Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-11
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
ERICSSON'S SUBMARINE DEATH
DEALERS TO BE EXAMINED.

Purchase of His Patents Possible-Sena
tor Vest shows up the Dakota Scheme
Representative Scales to Resign-
The House Passes the Military Acad-
envy Bill-Inter-State Commerce Men
Ready for a Vote.
WAsHlNGTON. Dec. lO-In the Senate To-
day Mr.. sherman presided, having been des-
/ lgnated Tor that purpose by Vice President
Edmunds, under the rule. The Chair laid be-
lore the Senate an invitation to that BODY
from the Commissioner of the New Orleans
Exposition to participate in the opening of
| the exposition on Dec. l6. The commu-
nlcation was laid on the table, that being the.
usual formal disposition of such documents in
the Senate when no special or immediate dis
position is demanded bv any Senator.
Inc House JOINT resolution for continuing
the work OF the census bureau, was laid be-
| lore the senate, and, on motion of Mr.. Hale
was read three times and passed.
Mr; Vance submitted joint resolution,
| winch was referred to the Committee on Mill
/ tary Affairs, providing for the return to the
| State of North Carolina of copies of the ofi-
cIal letter books of its executive department.
ERICssON's INVENTIONS.
Mr.. Blair submitted a resolution which
went over till to- morrow instTucting the Com
I mlttee on Naval Affairs to Investigate Can't
/ John Erlcsson's new system of naval defense
| especially his submarine gun and torpedo and
no
| purchased for the exclusive use of anv foreign
| power. and whether the present provisions
/ Tor national defense requires the purchase of
/ such inventions by the United States Govern
ment. In presenting the resolution Mr. Blair
| referred to the helpless condition OF our sea
coast, and the necessity of Investigating
| inventions OF the character of these before
unuertaklng TO provide the enormous sum
| necessary to place the United States in a COM
| plete condition of naval efficiency and sea-
| coast defense.
| abo1f Of
commerce, requested that that committee be
| discharged from consideration of the inter-
| oceanic snip railway bill. Mr.. Vest stated
| Jhat ne nad received a letter from Cant Eads
| saying that certain changes had been made in
| the concession from Mexico which made it
| necessary to Withdraw the bill.
| Inc committee was accordingly discharged
| from consideration of the bill, which was
| ordered to be withdrawn from the Senate
| files.
MIR. VEST ON THE DAKOTA QUESTION.
At O'Clock the Dakota bill was taken I'm.
| Mr.. Vest addressed the Senate in opposition
| to the admission of Dakota. There was moth
| ing of partsanship, he sand. in his opposition
| lie uld not pretend to be free from partisan
ship. He was devoted to the principles of the
| Democratic party. But he was here to dis
1 cuss the question entirely on its merits. Very
| rev territories, however, had been admitted
| 70 the Union without a party struggle and
/ debate. The Territories themselves had
| always felt the influence of the party domi-
/ nant IN the nation. When the national ad-
| mnistration was Democratic the Territories
| were Democratic and when Republican the
| Territories were Republican. Addressing
| himself to the merits OF the question. Mr.
| Vest sand that the constitution had placed no
| to admit new States There was
| no need for the admission of a new
| state to strengthen the Union, and there was
/ not enough population in Dakota to entitIe It 10
| two Senators and one Representative in Con-
| gress. The demands said to have been made
| since 1870 for the admission of the Territory
Il hfln a. I'M rafHa of I.gss-
/ ticians. Men who were ready to cut each
| others thrOats, politically and physically had
| been urging these demands" Gen. Grant
| hau been credited, Mr.. Vest said, with the
| statement while President that Dakota gave
| him more trouble than all the other Terrific
ries put together, and that the trouble there
| was that there were two streets in Yankton,
| and when one street did anything or got anI =
| thing done, the other street rebeled and il
| would require almost all the civil and mill
| between the factions.
| MIR. Vest sent to the desk aud the Secretary
| read number of petitions opposing the ad-
mission OF the Territory, and ascribing the
| desire for admission to the ambition of politi-
| clans, who wished to go to the United States
| Congress. Mr.. Vest said that the project to
| divide the Territory was unnecessary.
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Vests remarks the
| senate went into executive session, and when
| the doors were reOpened adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House to-day
| communication from A. n. Scales,
| Representative from the Fifth district of
| North Carolina, announcing that he had for
warded to the Governor Of that State his
! resignation to take effect Dee. 80. The COM
| municatiOn was laid on the table.
| The House then at l2:l5 went into commit
/ tee of the whole. with MIR. Cox. of New York.
IN the chair, on the Military Academy apprO-
| prlatiOn bill. 1t apprOpriates S309, III, being
| reduction of S4.792 from the appropriation
| for the current year, and $S3,573 less than the
| estimates. Mr.. keifer offered an amendment
al hanrsa
| the grade of Second Lieutenant IN the army
| shall be confined TO graduates of the Military
| Academy and to meritOriOus non-cOmmission-
| ed officers recommended for promotion in the
| manner now provided by law.
| Mr.. Randall said that the amendment had
not been considered IN the Committee on APP
| preparations, and he would prefer that the
| committee should have time to inquire into
the prODriety of adopting such measures.
Mr.. keifer said that his proposition was to
secure positions in the army for West Point
| graduates.
Mr.. Rosecrans, of California, ceuld not see
| why the amendment should not be adopted.
| Its effect was to limit the appointing power
Of the President, but he thought this limita-
| lion proper one in time of peace. He sug-
| gested that the amendment be amended by in
| cluding enlisted men in its provisions, and by
| making the law lnapplicable in time of a for
| eigE war.
Mr. Keifer accepted the suggestion, and
| the amendment as modified was adopted.
KEIFER's AMENDMENT REJECTED.
| At l.l5 the committee rose ana reported the
| Bill TO the House. a yea and nay vote hav-
| ing been demanded on Mr.. keifer's amend
| ment, agreed to in the committee, it was de-
feated by IS yeas to I50 nays. The bill was
On motion of Mr.. Morrison. the committee
| Of the whole was discharged from further
| consideration of the Presidents annual mes
| sage. Mr.. Morrison then offered a resolution,
| which was adopted without debate or Oppo-
| sitiOn, distributing the message appropriately
| among the standing and select committees Of
..,e41,
| 20 the revenue provisions of treaties with
| Hawaii. Mexico and Spain Is referred to the
| Committee on Ways and Means. Mr.. MOrri-
| son offered a resolution providing for a hOi-
| day recess from Dec. % until Jan. 5, which
| was referred.
| Mr. Cox. Chairman of the Committee on
| Naval Affairs, reported back the resolution
| asking the President for information showing
| the authority of law by which certain
! CommOdOres of the navy have been given the
| rank of Acting Rear Admiral when, as is al
| legged, no vacancy existed to justify such ac-
| tiOn. The resolution was adopted.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The House then resumed consideration of
| the Interstate commerce bill.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Townshend,
| OF IL inOis, Mr.. Reagan expressed the hope
| that the vote on the bill would be reached to-
| morrow. Mr.. TOwnshend said that in that
case he would call up the Mexican pension
| bill, ,as the pending measure had been disposed
Mr.. Stewart, of Vermont. took the floor
| with speech in favor OF the appointment of
| a commission.
Pending further debate the matter weut
over without action.
The Speaker laid before the House a mes
| sage from President Arthur transmitting the
report of the Secretary of State, showing the
| necessity of Immediate legislation for the puT-
pose Of bringing the statutes of the United
states under conformity with the interna-
tiOnal regulations for preventing collisions at
sea, which have been adopted by all the lead
| ing maratime powers of the world except this
country. 1t was referred, and the House ad-
jOurned.
BANK LEGISLATION.
The 1-2 Per Cent. Debt Funding
Scheme to Stick in the Committee
| Room.