Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-25
PORTY-EIGHTR CONGRESS.
First PeSSiOn.


The Senate was presided over by Senator
Sherman
The chair laid before the Senate a COM
munication from the attorney general, asking
for an appropriation of $4,000 to be applied
to the defence of the United States IN the
cases referred to by Congress and the execu-
tive departments TO the court of claims
These cases, the attorney general states,
cover claims amounting TO Sl6,500, 900, al
though the act under which the cases have
been referred was passed only last year.
Mr. Vance presented the views of the min
ority of the committee on foreign relations,
relative to the action and report on the SUBJ
ject of the exclusion of American meats from
foreign countries.
The report says: In fact, Germany's ac-
ton is retaliation. and the cry of "stop
thief cannot change the true condition of
affairs. We have got to learn that we are
not so great and independent as to enable us
to defy the laws of political economy and the
annuities of international trade with impun-
ity. We have been told that our policy was
to shut up manufacturers from the competi
tion of the world, and all nations thus ex.
cluded would be compelled nevertheless to
buy our breadstuffs and provisions, as they
could not do without them. We are greatly
surprised and indignant when one important
customer saws it can get along without our
hog products, and forbids them coming in
and we propose to retaliate-for what? for
simply and frankly forbidding them to be
imported Suppose that instead of doing
this, Germany imposed duty of 100 per
cent which as effectually prohibits their i'm
portation. what then? Where would be our
So called retaliation? The undersigned can
see no difference in the two methods as far as
the results are concerned, only that one is
manly and direct, whilst the other is indirect
and based on false pretenses. One great
industry must be cared tor. Ii, with kindred
agricultural industries furnishes nearly all
our foreign trade, and they deserve all that
Congress can do for them. Blu. this bill does
not propose the true way to do it. The wav
is to remove as far as possible all RESTRICT, ms
on trade, and to enlarge the market for our
farmers products all over the world by lib
eral treaties and tariff laws
The last section of the bill is especially
Objectionable, not only in the proposed retail
ation, but in relation of the whole matter to
the executive. We propose thereby to arm
the chief magistrate of the constitutional re
public with the same power over commerce
as that now exercised by the prime minister
of feudal European despotism, in order that
on equal terms they may inhict mutual injury
on their people till one or the other gives in.
L
the representatives of the people present are
ready to say if they wish to begin a war, on
what articles of commerce they prefer the
fight to be made
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution which
lies ov er until tomorrow, calling on the at
tOrney general for information in regard to
the star route cases. which was asked for by
the House Jan. "a. and which the attorney
general has up to date failed to furnish.
Mr. Riddleberger offered resolution which
was agreed to. to instruct the committee on
commerce to investigate the merits of gas as
an illuminating medium for beacons, buoys,
etc
Mr. Harmon moved to make special order
for Thursday next, the bill organizing into a
State and admitting into the Union as such,
the Territory of Dakota but after discussion
this failed to pass.
The Senate then took up the bill to increase
the salaries of U. S. district judges to S5OO0
Mr. Van Wyck's motion to make the fig
ure $1,000 was voted down.
Mr. Coke offered an amendment making it
unlawful for any relative of the circuit or
district judges of the United States to hold
office in the courts with which such judges
are connected, and making it misdemeanor
for the judge to knowingly appoint any of
his relatives to office in his court.
In support, of his amendment Mr.. Coke
spoke strongly in depreciation of the abuse
which had grown up in the federal courts by
reason of the appointment by judges of rela-
tivss of their own in the courts over which
they preside. When the clerk Of courts.
deputies and subordinates were all relatives
of the Judge, it was difficult if not impossi-
BILE for litigants to avoid being feeced. Bills
of costs were made up to enormous sums.
The evil he said had grown to fragrant pro
portions in two districts of Texas, the north
ern district being the one excepted.
Mr. Maxey agreed with Mr.. Coke.
Mr.. Hoar moved to substitute for Mr..
Cokes amendment, so as to exclude from
the appointment of relatives within the de-
gree of first cousiE.
The debate on the bill continued until two
O'Clock " hen the matter went over and the
chair laid before the Senate a bill TO aid in
establishing and temporary support of COM
mon schools.
Nr Garland addressed the Senate in favor
of the bill. He said that certainly the people
of Arkansas had done all in their power to
educate the colored race. but from circum-
stance. utterly beyond their control they
could not meet the evel of illiteracy.
Mr.. Frye inquired whether there was on
the part of the educators of Arkansas any
prejudice against the education of the colored
race.
Mr.. Garland replied that he knew there
was none.
Mr. Coke made a constitutional argument
against the bill.
Mr.. Vance supported the bill. The nation
al government had TO feed the colored people
and the Southern States we're unable to edu-
cate them but he (vance) did not expect the
bill to pass. He had long believed, and he
now saw the confirmation of that belief. that
the senators on the other side of the chamber
were louder in professions than in acts in be-
half of the colored people.
The debate was continued at great length
BY Messrs Ingalls,, Vance. Vest and Riddle
berger.
Mr.. Butler said it was clear that the SEN
ate was not prepared to vote on the bill to-
day, aud therefore moved that the Senate 60
into executive sessiun.
The Senate at P. NJ. went into executive
session. and when the doors reopened, ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr. Ellis asked unanimous consent to
introduce . joint resolution appropriating
$50. 900 to be Immediately available, to be
expended in the discretion of the secretary of
war in preventing the overflow of the city of
New Orleans and the country adjacent there