Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-20
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE SENATE PUTS ITS FOOT
DOWN ON TEA DUST.

| AhA@ SENAAE FIIo lis FOOT
DOWN ON TEA DUST.
Mexican Pensions Consume the Balance
OF the Day in the Upper House-The
Bill Against Imported Contract Labor
Passed by the House After Debate.
WASHINGTON, June 19.-Mr. Cameron,
Of Wisconsin, presided over the Senate
to-day, having been designated for that
purpose by the President Of the Senate.
Mr.. Mcpherson, from the Committee on
| Naval Affairs, reported fayorably the bill to
| equalize the rank of graduates Of the Naval
| Academy upon their assignment to various
| corps. The bill, on motion Of Mr.. Mcpherson,
was at once read the third time and passed.
1t provides that graduates Of the Naval
Academy assigned to the line of the navy on
/ successful completion Of Fix years course
| shall be commissioned ensigns of the navy
and the grade OF junior ensign is abolished
/ persons now being junior ensigns TO be COM
missiOned ensigns
! Mr.. Butler called up his resolution provid-
1 ing for an inquiry into the condition of the
/ New York national banks. After further de-
| bate, participated IN by Messrs. Sherman,
| Aldrich, Allison, Morgan and Morrill,. Mr.
| Buffers resolution went over.
The bill to prevent the importation of tea
/ dust into the United States was read the third
/ time and passed.
THE MEXICAN PENSION BILL.
The Mexican pension bill was then taken up
and its consideration resumed.
Mr.. ingalls, submitted modification of his
arrears Of pensions provision. This modifca-
ton requires that in the computation of ar
rears, though not in the computation of a PEN
sion proper, of an officer he shall take the
same rate as private soldier. 1t limits the
arrears to cases of persons who file their
| applications prior to Oct l. 1884. As to appl-
| cations filed after that time the pension shall
be computed only from the date of filing.
After some preliminary discussion as to the
probable addition to the annual cost of pen
siOns by the adoption of the amendments DrO-
posed to the bill, Mr.. Beck said the Com
missioner of Pensions had estimated the
amount at about S246, COO, ,O00
Mr.. Mitchell said that it was impossible to
make any intelligent estimate.
Mr.. Beck said that 1t seemed to be tacking
on about S246 100000 to a bill that originally
called for only $50, ,0OO. .OOO He presumed that
the intention in making this addition was to kill
the bill. The Republicans had caucus over
it, and this was the result. Where was the
money to come from?
Mr.. Morgan inquired whether it was ex-
pected to pay these pensions by interfer-
ence with the interest on the public debt, or
by increased tariff taxation.
A REPUBLICAN MEASURE.
This, he continued, was distinctly a Repub-
lican measure, having had Endorsement in
advance by the Republican Convention. He
was sorry, however, to see the Republicans of
the Senate so half-hearted about it. II they
intended to obey the mandate of the cOnven-
tiOn, why not come out boldly, assume the
responsibility of it. toss up their hats and glo-
ry in the whole thing.
Mr.. ingalls, said that Mr.. Morgan's was the
kind OF speech that he always expected TO
hear from Southern Democrats upon the
question OF pensiOning Union soldiers. They
were willing to pension those OF the Mexican
soldiers who went into the Confederate
army, and did their best to shoot soldiers OF
the Union and Overturn our government, but
on the proposition to extend the same broad
general measure OF relief to soldiers OF the
late war we were always met by vague de-
nunciations Of extravaganza, of outrageous
assaults intended to lie more on the Republi-
can party in its profession of devotion to
Union soldiers. No one was mised by such
arguments. We could vote away hundreds
of dollars to educate the illiterate
and ignorant people of the South.
RAPPING THE soUTHERNERs.
Place that much money IN the hands of
Southern people and there was no talk of a
/ raid on the Treasury, but the moment prop
Osition was made to do justice to Union SOL
diers every man seemed to be seized
with a sort OF internal disturbance, and
proceeds to purchase a slate pencil and copy
OF the multiplication table, and sits down to
| figure out how much it is going to cost.
Mr.. ingalls, admitted that the limitation of
| time contained In his amendment was unjust,
ana he was ashamed of it. He had placed it
there out Of Difference to the opinions of others.
| There were Senators who would vote for the
measure with the limitation who would not
| otherwise, and Mr.. Ingalls, believed that when
| he could not get for soldier whole loaf, it
was his duty to take what he could get. The
| estimates that assumed the expenditure or
$780, 900 600, involved in the BILL Mr.. Ingalls, did
not believe to be reliable; and il they were,
| the amount would not be paid all in one year.
| bnt would be distributed through several
Pending debate at O'Clock the senate
| went into executive seesion, and when the
doors were reopened adjoureed.
IN THE HOUSE.
The House met at 10 O'Clock this morning in
continuation of Wednesdays session and re-
| sumed consideration of the Pacific Railroad
| bill. The first question was on the amend
| ment offered by Mr. Thompson, of Kentucky,
| to make the aggregate yearly contribution of
| the Central Pacific Company So instead of 35
/ per cent of The net earnings, and that Of the
| Kansas Pacific Company IS per cent. The
| amendment was agreed to. A question was
| then taken on the minority bill. and it was
/ rejected.
! Mr.. Hewitt, OF New York, moved to recon-
/ NIT the bill, with instructions to report by
| the third Monday in December a bill by
| which the sinking funds of the companies
| shall be enlarged by additional payments
| that the debt due to the government may be
| surely paid at maturity. a motion to recon-
| NIT was rejected by vote of IS to 81. The
| bill was then passed without division. To-
/ days session was then begun.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the
| Committee on Labor, called mp the bill topro-
| hibit the importation and migration of
| foreigners and aliens under contract to per-
| form labor. 1t makes it unlawful to enter
into an agreement or contract with anv for
| eigner or alien to perform labor or service of
any kind in the United States, or to prepay
| transport alton or in any way assist or en-
| courage the Importation or migration of any
| alien or foreigner under contract or agree
ment, parole or special. express or implied.
1t declares all such contracts void
and of no effect. 1t makes
it a crime, punishable with a fine and
| imprisonment, for any master of a ship to
| land such aliens or foreigners, so under con-
| tract, in any United States port. The act is
| not to apply to contracts for skilled workmen
| in any new industry not at present established
here, provided that skilled labor for that pur-
| pose cannot be otherwise obtained, nor to
professional actors, lecturers or singers.
DANGERS OF THE SYSTEM.
Mr.. Foran, of Ohio, member of the COM
| mittee, made a speech in favor of the BILL
| which he said was of the same general char
acter as the Coolie bill. He entered into a
! close review of the labor question, quoting
| from the testimony taken by the committee
| to show the depressed condition of American
| working men in those districts of the country
| where they are brought into competition with
| Italians and Hungarians imported under con-
tract. If contract pauper labor were not pro-
| hbited, either American citizens would be
displaced or compelled 10 accept lower wages.
| Cheap labor was a curse upon society, making
cheap men and ignorant, dangerous and
| vicious citizens.
MIR. Maybury, of Michigan, after brief ar
| gument as to the constitutionality Of the
measure, denounced the system Of contract
labor, declaring that 1t was brought into ex-
| stence not By the scarcity or exOrbitance of
| labor, but by the selfish, grasping spirit OF
| some employers, who would rather thrive on
| the flesh and blood of ignorant and degraded
| employees than be served by intelligent free
| men.
KELLEY'S VOTE UNCERTAIN.
| Mr.. Kelley. of Pennsylvania, said that he
| advocated the spirit of the bill, while he
| feared that he could hardly accept it as a
well considered project Of law. There were
| many imperfections in it, and while he could
| not promise to vote for it he wished to thank
| the Committee on Labor for having reported
| it.. He had heard the word socialism" whis-
| pered around. When the law makers of this
| country, national, State and municipal, failed
to regard and to provide for the social we'll
being of the labOring classes there would be
an end to enlightened institutions. The i'm
| portation of cheap labor of the worst classes
| of the least advanced of European nations
| would make every industrial centre a great
nest of vipers and of vicious wild beasts.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, favored the meas
ure because it protected labor without giving
bounties to those who employed 1t.
Mr.. Willis, of Kentucky, congratulated the
Committee on Labor that not only in this, but
| il the bill establishing bureau of labor sta
tistics, it had responded to the sentiment
which had been justly pressing for recogni-
tiOn for many years.
Messrs. Connolly of Pennsylvania, O'Nein
| of Missouri, Dingley OF Maine, Deuster of
| Wisconsin, Ferrell and Fielder Of New Jer-
| sey, Bland OF Missouri, Jones of Wisconsin,
Cutcheon of Michigan and McComas of Ma
ryland expressed their hearty sympathy with
the purposes of the bill.
| TUE MR. ANFrNDun Avn pAScuD