Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-06-20
FORTY.BIGHVn CONGRESS-.
First &ession.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. june 10
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin presided over
the Senate today.
A bill to equalize the rank of graduates
of the naval academy upon their assignment
to various corps, was passed.
The bill to prevent the importation of tea
dust into the United States was passed.
The Mexican pension bill was then taken
up.
After some discussion as to the probable
addition to the annual cost of the pension
list by the adoption of the amendments pro-
posed to the bill, Mr.. Beck said the amount
would be about s246. 100000.
Mr.. Morgan inquired whether it was ex-
pected to pay pensions by interference with
the interest on the public debt or by an in-
creased tariff tax. This, he continued, was
a republican measure, having had endorse
ment in advance by the republican conven-
tiore He was sorry, however, to see the
republicans of the Senate so hard hearted
about it. If they intended to obey the man
dates of the convention, why not come out
boldly and assume the responsibility for it!
Toss up hats and glory in the whole thing.
Mr.. Ingalls, said that Mr.. Morgan's was the
kind of speech he expected TO hear from
Southern democrats on the question of pen
sioning Union soldiers. They are willing to
pension those Mexican soldiers who went into
the confederate army and did their best to
shoot the soldiers of the Union and overrun
the government. But on proposition TO ex-
tend some broad measures of relief to the
soldiers of the late war. were always met by
a vague denunciation of the extravaganza of
the outrageous assaults intended to be made
on the treasury, and the republican party in
professions of devotion to soldiers. We
could vote away hundred million dollars to
educate the illiterate and ignorant people
of the South, and there was no talk of a raid
on the treasury.
The debate continued at great Length, but
without actio nthe Senate went into executive
session and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House met at 10 o'clock this morning
in continuation of Wednesdays session, and
resumed consideration of the Pacific railroad
bill.
Mr.. Thompson Of Kentucky, who had
charge of the bill having an hour to close
the debate, yielded part of his time.
Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas advocated the major
ity bill and characterized the minority bill as
a scheme that came from the railroad CON-
pany themselves, and that it would give them
sixty years time to invent a plan how to
cheat the government.
Messrs. Millard of New York and Thomp-
son of Kentucky defended the bill against the
criticisms made against it in the debate.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Thompson
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 45 per cent, was agreed to.
The question was then taken on the minor
ity bill and it was rejected.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York moved to recon-
nit the bill rejected.
The bill was then passed without division.
Today's session was then begun.
Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsylvania, from the
committee on public buildings and grounds,
reported a resolution that the charges of cor
rupt or collusive action on the part of the
secretary of the treasury or some of his sub
ordinates in connection with the selection
and purchase of a site for federal building
in Brooklyn, had not been sustained.
Mr.. Dibble of South Carolina, a member of
the committee, while concnrring in the report
considered the price paid for the site as exor-
bitant and unreasonable.
After half an hours discussion the resolu-
ton was adopted.
Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsylvania, from the
committee on labor, called up the bill to pro-
hibit the importation and migration of for
eiguers and aliens under contract to perform
labor. 1t makes it a crime punishable by
fine and imprisonment for any master of a
ship to land such aliens or foreigners under
contract 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 skilled
labor for that purpose cannot be otherwise
obtained; nor to professional actors, lecturers
or singers.
Messrs. Foran of Ohio and Maylin of Mich
igan supported the bill, and Mr.. Kelley of
Pennsylvania advocated its spirit but could
hardly accept it as a well considered project
of law.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine said that while many
of the provisions of the bill were crude and
imperfect yet he was in sympathy with the
object so far as it was intended to prevent
the importation of laborers under contracts
made in foreign countries under foreign con-
dtions and at foreign wages, who came here
not to make for themselves permanent homes
and not free to make engagements. He wei
coined every laborer who came to our shores
for the purpose of taking advantage of Amer
ican institutions and American wages.
After some discussion the bill was passed
without division.
Adjourned