The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-13
FORTY-EHGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Mar. II.


WASHINGTON, Mar. 12.
Bills were reported as follows:
BY MIR. Pugh, to establish an educational
fund and apply portion of the proceeds of
public lands 10 public education, aud to pro-
vide Ter more complete endowment and sup
port of colleges for the advancement Of scien-
tifc and industrial education.
Mr.. jackson submitted a joint resolution,
providing for the submission to the States of
constitutional amendment, making the pres
identlal term six years, and making the Presi-
dent ineligible TO reelection. 1t was referred
to he committee on iudicilry.
The Senate then took up for consideration
the House pleuT0-pneumonia bill.
The following bills were reported favorab ly
from the committees and placed on the calen-
dar:
From the committee on claims an original
bill to provide for the asceFtainment of claims
of American citizens for spoiiation committed
by the French prior to July 81, 1901.
Mr.. Coke spoke strongly against the pleuro-
pneumonia bill in its present shape, as it in
cluded all animal diseases whatever, which he
said would take all the cattle out OF Virginia
at the mercy of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture The bill went over and the Senate took
up the bill for the relief of Fitz John Porter,
and Mr.. Sewell addressed the Senate on the
bill.
Mr.. Sewell gave history of the case, eulo-
giving the members of the advisory board
which had declared that the sentence of the
court martial inflicted on Gen. Porter in 1868,
was founded on error and in ignorance of the
real facts, and that SO far from his conduct de-
serving condemnation it merited praise. These
convictions we're supplemented By the judg-
ment OF the ablest general of the army, late its
head and President of the United States-Gen
Grant-and who, after months OF study con-
hrmed emDhatically the conclusion of that adj
visory board
Mr.. Sewell sent to the clerks desk and had
read an article of Gen. Grants, in the North
American Review, entitled, 'sAn undeserved
stigma" and letters of Gen. Grant, Gen.
Terry and Gen. Walker, on the subject of in
justice done TO Porter by the court martial.
Mr.. Sewall concluded as follows: am in
terested, Mr.. President, in this case of Fitz
John Porter, because | served in the army of
the Potomac during the entire period he was
connected with it, from its formation, as
soldier. / am interested for the honor, integri-
ty and discipline of our army am interest
cd for the honor of our government and the
sense of justice of the people, and to see that
no stain shall rest upon them by the failure OF
their representatives, to right wrong recog-
niZed by our government, and demanded BY
our couEtrsmep, through an almost united
public press.
Mr.. Wilson followed. He said an order was
issued to Gen. Fitz John Porter by the COM
manding officer, which order Gen. Porter had
not obeyed. The fact was that there had been
disobedienee, and there had been disaster,
Whether or not the disaster was due to disobe-
dence could not now be demonstrated The
question before the Senate was as to the duty
of the military officer to obey lawful orders.
That duty was met here by the alleged right to
the exercise OF discretion. a n afirmance by
the Senate Of the duty would defeat the bill.
The declaration of the right to exercise dis
cretion would pass the bill. No man doubted
Porter's ability as soldier, or his knowledge
of military law, yet he had assumed that dis
cretion belonged tn no one but the superior
ErQ hat .t,f
such discretion would put an end to military
organization. There had baen here such disc
bedience as might be punished with death.
Discretion had no place in military law. II
Congress desired to invite widespread insubor-
dinaton in the army it had only to pass this
bill.
Mr.. Manderson took the floor, bnt on the
suggestion of Mr.. Logan, gave way for mo-
tion that the Senate go into executive session,
Mr. Logan saying he though the Senate could
get through with the bill tom orrow, if the de-
bate should begin early.
The Senate then went into executive session
and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
The morning hour having been dispensed
with, the House at 1926 went into committee
of the whole, Mr.. Buckner of Missouri in the
chair, on the post-ofiee bill.
The pending amendment was that offered by
Mr.. Horn OF Michigan, increasing from $10.-
100000 to $12 100000 the appropriation for
compensation TO postmasters. After remarks
by Messrs, Belford of Colorado and Town
shend of Illinois the amendment was lost "a to
49,
Mr. Davis of Illinois moved to strike out
the clause limiting the salaries of postmasters
to $4,000
Mr.. Holman of Indiana offered an amend-
ment fixing the salary of the postmaster of
New York at $4,000.
Mr.. Morey of Mississippi, chairman of the
postefliea committee. advocated Mr.. Davis
amendment, believing that better service
could be procured By paying reasonable
salaries.
Mr. Morse of Massachusetts opposed reduc-
ton of salaries of postmasters and stated that
when the office at Boston was vacant there
were only five applicants for the position on
account of the small salary and large bond re-
quired. He had just refused to go on the
bond OF his postmaster.
Mr.. Damn of Arkansas inquired whether
he would have gone on the same mans bond
ii the salary had been larger.
Mr.. Morse replied that he would have done
so most decidedly. The idea of cutting down
the salary of that officer was farcical.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania opposed the
proposed limitation of salary and intimated
that Mr.. Holman's proposition to except New
York was made because of his knowledge that
if that were not done he could not carry his
side of the House with him.
Mr. orr inquired sarcastcally whether Mr.
Holman 3 favoring New York did not arise
from the fsct that New York was the home of
the "Sun" which had Just published his
picture to the country.
Mr.. Holman's amendment was rejected, or
ponents of the limitation clause all voting
against it.
The motion to strike out the limitation
clause was agreed to, lit to 45. This leaves
salaries as at present.
Mr.. Horr moved to increase the appropria-
ton for clerks in postoffices by $125, 900. Lost
II TO Ill.
Mr.. Skinner of New York offered an amend
ment increasing by $500,000 the appropriation
for payment of letter carriers, but pending ac-
tion the committee rose and the House ad-
journed.