Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-13
AT THE CAPITOL TODAY.
FITz JOHN PORTER BILL IN THE SENATE.
P: Q. APPROPRIATION BILL IN THE HOUSE.
WORK OF THE COMMITTEES, ETC.
The Senate.

tion from the Attorney General in compliance with
recent Senate resolution calling for information
reearuing the failure by the Pacific railroads to
| comply with certain acts Of Congress
MI Doph presented memorial from the cham
per OF commerce OF Tacoma, on Puget sound,
aH.Es eAe forfeiture OF the Cascade land grant OF
| the Northern Pacific railroad
| - BILL FOR ADMISSION OF DAKOTA.
MI. harrison, from the committee on Territories,
reported favoraby, and had placed on the calendar,
the bill for the admission OF Dakota
MI. Plumb submitted joint resolution, which
was referred to the committee on agriculture, ap-
propriating SOS, ,OOO to be made Immediately avail
aoie, under the direction OF the commissioner of
| mouth disease among cattle in Kansas
Within few minutes OF the reference MI. Plumb,
20 Iv % reported the Joint resolution
ton.
objection being made it went over, Mr. Plumb
giving notice that he would call it up tomorrow.
Mr. HENDERSON ON THE FITz JOHN PORTER CASE.
Mr.. Seweu called up the Fitz John Porter bill be-
fore the morning hour had proceeded beyond 1a:3Oa
Mr. Miller, of New York, said the Senate had, yes
terday. put aside important public business take
up this Dill for private relief He moved to lay
Mr Sewelps motion on the table, but withdrew the
motlon, In order to expedite business, and permit
TED the vote to be taken on Mr.. Sewell'S motion.
The Senate agreed to take up the bill.
Mr.. Manderson then took the floor. Many eminent
men, ne said, had considered this case. He could,
tnereiore not expect to add anything to the nforma
through peace the claimant had insisted that he
mad been harshy treated. II man at sea were
struggling with the waves it was impossible for
those who looked on not to feel interest In his
Iate. Let the observer OF the contest before the
Senate be ever so Indifferent he could not avoid
feeling an interest in the subject. Nothing would
give MT Henderson more pleasure than to be able
10 say 10 the man most interested in the bill before
the Senate, "You have been greatly wronged,
he would not stop with the halfway reparation Of
This DILL He would give him the full righting Of
ms wrongs. We might not be able to restore to
emOlumentS should be his.
Mr: Manderson understood the claim to be that
on full examination no fault could be found with
the conduct OF Gen. Porter. He had not examined
until recently the report and proceedings OF the
court-martial that tried Gen. Porter. He had read
Gen. Grants paper in the North american Rerie,c,
and that, with other reading, had aroused In him a
sympathy and interest In the case. He felt that it
was his duty then to examine the matter thor
oughly; and he was sorry to be compelled to say
that from the examination he had given the case
whether this be a case OF judicial review or the
exercise OF clemency-he felt bound to vote no on
thlS DILL. The bill asked that Congress should set
aside the verdict of the court-martial-to review
ana seC aside decision OF one OF the highest OF
trOunals-a most dangerous precedent 1t had be-
come the fashion sin these piping times of peace"
10 Sneer at cOurt-martfal; yet that body was
more nearly a Jury OF his peers" than an accused
man cOuiu possibly have under any other circum-
stances, for its members were his brother officers
NO less person than the President of the United
states was the final court Of appeals. And who
was it that had reviewed the findings and decision
or the courtmartia in the case OF Gen. Porter? It
mad been the honest clear headed, judicial, minded
merc1ful man, Abraham Lincoln
Mr.. MandersOn was loudly applauded when he
completed his remarks.
Mr. Logan then addressed the Senate
The House.
Mr.. Belmont (N. W presented resolutions of the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art and OF the New York
Art Students League, favorng the Belmont bill for
the abolition of duty on works OF art. Referred.
On motion OF Mr.. Hammond (Ga), bill was
passed authorizing chairmen OF subcommittee OF
the committees Of the two houses OF Congress to
administer OathS.
M MI Cobb, qnd), chairman Of the committee on
resolution Directing that 10
the matters pertaining to the grant of 100000 acres
70 the state OF Michigan to aid in the construction
That state given to the Lake Superior and Portage
Lake Canal company, and to determine whether
tne grant mt Is 81 liable to forfeiture. Adopted.
NJ ONeill Pa) presented memorial OF the
Pnadelphla board OF trade praying for the passage
of the Senate bill for the construction of additional
steel cruisers Referred.
THE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL
The morning hour having been dispensed with,
the House, at 1890, went into committee of the
whole Nir Blount (Ga.) in the cha1r) on the post
Office appropriation bill, the pending amendment
being that offered by Mr.. Skinner On W increasing
the for payment to letter carriers and
the incidental expenses Of the free delivery service
from s., 100000 to s., 100000.
Mr. Horr tMich.l spoke upon the necessity OF the
increased appropriation, and Mr.. Fndlay (Md) read
a letter from the postmaster at Baltimore setting
forth that the passage OF the bill In Its present shape
would most surely result in the Gripping OF the
free delivery system in that city.
Mr.. Holman und) maintained the adequacy of
the appropriation In the bill, declaring that 1t
SuTclently liberal to enlarge the system
WORD IN BEHALF OF THE LETTER CARRIERS
Mr.. Calkins Qnd) said word In behalf of the
letter carriers as the hardest worked Of any gov
ernment employees; and Mr.. Reed (de.) described in
particular the hardshps Of the working life of the
carriers In the city OF Portland, Me.
The District in Congress-
STEAM RAILROADS IN WASHINGTON
Senator German says that the extension of the
steam railroads in the District, as proposed In his
bill, would really necessitate the erection and
maintenance OF stations at several points within
nfence: Instead OF having but a single depot there
would be several as in Philadelphia.
Capitol Topics.
THE OREGON CENTRAL LAND GRANT
A majority OF the Senate committee on public
lands have voted to recommend the forfeiture of
the unearned portion OF the land grant Of the
oregon Central railroad. The bill has not been
ordered to be reported the details having been
determined upon. The line affected by this action
IS that between e Forest Grove ana Astoria, dis
tance OF 81 miles The grant for this portion Of the
road covers ,13O, $50 acres OF land
THE KEIFER-BoYNToN INQUIRY.
The book OF criminal records produced In the
Keifer-BoyntOn committee by Chief Brooks OF the
Treasury secret service, yesterday. under subpoena
{as stated in THE STAR last evening,) was not ad-
m1tted as evidence. A long discussion arose upon
the question OF admitting portion of the records
In the KelloggSpO1ord case, in which Elder stated
that he was in the habit OF making false state
ments. This was ruled out also, though MeSsrs
Hopkins and Adams favored its admission upon
the grounds that the committee should not discard
any means OF knowing the character OF the wit
ness. The committee adjourned to meet at 10
O'Clock Friday morning, at the United States hotel
TO examine Elder, who Is confined to his room. At
noon the same day they will meet again at the
Capitol
COMBINATIONS By THE SENATE.
The Senate in executive session confirmed the
following nominations yesterday: I'd Lieut.. George
L Converse, jr., to be 1st lieut. o. s. A.; 1st Lieut.
John W. Pullman, of the 9Th regiment of cavalry.
to be assistant QuartermaSter, with the rank OF
captain; 1St Lieut. Charles L. Cooper, ad1utant to
be captain; I'd Lieut.. John Bigelow. jr, to be list
United StateS-The Rev. EbeneZer W. Brady of
Iowa, and the Rev. VIM Fl. Scott, OF Illinois Also
number OF postmasters.
THE MORRILL, EDUCATIONAL BILL
was favorably reported yesterday from the Senate
committee on education and labor. 1t requires that
the net proceeds OF sales Of public lands and sum
equal to one-half the moneys paid into the Treas
ury under the Thurman funding act shall be
annually set apart to be appOrtioned to the several
states and territories and the District of Columbia
upon the basis OF their respective population be-
tween the ages OF five and twenty years as an e<lll-
cat1Onal fund.- and to bear interest at the rate OF
four per cent per annum, the interest alone to be
paid to the states and territories and the District
OF Columbia for educational purposes 1t provides
that twO-thirds OF the income arising from this
fund shall be annually appropriated to the free and
impartial education, In public Schools of all chill
that one-third shall be appropriated to the more
complete endowment and support OF agricultural