to take an oath that he does not be-
ong to the church of Latter Day Saints, or
my other sect or organization that upholdS
,olygamy, bigamy or unlawful cohabitation)
BY Mr.. Springer of Illinois, a re- .oution cal
ing on the President for all correspondence be-
ween this government and Mexico relative TO
he recent military expedition under command
If Gen. Crook when the United States troops
crossed the frontier.
Mr.. White OF Kentucky, rising to a question
,f privilege, offered a resolution directing the
committee on the civil ssrvice to inquire into
The removal of w. Fl. Smith from the office of
of the House
The Speaker ruled that the resolution did
not present question of privilege.
MIR. Keifer of Ouio reported the military
academy Till. Referred.
Mr.. Follett OF OaiO reported joint resolu-
tion appropriating $4,000 for the relief of suf-
ierers from the overflow of the Ohio river and
its tribul aries.
This gave rise to little colloquy between
Messrs. Folett and Hiscock of New York, in
the course of which M, Follet, said the q uited
States was now asked to furnish temporary re-
lei to an unprecedeI ted extent since the begin-
ming of the government. IL vas no. out stion
of what letter, of what constitution, or of wnat
law it might be. 1t was a cry OF distress, aud
it was the duty Of Congress TO furnish the re-
lief asked for.
MIR. Hiscock said he would not have the
hardihood to vote against the measure, but he
had expected that the gentlemen fIom New
York aud Connecticut (Messrs. Cox aud E iton)
would call attention 10 the fact that there
might be in tnis resolution a violent attack on
the constitution. No great State like Onio, an
empire, ught to come in here When her legie-
lature was III session and ask TO have her cii-
zens SUPPORTED by the Federal treasure.
Mr.. Belford of California was glad that an
opportunity had Deem IOnnQ 10 open the Va0iiB
OF the treasury. Talk about constitution; talk
about laws; humanity was greater than any
conctiluti, n ever formulated by any people. II
was humanity for which the constitution was
m made aud laws enacted. Suppose the gentle-
man from Come cticut (Mr. Eatob) had lived
iu the days of Noah, and had found himself
perched on Mount Arardt looking down on the
submerged plain; aud hsa been appealed to for
help by people lying from Nlnevah or drown
ing in the waters, he wonld have referred that
crowd to the city council of Nnsvah, aud told
1t to make an appropriation to stop tue rainP
(Laughter) That would have been state
rights doctrine; it was state rights doctrine
now.
Mr.. Cox of New York questioned the consti-
nationality of the measure. 1t should have
been passed in silence; and il there WAS any
breach OF the constitution God Almighty III
His kindness would pardon it. There were
some disasters that no foresight could antci'
pate or cure and cue of these was the calamity
now in this country aud If he could not give
his hand or his head be could give his heart IL
this vote. (Applause)
Er. Eaton of Connecticut in reply to the re
marks Of Mr.. Hiscock, said that wherever
measu res were brought forward 10 strike at th'
| constitution he would appeal them withou
| asking his friend to do SO for him. he hat
| grave doubts about the power of Congress t.
pay out the moneys of the people even in