Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-07
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Report of the Proceedings il
Both Bodies

Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The Chair laid
before the Senate to-day a communication
from the Secretary Of the Interior, trans
mitting, in compliance with the recent
resolution Of the Senate, information as to
mortgages executed by the Texas Pacific
Railroad Company on lands granted to it
by Congress.
After the presentation and appropriate
reference of number of petitions, Mr..
Miller, of New York, from the Committee
ON Agriculture, reported favorably, with
amendment, bill to provide for the eX-
tirpation of pleuro pneumonia, and other
contagious diseases among domestic
animals. 1t was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Logan introduced a bill, which was
referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs, to increase the efficiency of the
army OF the United States.
Mr.. Butlers resolution of yesterday,
calling Tor the proceedings of the PrOteus
investigation, was agreed to.
The Senate proceeded to the cOnsidera-
ton OF bills upon its calendar to which no
! objection was raised. 1t took up, and af-
| ter short debate, passed the bill apDrO-
! capitol terraces and the stairway con-
nected herewith. The Senate resumed
the consideration of the Mexican land
grants.
Another long debate followed, in the
course Of which Mr.. HOar said that about
O'Clock every day there was an amend
| ment made to this bill and according TO
rough estimates he should say that from
| the time already spent on it, it would take
the Senate about six years to get through
! with the business now before it. Al
/ though an important measure, it had re-
! ceiYed more than four times the amount
OF time to which, judging from the
amount of other important business be-
fore the Senate, it was entitled, and he
was thoroughly tired of it, The Senate,
without reaching conclusion upon the
| bill, went into executive session and
! soon adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day Mr.. Cosgrove. of
| Missouri, entered a motion to reconsider
the vote by which the House Yesterday
! rejected the resolution empowering the
| Committee on Expenditures in the Inte-
rlor Department to send subcommittee
| to examine the work on Hot Springs
| creek.
! MIR. Lewis, of Louisiana, offered a reso-
| luton referring to the Court of Claims for
| investigation and report all claims for
cotton seized by the Union authorities
| during the civil war. 1t was referred, on
motion of Mr.. Russell, OF Massachusetts.
Ten thousand extra copies of the Morri-
son tariff bill were ordered printed.
| On motion of Mr.. MatsOn, of Indiana, a
resolution was adopted calling on the Sec
| retary of the Interior for copies of all or
ders and correspondence relating to IT,
regular practices on the part of attorneys
| practicing before the Pension Office, TO-
/ gether with copies of all Official charges
against such attorneys, and copies of the
circulars used by them which are deemed
to be deceptive in character.
! The House went into committee of the
/ whole on the pleuro-pneumonia bill. Mr..
/ I4anham, of Texas, strongly opposed the
| bill as endangering one of the vast indus
tries of the country, and an industry in
which the State of Texas was specially
| interested. He denied that there existed
IN Texas to-day a single case of pleurO-
! pneumonia and argued that the operation
of the bill should be confined to States in
which the plague exists. He asserted
that there were in this bill evils
and dangers greater than the
cattle plague. He criticised the prOyis-
ions of the bill, and especially that sec
tiOn which provides for a division of the
expense of eradicating the disease be-
tween the United States and the State in
which it exists. The United States had
no right to say what amount should be
paid by any State, and in case of a refusal
to lay an embargo upon the shipment and
! expectation of its cattle. 1t was proposed
to appropriate $250,00O to carry out the
! provisions Of the bill, but he predicted that
| $25O,OO0 would be found not to be pocket
change when compared with the vast
sums which would be needed. No more
magnificent plan had ever been conceived
of to unlock the vaults of the Treasury
and disgOrge the public funds.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, took similar
ground in opposition to the measure, and
argued that many Of its provisions were
| unconstitutional. He fully sympathized
with the purpose of the bill, but said that
that measure, as reported, would create
an evil greater than in it was proposed to
remedy.
Mr.. Hunt, of Louisiana, also argued
against the bill on constitutional grounds.
contending that it gave to the Federal
| Government powers which were expressly
reserved to the States.
Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut, considered
the pending bill as the most mischieyous
which had been presented to Congress at
the present session. Mischievous because
1t was in utter violation of the Constitu
ton, and took from the States their
powers and their rights,
Mr.. MuldroW, Of Mississippi, also op-
posed the bill, and gave notice of his in.
tention to move to recommit it for amend
ment and revision,
Mr.. Lawrence, of Pennsylvania. and
Messrs. Peters, Perkins, and Anderson of
Kansas, supported the bill. The latter
said that the terrible disease was threat
enlng one of the greatest industries of the
country, and Congress had power on the
| ground of protecting the general public
ana the rights OF property to stamp it out,
and yet the proposition to do so was met
with the old argument of State sovereignty
and state rights while the whole animal