Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-12
IN THE SENATE.
Detailed Report of the Proceedings
Yesterday.

Detailed Report of the Proceedings
Yesterday.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-In the Senate
this morning Mr.. Van Wyck, from the
Committee on the Improvement of the
Mississippi River, submitted a joint reso-
luton apprOpriating 1,OO0,O 900 to continue
the improvements already begun by the
Mississippi River Improvement Commits
sion. After some debate it was amended
so as to give it the form of a bill, which
was read three times and passed.
The following bills We're introduced:
BY Mr.. Call-To establish a university
of medicine; also to provide for the es-
tabHshment Of system OF postal savings
banks in the United States.
BY Mr.. Edmunds-FOr the relief of the
survivors of the exploring steamer JEAN
cite and the widows and children of those
who perished in the retreat from the
wreck of that vessel in the Arctic Sea.
a resolution offered by Mr.. Call was
agreed to, instructing the Secretary of the
Interior to furnish to the Senate copies of
all letters, statements and other papers
in possession of the department relating
to the grant of land made bV the United
States to Florida railroads, or relating to
the reservation of any of said lands for
the benefit of the assignees of said roads.
Mr.. AnthOny's resolution of January
was then taken up, instructing the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations to inquire
into the eXpedIency of such legislation as
should enable the Executive to protect
Americen interests against those govern
ments which have prohibited or restrained
the Importation of healthful meats from
the United States.
Mr.. Van Wyek moved to amend by add
ing Except such governments whose
manufactured goods or products were
previously restrained or prohibited from
free access to our ports" Mr.. Van Wyck
was proceeding to explain the purport of
his amendment when the morning hour
expired and the matter went over.
Mr.. Collum then, according to the notice
/ heretofore given, addressed the Senate
with regard to his bill to reorganiZe the
legislative power of Utah. 1t provides
that the government Of Utah shall consist
of a Governor and council of nine men,
beTs, to be appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate, and they shall be
! citizens ana qualified voters of the terri
! tory.
Mr.. Brown followed in opposition to the
/ bill. He did not propose, he said, to dis
| cuss the social question nor church politv
/ involved in the Mormon problem. At
/ future time he might do that. He pro-
/ posed now to speak of the question from
! declared that all the recent legislation of
1 Congress in connection with Utah affairs
was unconstitutional aud indefensible.
/ When the matter had been already before
! the Senate he had denounced polygamv,
and he would like to see something done
/ TO suppress it, if it could be done without
a violation OF the Constitution Of the
/ United States, which every Senator here
/ had taken a solemn oath to support.
The eighth section of the Edmunds act
! was palpable violation Of that Constitu-
tiol, and was therefore null and void, and
the Utah Commission acting under it and
/ applying test Oaths 70 voters are acting
without the authority of the law. 1t pro-
yides that no polygamist, bigamist or
person cOhabiting with more than one
woman in marriage relation, and no wo-
man cOhabiting with the person described,
shall be entitled to vote at any election or
be eligible to appointment as an officer,
OF be entitled to hold any office or place Of
public trust, honor or emolument. In
arguing against the constitutionality of
the act we would treat as obnoxious to
the Constitution certain specific clauses,